Chapter 81
1377words
Sun is already setting. Damon and I have been gathering information from Josh. He told us that he can help us find Aluncina.
"I just need one object that belongs to her," he said. I stare at him confusedly. He opened his mouth to explain further. "I need to know her scent first. That can help me trace her. You said she used to go here, right?" He looked at me.
I arched my brows and nodded. "Yeah, but it has been like three months since I last saw her. Can you still trace her?"
"We'll cross that bridge once we get there."
I went to my room to get the dress she gave to me on my 19th birthday. It's a red dress with lots of ribbons and ruffles. It's something people in the 70's would wear that's why I couldn't wear it out because they'll make fun of me. But I personally like it. I think it's cute.
"Here. She gave that to me as a gift and I haven't wear it yet," I said and handed him the dress. He stared at it for a few moments before smirking.
"I could see why."
"Shut up." I chuckled. He put it closer to his nose and started sniffing the fabric. His ears twitched when he reach the collar of the dress.
"Her scent is stronger in here. She's on her mid 40's. I can smell her fear from here," he commented as he continue to sniff the dress. I glanced at Damon. Did he just say fear?
"You can smell fear?" I repeated. He lifted his head to look at me. Josh nodded his head slowly making me more puzzled. Is it because she knows we're after her?
"I'm done smelling this old fashioned dress. Shall we?" he asked. I linger on my seat and stare at him. He told us that he's the one who gave Fiscio the clue. Things like that can happen, but where did he get the clue?
"How did you know about the seashell?"
A weird emotion crossed his eyes swiftly. I couldn't tell if it's surprise or fear. It disappered so quickly. He puts his hands in his pockets and blew a sigh.
"I sneaked to your Spheria Kingdom."
I gasped.
"What? How?" I asked hysterically. He went back to his seat and sighed.
"You must be wondering how Freeda managed to sneak in your Kingdom," he started. My eyes grew big. "I know about the secret portal to your kingdom. I was the one who helped her."
What? Why did he do that?
I felt Damon's hand crawling to mine. He seemed bothered about what he just heard. The Vortan she helped is the vortan who almost killed me.
"She's my parsen."
I froze in an instant.
"She said she just wanted to see the other kingdoms. I didn't know she had bad intentions. I thought we were on the same page on being neutral about the current rivalry among kingdoms, but I was wrong. She was a spy."
"It bothered me so much that I couldn't sleep. That's why I tried to reach out, but what I saw changed my life." He looked down.
"What is it?" I asked.
"It happened so fast. There was a black smoke and it vanished with God Gaviel's bludgeon."
He witnessed the bludgeon's disapperance?!
"All there's left was the seashell. I decided to get it before anyone does. I threw it on Sayana River, and that's how Fiscio got it."
Silence filled the dining area. I don't know if I should believe him or not. His story is kind of hard to believe. He is Freeda's parsen and he has capabilities to sneak in our kingdom without being caught.
"Can we trust you?" Damon asked. He sounded so serious. His tone is something you wouldn't want to mess up with. I genuinely didn't expect him to trust Josh after what he has done to me in the past, but I guess we needed him anyway.
Josh looked down. He played with his shoes. "I know I will sound hilarious, but I want peace. It's hard to believe me because I came from the kingdom who affliated with Wizarnia, but I want you guys to give me a chance and help you. That's all I want. I want Freeda back."
His words touched my heart. Josh din't want any of this happen and he's doing his very best to make things right. I respect him for that.
"Fine," I said. He lifted his head to look at me and Damon. "You will go with us. Consider yourself as part of the team." I smiled, making his ears twitched in joy.
*****
It was already dark when we decided to leave. Josh is sensitive to the brightness of the sun. We didn't want to hurt him.
"Her scent is everywhere."
I diverted my gaze to our wolf friend. He's been sniffing like a dog for hours now. Josh brought us to different places already, but has not really give us a certain location on where Aluncina could be.
"She's homeless," I responded. He nodded his head like he knew what I was going to say. "She sleeps everywhere. Must have been the reason why her scent is anywhere we go." I smiled shortly before looking at Damon who's on guard behind me. Josh is in front and leading the way.
"Here!" he chirped. I immediately followed his gaze and Aluncina's cart surprised me. It is left abandoned on the curb. She never done this before. She's not the type who will leave her stuffs in public.
I walked towards it. She's not here. My eyes formed a line when I saw the destroyed parts of the cart. It looked like it has been flipped over. What happened in here?
"Is that hers?" Damon asked. I stare at the towel I've given to Aluncina as a gift and nodded.
"It looks like someone has robbed her," Josh commented. He's right. I went to the secret compartment of her cart and check the money inside. It's gone.
"We should go to the police. She might be there."
Damon glanced at the cart and back to me. "What if this is a show?" he asked. My face crumpled. What does he mean?
"He's right, Golden. What if this is a show?" Josh supported his claim. I gulped and squeezed my eyes shut. They can't just say that to the Vortan who saved my life. She's the only family I have now.
"We'll cross that bridge once we get there." I copied what he said.
*****
We went straight to the police after that. It's the same station where we brought the men from last night. They were still inside the cell when we get there.
"He's a demon!"
One of the guys said to Damon. His face is so pale that you might think he has lost his blood all over his body. The police hissed at him and told him to stay quiet. That's the exact thing they called Damon when they got beaten up by him last night in one go.
"Have you seen a woman in her mid 40's?" Josh asked the police. The officer glanced at the cells and back to us.
"Is she missing or caught?"
The three of us looked at each other. We don't know what to answer.
"She's homeless," is all I managed to say. The police sniffs his red nose and went to check a big book. I decided to continue describing her. "She has brown hair. Uhh, I think she's 5'2 in height."
The officer tucked his pen on his left ear and show me the book.
"Is this her?" he asked.
I stare at the picture. She looked older, but this is her.
"Yes."
He heaved a sigh and closed the book.
"She was brought to the sanitarium," he said.
My eyes widened. "What?"
Damon touched my hand to stop me from losing all my emotions at once. The officer stared at me for a few moments before opening his mouth to speak.
"She was talking about magic and dragons. Do you think she's on her right mind?" he asked sarcastically.
Oh my gosh.
