Chapter 155
Lamberton Dormitory Building, Cornell Academy, City: Three Pronged Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2041, Planet: Grimoire
The entire day had been beyond eventful, and everyone was exhausted. However, when it came down to it, with the latest twist about a potential lodging upgrade, they weren't about to give up a good meal and an exciting show on their official first day in the society that ruled Three Pronged Fork.
That meant they had even more to look forward to once they returned. So that was how they wound up at the Jade Palace, which they learned was newly reopened. They were shocked when they saw the menu. Where had they eaten this food and drink before? All of them were confused but kept that emotion to themselves. They felt that how they'd come to eat wouldn't go well.
Only Hermina and their escorts were unaware of the eight siblings' confusion, and with good reason. She had yet to learn about their foray into the Three-Pronged Fork Society, which happened almost six or seven months before this official arrival.
Seated in the booth that could hold everyone in the group, Harper glanced around with interest. "These furnishings are unusual," he remarked. "Though I'd heard from someone that it had shut down," Harper was baffled, to put it bluntly. "Ms. Marten, do you know anything about the history of this place?" That would allow him to work with and ask more questions about the owners.
As absorbed as Hermina had been in perusing the menu, she was initially stumped. "Oh, you were asking me?" She gave Harper a startled glance. "Yes, along with the Orient Palazzo, it was closed for nearly four years." Hermina tapped her jaw as she thought about the timing. "So that was true about its closure," She clearly wasn't sure what to make of his question.
Harper regarded her thoughtfully. He could've sworn she knew about this place from her past, but she acted as if it were a foreign country. Odd, did something happen to her memories before she left this metropolis?"
She needed to be made aware of the direction his thoughts were going with her following statement. "However, here it stands open and waiting for business." Still doing her best to answer his question, Hermina shrugged.
Harper nodded with curiosity. He didn't dare interrupt her now.
Hermina was on a roll. "From what I recall, it was a family-run venture, as was the Oriental Palazzo," she informed them very calmly. "For all we know, the original owners returned."
Her gaze roamed the main room, where tables and groupings of odd stoves with barstools were gathered. "The most likely scenario was that nearby relatives dedicated to keeping an exotic feature chose to step up and take over," she shrugged. "If you're that curious, I suggest you find the current owners and ask. I've heard they're willing to talk to curious patrons."
"I just might do that." Harper thought about what Hermina said. It was logical, and he did recognize the food being served. In fact, Harper also remembered who'd been doing most of the work for a catered event. "Hmm, I think I've run into the owners then." He told Hermina about what happened a couple of months back.
"Oh, that's what you'd been doing that evening." Hermina frowned at him. "That was quite the risky venture, you know."
Well, at least she wasn't going to lecture him about it. Harper nodded. "Yes, but now that I think about it, there'd been more people there that I recognized at the unofficial event than I thought possible."
However, the faces he hadn't seen since had been the stars of the reception. Harper shrugged in resignation. He had overheard a discussion suggesting that Troy and Molly chose to relocate elsewhere. It made sense, given the current atmosphere and unstable living conditions in the Three-Pronged Fork metropolis.
~*~
Still seated on a couch in Grifton's spacious suite of rooms, Firenze was completely confused with Grifton's latest decision. "I know you have a good reason for doing this, but I wish you'd warned me beforehand." He knew that Grifton hadn't intended to move out for another month.
Grifton cleared his throat and sighed. "Believe it or not, I did mean to tell you that Lamberton and Darmono had informed me that I would be allowed to go on paternity leave," he mumbled almost too softly for Firenze to hear. "I'm not sure which of them guessed about my condition first, but yeah, I was told this right before Gladys caught on."
No wonder he'd been so nervous, skittish, and out of sorts lately. No one was giving Grifton peace because the news was gradually getting out to the public. Firenze's eyes widened. "So, when were you supposed to move out?" He wanted to know the specifics.
His shoulders slumped, indicating frustration with the whole situation. "In two days," Grifton grimaced. So, I would've had to move out anyway." He shrugged with a sigh. I am a student, after all, so I will be relocated to the Lamberton student dormitory building." Grifton glanced at him sideways. You can petition to share the suite since you're the sire, after all."
It was a surprise that Grifton would make such a concession. However, he was probably being pestered about remaining a single father.
"Other than those reasons you've given me..." After a few minutes of silence, Firenze sighed. "So, what brought on your sudden spurt of generosity?" He wondered if it had to do with their uncanny resemblance to his siblings.
"You mean other than what I've mentioned so far?" At Firenze's nod, Grifton shrugged uncomfortably. "What I told them was the truth." His eyebrows furrowed. "I also finally got word of the nieces and nephews who vanished."
Firenze's eyes lit up, and then he frowned because Grifton did not indicate happiness. "Okay, so does this also have to do with changing suites and buildings?"
Grifton nodded. "Sadly, yes," his eyes were dark with anger. "Evidently, there were a few Alphas and Omegas in the country they wound up in..."
Now, Firenze finally understood the frustration and fury that alternately emanated from Grifton and the helplessness he was experiencing at hearing a repetition of events. Firenze had to wonder, just what was so special about those kids?
Grifton smiled at Firenze faintly. "Thank you for listening to me so patiently." He closed his eyes in an attempt to speak calmly. "From what I heard, there were deviants who sought to repeat what Donrico El Dorado Consuenos did with their mothers and fathers."
Firenze's fists clenched. "Did they succeed?" If so, those poor nephews and nieces might not ever escape.
"No, they didn't succeed in their missions." Grifton's entire body shook when he related what actually happened. "They killed themselves, all of them, rather than submit to being imprisoned for the rest of their lives."
Firenze sat in complete shock when he heard that. What horrible news to gain after all this time of searching for them.
With a sigh, Grifton shook his head. "That participant that also spread his pheromones all over? He was one of the ones that kidnapped them." His face darkened. "Had he succeeded with his plan of seducing me, he was going to force the rest of the nieces and nephews to bow to his will."
Firenze was shocked and speechless. "How did you find out?"
Grifton rubbed his ear. "Well, as it turns out, those carnivorous fish in the lake? A few seem to have enough sentience to shift into humanoids." A sigh escaped him. "One of them came looking for me."
Firenze flinched slightly. "That must've been a shock."
Grifton nodded. "Oh yeah, it was." He smiled slightly. "Conversely, I might've gotten a clue as to what drove Moline insane."
That could be a good discovery depending on what he'd found, Firenze considered. "Do tell?"
Grifton nodded. "The same goes with those cursed mages." He gave an explanation that startled Firenze.
"Huh, yeah, that would explain quite a bit of why the mages did what they did." Firenze nodded. "Have you reported what you learned to Lamberton or Darmono?"
"Yeah, I did," Grifton confirmed after describing what else happened and concluding his tale with a few more thoughts. "I figured they would have more resources to investigate what I heard and witnessed."
Firenze blinked and thought over what Grifton told him. He was vaguely aware of Grifton moving around and shook himself out of his reverie. "Ah, you're already done?" He'd meant to assist Grifton but had just daydreamed instead.
"Yep, we can go now." Grifton looked around one last time. There were a lot of good memories here, but it's time to start a new chapter of our lives elsewhere."
Firenze agreed with that.
They left without a glance.
~*~
The musical was enjoyable because it showcased extraordinary talent. Hermina noticed how the eight siblings watched intently. She herself was fascinated with how the actors and actors used elemental, spiritual, and psychic abilities to create a spectacular show, along with stunts and wise use of space.
The eight were no doubt considering how best to utilize their mana and the elements that were their primary sources of magic. Not only that, but it didn't escape Hermina's attention that it was a love story mingled with tragedy and showed how hope could still glimmer even in the darkness of despair, isolation, and loneliness.
However, after the show ended and they'd settled into the new quarters, Hermina received a disturbing update. Everyone fit comfortably without having to share rooms.
"Greetings, Darmono and Lamberton." Hermina sat in her room. "What is wrong?"
Darmono frowned. "Have you heard anything from Fountain Grove?" His voice had an edge that put Hermina on alert.
Oh, now, what was going on down there? When would these endless border conflicts cease? Hermina was disgruntled because she had a good idea of what must've happened.
"No, I haven't, but I just settled into the room." From the sounds of it, Hermina concluded she wouldn't remain there long. "Should the eight be informed?"
Immediately, Lamberton shook his head. "No, I reckon Shiloh already did so." He sighed. "However, this all presents quite a quandary." He tapped his jaw. "You and the escorts might need to return sooner than anticipated." Lamberton glanced at Darmono. "Please proceed since you know more about what happened than I do." He didn't care to be dragged into the middle of what was happening.
Clearing his throat to obtain Hermina's attention, Darmono nodded. "The children are well protected." Much to Hermina's dismay, he filled her in on what Shiloh obviously needed to be made aware of.
Darmono sighed as he clarified. "The local spirits are guarding them very heavily." He caught Hermina's confused stare. "That includes all of the occupants of the boardinghouse that Shiloh runs." He grimaced because there was more that happened than met the eye, Hermina realized, when he added. "I dare say they've learned a few things from what happened a few years back from the Flange Orphanage spirits that scattered everywhere."
Lamberton grunted. "I don't want another repeat of that occurring." He sighed. "Shiloh is a good person, but I fear she's naiver than you might realize, Ms. Marten." Lamberton frowned. "Certainly, Glasson Matriarch isn't dead yet. Though I know there were attempts to stop her in her tracks." He took a moment to pause and drink some water from a flask in hand.
"You two are unbelievable." Hermina growled at them. "How is it that you've managed to find all of this out?" She tapped her fingers on the table.
"Hmm, we have different ways and means, you should know that by now." Darmono did the same when drinking liquid from a flask.
"That isn't answering my question, though." Hermina felt distinctly overwhelmed and downright frazzled. "I suppose it means that other people in countries unknown to us will have the same information?" So now she had a problem on her hands. "If that is true, I fear for the eight children's lives that are here."
Information leaked, and it was the kind that couldn't be easily stopped once out in the open. "What an annoying mess to happen now." That would also explain why some of the eight had already been challenged to duels even though they weren't officially enrolled anywhere. How completely irritating and disastrous, really. When would they get a break? Hermina's shoulders slumped, and she sat in silence for a bit.