Shadows of Destiny

131 The Phone Call

~Sylvester~

Leo’s explanation made a lot of sense, and I was afraid and eager simultaneously.

I was afraid we might not be able to help Jake, but keen that Yuri would reach out to me.

It was about time he did so.

If there was anything I could read about his personality was that the man was very arrogant.

He must believe he had the upper hand for him to remain silent after all that had happened.

Not having any dealings with him also made me nervous.

What if Yuri was dead, and we were just dealing with an illusion?

He wasn't anywhere. No one seems to be able to point out his location. He was like a ghost.

What if he had killed over somewhere and someone, maybe his child, was trying to realise his dream

by all means? It was a wild guess, but anything could be possible with how everything was unfolding.

"You say they are on their way?" I asked Leo, and he nodded.

I could tell he was a bit stressed out. I would be too.

Too many things were happening around him. He needed a breather; we all did. I hoped we would get

it soon because I was tired.

We waited for Erik in the hallway, and he joined us.

He still had his lab coat on. He must have been interrupted in the middle of something.

"Hope we did not interrupt a process?’ I asked him, and he shook his head.

"Not at all, your majesty. Nelson is becoming a pro, you see. He is handling it effectively. The Agk32 is

almost ready. I plan to start working on the improved version tonight. I am still studying Leo's genetic

and DNA patterns to understand the code that enables him to retain his alpha capacity," He said, and I

nodded.

I did not understand anything he was saying. My mind was muddled up with worry and uncertainties.

"That is great news. Worst case, we would use the old formula. Another rash would not be a deterrent

for the cause," David said, and even though it was meant to be a joke, no one laughed. The situation

was dire, and we all knew it.

I cleared my throat to get everyone's attention and then directed my words to Erik.

"Leo is of the notion that the poison was injected into Jake deliberately. We want to find out if Melvin

created any poison for Yuri and what the antidote is,” I said, and Erik understood.

"I was also thinking the same. Although we have administered AgK32 in his system, there might be a

possibility that the By-product of AgK32 isn't the culprit here. It might be something else entirely. I am

ready to run tests on Jake upon arrival, but I might not have the time required to solve the problem,’ he

confessed, and I could hear the concern in his voice.

It was difficult for Erik to admit he couldn't do something.

"Okay, shall we question Melvin now since time isn't on our side?" David asked, and I nodded.

The earlier we get to the matter, the better.

We went to the deeper cells of the Estate. There wasn't anyone there. Tamia had forced me to stop

locking people there. The prisoners were either in prison or released out of sympathy.

The Estate wasn't as populated as it once was. Even the trophies I got were mostly gone; some were

married, while others chose to return to their packs. The few that remained were a fraction of the

former number.

Eventually, I would have to send them all away. Hopefully, they will fall in love and move on.

We reached the cell holding Melvin, and I ordered the Kappa to let us in.

It was dark. There was no light in the cell, nor was there a light in the hallway.

It was kept that way for a purpose.

Darkness and solitude could break a mind, and I planned to break Melvin and Ighor.

Marcel had done an excellent job upgrading the place.

Now they had a bed and a toilet.

It used to be a mattress and bucket, but we got generous.

Marcel would sometime argue that we typically lock up suspects and thus should not be treated as

convicted felons. Well, he was right, but this bastard, Melvin, wasn't a suspect. He was guilty of the

crime he was locked up for. Lucky bastard.

The lights were turned on, and the dark place was illuminated immediately.

The bastard groaned.

I could see Bryce had done a number on him. He had bruises all over, and one eye was swollen shut.

Bryce must have beat him up while he was in silver chains.

That was the only reason he was yet to heal from the beating.

I figured the beating wasn't the punishment. The pain of the beating was the punishment, and I liked

Bryce's sense of humour.

Melvin was finding it difficult to open his eyes, and I decided to give him time for his free eye to adjust

to the light.

"We don't have all day, traitor," Erik said with a tinge of rage. He, of all people, will understand the

urgency of the matter.

Melvin struggled to open his good eye, and when he finally did, I asked him to stand up. Though in

chains, he was able to move freely.

"Your majesty," he said with a raspy voice. His throat was dry, so I called a kappa to bring him water. I

wasn't being kind, but he needed to be able to speak. I waited for the Kappa to get the water, and when

he had a sip, I ordered the Kappa to leave. I wasn't planning to satiate Melvin's thirst just to make him

speak with ease. The sadness in his eyes showed he desired to have more, but unfortunately, I wasn't

feeling generous.

"I will go straight to the point. Did you prepare any poison for Yuri while in his service? Think really hard

about your answer because if I find out you were lying, your death will be slow and very painful,

something that would span for years. I am sure you wouldn't want that," I asked him, and he nodded.

"I did not create a poison, but I boosted the potency of the by-product of the Agk32,” He said, and Erik

cursed.

"And what does it do?" Erik asked him.

"Reproduces silver in the system and eats through the organs. It starts by killing the wolf genes, so

survivors are likely not to have a wolf if they have survived it,' He said, and I wanted to punch him in the

face. Right now, saving Jake's life is important. I also wondered if that was the same substance

introduced in Devin;'s system. If so, we are safe, but if not, we could not know what to expect.

"Was it the same substance Ighor used to attack us?" I asked, and Melvin frowned a bit.

It was clear he knew nothing of the attack. I guess he wasn't that close to Yuri, or maybe Ighor was

overzealous and acted alone. I did not have time to find that out, so I dropped it.

"Can AgK32 nullify the effect?" I asked quickly, and he shook his head.

"I do not know, your majesty," he said, and I held his throat.

"He cannot know, your majesty," Erik cut in.

"They do not have the formula for AgK32, so he cannot know. To be sure, he would have to run a test,

and none could be carried out without the Agk32," Erik explained; I understood, but I was frustrated

because it seemed I wouldn't get much from Melvin, so much for being hopeful.

" How did you get your hands on the By-product?" Erik asked.

"One of your assistants gave it to Ighor. She promised to write down the formula the next time you

make Agk32, but we never got it. You did not take her to your new lab," Melvin said, and Erik had a

knowing look. He did confess to Leo that he knew there were traitors in his circle. This is why I am still

unsure of involving Stepanovs in the fight, but Tamia's reasoning was correct. I would just have to hope

for the best.

"Is there an antidote?’ I asked him, and he shook his head.

"I wasn't able to create one. Yuri said he was okay with it not having a remedy,’ He said, and I knew we

wouldn't get anything more from Melvin.

I had come here with heat with the hope of inflicting pain on the bastard, but the condition I had met

him was pitiful enough for me to let it go.

I just walked out of the place. Melvin called out to us, pleading that I forgive him.

I guess he wasn't used to darkness and pain. Unfortunately for him, I did not believe he was worthy of

that gesture. He was scum and should be treated as such. The lights went out, and we headed out.

We walked out of the underground section and were about to disperse when a call came through on

my phone.

Everyone stopped.

It wasn't like it was their business, but there was curiousness in their eyes.

Leo's phone began to ring, too, and I wondered what the odds were that we would be called

simultaneously.

Leo took out his phone and checked it quickly.

"It is Kyle. I think they have arrived," Leo said, and I was glad. I hoped Jake still had time and Erik

would be able to solve the matter. My phone continued to ring.

Leo moved away to answer his phone while I remained to answer mine.

I checked the screen and saw an unknown number.

It was a number but had no name or identifier.

I cautiously answered even though nothing could be done to me over the phone. Other than ear-

damaging activities, it was completely harmless.

"Hello," I said, and there was silence; soon, I heard someone sigh on the other end.

"Sylvester Volkov," I heard a deep mechanical voice say to me. It was dark and menacing. Due to the

machine or effect the caller used to change their voice, I could not tell who it was, so I controlled

myself.

One thing was certain; it was definitely a foe who did not regard me as their King.