The centre town of Malia had turned out completely different compared to what the detective remembered. The small village was a sight to behold with how much festive it appeared, new additions of joyous people, colourful stalls of food and shopping and many more creative changes had enveloped the surrounding of the town into a breath-taking view everyone was keen to try.

With the hustle bustle of anticipating people, increased twice the amount, along with several unique groups supporting enchanting details to the place, the festival was close, a day ahead actually but the ambience around was no less than any event itself.

Jerry was no different than others. While the caravan entered Malia and travelled through the town, DJ’s big curious eyes caught every little detail that passed before his sight as he scanned around the area with blaring interest. Excitement bubbled in his system jittering his insides, it urged him to touch the alluring hung lanterns, to see if the flame lighting inside was as warm as it seemed. Or to taste the abnormally large cotton candy animal to see if the green and yellow made the animal’s body taste the same.

The detective was immensely intrigued by the festival, he was curious and excited like a child wanting him to jump out of the carriage and spend the day or two wandering around the ambience that suited his taste. But then the anxiety and stress aroused after each wish, drowning the feelings down the pit of his mind and guarding his senses, alarming him of the danger that lurked around for him and Yael.

The danger for their lives.

The young boy hadn’t forgotten about the daunting men, basically disguised murderers, that had travelled after him from Pyro to Malia to serve him his death. The first ever close encounter he had with one of his supposed assassins in an inn was still fresh in memories and unfortunately had found a permanent home at the back of his mind making the detective more cautious and alert of his surroundings.

And upon that were Chevy’s men, following them from another town to Malia, with the same purpose as the men from Pyro.

To end both Yael and the Detective aka Alberto

Whilst DJ watched the outside in awe from the security of the carriage, Lord Yael launched his observatory gaze to his surroundings. Considering, that the great festival of Malia might become the first place for Chevy’s gang to look for the duo and the people after his rescuer already residing in Malia, lord Yael presumed the place to be oozing with his enemies. Therefore, scrutinizing every person from head to toe, the lord skimmed through the people until he caught on to the unfitting goons that tried to mingle in the crowd to their best abilities but still stood out due to their weirdly shaped persona, badly hidden weapons and cruel intended features.

It was certain that they belonged to either Pyro or Chevy’s gang.

The broad stature of those men and the deceitfulness that dripped down their fallacious features wasn’t new to the lord, being aware of such kind for all his life, he had known the ill resolutions they might carry by just throwing a look at them.

They weren’t good news and that perception was correct considering the amount of attention they had over certain people.

The lord was suspicious of those who were roaming with wide searching eyes, looking for certain prey, and followed it was the long debate he shared with his rescuer about the people that were bloodthirsty for the latter.

It would be no surprise if the goons were the same people that came after DJ to Malia

Just as he watched, Lord Yael’s suspicion flipped to reality when two of the men, brawny in physique and sick in the head, averted their attention to the newcomer of a caravan and exchanged decipherable glances making Yael step closer to the carriage DJ was residing in instinctively. The young detective noticed the change instantly and lifted his guards even without knowing what he was defending himself from.

And then his big, curious eyes fell on the men that stood weirdly out of the crowd.  

The march was fast and purposeful as the men approached the caravan, which moved at a snail’s pace until they reached in front of the frontmost carriage and commanded the chief to step down the pedestal so they could share a word. All that while, Lord Yael stayed on alert. He glanced at the nervous boy every other second while he also managed to stay invested in what was transpiring at the head of the trail.

It seemed that Mr Wellman and the bad men were engaged in an argument of sorts.

Nevertheless, Lord Yael already knew the reason for that conversation. The news of his abduction may not have made such chaos as his little rescuer and his escape plan had. Truth be told, nobody expected the return of the rescuer let alone the escape of the lord, but here he was…..totally disguised and travelling with his lovely wife.

A whimper of distress caught Yael’s attention and he snapped his neck to the window where DJ sat with his paw-like hands clasping onto the edge, a frown on his forehead gave away the anxiety hidden behind his veil as he beckoned Lord without uttering a word. Lilliana smiled at the cutest interaction, unaware of the reality, as she scooted away to give the young couple the privacy they needed when she saw Yael approaching the carriage with thudding steps.

“L-lord….” the boy whispered as soon as Yael was in the range of his hearing “W-what if t-they are-are t-the one…” he started, conveying what he felt necessary only for the older to shush him by placing a finger over his lips. DJ sucked in a breath, eyes wide and staring and breathing uneven as he watched the older, awaiting a suitable plan.

“Don’t panic detective. This place is crowded with people, I don’t think they will risk stirring anything with Orson and his crew just to get to the depth of their purpose” he stated firmly, finger still pressed against DJ’s lips while he looked around cautiously.

“Stay calm and relax a bit….you are too nervous,” he said travelling his eyes back to DJ only to stop in the tracks of running brain. There it was again, the irregular thumping of his heart that threatened his well-being in some way and the stopping of the world around as if no one should exist as soon as his eyes met with those mesmerizing orbs filled with stressful tears and a hopeful future altogether.   

Yael stared at DJ completely lost while the latter did the same. The world around them vanished as they read and learned through each other deep gazes, the concerns they shared, the fear they preserved and the broken plan they held for dear life strewed as the interest of being normal human, the feeling of being just Yael and Jerry surfaced….holding both captive for more than necessary as they studied each other in silence.

Until that silence broke

A slight cough, or was it a humming giggle, from behind the detective snapped Yael out of his trance. He pulled away first, slowly backing away from DJ and his nervous self while he assured the boy of his safety once again. The younger was terrified for his life, only a thought to face those men scared the boy to his soul and he wasn’t ready to die yet. Pulling away from the window, DJ collected himself and just like the older said, he settled for nourishing his mind into relaxation.

Thus began the counting from one to hundred.

Meanwhile, the lord paced ahead towards the front with the purpose to eavesdrop on the heated conversation between Orson and the goons. To his relief and a bit of a surprise, Mr Wellman along with his trusty friends was already denying any detective or any other man that accompanied them with their crew, he as far went as refusing to check out the carriages in case women and children in the families travelling gets disturbed.

Yael was thankful for that.

However, one of the men with a beast-like personality didn’t falter from his persistent attitude, he remained insisting until Orson declined any further requests firmly and commanded him to leave for his own good. The man, though, seethed in anger, he glared at the chief with alarming eyes as he subtly snaked a hand behind his waist. Lord Yael, who was watching his moves carefully, caught on to that act and quickly stepped up to get close to Orson and stood beside the oblivious chief with his own guards up.

Feeling Yael’s large frame filling the scene, the man lowered his hand.

“Is there a problem?” Lord Yael asked deeply, he directed his question in a certain way that conveyed the meaning successfully. Both Orson and the bad man looked at Yael, one smiling and the other glaring, before the beast of a character left them alone while cursing and his fellows followed behind.

“They are troublesome people, ready to cause problems without any reason” Orson started with a slight laugh “But don’t worry Eugene, it’s not our first time in Malia and definitely not our first time dealing with such people” he laughed again, patting on Yael’s shoulder before he busied himself with other arrangements.

The caravan had to move and that steadiness was possible only if the chief was reliable.

Thankfully, Orson Wellman was a perfect fit.

Perhaps that was the reason Yael didn’t argue or thought for another second before agreeing once Orson offered them to stay at the lodge they had reserved for their crew. Thinking for the two, he didn’t bother to take an opinion from the younger on the matter. Those men were gone for now but that didn’t warrant their not coming back any time soon and so he had to think wisely.

The lord suspected DJ would put up a fuss in his stammer yet alluring voice once he got to know about their stay at the lodge but staying close to the large community at a time like this was the much better option.

…….

Contrary to the chaos in Malia, Pyro was still and calm without the lingering worries of death and stalking haunting the natives with each breath. It was as if the void of Lord Yael was filled, taken over like a perfect piece of puzzle by the former lord, that hadn’t left any questions to be asked. But that didn’t suffice the loss of the one who was still yearning to see his only son and waiting for him to return home.

Ezekiel Doukas sat behind the huge mahogany desk in the extensive room he had designed for himself in the years of his service, the old daunting man shuffled through pages and pages of a file as he sipped his coffee from the mug while looking through work holding enough importance for his attention. After taking the charge in Yael’s absence, Lord Ezekiel was busier than ever. He would have to deal with twice the work and run several things to maintain what his dearest son had started when he was the lord of Pyro, the workload had taken most of his energy but he was happy to oblige.

That was the least he could do anyway

A knock at the door snatched his attention and the old man lifted his dark gaze only to see Nova Doukas entering the room with urgent steps. Ezekiel watched keenly as Nova closed the distance while heaving for a relaxed breath, the frown etched on his forehead showcased the importance of his visit and the words he uttered next proved the purpose.

“Yael escaped from wherever he was kept and is heard to be out” Nova dropped the news as he spurted out and watched Ezekiel freezing up at his spot for a good two minutes. Staring at his older brother and being aware of how he must have felt, Nova placed his warm hand over Lord Ezekiel’s shoulder and patted there with an affirming nod.

“Yael…” Ezekiel whispered in a trance, he stood up slowly and tiredly walked to the large window that looked out the building and presented the view he always cherished. Yael had escaped from his abductors, he was free from the restraints that hindered him from meeting his father and he was probably on his way back to his home, to his place, his position.

Ezekiel was falling into a state of stupor, it was almost six months and the wait was over.

But there were still so many questions

“Where is that little detective? Is he alive and how come you got the news? Is it even true Nova?” Ezekiel’s features hardened once again as he snatched himself from the grip of arresting emotions. According to the past experiences and the condition of that fragile detective, the lords weren’t very positive about hearing anything such as that alarming news at all.

What really manifested was beyond expectation since apparently, the detective was not dead because there wasn’t any update on that and lord Yael had escaped his abductors.              

“It is true brother….well, according to what I had heard” Nova explained, staring at his brother, as he revised the conversation he held with the informer earlier. Ezekiel didn’t look satisfied with what he heard whatsoever, he averted his dark gaze outside the window and for a moment or two, the room went into complete silence.

Until…

“Call Seva right now…” Lord Ezekiel muttered lowly and within seconds, his demand was fulfilled. A few minutes later, the door opened and Seva entered the room before he bowed at both the lords inside. Nova looked at the man silently while Ezekiel bore his murderous gaze right through Seva’s soul.

“Nova just delivered that Yael has escaped his captors and is probably out in the world……lord knows in what condition……and I wonder why am I learning this second hand” The authority in his tone made Seva shiver in his place, the man didn’t dare look at the lord and focused his eyes down to the ground for better measurement.

“Apologies my lord but I don’t have any updates yet” Seva muttered nervously, maintaining a posture, he tried to explain his stance but that resulted in more displeased Ezekiel than expected.

“That is because you aren’t paying the attention this matter requires!” Ezekiel roared, voice loud and commanding that had Nova and Seva both flinching at their spots.

“Bring me what I require in an hour about all this ruckus, about my son, about that little detective and about the ones who kidnapped my son all of it. Find out if it’s true” Ezekiel commanded arrogantly, he glared at his right-hand man and Seva felt that gaze through his skull. “And don’t push your luck, Seva…… one more mistake and you will be facing the wrath of Ezekiel Doukas” Seva bowed as he apologized and quickly left the room, leaving a nervous Nova and an angry Ezekiel behind.

“Don’t worry brother, Yael will be fine and he will return soon” Nova comforted his brother by placing a warm hand over his back. Ezekiel sighed, closing his eyes, before he opened them and looked at Nova with purpose.

“Nova…..do whatever it takes, send whatever it needs and spend whatever it demands but bring my child back here. Yael needs to be here…..this empire needs him” the lord said, exposing his emotions and Nova nodded his head. Ezekiel watched Nova leave, he stood where he was for a long minute, thinking before he marched towards the desk and picked up his phone to look for a number.

Nobody could do what he wanted and therefore, Ezekiel decided to deal the matters his way.