Nathan Griffin....
I apologise for the delay in delivering this chapter. Despite it being small, there were several things that I needed to deliver carefully for the future plot line... so I ended up rewriting four times....
Good luck trying to riddle out the things I've hidden 😉
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Sang and Axel had only an hour until they had to leave to catch their flight back to Sacramento. Everly had helpfully arranged a second meeting in the smaller meeting room opposite her office in the HR section of the Academy's offices. Erica and Uncle had been settled in the room with a hot beverage, unaware that it was Sang they would be meeting.
'You don't have to do this, jewel,' Axel reminded Sang as he watched her trying to control her breathing and get herself into the right headspace to say what needed to be said,
'Yes. I do.' Sang opened her eyes to give Axel a level expression,
'The Blackbournes weren't the only ones who let me down in February. These people,' Sang pointed to the meeting room,
'They were meant to be my family and they judged me, with no evidence. While they had letters that were not clear, they both jumped to find me guilty without really taking the time to consider the facts. It's clear to me now that they never accepted me in the first place or they never would have said the things they said that day. Do I think they are bad people? No. Do I think that they never really accepted me for their sons? Yes, I think they never really accepted me.' Axel watched Sang with concerned eyes,
'I don't think it was as simple as that, jewel,' Sang's eyes hardened,
'I do,' Axel held up his hands in surrender,
'This is your show, jewel. You do what you have to,' Sang gave him a hard kiss before standing strait with determination and opening the meeting room door,
'Hello Ms. Lee, Mr. Taylor,' Sang greeted the two individuals in the meeting room. For a moment they did not recognise her as she was wearing a brunette wig and blue contact lenses behind large sunglasses. But when she removed the sunglasses, Erica realised the woman in front of her was Sang Sorensen, Erica jumped up to give her a hug only to be stopped as Sang held her hand out to prevent Erica coming near to her,
'No,' Sang shook her head at Erica sternly. Erica backed off instantly,
'Sadly, that is no longer the relationship we have. I take it the Blackbourne team have yet to explain the situation to you both,' Erica sank back into her seat in trepidation and Uncle was shocked by the quiet calm but steady woman in front of Erica,
'No, we haven't spoken to them since Christmas morning,' Erica spoke lowly. Sang's eyes became colder,
'Yes, when you told them about my children,' both Erica and Uncle were at a loss on how to handle the cool woman they were speaking to, she was so different to the warm, sweet girl they remembered,
'Yes...' Sang sat down in a seat on the opposite side of the table and levelled them both with an expressionless face,
'I will tell you what I told them. Our relationships,' Sang gestured between herself and the two of them,
'Are broken. You broke them,' Erica and Uncle both began to speak but Sang silenced them,
'Let me finish, please. Neither of you gave me the opportunity to speak on that morning. You both levied unsubstantiated, untrue accusations against me without allowing me the chance to even speak, much less defend myself,' Sang's face was an emotionless mask both Erica and Uncle cast their eyes down unable to meet Sang's intense eyes,
'No doubt, now that you are aware that you have grandchildren by me, you want to apologise, maybe say you did not mean what you said that morning,' Erica looked up,
'I didn't mean what I said, I was just upset at losing my son,' Sang shook her head at Erica,
'I don't believe you,' Sang's words were spoken factually,
'I think you might never have said the words as cruelly as you did that morning, but deep down you never really supported the poly family your son was a part of. You thought it was a phase that Kota would grow out of. Having a 'reason' to blame me for everything was an easy release for your true feelings,'
Erica wondered to herself, is that true? Some subconscious part of herself whispered that is was true, she had wanted Kota to find a more traditional relationship as his lifelong commitment.
Uncle hung his head, he hadn't tried to deny his true feelings though they did cause him shame. It was hardly Sang's fault that North and Luke wanted to share their love with their team mates and one girl who'd been utterly innocent prior to meeting the boys,
'What can we do to make this better, Sang?' Uncle asked her simply,
'Right now? Nothing,' Uncle and Erica both cringed away from Sang's brutal candidness,
'With time we will make a new relationship for the sake of my children. But right now all I see is two people who told me I was their family, who promised to treat me with love and respect but when that was put to the test, they betrayed those promises,' Sang placed her palms on the table flat to hide the fact they were shaking with her repressed emotion,
'With the Blackbourne team, at least they had the excuse, however mistaken it was, that they wished to protect me. You two just were just relieved to have an excuse to be rid of me where your sons were concerned. Even now, I believe, you only sit here feeling regret because of the children and that you'd still prefer that I was not in the picture,'
'That is not true.' Uncle raised his head to meet Sang's eyes with honest intention,
'I won't deny I thought you'd eventually hurt my boys. If I'm honest, I always thought you'd leave them when you grew up as a woman,' Some part of Sang understood that Uncle, as a parent, would worry that their different life style was not sustainable into adulthood. But another part of her deeply resented being held solely accountable for what the Blackbourne team had done,
'But I could never wish that Noah and Levi weren't born. And seeing the strong woman you've become, I couldn't wish for a better mother for them,' Sang gave Uncle the tiniest of smiles for the compliment,
'I have already told the Blackbournes that I have no intention of keeping their children from them. And they have been very clear they want to be in the children's lives. But their current assignment will prevent them being near the children for probably another two years,' Uncle and Erica looked at Sang in dismay,
'That long?'
'Yes, at least that long,'
'What about us having an opportunity to see the babies?' Asked Erica in a tone of desperation,
'I'm sorry, but my new team, and so the children as well, is not able to interact physically with you until the last assignment I worked with the Blackbourne team is resolved,' when Erica opened her mouth to protest, Sang explained without remorse,
'The children's safety is at risk so there is no argument that will sway me. However, I will make the same promise to you that I made to the Blackbournes,' Both Erica and Uncle remained silent, knowing in her shoes, they'd do the same to keep their sons safe and hopeful that the gentle girl Sang had been was still an inherent part of her psyche,
'I will make sure the children know who you are to them. They will be given the opportunity to know and care for you as part of their family. Hopefully by the time they are old enough to understand, we will have repaired our relationships to the point they won't be upset about what happened while I was pregnant with them,' Sang removed two USB sticks from her pocket, each labelled with Erica and Uncle's name respectively. She handed each their own memory stick,
'There are photos of Noah and Levi for you Uncle and Kayden for you and Jessica, Erica on these from the time they were born through to yesterday,' both the elder people had tears of gratitude in their eyes as they watched Sang rise from her seat,
'Please remember that you are being watched by someone who means us all harm. Do not display their pictures around your homes. Keep these safe. I am trusting you with the safety of my children because they are your grandchildren too. Hopefully one day I'll be able to trust you again for myself. You will hear from me at least twice a year but like now, it will be unexpected.' Sang dropped her emotionless mask for just a moment so they could see her sadness,
'I truly hope we can repair this... I miss you both. Let Jess know I will find a way to contact her securely soon,' Without another word Sang slipped out the door.
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Volto stood over their new 'guest' who was still knocked out from the drugged dart which remained embedded in her neck.
The room was basic but serviceable. Windowless, including a bed, bedside cabinet, desk and chair. Three doors. One to a shallow closet, the other to a similarly basic bathroom - toilet, shower and hand basin.
There was no handle on the third door leading to the rest of the house. Merely a metal plate that would open and close at Volto's touch.
Volto strode forward, harshly jerking the dart from the captive's skin.
As expected, movement indicated the guest was finally regaining consciousness,
'Good. You are awake,' Volto's white mask caused the female on the bed to stiffen in fear and scoot backward toward the headboard to put as much space between her and her captor as possible,
'What? Does my mask frighten you?' Volto smirked in anticipation,
'I'd be happy to take it off for you...'
The girl on the bed shook her head negatively frantically. In her mind seeing the face of Volto could only mean she was meant to die,
'No? But you and I are going to be such good friends.... partners in fact. You will do everything I ask of you. Otherwise,' Volto removed an envelope of photos from inside their jacket pocket and flung them at the girl. The photos spilled out like accusations across the female's lap and the white bedclothes,
'These will be sent where you least want them to be seen,' the girl's eyes flicked over the pictures in obvious distress, she swallowed over the growing lump in her throat,
'What do you want from me?' Volto laughed in cruel amusement at the girl's attempt at bravery,
'I'll explain when I'm ready. In the meantime, I have some small jobs for you to undertake. So we can build some trust between us...' the ominous tone of voice caused the girl to shiver in terror,
'And just to make my intentions crystal clear...' Volto whipped off the mask now that the action was unexpected.
The girl froze in shock and recognition,
'But y-you a-are...'
''Don't you dare! You are to call me Volto, you bitch!' Volto barked at the girl coldly,
'But why? Why do you need me?' The girl's confusion and tears were taking over, annoying Volto,
'Why? I can give you several reasons. One, because you have the skills I need. Two, you have your own reasons to hate Sang Sorensen. Three, you know or know of almost all the players in this game. A game I have been playing for years and intend to win,' there was a fanaticism in Volto's eyes that scared the girl far more than anything that had come before,
'But finally and most of all, sweetheart... No matter how long I keep you under my control, no one will miss you.'
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Still no correct guesses on Volto1 or Volto2 identities as yet - at least in this universe...
More guesses on who the captive is... I would think now it should be a two horse race...
Sang was tough with Erica and Uncle but I thought it only right to point out their behaviour, in a way, was worse than the Blackbourne team. Their reasons, however subconscious, were selfish.
I think if they fail Sang with the safety of the children though, that little bit of mercy will be gone...
See you Tuesday 💋