by Jones, L. A.
"Oh and by the way," She added as she turned to leave, "I want you out of Salem by tomorrow. If not I will tell the Morales family what you have done and unlike their Uncle they are healthy and fine. Meaning if they were in their wolf forms they would love taking a bite out of your hide. I won't kill you but I can't vouch for the others."
She then started to walk out of the center, only stopping to gather up the papers, and without one glance backwards she left.
She did, however, pause to shout at Saul, "as for the pencil stuck in your chest...Get it out yourself!"
Aradia immediately made an anonymous tip to the police and waited on the rooftop of a nearby building. This was to make sure Ricky got arrested but most of all to help her rejuvenate. She had used her powers in good proportions during the fight. However, unless she rested or at least sat still for the next hour she would collapse as the energy left her body.
Two hours later, she saw Ricky get led out in handcuffs. She didn't see Saul but that didn't surprise her. She did feel a bit sorry for Kaiser especially once he found out Ricky had been arrested. But there was not much she could do about that except be his friend. She sighed heavily as Ricky was shoved into the back of a police car. She stared at the car as it sped away. Daylight is coming soon, She realized while staring after it. So Saul won't get far at least not without getting burned.
She knew she could have used her power over fire to end the fight with Saul quickly. However, the man had humiliated and abused her so an easy out was not something Aradia wanted. Furthermore, if she had used fire she would have risked burning the evidence. Namely the Rage, and the files. Aradia glanced down at the papers in her hand. She knew she shouldn't have removed evidence from the scene of a crime but she figured the Rage was enough to put Ricky behind bars.
Most important of all, Aradia realized as she thumbed through the files she needed them to stop an even bigger disaster from happening. She snapped the folder shut and tucked them in her coat. She pulled out her phone and dialed Shayde's number while thinking I only hope I am not too late.
Chapter Thirty-Five
"One more week," Roy muttered through gritted and bloody teeth, "one more week until the tournaments are over."
Melina now thinner than ever just glanced around. She had arrived with Roy at the beginning of the fights two hours ago and so had been forced to sit and watch the Morales family rip each other apart. What she saw, like any fight scenario, were a bunch of people shouting and cheering. Currently, the two wolves fighting in the ring were D and their second cousin Alita. They were both bleeding and wobbling around but like the proud people that they were neither one of them refused to back down.
Her stomach churned with nausea and so to avoid throwing up Melina turned her head away. Of course, the sight on the left was not much better because it was where the wounded sat wallowing in their misery and pain. Several of the little kids were crying and screaming. The healers worked as fast as they could but there were so many of them. Some of the elderly injured couples hung in the background staying so quiet that made it seem as if they were hoping to fade away. The younger and the middle age had the more serious and obvious wounds. Several chunks of flesh were missing from their body, and long claw marks could be seen all over their skin. Some were missing big chunks of their hair, and others were actually missing limbs. The lucky ones were missing things like ears, fingers, and toes.
If you can call it lucky, Melina thought sarcastically. Yeah they might be things that nobody will miss but you still can't call it entirely lucky.
She was so lost in her gloomy thoughts that it was only Alita's loud yelp that got her attention. In an act of trying to end the fight quickly, D had dove and seized Alita's paw. He sink his teeth in, hence the loud yelp, and pulled her off her feet. He then spun her around three times and let her go. The crowd parted and watched as Alita hit one of the trees with a loud horrible crack. Alita slowly shifted into her badly battered and bloody human form. Huge bruises appeared all over her face and body and one of her eyes were starting to swell. D looked reproachful but made no move to help her.
Two weary looking healers moved towards her and helped the poor girl to her feet. After quickly bandaging her torn and bloody hand. D remained in his wolf form and turned his head away.
Adolfo walked into the blood stained circle and looked around at the spectators. They all watched him in hostile silence.
He sighed and raised his hands. "The declared winner of this tournament is Diego Morales!"
The crowd cheered while D just hung his head.
As if their family didn't have enough issues, Melina thought grimly.
"Now," Adolfo went on, "In one hour he will be allowed to heal while his competitor is chosen for the next tournament."
"Jesus! How many more tonight?" Melina lamented while Diego limped away.
He stayed in his wolf form while he licked his bloody wounds.
Roy stared at him while muttering, "the tournaments last until dawn so I suppose ten more at least."
"Ten more?" Melina repeated. She looked like she was about to faint.
The hour passed as if it no more than minutes and Adolfo once again stepped into the circle.
"The next competitor to fight with Diego Morales will be," he paused. Melina couldn't tell whether it was for dramatic flair or because he found it too painful to speak.
The second assumption proved to be false when Adolfo cleared his throat and announced, "Roy Morales!"
Melina felt like she was going to die. Diego also looked heartbroken, and Roy certainly didn't seem too stoked by it. Nevertheless, he slowly got to his feet and tried to walk to the circle. In an instant, Melina threw her arms around his waist and pleaded, "No Roy! Please don't!"
Roy tried feebly to brush Melina off but she refused to let go.
"Please don't do this Roy! For Christ's sake please! I beg you don't do this! You've haven't fully healed yet since your fight last night! You can't fight anymore! You can't! Please I can't bear to watch this again! Please I beg you!"
Roy heaved a heavy breath before finally shoving Melina away. She fell backwards as Roy walked towards the circle. She scrambled to get up and chase after him but unseen hands seem to come out of nowhere. They seized Melina to stop her from rushing to her beloved's side. She fought as hard as she could but she couldn't break free.
"Roy!" She shrieked, "Roy!"
Hearing the pain in her voice, he almost paused. He wanted to look back but he couldn't lest he lose his resolve completely. He kept his head bowed as he moved forward. Slowly, he removed his shirt and pants revealing his specially made werewolf boxer shorts. With some difficultly, he shifted into his werewolf form. D stood up and the two began to circle each other. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Adolfo still kept his face grimly set as he raised his hand in the air.
D and Roy stopped circling each other and growled. A horrible and intense pause happened until Adolfo sighed. He then brought down his hand swiftly and said, "begin!"
Roy and D lunged at each other while Melina screamed and struggled harder.
Suddenly from out of nowhere a huge ball of fire landed straight into the circle. Roy and D leapt back and so did Adolfo. The fire seemed huge but once it hit the center of the circle it died down as if it were nothing more than a signal flare.
Everyone looked around in confusion until Aradia jumped down from her hiding spot and landed straight into the circle. She straightened up and stared at the shocked and wounded faces around her.
She sighed deeply. I could have prevented this, she thought, I could have prevented all this pain and suffering.
She then sighed again and prayed silently for strength. She then pulled out the files from her satchel and said in a very loud voice, "we need to talk!"
Chapter Thirty-Six
At first everyone just stared at her but Adolfo recovered his wits quickly. His face then twisted into an angry scowl.
He marched up to h
er and said, "what the hell do you think you're doing? You have no right to be here!"
"Not even if I have proof that these tournaments to chose the next alpha of the Silver Moon pack are unnecessary?" Aradia inquired.
Adolfo's anger now turned into shocked rage. "What? How dare you?! These tournaments are a time honored tradition amongst the werewolves. Passed down from generation to generation. Used as proof of leadership and strength as demonstrated by our ancestors. Tests of who is worthy and who is not capable of becoming a great Alpha."
"Well do those traditions apply if the previous Alpha was assassinated?" Aradia cocked her head and raised an eyebrow.
Everyone in the crowd gasped.
"What?" Adolfo cried out.
Aradia thrust the files in front of his face. "This is proof! Proof that Adrian was poisoned in a deliberate attempt to provoke these tournaments."
Adolfo sputtered, "how dare you..."
"Read these files!" Aradia cried out as she shoved them into his hands. "I have already sent them to the press, and the other High Hidden council members. These files and the arrest of Ricky Bauer proves that the drug Rage being distributed as a street drug was a cover for its real purpose: to kill certain hidden leaders!"
Adolfo looked through the files.
"Don't you see?" Aradia said as she looked at everyone staring at them in the circle. "This was all part of a plot! With the drug being sold on the streets, no one would suspect that it was being smuggled in as medical drugs as well. It was meant to kill your leader thus weakening you all. Of course, that was only half of it! The drug was being so widely distributed that half of you and the other packs got hooked! It was plan to make the packs of Salem vulnerable! Most especially, the Silver Moon pack by killing your Alpha and provoking these tournaments it was meant to fully break you!"
"How do we know this is all true?" Adolfo demanded, "how do we know you are not lying?"
Aradia stared at him incredulously. "A thirty nine year old man dying of what seems nothing doesn't seem odd to you at all? Looking at the state of this pack is proof that their tactics have worked so far."
"I mean look at them!" Aradia said and thrust an arm out towards the entire crowd. "Look at all these victims! Do you believe that if they were attacked right now they would have a shot in hell of protecting themselves?"
Aradia left the question to fester in the air. It didn't stop her from adding though, "and besides do you know what the drug Rage is made out of?"
Predictably no one answered her. Aradia looked around once before saying, "Us! The drug is made out of us! Vampire, werewolf, fae, and shape-shifter DNA! Blood from us and our kind is used to make this drug! No other chemicals are used at all! The drug is nothing more than a goddamn means of cannibalism! And we are all taking it!"
The looks of horror and gasps were enough to startle even Aradia.
"Furthermore," Aradia pointed to the top file, "I have actual proof that Adrian was targeted and there is another target intended. We the hidden people of Salem are being manipulated and used!"
Needless to say, the tournaments were postponed and put under further scrutiny once an emergency High Hidden Council meeting was called. The target that been marked for death next was Tristan's father King Rian. After he and the other council leaders, the remaining Alphas Adolfo and Castel as well, went through the mountain of evidence that Aradia had gathered things definitely changed. A rehabilitation center was established to help the recovering addicts, and dozens of fae soldiers were sent out to confiscate every single Rage pill they found. Aradia convinced the council to turn them over to the narcotics division in Boston. With so much hidden DNA in the drug it wouldnt affect the humans at all. Since the entire police departments in Boston were human the hiddens wouldn't dare try to steal any of it. Exposure nowadays meant instance death sentence and no hidden dare risk that.
After she successfully convinced them was when Aradia learned that her title and position on the council had been revoked.
"Why?" She asked as close to rudeness as she dared.
King Rian stared straight at her. "Over the last year you have neglected your duties on the council and acted in an a very unacceptable manner. Being a hidden council member is not something you can shirk off. It is a huge and great responsibility! Humans may be allowed to neglect their responsibilities but we hiddens are not! Therefore, if one does not meet the standards of council duty then they must be exiled."
Aradia struggled to speak.
"But...but," she sputtered, "Saul...he...I didn't mean to..."
King Rian waved away her protests. "Whether you meant to or not makes no difference. As in reference to this 'Saul' character your love life is none of our concern. However, it doesn't excuse neglecting your duties. Hell! Neglecting your duties in favor of partying with your boyfriend as the Witch Queen just proves what we suspected all along. You lack the emotional maturity to perform your council duties."
"But then why did you give me the title in the first place?" Aradia demanded.
Brannon sighed. "When you opened the club we were led to believe that you were on an emotional level that you could help positively influence the hidden community of Salem. However, the way you have been acting lately proves that you are not what we thought you are."
"The truth is Aradia," said King Rian, "we gave you the title as a chance to prove yourself."
He sighed heavily and averted his eyes. "And you disappointed us," he muttered, "miserably."
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Shortly afterwards Aradia was asked to leave, and finding no sympathetic eyes in the crowd she turned and left. No sooner did she slam the lodge door's shut when she heard someone running after her. Her good sense argued against it but she couldn't help but feel hopeful. The feeling ended however the moment she turned and saw who it was. Hopefulness was than replaced with curiosity.
"I'm sorry Rai," Tristan said as soon as he caught up with her, "but my father had no choice. I tried to stick up for you really I did but..."
He sighed as while Aradia just stood there with her eyes downcast.
All Tristan could add was, "I am sorry that this happened Aradia really I am."
"Don't be," she muttered.
Tristan's eyes grew wide with shock. "What?"
"It's my own fault," Aradia murmured, "it's my own fault for not thinking with my head and letting my heart dictate my actions. There is a reason, you know, why we have minds in the first place. We need minds to help make logical decisions but I didn't do that. I threw caution to the wind and you can't expect to do that without consequences. All that matters now is making things right."
"It wasn't your fault," Tristan tried to argue, "it was Saul's."
"He used me," Aradia muttered, "he tricked me, and he turned me against my own family and friends. He did all of it."
Tristan opened his mouth to say something but Aradia cut him off, "but the thing is I let him. I let him do all that. Yes people can influence you but they can't make you do anything. I never had to listen to him. I never had to do what he said. I never had to neglect school and everything but I did."
"Yes he ruined my life, and quite possibly my future" Aradia sighed, "but the thing is I let him. I let him do all that and now I have to make it right."
"How are you going to do that?" Tristan inquired, "and do you think you can?"
Aradia sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "I can try."
"But first," she added, "there is something else I got to do."
Scared was just a mild way of putting it, Aradia also felt apprehensive and intimidated. She knew she had many mistakes to make up for. However, this was definitely at the top of her list. She slowly climbed the stairs to the front door, hanging her head the entire time.
What if they don't forgive me? Aradia thought? I mean I wouldn't. After everything I did, I would totally understand if they didn't forgive me. I hope they do though. God! I really hope they do.
After opening the sc
reen door, she lifted her hand to knock but she couldn't make her hand move. She just stood there without budging a muscle with her hand hanging in humility. After a few minutes she sighed heavily.
I can't do this, she thought, I can't ask them to forgive me. Its not that I don't want them to forgive me. I just don't deserve it. I don't deserve their forgiveness. I don't deserve a second chance not with my family or my friends. I don't deserve anything.
She sighed heavily and dropped her hand. For Christ's sake I hit my father I have no right to come back here and ask for them to help me.
She sighed once again and turned to leave. Just then the front door swung open and there stood Ross dressed in his usual black suit with his briefcase in his hand. He had been anxiously glancing at his watch but stopped as soon as he saw Aradia.
He gasped and froze while Aradia just stared at him. For a few agonizing minutes the two of them just stood staring at each other.
Until finally Aradia took a deep breath and said, "I don't suppose it would help if I said I am sorry?"
Ross dropped his briefcase, and for a few moments he stood there quaking. Aradia braced herself for her father to hit her. She wouldn't blame him considering the circumstances. When he began to lunge towards her it seemed to confirm her suspicions. So needless to say, she was very surprised when her father wrapped his arms around her.
He pulled her close and hugged her.
"Oh God Aradia," he whispered, "I have missed you. I have missed you so much."
Aradia broke down and sobbed in her father's arms. "Oh God Daddy, I am sorry. I am so sorry! I am so sorry for the way I acted. I am so sorry Daddy! I am so very sorry."