Chapter 309: Ghost of My Dreams I
I reluctantly followed behind him, since my other option would be to return to my new room and stew in my own uselessness. Even if I were to fling myself out of the window, would human news channels even report my death for Damon and Blaise to find me?
I highly doubted that the bedsheets would be long enough for me to turn into a rope that I could use to scale down the tower.
At least with Gus, I would be able to get more information to understand what on earth I got myself into and learn more about the tower to plan my future escape. First things first, I had to make sense of what was going on.
"How long have I been asleep?" I asked.
"Not too long," Gus replied, and my eyebrow twitched at the vague response. Now that I knew he was no friend of mine, everything he did rankled me and raised my hackles.
"How long is not too long? An hour? Two hours?" I demanded, my blood rushing through my veins in hot anger. "How long was I out, Gus?"
Gus laughed, unbothered by my temper. "Do you think we can bring you to Upper Lumen in two hours? I’m pretty fast, but even that’s out of the question. Oh, your face is red. How delightful!"
"Upper... Lumen?" I racked my brains, trying to remember where exactly this city was. My knowledge of the various cities around the packs wasn’t as comprehensive as I would have liked, but even then Upper Lumen stuck out as an oddity.
Such a huge human city should not be anywhere near a werewolf pack. My heart sank at the realization. Maybe this place was one of the cities Thunderstrike did business with.
Meanwhile, Gus finally took some pity on me and explained, "You’re now in Upper Lumen, one of the oldest cities in Lumiose."
I staggered back in shock. Lumiose. I wasn’t even in the same country. Fuck. How would Damon and Blaise find me now?
Gus caught my look of dismay and tutted in disapproval. "Don’t look so depressed. Do you know how many people would be willing to sell an arm and leg to stay in the room you stayed in? And to think you’ve been sleeping in it for three days!"
"Three days!" I screeched hysterically. How could I have been knocked out for three days? One blow to the neck shouldn’t have done more than a day’s worth of damage!
"We drugged you after I knocked you out," Gus said, answering my unasked question. "Couldn’t risk you waking up mid-flight after all."
"Who is this ’we’?" I demanded, my heart nearly tearing itself to shreds at this turn of events. Someone had gone through a lot of trouble to get to me. They struck me when I was unaware, when I was most vulnerable, and they brought me to a whole new country. A new city. A room on one of the higher floors of the tallest tower I had ever seen.
They must have wanted me a lot. I couldn’t even think of a proper reason for this... expense. Even if someone wanted to ransom me for money or use me to threaten my mates, they would not have gone this far.
"That’s what you’re about to find out," Gus smiled mysteriously. "If I told you everything, what would be the fun of it all? I’m a proponent of self-learning."
"You’re an asshole," I said with gritted teeth. "I wish I had told Damon about you the first time we met. I would have avoided this fucking mess."
"Would you, really? If not me, then someone else, possibly one less handsome than I am, will take my place. I am a mere cog in the machine of fate." Gus shrugged playfully.
"Besides, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride," Gus pointed out as he led me down a flight of stairs, making sure he stayed at least three steps ahead so that I couldn’t push him down. He shot me a grin, as if we were both in on the joke.
I scowled and stomped after him.
Me pushing him down would not have made a big difference in the grand scheme of things― since he was a vampire, a roll down the stairs wouldn’t kill him.
On the other hand, it would be vastly satisfying, yet he didn’t want to give me this much. We continued to walk in silence. I estimated that we were at least halfway down the tower before Gus finally stopped in his tracks.
"After you," Gus whistled cheerfully as we finally arrived at our destination. An impressive pair of silver doors greeted my vision; there was no way a werewolf was waiting for me in the room. "Open the door, you’ll find that there’s someone that is dying to meet you!"
I narrowed my eyes and gingerly pushed the door open. It swung easily with nary a creak; the hinges were well-maintained. Whoever this mystery person was, they took great care in building maintenance.
I steeled myself, half-expecting a stranger to assault me the moment I walked inside. But instead, only a cozy room greeted my eyes― the room was furnished with simple hardwood furniture, and suffused with the gentle scent of lilies.
And no wonder― there were huge vases of them lining around the interior of the room. I stepped inside carefully and took a closer look; there was a soft plush red carpet lining the floor, along with several bookcases.
Suddenly I was strangely reminded of my home as a child. I shook my head, mentally deriding myself for such a nonsensical thought. If Gus or this mystery person thought I would let my guard down if they created a homey atmosphere, they were going to be severely disappointed.
I saw the back of a woman’s head, as she flipped through a book. Unbidden, goosebumps began to form on my arm, and I subconsciously took a step back, only for Gus’s hand to push me forward again.
"Madame Veronica, I brought Harper here to see you," Gus said, suddenly polite.
The woman seemed to freeze, and after what must be an eternity of stillness, she slowly turned to look at me. My eyes widened, and my knees nearly buckled in shock― that woman had the face that haunted my dreams, ever since I picked up her smiling photograph.
"Mom?"
