KEVIN’S POV
When Kiara didn’t return for a long time, I went in search of her. She was seated on a boulder in the backyard of the camp. Her wavy hair waltzed in the breeze hiding most of her face.
There was something very alluring about this. I found myself walking towards her in a trance. When I was a few yards away from her I was hit by a strong surge of emotions; pain, fear, worry, grief…
I was by her side in an instant and pulled her into a tight hug. She buried her head in my chest and started sobbing softly. Every sob pierced through my heart with equal intensity sending waves of pain through my body.
After a point in time, it became so unbearable that a whimper escaped my throat. This drew her attention to me and she looked up at me questioningly; probably waiting for an explanation.
I brushed the back of my hand gently across her cheeks and croaked out, “I don’t know how but I can sense all your emotions… it hurts me to see you like this…”
She let out a long deep sigh and whispered, “I am sorry… I failed you, Kevin… Dr. Grimson is gone… I just let him drive away…”
A groan escaped my throat and I said in a hoarse voice, “Who cares about him? I am worried about YOU love… I can’t bear to see you like this…”
My lips found hers and before long we were kissing each other as if our lives depended on it. I grabbed her waist with my right hand and pulled her closer while my left hand held the nape of her head.
Just when things were getting heated a deliberate cough sounded behind us. Kiara pulled away instantly and kind of hid behind me.
“What the F….” I was going to curse the person who had disturbed us but when I saw that it was Vivaan I held my tongue.
It was very odd how my feelings had changed. It was as if my mind was automatically prioritizing Kiara. My father was on the verge of becoming a poisoned wolf. Shouldn’t I have been mad at Kiara for letting the doctor go?
Filled with guilt, I took a few steps away from her.
“I am sorry to interrupt you guys… but the doctor has refused to treat father unless Kiara is present…”
Kiara’s face washed over with relief and instantly I felt my feelings settle too.
“He came! I will go and talk to him right away,” she said, running inside. Nivaan followed close behind her.
I pulled out the original piece of paper that was in the golden box. It was high time to follow the lead. Father would be safe with so many people around him.
After a long drive, I finally reached a tiny cottage that was cleverly hidden among clumps of trees. It was difficult to notice it unless you were specifically looking for it.
I rang the bell that was hanging near the door several times. When no one answered I decided to knock. The moment my knuckles came in contact with the door, it swung open.
My eyes widened in shock as I saw the room. Books, papers, magazines were scattered on the floor. The feathers and cotton from the pillows and couch were lying in a heap beside the wooden framework.
“Are you here looking for the secret too? The man who came before you forced me to break the spell. There is nothing left here. Go away and let this old man rest in peace.” A feeble voice sounded as a wrinkled man limped into the room.
There was a huge bump on his forehead and he was bleeding. He staggered as he took another step towards me.
I grabbed him before he could fall and helped him sit on a chair. I ran to the kitchen and got an ice pack.
Applying the pack to his forehead I asked, “What happened, Grandpa? How did you get injured?”
“About an hour ago a man appeared before me. He was searching for the moonstone. When I said that I didn’t know where it was, he turned my house upside down…”
“Could he find it?”
“Do you take me for a liar, young man? I said that I don’t have the stone.” His chest heaved as he said in an agitated voice.
“I am so sorry, grandpa. I didn’t mean it like that…”
He patted my hand and said, “It’s… it is okay… this man is just a bit edgy after what happened…”
I kneeled in front of the old man and said, “Please tell me what happened, grandpa. Maybe, I can help you…”
“He made me break the spell that binds all the five packs of Auroville. He… he threatened to kill my son… I didn’t have much of a choice…”
“What did the spell exactly do?”
“Several decades ago, the five packs of Auroville were at loggerheads. They were always fighting against each other.
A witch named Xera got caught in midst of the warring packs. The love of her life and her child was killed by a cruel alpha in front of her eyes. Mad with rage, she vowed to turn the entire Auroville into a graveyard.
Alpha Darwin’s sister had married a warlock. He helped them cast a spell that would keep the witches from doing substantial magic in Auroville.
He used the moonstone to create a magical field around Auroville. His only condition was that all the packs had to remain united.
This is what has kept the alphas of the five packs from attacking each other. Now that the spell is broken, I am afraid Auroville will again turn into a battlefield…”
This was indeed a matter of great concern. Squeezing his hand gently, I asked, “Can’t we just reinforce the bonds again?”
He let out a long, deep sigh and muttered, “I have grown old and feeble. We need a powerful, young witch to perform a spell like that. I don’t think you can manage to get any of the witches to help you. They hate werewolves…”
I raised my eyebrows and countered, “What if I bring a powerful, young witch? Can you reinforce the spell then?”
“Of course! I was the one who cast this spell 80 years ago. There is no reason I can’t guide another witch to do the same.”
So, he was the warlock who helped Grandpa Darwin. I felt this irresistible urge to ask him about the moonstone but I stopped myself. He had already suffered so much due to the moonstone. He might refuse to help us if I pried too much.
I helped him clear the mess in the room and reinforce the locks of his house. I called up some other werewolves to keep guard of the cottage before leaving. I couldn’t take chances as far as his safety was concerned.