Ninety- six. Find her!
The president of Cee country alongside his wife, arrived at the Mint house just some minutes after Hera had talked to Camille. There was an array of servants on every side, ready to receive them. Their heads were lowered as a sign of reverence and greeting.
"Welcome Mr President. Welcome the First Lady" they greeted in unison.
The president nodded with a stern smile as he walked through the aisle they had created while linking his arm with his wife's.
Hera stood at the entrance of the house, poised with elegance and prestige, her lips drawn up into an arch, one which she had mastered over the years.
"Welcome home mom and dad" she greeted in courtesy.
"Hera dear" Mrs Lakewoods called her, her arms already wide open, inviting Hera in for a hug.
"Mom", she called and went forward. She leaned in, hesitantly unsure of what was going on.
"I missed you sweetheart" Mrs Lakewoods said.
Hera stilled. She hadn't heard such words in years. This was a rare one for her. She didn't know how to react. The president reached for her, patting her tenderly on her back.
"Me too" the president said.
Hera withdrew from her mom's embrace and looked at them both in the eyes. "What's going on? Mom, Dad, are you guys planning on sending me away?" she asked her voice quivering with fear. She didn't want to leave. That would be the worst. She could manage being unloved but sending her away...
"Of course not sweetheart. We're really sorry for treating you bad these past years. We can't ask for your forgiveness because that's a selfish request to make of you. But please, we finally let go off your sister. She's not returning anymore. She's gone" Mrs Lakewoods said a tear slipping from her eyes. Her tone sounded desolate like one who had let go off the last straw if hope.
Hera couldn't believe what she was hearing. This was a good thing for her. The love that she had always longed for, was finally at her feet, on a platter of gold. However, her sister wasn't gone. She was still alive, at Moon country. Indecision kicked in making her almost lose her mind. She looked at Camille who was standing over her shoulder, some distance away. The latter's face was grim unsure of what to say to Hera.
Hera clenched her fists tightly as tears brimmed the edges of her eyes. "Mom, Dad" she called them, her voice quivering. "Why now? Why would you love me now?" Hera sobbed, her heart shaking with uncertain feelings.
"Hera, please" Mrs Lakewoods reached for her but Hera flinched and stepped back. She clenched her teeth hard and stormed off to her room.
Camille looked at the husband and wife and lowered her head in a bow. "Gooday Mr and Mrs Lakewoods" she said.
The president looked at her. He didn't know what to say as his mind was on Hera who was already upstairs, weeping. His heart ached for his daughter who couldn't be found but even moreso for Hera who had borne their resentment and half baked affection all of these years.
"I'm Camille. Hera's friend" Camille introduced.
The president nodded and began walking in, not sparing her another glance. The rest of the servants walked in after the president had left, leaving only Camille who stood outside with the bodyguards who were guarding the area.
Camille scanned the whole arena with her hawk like eyes, taking note of every corner her eyes could reach from her point of stance. Her face was grim with alertness, her senses awake. They will be coming but she didn't know when, therefore she had to keep her guard up.
Hera spent her day sobbing. She didn't open her room to anyone, including Camille. At night while dinner was being prepared, she finally opened the door covertly and went to Camille's room.
Camille opened the door the moment she heard the knock. Hera was standing in front of her door, her face a swollen bun.
"You cried enough?" she asked, voice a tease. Hera eyed her and pushed her way through, into the room. She settled herself on the bed, her being tried from worry and anxiety.
"What do I do?" Hera asked.
Camille heaved a deep sigh. This was quite a tricky question for anyone. If Lily comes back, no one could tell the amount of love that would be shown on her as she had been missing for years.
"What do you want to do?" Camille asked.
Hera sighed. She slumped into the bed, her gaze piercing through the ceiling. "I have never received love from them all my life. And when I now finally get to receive that love, Lily appears. She keeps on appearing in my life, making me miserable" Hera pointed out.
"Hush Hera. Don't say that. It's just the timing" Camille said.
"That's the point! That's wrong time! That's the wrong time Camille. I can't take this. This news, I...think I should covert it" Hera stated.
"No" Camille objected without thought. "You can't. Please don't do this Hera".
"Camille, I really need my parents' love. Their affection. It's not so hard to ask for. Why now? Why do they have to promise me this when I already found their daughter? She should just stay dead and gone!" Hera yelled and turned to go. However, without much strength, Camille wheeled her around tossing her back to the bed. She leaned over Hera, caging her within the borders of her arms. Hera's eyes were like saucers, wondering where such strength had come from. 'Camille was a softie, wasn't she?' she asked herself.
"Hera, I.. I'm your friend. And I love this little friendship we have started to build. However, I don't mind destroying this friendship if I have to prevent you from doing evil. You're a good person, and don't let any devil tell you otherwise" Camille warned.
"No one cares about me. No one does. Mom and Dad finally loved me but Lily is here again to take it away" Hera sobbed, tears streaming from her eyes.
"I care about you. I will give you that love too. I'm your friend and I value you" Camille professed. Hera burst out in tears at Camille's words. She cried so loudly her throat hurt. Camille stood at the balcony, allowing her to wail her sorrows. When she was finally done, she sat there motionless. Camille saw this and walked in.
"You done?" she asked.
Hera sent her a feigned hateful glare. "Can you be any nicer?" she questioned sounding pissed. Camille smiled and came forward, pulling her into a warm hug. "It's okay friend" Camille assured.
Hera nodded. "Let's go eat. I'm hungry" she said withdrawing from the hug.
" Okay then, let's go" Camille replied and they left the room.
At Alpha Realm, Moon country.
Ezekiel and Monalissa made a detour to the Realm after they had left the hospital. The aim was to check up on Camille as Cobra had sent them news on Elijah. They weren't sure of what he was planning for yet but, they knew that this was going to be quite bloody.
"How many are our men that left already?" Ezekiel asked.
"Fifty of them. Suga is leading the troop" Cobra said, his eyes focused on thin lines that were engraved in the screen, each bearing the location of various regions. They were coordinates. His heart was beating in his chest as he didn't know what Camille was going to face.
"Good" Ezekiel said in a cold tone. He turned around to talk to Monalissa only to find out that she wasn't there with him anymore.
"Monalissa..." he blurted, dread taking over him. "Where's Monalissa?" He asked no one in particular. His voice was menacing throwing the room into an ice cellar. Cobra and the rest of the team that were there looked around but there was no Monalissa.
"Find her" Ezekiel ordered, his voice a deadly roar, thundering in the hearts of his underlings.