Two Red Strings

Chapter 9

Magnolia leapt over the fence and into her backyard. She shifted back as she landed. She rolled into the wild clover patch that grew in the middle of her backyard. She groaned as the impact got to her, and for the fact that she had her duffle bag with her and that she landed on it. Magnolia struggled to push herself up.

But with the tension now (and order from Gérard), Magnolia pushed herself up. "Levi! Levi!" She shouted as she ran inside. "Levi!" She called again, running straight into the living room. There wasn't anyone. Not even Diego taking a siesta. "Magnolia?" Levi called as he came downstairs.

"Magnolia, what's wrong?" He asked, sensing her tension. As soon as he had reached the foot of the stairs, Magnolia ran into his body.

"It's Golden Bell! They're coming!" She cried. Levi blinked his eyes with confusion. He grabbed her shoulders. "Magnolia, Golden Bell is in Scotland. We're in America. At most, they'd attack our English packs." Levi assured. Still, Magnolia shook her head.

"No! They are here, Levi!" She continued. "Does Father know about it?" He asked, bending over to level with his sister. "Tavi said that he would tell Papa." Magnolia explained, rubbing her red and swollen eyes. Levi took her hands to prevent her from rubbing further.

Levi walked over to the phone, bringing Magnolia along. "I'm calling the pack house, just in case Octavian didn't reach on time. If anything happens before then, Father won't be able to have reinforcement quick enough." Levi explained as Magnolia sat on the couch.

"Hello, the line you have reached is prohibited..." Levi heard a woman. "Per Ardua Ad Astra. Altiora Petamus. Volente Deo, Lucete Stellae."  There was a bit of silence on the line. Levi curled his lips in, hoping that someone would answer.

"This is the Alpha of White Fang speaking." He heard Jëager. Levi let out a sigh of relief. Magnolia gripped her shorts tighter. Levi comforted her by caressing her hair.

"Father, it's about Magnolia and her mate. And Golden Bell." Everything became serious. "What's happening now? I heard part of the story from the vampire just now." Jëager demanded. Levi handed the phone to Magnolia. She took it with shaky hands. "Papa?" She whimpered.

"Magnolia? What happened? Are you alright?" Jëager was very worried when he heard the tone of his daughter. Tears leaked from her eyes. "Someone said that I'm being hunted by Golden Bell." She explained. "Who is that someone?" Jëager asked. "I don't know... Tavi calls him MF." She cried harder.

"Don't worry. I'll get reinforcements from our allied packs. As of now, concentrate on your studies. I can't have it disrupted because of a war." Jëager said. "Okay." Magnolia muttered, trying to hold back her tears. "Stay with those two friends of yours at all times. And make sure that your mate is also close to them." He advised.

"You mean the whole world to me, Magnolia. I don't want to lose you, like how I lost your mother." Magnolia could sensed that Jëager was reminiscing. The thought triggered a tear-jerking memory.

It was just a quiet morning that day. Ethel was just resting against the old willow tree in the garden, reading a book to Magnolia. Silently, Ethel stopped reading. As young and naive as she was, the young child had thought her mother had fallen asleep. At least until she couldn't feel her mother's pulse.

"I will, Papa. I'll stay with Angey and Camey. And keep Myoy safe." A moment of silence. "I love you Magnolia. I want you to know that very well." Jëager whispered. "I love you too, Papa." Magnolia whispered. Jëager hung up. Levi took the phone from herself and called someone else.