SEC Chapter 553: The Countdown To Perish Had Begun
Chapter 553: The Countdown To Perish Had Begun
(Author’s POV)
Garry was panting heavily now as he finished his words. The oath, it had started the backlash. A sharp, bone chilling pain emerged in his spinal cord, ready to crush him up. He growled, "ARRRRGHHHHHH~~~~~ ..." and bit at his lower lip.
Alaric’s brows wrinkled together, seeing Garry react like that. He quickly unbound his hands, tore his shirt off to check his back, and there it was, a black sign of ouroboros, burning like live charcoal going berserk.
The snake sign was circling on his back as if it was alive, making every breath that Garry took frantic. The next second, he retched, once, twice, and his stomach twisted into a knot. Then all of a sudden, everything died down, the pain, the suffering. But within another minute, a stream of blood splattered out of his mouth. Alaric was stunned to see the colour of the blood. It wasn’t the ordinary red or crimson; it was black, pitch black. The poison had started to take its effect.
"Garry~ .... Garry~ ...." Alaric called, startled. He was doubtful of Garry’s words, but now, seeing him going through the suffering with his own eyes, Alaric was sure what he told was all true. He had broken the oath of obedience and now~ ... his countdown to perish from this world has begun. He had only three days left.
With shallow breaths, Garry weakly opened his raven liquid covered mouth and muttered, "Yo~ung Alpha~ .... I have~ ... told y~ou the who~le tru~th. My~ra, that chi~ld .... she posse~sses the most~ covete~d thin~g on ea~rth. I~ .... just~ wan~ted to~ .... wanted to pro~tect~ ... ughhhhhhhh ... I just wanted to protect her. But~ my time~ is near. I~ ... am~ ... a~ ... sinn~er. I must~ pay the pri~ce now. So~ .... in my stea~d, ple~ase ke~ep her safe. Don’t let her~ ... nea~r the vam~pire elde~rs and ... and tell he~r and~ ... prin~cess Nora~ .... arghhhhhh .... tell the~m this old man~ is ... sorry for~ .... everyth~ing."
"I will not say anything to anyone. The apology is for you to give. Tell it to them yourself," Alaric barked.
Garry gave a self depreciating smile through his blackened teeth, his eyes dimming, "You al~so kno~w I can’t do that. And~ ... also~ ... Secr~etary Gr~ey, he is kno~ws noth~ing abo~ut it. Don’t ha~rm him." He took a long pause then added, "I jus~t wan~t to res~t now~ ... take me home~~~~~" After delivering his confession, he slipped from the chair and passed out as if dead.
Alaric quickly checked his pulse as his voice rumpled to call his subordinate, "SHADE~ .... SHADE~~ ...."
Shade came rushing in, and when he saw the scene, his eyes widened. He quickly recovered, "Young Alpha~ .... what~ ...."
"He is still alive, suffering from a poisoned reaction. Bring Elio and healer Hector here~ ... Tell them not to disclose this to anyone," Alaric commanded.
"Yes, young alpha," Shade replied and scurried off immediately.
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"Now that everyone has offered their gifts to his majesty, we should do a toast," Brian urged with a bright smile, his voice loud and clear. Catherine joined in, "Yes, my lord is finally up and about, recovered from such a ghastly accident. It is nothing short of a miracle. So, I would like to do a toast for him. And everyone in this room~ ...." Her voice deliberately slowed down as she glanced around with a calculative smile, "~has to join in." Her eyes settled on Fabian, and her grin widened. She was in a good mood.
"Of course, Elder Richards is right. No person should be left empty handed," Shaun Hart spoke, trying to butter her up. He was from their faction. He then looked at Cynthia and remarked, "But the Raven Shade Clan Leader hasn’t offered anything, as she claimed it hadn’t arrived yet. Clan Leader, it has been so long, or were you bluffing, huh?"
Cynthia arched a brow in his direction, then smiled at him coldly, "You seem quite interested in my present, Clan Leader Hart, even more than his majesty himself. Let me tell you one thing~ .... it is much better than some random essential oils and herbs. Those kinds of things, they are easily available in the market. But what I brought is something memorable."
Before he could give her a counter reply, Cynthia’s phone rang, as she announced, "Ohh~ ... my offering~ ... has just arrived." She then turned towards Jacob and said, "My liege, can you ask some of your men to fetch it? It’s quite heavy."
Jacob waved his hand in acceptance as two of his men left the place with Cynthia leading them.
Brian glared daggers in her direction and mumbled, "Pathetic, low life. Trying to show off in front of us. Tskkkkk~ .... what did she even bring to act so smug? An elephant or a blue whale."
"Whatever it is~ .... it’s just going to waste more time," Catherine added. She didn’t care for the petty drama now Cynthia’s humiliation. Her mind was filled with the thought of getting rid of that sly little human mutt that Jacob kept by his side, Fabian Stephens. She wanted to see him dead as soon as possible.
"Wh~at even on earth is~ ... that?" someone’s amazed, surprise filled voice erupted as everyone gasped.
Catherine and Brian glanced at where everyone was looking, and their eyes instantly dilated. Cynthia Taylor was coming; behind her, Jacob’s men were wheeling a large iron cage, covered with a massive black silk cloth.
She stood just below the steps, as Jacob asked, "Cynthia Taylor .... what have you got there? The packaging is .... massive." His eyes were glued to the cage, glinting. He had already felt the presence of something unusual.
"It’s something you have been looking for, my lord," she answered. "Or maybe~ ... someone."
Her mysteriously puzzling words made Catherine and Brian flinch, as the former felt a cramp in her stomach. As a vampire elder, she could sense the familiar energy coming from the concealed aviary. Her hand on the wine glass tightened.
"Elder Richards~ ... that cage, the energy coming from the cage~ .... it’s weirdly familiar," Brian remarked.
"My liege, can you please come down and do the honours of revealing the thing I brought?" Cynthia asked.
To Be Continued . . . . . . . .