Chapter 52: Chapter 52

“What are you planning this time? For sure Ares knows you're here. He has many connections.” Sir Anton spoke.

I simply glanced at Hector who just looked at him seriously while holding my hand tightly. I waited for him to answer but his other friend Rusty spoke again.

"If he knows you're here and you're just close to each other, why does he seem to be doing nothing?"

“You know Ares. He knew what his state was now. For sure he has plans. He will not just attack without a plan,” Sir Anton replied.

I nodded in the air. I suddenly felt nervous for the safety of everyone including Mother Soledad and Erika, as well as the rest of their family members. If the war starts here today, they will surely all be affected. No doubt.

Especially my daughter. If only I had no problem.

I heard Hector smile so I looked up at him. His expression seemed to be still mocking so my forehead furrowed.

"Why?"

“I just find it absurd. No matter what he plans to do, he will still die,” he said and shrugged.

I don't know why I was the only one nervous when he said that while his friends were still laughing.

“You go easy still, Apollo. He's still your brother. ”

We all turned to the speaker. My eyes widened when Vera exposed herself to us in her usual outfit still. Her long hair is still braided and she’s really cool to look at. She's like an action star in some movies. Why is she here?

“You know me, Ver. I don’t care whoever it is as long as they can harm my family, I won’t go easy on them,” Hector said abruptly. Do they know each other?

When she finally approached us, I even saw her look down at my hand holding Hector so I automatically withdrew my hand from him. She grinned and raised an eyebrow at me.

"So, you made up?" She mockingly asked me. I could feel the heat all over my face. I feel like this woman is playing some tricks on me.

“Guess what, we found them just coming back from the creek. What do you think they did? ”

I quickly turned to Rusty because of what he said. He laughed as well as Sir Anton so I stared. It was three o'clock in the morning and we were still here, with no intention of sleeping and resting. When we were about to return to the hut, we met them at the same time. I didn't know how I would react because of the meaningful looks they had on us, but this Hector didn't seem to have anything to do with him.

"I see. That’s how you made up, huh,” Vera said devilishly and nodded further.

“We're not—”

“It’s fine, Ana. You are married so there is no problem. You should know how not to conclude anything first so that you can't just make a decision without a plan,” Vera cut me off so my forehead furrowed.

“Do you know what happened? Do you know him?” I asked her. Suddenly everyone's expression was serious. I could see out of the corner of my eyes Hector tilted his head to look at me.

Vera raised a brow at me and even crossed her arms on her chest. “I know what happened and I know Apollo. Hasn't he told you what he is to me?”

I was even more surprised by what she said. Before I could answer, Sir Anton had preceded me.

“Vera, stop it. Anastacia is still not mentally stable. Stop adding fuel to the fire. Let them talk,” he said and looked at me so I looked at him too. I felt Hector take my hand but I immediately withdrew it.

“They should really talk before it gets too late. Anyway, I'll head first downstairs. I'll wait for you, guys. ” She said goodbye and left us there.

I didn't waste any more time. I stood up and quickly said goodbye to Sir Anton. I even heard Hector call me but I didn't pay any attention to it.

The morning came when we still couldn’t talk properly because it seemed to be busy with what. He went to the hut for a while to say hello to Amari and me, but immediately left and returned to the mansion. Even yesterday, I felt as if something was being planned. Vera's sudden texts to me that night were surprising because all I knew was that she was mad at me. I still remember what she said earlier in the mansion about where she was going downstairs. Sir Anton and the others immediately followed her too.

"Rika, I have a question," I asked her and approached her.

She looked up at me while she was biting a ballpoint pen.

"Hmm?"

“Is there another place in the mansion? I mean, like a secret room,” I said and looked at the mansion.

“What do you mean by secret room? Does the one like 50 Shades of Gray? ”

I quickly turned to her because of what she said. She was still laughing so I pulled her out.

"What?!"

"For example, basement or underground space."

She removed the ball pen from her mouth and seemed to think. She looked around her for a moment before turning to me again.

“Mother used to tell me that whenever the Lazarus came home, they were often downstairs. I'm not sure what they're referring to but maybe that is,” said Erika, and looked at me.

"Why? Where is Apollo— ”

“Can you take care of Amari first? I'll be right back,” I told her hurriedly and quickly left her there. She called me but I ignored her and made my way straight to the mansion.

When I entered the mansion, I only remembered that I had not memorized the whole house. How can I find that underground space?

"Ana?"

I quickly turned to the caller and saw Rusty. I looked down at what he was holding and my eyes widened when I realized what it was. It's a rifle and he seems to be wiping it.

“W-what…”

“Ah, this? Just for preparation,” he said sarcastically to me and still laughed.

"What preparation?"

Instead of answering me, he suddenly approached me and held me by my elbow. “You’ll see. Come with me. ”

I could no longer speak when he guided me to where. We walked straight until we reached the kitchen. I was even more surprised when he went straight to the wall next to the refrigerator and had something pressed under the open sink. Just a few seconds later that wall suddenly moved and opened. I was exposed to a staircase down and only dim light provided light there.

I was no longer silent and just let Rusty guide me down. This is probably the underground space I am looking for.

As we walked down the stairs my chest was pounding even harder. I don’t know why but I feel there is something wrong with this place.

"Are you alright?" Rusty suddenly yelled at me. I first looked at the rifle he was holding now before I looked at him.

“Huh? I’m fine. Why? ” I hesitated to answer him. I could hear her squealing.

“You’re trembling, Ana. Relax, Apollo's here, ”he said so I shook my head.

“No, I was just wondering why you’re carrying a rifle here. What is that for? What's up?"

"I told you, it's for—"

He couldn't continue what he was going to say because suddenly another door opened at the bottom, and we could almost cling to it. When I looked at who had opened it, I immediately saw him look down at Rusty's hand holding my elbow. His jaw tightened and he seemed to be waiting for us to get down.

"What are you doing?" He immediately asked his friend so I looked at him sharply.

"You, what are you doing?" I asked him again. His jaw tightened before he turned to me and his expression softened.

“Stay here, Solei. Don't come in— ”

"Why? What’s here? ” I cut off what he was going to say and immediately pulled them both apart so that I could finally enter.

My jaw immediately dropped when a big and large space was exposed to me. Not only that, but it is almost full of different kinds of guns, grenades, and other weapons used in war. My eyes even caught five large containers next to the containers of assorted firearms.

“Solei, please, this place is dangerous. You shouldn't be here. ” I heard Hector say, so I immediately looked at him.

“Why is this place dangerous? What is this? What is there here? Why are there such things here? What's happening?" I can not control myself. I can feel the pain in my chest.

Rusty looked at me for a moment and then left. When I followed the gaze where it was going I saw Sir Anton and the other companions there. Even Vera was there too and seemed to have a thorough conversation. He was also holding a rifle.

After a while, I suddenly felt Hector's gentle hold on me so I turned my gaze back to him. Its eyes were full of pleading.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away. You know what Ares thinks. I just don't want him to get ahead of me again and ruin you again, especially Amari. I don't know what I will do when that happens again, ”he explained softly to me.

“But what are you planning this time? Please, tell me. I don't want to be left behind, Hector. ”

I don’t know why that immediately came out of my mouth. I can no longer explain how I feel because I am still so confused. Why is even Vera here too?

“And what about Vera? How do you know her? ” I added more.

His grip tightened on my hand. “She’s my second cousin. Like her, she's also seeking justice for Tita Ariza and Uncle Dimitrius, your father. It's true that I was the one who shot your father, but it was all a mistake. I had never memorized the use of a gun before because I was skilled with a dagger. I was aiming for someone's head that day but I failed... ”

I sighed. My chest heats up and it seems to go straight to my heart. Does that mean he wants to kill someone else?

“W-what? Who? ”

“That was the same day we received a message from an unknown sender. Someone has been watching your dad for a long time and wants to kill him but they don't get a chance because of your mom. But that day, your mom's men weren't able to protect your dad. That day, I was aiming for Ares' head but he saw me, and there I accidentally shot Uncle Dimitrius. ”

The awkwardness I had felt before was immediately replaced by intense anger. That I was so angry that I could not react immediately. If Hector had been holding me before, I immediately turned my hand away from his arm and clung to it tightly.

I suddenly remembered what he told me that day. What he said about dad’s death. I didn’t even pay attention to that because I didn’t think he could do that before. But after what he did to me the same day, yeah, he's capable of everything. And I didn't even think of that.

"Have you talked yet?" Vera was kind to me when I stood next to her. I glanced at her for a moment and nodded.

"So, are you now ready for the big thing?"

"Solei!"

"Vera!"

Things are happening too fast. After the rumors of that shout by Hector and the rest of us followed the sudden explosion of what. With the sheer force of the impact of the explosion, I could feel myself ejaculating and hitting my back with what was a hard object. When I opened my eyes, I was exposed to the flaming surroundings and all that was there was devastation. The other wall still collapsed.

"H-Hector!" I screamed as I tried to stand up but that’s when I just felt the heavy thing on my thigh.

When I looked at what it was I was completely enveloped in fear when I saw a block of rock running down my bleeding thigh.

"Solei!"