Chapter 14 Brewing Storm

Vanessa felt like Khelan was a stranger she met a few minutes ago, although she's known her for more than twenty years. Perhaps, she never paid so much attention to Khelan all this while. That could be the best explanation she could give to herself. However, one thing she definitely knew about that stranger was that, she was very loyal to her master and selling him/her out was not going to be easy. That was why even at the brink of death, she still chose to lie. Even though it wasn't completely a lie. Vanessa had always known Arnold had a part to play in what happened to her fifteen years ago. She felt so wronged and so used that she started planning her revenge the next day after the incident. She even kept Aida and didn't think of legally aborting her nor harming her in any form because she had planned on using her to get back at 'them' at the right time. 'Right time? Was there going to be any right time? Well, waiting for the right time to strike was a waste of time since 'now' is always the right time ' Vanessa thought.

It really hurt her to find out she still didn't know why it happened and what and who gained from her misery. She even hired a private detective to investigate it but he almost lost his life and even went ahead to advice her to stop trying to find answers to her questions since it could cost her, her precious life. She remembered how the detective told her, a powerful yet secret society was behind her 'near' fall from grace period and they would stop at nothing to have her head roll on a serving tray, if she continued to pursue it. However, giving up has never been in her nature, has it? She still wanted to know why she was made a scapegoat for something she knew nothing about till date. Anyway, she wasn't going to let it go. She was going to pursue it, even if it was going to be the end of her. She tuned on the radio in the car and drove peacefully to her destination. Tomorrow was going to be eventful.

*****

Ciara turned uncomfortably in her bed. 'It's going to be a long night' she thought. Despite, the long lecture and consolations she received from Arnold, she still felt empty. She still couldn't sleep and she felt thirsty which made her more uncomfortable adding to her misery. She walked out of her room and took slow steps to the kitchen. She opened the fridge and took a bottle of water. The moment the cold water run down her throat, she had no intention of leaving the bottle half filled. She relished the feel of the cold water until the very last drop. She smiled and giggled and marvelled at the fact that a bottle of cold water could make her happy after such a strenuous day. As she walked out of the kitchen, she heard a voice she was very familiar with and was wondering why he wasn't in bed yet. She could identify Arnold's voice even in her sleep. She walked towards the balcony where the voice was coming from. However, she stopped in her track when she realized there was another person at the balcony. Somehow her curiosity got the best of her and she tiptoed to hide behind the curtains behind the balcony. Fortunately for her, the room behind the balcony where she was hiding was dark and they were too engrossed in their conversation to notice anyone approach them. She stood there and listened to their conversation. She turned pale from what she heard. From where she stood, she saw the people at the balcony. She stood quietly behind the draping curtains and covered her lips tightly with her hands to prevent her from making any sound. Slowly, she decided to retreat, but unfortunately she slumped onto the sofa and she hurriedly stood up only to be dragged into the dark by strong arms. One hand was wrapped protectively around her waist and the other tightly covered her lips. The men at the balcony walked into the room and put on the light.

"Argghh! It's just Lily!" one exclaimed and they walked back to the balcony. Lily, Kelly's fluffy cat had walked in exactly when Ciara had keeled over. It was more like a pleasant coincidence. The arms dragged her out of the room and took her to another room, located on the same floor as the balcony.

"What were you doing there?"