[06 - The Pawns in Play]

The moment Elijah's feet touched the ground, Seraphina was reported of arrival. He might think that it was his brother's accident that brought him back home earlier than he had planned, Elijah did not know that it was his fate that brought him back. It was Seraphina who made him come back early.

She was in her office designing a gown for a red carpet event that her client when she received a message about Elijah's arrival along with a few pictures of his of his stepping out of the plane, walking towards his car, and leaving the airport.

Seraphina placed the colored pencil down as she stared the picture of Elijah in her cell phone. There were not enough memories for her to remember Elijah. The one memory that she could still vividly recall was of her 5th birthday.

A huge party was thrown to celebrate her 5th birthday at the farmhouse that was owned by her family. Seraphina remembered how much her parents and brothers loved and pampered her. That was a time when Marcus Grayson, William Sullivan, and Daniel Thompson were her father's friends and business partners.

That night, the 5 years old, naïve and innocent Seraphina had followed Ethan to the forest because he had said that he had something special and magical to show her. Seraphina, who had loved the idea of magic did not refuse and ended up following Ethan only to be left alone in the dark forest.

She had injured herself while trying to find a way back home but got lost. Till now she didn't know how many hours she had spent lost and crying in the forest. The only thing that stuck out in that memory was Elijah extending his hand towards her, surrounded by bright light that was coming from the torch that he was carrying.

It was Elijah who had found her that night. As she had hurt her knees and twisted her ankle, Elijah had given her a piggy back ride all the way back to the farmhouse. 

The usually cold and taciturn older brother that Elijah was to her in her childhood, had helped her, wiped her tears away, carried her back home, and even comforted her.

The same year, only a few months later, Elijah went away to live with his grandfather in a different state. It was the last time that Seraphina had seen him. 

Elijah wasn't there when her family was murdered at the hands of his father and his accomplices, he wasn't there when she was being held captive and tortured, he was still away when she was left to die. But he was still an enemy.

Though Elijah might not have been involved in the crimes committed against her and her family, he was still a Grayson. He was a Grayson by flesh, blood, mind, heart, and soul.

Over the years, during her research Seraphina found a number of incidents that tell the tale of how cruel and monstrous Elijah Grayson is. The eldest son and heir of the Grayson family was involved in a number of assault cases, abetment of suicide, fraud, drug trafficking, and even murder!

He was by no means innocent. He used his money and power to get out of all these cases and destroy the proofs that could implicate him. 

But he will surely get what he deserves. Seraphina was going to make sure that he does.

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Meanwhile, at the hospital, Elijah walked through the sterile halls with a grave expression on his face. He rushed over to the room where his brother was admitted to and noticed his mother and father stepping out of the room.

"Mom!" Elijah covered the rest of distance taking long strides and pulled his mother in a hug. 

"Elijah!" Katherine exclaimed softly as she embraced her eldest child. Her eyes were red from crying, "Thank God you are here." she whispered to which Elijah nodded positively.

"How is he?" he asked his father, Marcus, gently pulling back from the hug.

"He's out of danger but still is unconscious. Come." said Marcus in a soft yet firm voice as the three of them walked back inside Ethan's room.

The sight of his brother hooked up to machines and tubes was a punch to the gut. He had always seen Ethan as a wild and cheerful spirit, seeing him so pale and unconscious was a stab to his heart. He pulled a stool beside Ethan's bed to sit and then placed his hand over his brother's.

"The doctors say he needs to stay here for at least a week and then undergo physiotherapy." informed Marcus as he placed his hand over Elijah's shoulder, "He is going to be fine, son."

Elijah nodded, absorbing the information, his gaze not moving away from Ethan and focused on the rise and fall of his younger brother's chest indicating that he was breathing, he was alive, "What exactly happened, Dad? What did the police say?"

Marcus sighed, running a hand through his hair, "Ethan was racing against another car. The chief of police thinks it was just a case of reckless driving, but I suspect there's more to it."

Elijah's eyes narrowed, "You mean to say someone deliberately did this!" his voice grew louder.

Marcus nodded and continued, "Two cars collided with Ethan's, and one of those drivers has already been caught."

"And the other?" asked Elijah.

"Still at large. But I have people on it." Marcus replied, his tone leaving no doubt about the fate that awaited both the drivers.

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Across the city, Seraphina sat in her private studio, a brush in hand. She stared at the canvas before her, the dark, twisted images taking shape under her skilled strokes. This painting, like many others that she had created, was a reflection of her nightmares. But with a twist of her own.

In her paintings, Seraphina was not the victim, but the avenger. The scene that she had just finished painting on the canvas depicted her standing over her abuser's body, the face of her abuser twisted in fear and pain. Her own visage was calm, almost serene, as she delivered justice by shooting point blank in his head.

Seraphina stepped back, studying the painting with a critical eye, "One day, this will be your reality, Marcus." she murmured, her voice cold and resolute.

Once done, she placed the painting aside to dry and went over to the washbasin to clean her hands along with the brushes and palette she had used to paint.

Once done, Seraphina went to her secret room stuck on the wall a picture of Elijah that was taken today at the airport. She pinned that picture in the center of the web that she had created.

"You'll be my biggest pawn, Elijah." she whispered to herself, a smirk playing on her lips, "With you, I'll bring all my enemies to their knees."

"But first, let's give your father a surprise. I am sure he would not be delighted." she giggled and walked a few steps back to pick up a dart and throw it at Marcus's picture, hitting him in the forehead.

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Marcus had come back home to freshen up and shower when he received a call from William, "Tell me that you have done what I had told you to do."

"That driver is dead." Marcus smiled hearing William's response but the latter wasn't done yet, "He suffered from a heart attack and died in the lock-up at the police station before our men could take any action."

Marcus's smile faltered hearing the news. That driver's death was imminent, what Marcus was upset about was that he could not punish that man for the injuries inflicted upon his son.

The man who Marcus had planned to inflict twice as much wounds upon, died of natural causes. That was unacceptable!

Marcus slammed his hand against the wall and cursed but he could do nothing about it. Not only was he not able to hurt the man who hurt Ethan but with his death, Marcus now has no concrete means to find about who the other driver was.

For the first time since years, Marcus had lost and he pretty mad about it.

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Unlike Marcus, Seraphina was in a happy mood. It was nothing major but a victory was still a victory. She had successfully taken away from Marcus the piece to vent his anger and the sole source that could provide him with the information about the second person responsible for Ethan's accident.

Marcus believed that the driver whom the police had caught had died but in reality that was all a play.

Police didn't catch him, Seraphina had told the man to surrender. Also, he didn't die either. The medical field had advanced so much in the current era that by swallowing a small tablet, one could mimic the symptoms of a heart attack and even death.

It was her plan to help the man escape from lock-up and from Marcus's radar. The man was taken to a safe place and given the antidote to survive and a new identity along with enough money to escape to a different country and start a new life.

"This is only the beginning, Marcus." she whispered to herself, her eyes glinting with satisfaction, "You won't know what hit you until it's too late."

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The next day, morning sunlight streamed through the large windows of Ethan's room at the hospital, casting long shadows across the polished floors. Elijah, who had stayed for the night, was woken up by the buzzing sound of his cell phone.

"Hello." he answered the call without checking the caller's name.

"I am sorry to disturb you, sir. But there's an important document that need your signature. I have emailed the document to you, please check." it was Margaret, his secretary who had called him.

"Hhmm, okay. I'll get back to you." responded Elijah, "Is there anything else?" he asked.

"No, sir." replied Margaret.

"Okay." said Elijah before ending the call.

Placing his cell phone aside, Elijah rubbed his hands over his face wiping away the sleep from his eyes before checking on Ethan. His younger brother was still unconscious and despite all of the doctor's assurances, Elijah was still extremely concerned.

"Get well soon, brother." he whispered while holding Ethan's hand in his.

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Later that afternoon, Ethan finally gained consciousness. He woke up to the sterile smell of antiseptic and the soft beeping of medical machines. Ethan had to blink his eyes a few times to adjust to the brightly lit room.

"W-h-a-t?" his throat felt dry and painful as if he had swallowed mouthfuls of sand. He also couldn't move his arms and legs without wincing because of acute pain, "Ah!"

His moan of pain caught the attention of Marcus and Katherine who had come back to relieve Elijah so that he could go back home to freshen up and have breakfast before joining them back at the hospital.

"Ethan!" both Marcus and Katherine rushed to their son's side, "Good morning?" croaked Ethan. He was still unclear about where he was and why it pained so much to move.

"Oh, son!" Katherine burst into tears and laid her head gently on her son's chest as she hugged him, "Thank God you woke up!"

Marcus's eyes were red to as he patted Ethan's head gently, "You almost gave me a heart attack you know. Who drives so recklessly like you did!" his tone was a mix of sternness and relief, "See, you got into such a severe accident."

Marcus's words refreshed Ethan's memory and the latter recalled what had happened that night, how he had gotten into an accident while going back home.

"Sorry." he apologized, "You guys can scold me all you want but can I have some water first?" Ethan joked making his parents smile through tears.

Marcus poured a glass of water for Ethan while Katherine adjusted his bed so that Ethan was now in half-sitting, half-lying position. Marcus helped Ethan drink water, the sweet moment between the three of them was being recorded and telecasted live to Seraphina who sat in her office sipping on a cup of coffee.