Back in Dolphus' Hut, at Author's POV
The night settled, and the deep sense of unrest enveloped the Devlin family and the Grayback pack in the search for Sebastian. Reina and Priscilla joined hands in desperation, as their voices call for his name piercing the dark forest. Priscilla followed her instincts. That mystical pull of a mother to her son as her ears strain at every small sound. Her thoughts spiraled, betraying her calm. This is her biological son that's missing. The one of her own blood whom she prayed for every night and almost died for.
"There he is!", Reina yelled as she and Priscilla hurriedly ran towards Sebastian who's kneeling near Dolphus' hut. Even only with his back shown, they could easily tell it's him.
Sebastian looked fixedly at his bloody hands with his eyes slowly widening. He flinched, as if he just woken up from a very bad dream. His lips parted as it trembled, while his eyes pooled with tears. "What have I done…", he whispered, gawking at the decapitated body of Dolphus.
The closer Reina and Priscilla get to Sebastian, the stronger the scent of blood dampens the air. Sebastian wasn't moving. He was just there, kneeling... looking down. The smile on their faces for finally finding Sebastian after hours of looking for him slowly vanished when they caught a glimpse of a body on the ground. All the more, they both gasp seeing what Sebastian has been rubbing off in his hands. Blood.
It wasn't the dark tricking them. It was real. Reina gaped at the headless body of Dolphus bathing in his own blood. "What have you done, Seb?", Reina's voice shook, but her words were sharp after reading the situation. Priscilla embraced Sebastian who's not moving from where he is kneeling. She was heartbroken seeing her son frozen, staring blankly on his bloody hands. "Se.. Sebastian.. why did you kill Elder Dolphus?", Reina tightened her face in disbelief.
With a face contorted of rage and displeasure, Priscilla stood up and slapped Reina across her cheek. "How dare you put this on your brother?!", Priscilla outrageously asked. "He didn't kill Dolphus! A nagua! A nagua, right son? It's the nagua and Diana's doing!! They killed Dolphus !!", she furiously and breathlessly uttered in anger.. Baffled, Reina looked at her mother as she held her stinging cheek from Priscilla's slap. She turned her gaze at Sebastian who's still in a daze.
"Take your brother home, I'll take care of Dolphus..", Priscilla ordered, with gritted teeth. With uncertainty, Reina didn't moved an inch. She furrowed her brows at her mother hesitating to support her judgment.
"I said GO REINA!", Priscilla shouted, pushing her daughter.
Despite doubtful, Reina helped her brother up and brought him downriver first to wash, leaving Priscilla with Dolphus' perished flesh and bones. Sebastian remained deadpan, dragged away like a lifeless doll. Hand in hand, the siblings reached the river rushing down gorges. Reina pulled Sebastian down on the rocks, rolled up her sleeves and extended her brother's hands to the water. "What happened Seb?", Reina asked, washing the bloody evidences on Sebastian's hands.
Sebastian responded with ambiguity, as he tremble with every breath. Reina calmed her dear brother holding and squeezing his hands. Before she turned away, Sebastian gripped her hands back. "I thought it was just a dream, Reina.. A really good one.. until it turned to a nightmare where I couldn't move my body despite being wide awake..", Sebastian said with fear in his eyes. "Just when the pain torture my body, there's this black bird. It flew from my window. For a moment, I thought it was a raven. When I looked closely, I was bewildered with its eyes that sparkled like a yellow gem..", he gasped a little. "It mind-talked me offering to cure my leg. I said no.", holding on Reina's hands tightly, Sebastian continued narrating his frightful experience. The fear in his eyes swelled. "It didn't leave, Reina.. It was just there, staring like it's waiting for me to change my mind. Then, I felt my wound sting, followed by an unbearable burning sensation... That's when I said yes.", Sebastian anxiously said. Then, Sebastian grabbed his hair with his both hands as he widen his eyes. "Everything went fast. With a flap of a wing, the bird magically cured my leg, until there's no longer a sting or any burns felt under my skin.. and that was the end of a good dream", Sebastian put up a straight face. "I stood up but I can't feel my legs, I opened the door but I can't feel my hands. It's like.. something has taken over of my body.. at this time, I wanted to wake up!", Sebastian breathlessly said. Reina followed Sebastian's every word. She listened without letting that tear fall that has been standing by the corner of her eyes. "I walked through the woods, following a certain man. I recognized the scent of his body heat, and the aroma of his favorite flue. The next thing I know.. Dolphus is already dead in front of me". Sebastian lowered his gaze, as his conscience tear apart. "Reina! Reina I didn't do it. You have to believe me!!", Sebastian apprehensively insisted as he grab Reina's shoulders. In a wolf clan, murdering a fellow wolf is punishable by death.
Reina couldn't find the right words to say. Sebastian's scent was all over Dolphus' body. However, the fright that is lingering in his brother's eyes scared her more. "Maybe Diana can help us", she assumed.
"Diana? What does she have to do with this?", Sebastian asked.
"She was found speaking with… a nagua too.", Reina told Sebastian, that somehow cleared her brother's face. "But first, let's get you cleaned up. Then we'll figure out what we'll do.".
Meanwhile
Tracking Sebastian's scent near Dolphus' hut, Scott and the pack smelled something burning in the air that made their steps shift to rapid strides. As soon as they arrive, they were surprised to see the old man's home being devoured by fire. Damon hurriedly pulled Priscilla who was standing near the flames. She was neither in shock, nor hysterical. She was just standing there as if she was making sure that the fire burns every piece of wood in that hut.
Frantically, the rest of the pack tried to put the fire out on the already heavily burning down hut. Gathering wooden buckets, Lucas and Cory fetched water from the deep well pitcher pump as David madly pull the lever up and down. They took turns splashing water at the blaze. Allen, Scott and Austin removed their shirts, soaked it with water and tried to smother the fire back and forth.
After all their efforts, the hut was already consumed by the flames far beyond from being saved. The pack could only watch it turn to ashes. As Scott watches the hut burn down, he caught a glimpse of a body burning inside the hut. He peered through the fire... and a hunch piqued his mind. Then he sees the ground disturbed, something dragged and hidden. He turned away. His feet led him to his mother, who's eyes were relaxed, which seemed more like a relief. "These tracks... were covered".
"He didn't do it Scott. You know him", Priscilla said, without tearing. She have cried so many tears, that not even one rolled down her cheek. Damon stood beside his mother, clueless of what they are talking about.
"I am not one to judge. Let the evidence talk.", Scott said.
"What? For all we know, Diana did all of these.", Priscilla turned to Scott, with eyes now burning like fire. "Wake up, son. It is us whom you should protect.. not some unusual girl you imprinted on. Listen to your father.. listen to me.", she insisted.
"Go home Priscilla, you're tired", Scott walked off, as he tap her shoulder.
Priscilla held Scott's hand on her shoulder and said, "Don't fail us".
Scott then ordered David and Allen to investigate on the death of Elder Dolphus, while Damon will have to go back to the city to handle the important affairs in the company. Austin will act as the clan's chieftain to initiate the necessary preparations and ceremonies in the town, mainly the mass burial, town rebuilding and town maintenance. Thereby leaving Scott, Lucas and Cory to go on a voyage in search for the Luna. A long day equalling the long night.
At this time, in the Cellar for Prisoners, at Author's POV
Alarick was detained in the dark and cold cellar, as he recover from the kicks and punches he received from Scott. He sat in the corner where there's a little light seeping from the tiny hole on the wall. His food was served a little while earlier, but he had no appetite for sausages and pasta. In a moment, he heard footsteps nearing his cellar. Directing his eyes towards the corridor, he saw his trusted friend, Adoff, walking closely beyond the jail bars. "Have you done what I asked you to do?", he asked, as he held the jail bars with both of his hands.
"Yes, Elder Alarick. Everything's being cooked", Adoff whispered, looking out.
"Good. You need to convince the people that Diana and her pet nagua have summoned the lycan to this town.", Alarick added.
"Got it, some actually believed it. While some are hesitant.. by the way, there's something that have happened downriver", Adoff sighed.
"What is it??", Alarick squinted his eyes at Adoff who looks pitifully sad.
"The Devlin son, Sebastian? He killed Dolphus.", Adoff said.
"WHAT?! Dolphus is Dead??? ", Alarick exclaimed in shock.
"I heard the kid claimed that a nagua possessed his body and killed Elder Dolphus", Adoff explained.
"Damn it!! ", Alarick punched the jail bars in anger.
"Do we do something about it?", Adoff asked, as he handed over a pack of cigarettes.
"No, I think I have a better idea", Alarick said as he darkened his eyes.