Episode Four

A few New Secrets

Philip wasn't sound asleep tonight. He kept his eyelids open. That would just give Darlene the opening she needed. Staying up all night and worrying is her cathartic release that may or may not even be true, however treacherous or life changing it may be. His eyes were closed, but his mind was running over the fate that awaits them.

Life is at its slipping edge; it could get treacherous any minute.

Philip was suddenly awakened by the loud thought.

He sat up straight, his eyes wide with all senses alert, as if he had seen a ghost. He blinked his eyes open. And first of all that Darlene wasn't under the sheets, and he looked over at the clock. It was five in the morning.

Phillip looked and caught Darlene sitting at the edge of the bed, closing the cabinet at the end. He fretted.

“Oh, what are you up to now honey?”

Darlene sat still; she had no answers. Philip came up from over the bed and sat next to Darlene. He took her palm in his and noticed that her hands were ice cold.

Darlene mumbled, “I was suddenly feeling cold. So I was looking for the fur overlay.”

Philip new Darlene would get frequent chills and spikes of shivers, “It's on the top shelf of the closet.” He immediately rushed. As he was pulling out the heavy fur coat, Phillip heard echoing house.

“Woo……”

He knew it was some werewolf having fun out in the forest, but more importantly, he knew it would get to Darlene So Philip trotted back in a sprint.

As expected, he found Darlene leaning over the balcony, holding her chest and crying bitterly. Her satin night gown flowed in the cold winds. Phillips bent his body for support. As he walked her to the bed yet again.

He brought her in and tucked her into bed. Cozy under layers of blankets through her sobs, Darlene mumbled,

“Don't you find it odd that it's a full moon today? The universe is acting out against us.”

Darlene was interrupted by distant echoing howls, and tears gushed out of her eyes.

Phillip closed the windows tight and drew the curtains shut. He then got into bed under the sheets and spooned her. His intention was to lock her in tight and not let her off again. Darlene understood that.

Phillip spoke softly, Wherever she is, she'll be all right. Now get some sleep. And let me get some too, alright?”

The howls echoed faintly again and Darlene recognized it.

“It's well out there.”

Philip firmly smiled at the house and added, “Sounds like he's having a good time.”

He then looked at Darlene, “I know what you're thinking.”

Darlene shook her head and Phillip continued, “But that was the plan all along honey.”

Darlene wiped the tears on her cheeks with the back of her hand and spoke, “Yes, I know. You have to put the pack above all else. But this is your family. Our daughter.”

Phillip didn't say anything. He let her vent it out completely. But she didn't So Philip stroked her chin and spoke wisely,

“We need to find another way to break the curse. I know Will would be a better fit for the throne but…”

Darlene agitated, “No but! That's the only way out.”

Philip cut her off and replied, “She is my daughter too. Her life is hanging in the balance. I am not just going to sit and watch anything wrong happen to her. Darlene, you have to trust me.”

Darlene wanted a quick fix for the prophecy. And she wanted Will to ascend the throne, so that the element of air is taken out of the mix.

Though Will wasn't the true heir to the throne. They were hoping with fingers crossed that it would work.

Darlene spoke through her tears, “I just want her to be alright.”

Darlene work tears and responded,

“Phil, I know he is like my own kid. I could never see him any differently. But that doesn't mean…,” she stammered with words as she gasped for air, “ that we are disregarding our own daughter.”

Another little thing bothered her today especially more than ever, that Philip was not reacting.

“Does he not care?” He had been awfully calm all throughout. He accepted her midnight rampage without questions. “It seems rather odd,” she thought to herself.

Darlene tried instigating him to get a response.

“The curse it could affect us all. What are we going to do?”

He was still quiet, pretending to be asleep.

“What if the prophecy…, what if it all came true?”

Philip turned to look at her with assuring eyes. He did not say anything. Darlene had had it.

“Phillip, say something. I'm losing my mind here and you're not saying anything.”

He called her in tight and said calmly, “We don't know anything for sure. I don't know what I do either.” Admitting this was very brave of him, “All I know is that no matter what comes our way, I won't let anything happen to her”

Philip had different plans all together. So he kept quiet. Though he wasn't sure if it would break the curse, he knew it was the only way out. It was risky. But it was also their last resort. He hadn't mentioned a word about it to Darlene. Philip went on,

“I won't let anything happen to her or you.”

Tears roll down Darlene’s cheeks.

“For all I know it may or may not be true. I also know I'll do my best to protect her, no matter what. Period.”

Though it didn't make everything all right she, trusted his word, and if he says he's going to take care of it. There's no more doubting it. But that wasn't enough to make the hurt and the pain disappear. It was something she must learn to live with, for the rest of her life.

She turned into Phillip and rested her tear-stained face by his neck. Phillip’s grip tightened around her. He whispered into her ears,

“ Go to sleep now or at least let me,” and kissed her on the head. She smiled and closed her eyes shut, but Philips’s thoughts remained awake.

Phillip was in deep doubt, though they hadn't thought anything through, the date was set. That's right. The date set and yet Darlene doesn't know anything about it. Philip felt helpless at the time and in the haste of things he committed to the First, that Will would ascend the throne.

“That Will would be my successor,” now Philip was rethinking his decisions because of Will’s origins, his birth and the totality of his powers.

Vanessa chuckled.

“ I don't think so. Most probably, it must have been someone from the neighboring pack. No one from our pack would do such a thing.”

Nathaniel shook his head and said, “How are you so sure?”

Vanessa didn't take him seriously.

“Oh, come on now. We know everyone. we know no one would be so brutal.”

Nathaniel took the stand and narrated an incident. Vanessa and Jack open their ears to listen carefully.

“A while back there was a rumor. I don't know how bad it was. But the First were involved in the investigation.”

The two just stared at him wanting to know more. Vanessa pointed out,

“That's how I am sure it wouldn't be someone from our pack. That incident was years back. And there never has been any such incident since.”

There was dead silence in the room. They were visualizing how grave the matter was. But then suddenly Jack stood.

Nathaniel said instant agreement, “That's true. So now it's probably not someone from our pack.”

Nathaniel was not going to rule out the other possibility completely, but there's a definite chance it could have been from the neighboring territory after all years back. Nathaniel had said too much. The incident had happened decades back. It was the time when the Jade and the Courts fell to a bitter rivalry. There had been constant attacks, trespassers, all in all, the park lived in fear, because they traumatized them all.

There was something he couldn't close right away,

“The curse the prophecy in my head at play. Vanessa knows nothing about and she must not too,” Nathaniel contemplated. It was his life's secret.

In Jack's house lay the first victim and Nathaniel swore to himself he do anything and everything to keep the pack safe. Julie's face flashed in front of Jack's eyes. Jack remembered her in the state he had found her and immediately got impatient.

“Enough of this now, forget all that.” He looked at his mother, “Why can't we call a doctor? Will someone please tell me?”

Nathaniel spoke,

“Let's look at this constructively. She is a human and she has been attacked on our land. Evidenced by the smell on her, it's definitely a wolf that has attacked her. Now…”

Vanessa and Jack were listening closely.

“Now if we take her to the hospital, word will get out about the animal attack. We don't know for sure who did it, and it's not we're sending our pack into a complete state of panic.”

Jack and Vanessa both knew that Nathaniel had a point. He went on,

“The other and, the most definite possibility is that a werewolf from our pack has attacked, again without knowing for sure who it was or what happened. We cannot act on it. The pack will panic.”

Jack thought to himself, “He is a true leader of the pack. Sensible and wise.”

Vanessa spoke then, “Who could it be? Everyone knows better than to hunt a human. They all know what the punishment entails. No one from our pack would do such a thing.”

Jack agreed to Vanessa as well, “That's right.”

Vanessa immediately voiced out, “But the Jade, they couldn't have done it. They're the Royals. They won't do such a thing right?” Nathaniel nodded and went on ignoring her comment.

“We're all at a risk. Anyone who hears this incident will surely panic. We take her to the hospital on this date, even the humans were questioned. Again, word will get out.”

Vanessa understood what he said and added to it, “Someone has attacked her, maybe not from our pack, but it has happened on our land that's most important in our territory. The First will question us.”

Jack added, “It could be someone from our pack. We never know. It was a full moon. Anyone can shapeshift”

Nathaniel then contemplated the consequences. If the First get to know about this, there will be serious repercussions.”

They paused for a while and took it all in. This situation was far more serious than it sounded.

Nathaniel went on, “And above all, she is a human. She cannot know anything about any of this, got it?”

Vanessa pinched in yet another angle, “We need to hear from her what happened last night. Until then, we can't really be sure of anything.”

Jack was confused about what to do next.

“Alright, so now what?”

Vanessa understood his concerns, “She's unconscious. By the looks of it, she could wake up any time now. You better be by her side when she wakes up.”

Jack nodded.

“I'll get her some of my clothes and some breakfast for the both of you.”

Jack asked, “Clothes?” but his mom was almost out the door.

She suddenly turned around and came to Jack, “By the way, I found this in one of her pockets, no identity cards or driver's license or anything, just this. I think it must have meant something special. Be sure to give it to her when she wakes up,” and she gave it in his hands.