In the quiet hallways of King Dravan's abandoned Quarter, Elara, with determined eyes, stealthily moved into her father's treasury room.
The Quarter has been banished since her family got wiped out. This made it easier for her to sneak into the compound through her hidden path.
Under the light out, Elara disassembled the room as she relentlessly searched everywhere for the most important item she couldn't give up on.
With desperation, she was engrossed in searching the room until she was caught mid-way by a ray of flashlight, pointing directly to her face.
Her hand shielded the rays and her eyes peeped to see through from in between her fingers. Having identified the intruder, Elara stood like a stagnant water and slowly drooled her hand down.
She was so caught off-guard that she didn't perceive the air at all, "Eldric?!" She whispered.
Eldric was sitting on the rolling Sofa in the corner of the treasury room. He whirled the Sofa to and fro with an expectant gaze.
A lopsided grin formed on his face as he waved a hand at her and mumbled, "Hello Sis!"
Elara who still froze for a while sighted the item she was searching for, dangling on Eldric's hand as it clutched to his fingers.
Eldric traced her gaze to the necklace on his hand. He dangled it again before making a heavy sigh and asked. "What are you doing here? This is no place for you, especially early in the dawn!"
Elara's eyes widened with guilt and tension, stammered, "I... I just wanted the family's necklace. It's rightfully mine!"
"Rightfully yours, you said?" Eldric stood up, baffled by Elara's claim, "I'm the older one here!"
Elara inhaled a gutful of breath and narrowed a hard gaze at him, "You are no longer part of the family from the moment you betrayed us, Eldric!" She retorted, then, calmed her temper by inhaling again. "Why are you here for goodness sake, Eld?!"
"Because I know this is your next target since you did not escape with your colleagues!" He replied, having a stain of mocking in his voice, "The prank you played by fainting, only you could do that."
"I despise you! I hate that you are my brother!" Elara whined, the death of Aric lingered in her heart and brought out more loathe towards Eldric.
"Don't you see it, Elara?" Eldric's hard tone changed to a soft one, and his eyes flickered as though he was repenting. "All I did was to protect us. I know it means a lot, but there are reasons I'm with King Gathrick. It's for the Pack's safety and prosperity. Trust me."
Elara was not convinced at all, she retorted, "Safety? Prosperity? You're serving the man who mocks us, belittles you, and even kills our family! I don't believe this alliance is for our good!"
Eldric's frustration was evident, explained, "It's more complicated than you think. Gathrick may be harsh, but aligning with him ensures stability for our Pack. I'm doing what I must do… not just for myself but for you as well!"
Elara couldn't admit to him, she adamantly declared, "I won't accept this. And I won't let our family's legacy be tarnished by serving a man who cares nothing for us."
The air filled with their conflicts. Elara wasn't convinced by her brother. As Eldric's explanation was stepping on her tail, he gave up on making himself clear.
"I have plans and I won't let you jeopardize it," he said reluctantly.
Elara defiantly responded, "I need the Heirloom. Father told me whoever killed him has the Ring Heirloom. But this necklace, you won't stop me from reclaiming it. It's rightfully mine!"
After some moments, Eldric sighed, "Fine! If this would make you feel better, I won't hold to it," he said and threw her the necklace, Elara captured it and hid it in her pocket right away.
"I won't forgive you, Eldric." She said, returning to the door, however, Eldric in turn made a heavy sigh,
"Then, you shouldn't blame me for this!" He warned and loud his voice, "Guards!!!" He called the guards, his voice tinged with sorrow. "She is here, come take her away!"
Elara wasn't surprised. It was so unusual for Eldric to give in to her easily, hence, she had predicted his next move and started prancing towards the door.
Right away, she rushed out of the room making Eldric grit his teeth, "You need to understand the bigger picture, Elara!"
The feet of the guards on the ground were thudding faster as they approached, Elara, in a flurry of panic, sprinted through the hallway, her footsteps echoing in the silent halls.
Her heart was pounding along with her steps. Knowing the guards could catch up with her anytime, the desperation led her to her father's abandoned room.
At first, she didn't know it was her father's room until her vision blended with the room. Right there, memories of the time when the room was lively and filled with warmth started filling up her brain. Her heart sank and tears rolled down from her eyes.
The fast approach of the guards' thudding feet cut her out of the daze. Elara rushed to the bathroom. Upon flinging the door open, her feet went still. A soft melody of music embraced her tensed soul.
At the center of the bathroom was a large in-built bathtub. Surrounding it were different colorful candle lights, red and white petals flocked around the water's surface and on the floor.
The air was brimmed with beautiful fragrances...sending chills down her spine.
Elara smirked softly, wondering if she was hallucinating or seeing things real because this was exactly how her father used the bathtub.
In the dim light, as she approached the tub steadily, a sense of foreboding gripped her, making her hesitate for a moment, —it drove her memory insane because it had been over 2 years since the Quarter was abandoned, then, how come the fragrance smell so fresh? And even the music?
The situation she was in didn't allow her to think deeply. Tension already kicked in. As she was about to jump inside the tub, a man reclined in the tub. Emerged at the surface like a standalone Lily. The warm water embraced him and calmness enveloped the room.
Elara's eyes widened as she took in the unexpected sight of the man. As he saw Elara, he glanced up with a calm expression, as if expecting her arrival.
His eyes held a depth of understanding that momentarily eased Elara's frantic nerves… she forgot the chaos that chased her into the room.
Realizing she had no time to explain, Elara jumped into the tub, sinking deep such that the water could conceal her.
Meanwhile, Alpha Vesper had chosen the Quarter to stay for the night. His eyebrow raised with surprise dancing on his face to see the red-haired girl intruding on him.
Pointing out a surprised finger, he gasped, "The red-haired girl?"