Chapter 18

Lucky couldn't believe what he was reading in front of him. Perhaps his powers were playing a trick on him this time. But... but they've never played a trick on him before, so how could they start now?. At times, he wished he had never been blessed with such powers though no one knew he was capable of reading minds, not even his father. Reading minds were at times a torture because he came across many people's deepest secrets which he was forced to keep as well.. he wasn't social active anyway so it wasn't that hard of a job to do... He tried his best not to read people's minds but other's had loud thoughts and he couldn't help it but listen in or just read them. Right now, Ambrose's thoughts we're loud... she was thinking about something that made her look worried... Lucky was shocked.. Carl was planning on attacking them and he had asked Ambrose for help?. Just because of jealousy?.

Ambrose was standing a few feet in front of him, her back facing him. She was "ashamed" to face him though she had sworn to try her level best in protecting the FireWing clan no matter what. Lucky had to use this to his advantage... The NightWings wanted them dead so taking something small from them through Ambrose would be a small payback.

"What do you want Rose?". Lucky asked her for the second time.

"I.. I thought about it, I will help you out". Rose answered as she slowly turned to face Lucky who was leaning against a tree, his hands tucked in the pockets of the orange hoodie he seemed to never take off or did he have several other pairs of the same hoodie?. Somehow, the hoodies seemed to be oversized... just a little bit but they suited the boy well. Perhaps, he'd grow and fill into his muscles and be like his father... who was.. huuggeee!!..

"It's too late Rose, Rufus doesn't need a jade". Lucky replied. Her head shot up quickly from her feet to look up at him.

What did he mean by Rufus not needing her jade?.

"Is he dead?". She asked, fear emitting from her.. Lucky sized her up and slowly shook his head.

"Not yet".

"What do you mean 'not yet'?. Do you want him dead or what? Why don't you want me to give him my jade?". Ambrose asked almost in a yell. They we're a mile away from the FireWing's mansion.

Lucky took in a deep breathe as he pushed himself from the tree and took two steps in front before stopping. "Because it's too late for a jade to save his life Rose. You had the chance of saving his life, but what did you do?".

"What do you mean?. I did nothing wrong!". Ambrose replied with a small shake of the head.

Lucky's brow shot up, "Are you sure you did nothing wrong Ambrose?. You didn't even come to visit Rufus and see how he was doing.. you refused my offer and yet you say that you 'love' him.. is that really love?".

"I.." Ambrose trailed off.

"You what? Are you going to give me some excuse that you were confused and didn't know what to do?". Lucky asked.. well at times, the reading minds powers really came in handy when you needed to corner someone... they weren't that bad after all.

"I thought you loved Rufus and that you'd do anything for him... but it seems that I was wrong". Lucky said with a huff of annoyance, arms crossed against his chest.

"Lucky don't say that". Ambrose stated.

"The truth hurts Ambrose!. You don't love Rufus. Where were you when he needed you the most? huh? where were you?". Lucky asked.

"I.. I". She trailed off again. It was as if no right words could form in her mouth. Her mind had been completely filtered, she could think of nothing to say.

"You were in the NightWing clan territory plotting against us and now, now you're here pretending and acting as if nothing ever happened. Ambrose you are a traitor!". Lucky exclaimed. Ambrose shook her head, tears welling up her face as she fell down on her knees on the forest floor.

"Lucky No!". Ambrose exclaimed back, wondering how Lucky came to know about her conversation with Carl. Or did Carl double cross her... you know, by telling Lucky so that the FireWings would hate the SeaWing clan. Ambrose knew that Carl could never be trusted, he swore to pull the FireWing clan no matter what, she was afraid of what that man could have done.. she was afraid of her name being tarnished and above it all, she was afraid of loosing the trust that the FireWings had in her.

"What? You're betrothed to the next NightWing chief and you never told us that. How comes you claim that you love Rufus and yet you're betrothed to someone else? Is this a three way or something?". Lucky questioned.

"I swear with my life Lucky, I don't love Carl. My marriage to him is a forced one.. I mean it's for our treaty purposes and nothing else. He's in love with someone else.. so am I". Ambrose explained. "Believe me Lucky, I'm telling the truth.. I can never agree to your clan's fall down. I never agreed with him. Trust me please, I can never betray you Lucky please".

This was now going according to his plans. He gave out a small smile which quickly faded off as he turned to look at Ambrose's trembling body on the forest floor.

"Whom do you love?". He asked, uncrossing his hands and tucking them in the pockets of the cargo shorts he was wearing. He was listening in for her heartbeat and she knew... no one could lie to the Golden Phoenix, it didn't matter if you were from a different clan, all that mattered was that the Golden Phoenix was the most powerful of them all.

"I love Rufus. I've always loved Rufus". She said slowly. There was no skip in her heartbeat. She was telling the truth. Lucky let out a breathe he didn't even know he had been holding back. That was a relief, his plans we're going to fall into place, he just had to put up with the game he started.

"Oh really?". He questioned, the sarcastic tone not missing in his voice.

"Y-Yes I do".

"You hesitated".

"No! No I did not!". Ambrose said, "Please trust me Lucky. I'll do anything... anything to gain your trust back".

Great!..

"Anything?". Lucky asked, leaning forwards a bit to look at her closely. She quickly nodded her head.

"Anything!". She promised.

Lucky straightened up, a smirk on his face. "We shall crack up a deal. You do what I want and I won't tell my father about your betrayal.. and we won't break our treaty with you".

"Okay". Ambrose said, letting out a sigh of relief.

"Stand up". Lucky instructed, she did so. "We can't save Rufus through a jade but there's a way to do so. And by so, we need blood from a NightWing, SeaWing and FireWing and several other herbs which can be found only on their territory". Lucky explained as he gave her a small shit of paper where he had written down the needed herbs.

"And I am to get them for you". Ambrose stated though she had intended to pose it out as a question. Lucky gave a slight nod.

"Yes. You are close to the NightWings than us all. If they see you on their territory, you won't be questioned so getting those herbs will be easier. As for the blood, I believe you'll be wise enough to be able to get it especially from that Carl guy". Lucky said.

"I'll try my best".

"Don't try. Do it. It's for Rufus.. remember that. Time is not on our side so hurry up".

"I will. Trust me!". Ambrose promised, morphing her wings out and flying away fast.

"I'll be waiting". Lucky replied as he watched her fly away. His plan had worked out perfectly fine. All he had to do was wait for the results.

•••••

She smiled. Her son.. she was watching her son and all she wanted to do now was to lunge forward and embrace him tightly but not now... now wasn't the time, she had to help her son out in his plans. Lucky... he was a young handsome boy, tall and lean muscled.. just like Plutonic... he was smart too.. smart than she'd ever thought of him to be.

Ninah was proud of him, she was proud of the young man he had grown up to be and now, now she was going to help him out in everything, she was going to cover up for all the twelve years that she had missed in his life.

"I know you're back. I can feel you". Lucky said as he looked beyond the trees. She didn't know if she was supposed to be happy or panicked that he was aware of her presence.

"He's powerful than we thought". Mirida said, standing behind her.

"And smart too". Ninah added without turning to look at her. Her eyes were on her son.. she was going to do absolutely anything to help him out and keep him safe.

"Go do what you must!. We shall be waiting for you". Mirida said with a smile. Ninah gave a nod then floated away towards the direction that Ambrose took.