Loving Ashlynn (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 59 - Fragments (Samson Conrad POV) Pt. 3

Chapter 59 – Fragments (Samson Conrad POV) Pt. 3

"Does it bother you even a little?" Rafael asks Luca as we fill the carts with food. When Luca stares at him pointedly, Rafael flicks his eyes around the area before leaning in. "I mean you were so careful in your decisions in Bend-"

Luca nods, before quickly interrupting Rafael, "Yeah because I did not want my father to find out. You know what he was like, any hint of who Imogen and I were and he'd find some way to use us both to his advantage. He called the Elders Rafael, he took the bait," I nod in agreement.

Luca said it right. "They're on the television telling everyone not to fear shifters and supernaturals, but also telling supernaturals to seek aid from them... I feel like... even before Fatima arrived," I explain whispering. "Dad always said that the Elders have plenty of werewolves under their thumb, but as for other shifters and supernaturals, they stay clear of the Elders."

He nods; putting a bag of bread loafs in the cart.

"Plus, while Faith might own the property in North Dakota, I'm pleased that she did not want to go in there to explore," Luca adds as I put peanut butter in the cart, reaching for grape and strawberry jelly. I nod. "You're naturally curious, but Rafael you're also human, and kind of..."

"Useless," I finish for Luca, shrugging when he rolls his eyes. "I'm not being unkind, I'm being honest," I say to Luca before facing Rafael completely, "You cannot help us should we need to fight, and Fatima has a broken wrist, I mean you blow on her too hard and she can break," I blurt out fear and worry building inside me as I say the words.

"Luca and I are the only ones that can shift," I whisper the last word, "Fatima cannot fight or defend herself, Imogen is not much better. You are human; you cannot win against someone like us. We don't know who was there... and from what we did see they did not seem to have security cameras. How powerful do you think they could be if they did not even need to keep guard?"

I swallow a bit of the building dread.

"We were a den, a few people lived on distant areas of our property back in Bend, and we still had surveillance. It did not appear to be like that in North Dakota."

As we proceed, Rafael remains silent, adding to the cart.

"I accepted everything you told me once before," Rafael says.

He knew everything by way of Luca.

"I just think that you guys were meant to do something with all your gifts, hell you and Imogen left a world to do just that but you haven't. You have not look for the others sent with you, you two just... you've done nothing but cheat on your wife Luca," my mouth drops open but I turn facing away from them quickly. Damn and I thought Fatima was blunt.

"Low blow," Luca says easily. "But still we couldn't do much more than we have. Not really. Seraphima's host is only now of age, we couldn't just run off," Rhys is speaking. We finish shopping, picking up everything we need, clothes, food and a few packets of paper. Luca remains silent, his eyes nearly glazed over but moving through the motions, while Rafael was much the same.

I couldn't understand Rafael's need for action, but I also couldn't fault him for wanting us to help others. Just as I think it, glancing his way I see him looking at a woman with three children checking out their items. One in the booster seat of the cart, the other in the cart and one maybe five to seven at her side was looking at the candy beside the conveyer belt.

There were many lives at risk and that is what Rafael saw.

On the other hand I wonder if he realized what type of panic would ensue if we just let it slip the air is going to be poisonous. First there were problems with how to get that out there. It's not like we could just say it and make everyone believe, let rumor and gossip handle getting it out there. No, we would have to put Fatima front and center, placing a giant bullseye on her back. Even then, who are billions of people going to believe? The Elders who were promising that the supernaturals of the world aimed to live in peace with humans? Or the human government that would call Fatima a quack for even putting out such a statement: what proof do you have? They'd ask.