Page 77 of The Dark Rising
I haven’t thought before about why we have these records, but now I want to know what the reason behind it is. Surely this much record keeping isn’t necessary.
We walk in between a row of bookcases, the smell of leather and paper filling the space. I look at the signs at the top, waiting until we reach the pack records section. I stop when I hear a shuffle of feet from further down the rows, and I grab my brothers’ attention, putting a finger to my lips, letting them know to be quiet.
I stalk down a row, letting my senses out and following them until I round a corner and come face to face with none other than Aldus.
“Oh! Alpha Darius.” He nods his blond head respectfully at me, shuffling the papers he has gathered in his arms.
“Higher Aldus,” I greet, folding my arms over my chest. I stare down at him, wondering if he knew what Rhea’s family did? Was he involved with Higher Charles? Drax growls within me. “Looks like you have been in here for a while?” I nod toward the numerous papers, keeping my face set into a natural façade, hiding the anger I feel brimming underneath my skin.
“Ah yes, record keeping is never ending. I feel like I live down here sometimes,” he chuckles. “Is there anything I can help you with?” He looks at me, and then to my brothers.
“We’re just here to check on some things before we head out again. Some members of a pack have gone missing,” I say carefully. “So we are checking to see if they had moved packs without telling their family, if not, then the rogures have probably killed them.” I watch for any reaction on his face.
“Ahh, yes, a few of them do that.” He shakes his head. “More work for us when they could just inform them.” He shuffles on his feet. “But rather that than the rogures getting to them.”
“Have you spoken to Higher Charles?” I ask.
“I haven’t had a chance to speak with him for some time. I’ve been out in the lands, updating records and seeing to the people the best I can in these trying times. I’ve been looking for Higher Aiden, but no one has seen him.”
Hmm. “Do you remember when I was around sixteen and my father brought me to your office?” I ask him, and he looks away, seemingly lost in thought.
“I do recall a time or two, why do you ask?” He moves those papers in his hands again.
“My memories were hidden, or blocked,” I say, and his light brows pinch. “I remember my Heir markings appearing, and then my father took me to your office some time after. I went in an Heir and came out forgetting I was one. Charles said he would speak with you about it.”
“It was quite a shock when your markings appeared many months ago. A male Heir hasn’t been seen longer than a female. It’s truly startling.” He looks over at me, at the marking hidden at my neck. He hasn’t seen me to know they are there, but it is in the history of the Heir’s where the markings are. “I do briefly remember your father coming to see me with you, we talked about the upcoming changes within the Elites. That was around twenty years or so ago, you were around sixteen. I have no recollection of you being an Heir then, which is troublesome considering I have an affinity with memories.” He adjusts those papers again. “Charles hasn’t spoken to me about such a thing yet. I will be seeing him for a meeting soon, so I will bring it up with him.”
“I went into your office as an Heir and walked out not being one.” I stare him down, wanting him to give me some answers. I know he attempted to conceal them, but I can’t let him know that.
He shakes his head slowly. “I’m not sure how that happened, and as far as I’m aware, your father hadn’t had the ability to tangle with memories. I certainly didn’t do anything with them.” Fucking liar. I want nothing more than to take him to my basement at the Vokheim and interrogate him, but doing so now will cause a stir that we cannot afford to happen. We are not ready to show our hand just yet. Aldus scratches his chin. “Is it possibly you did it to yourself?”
My brows furrow. “Not that I know of, I’ve never been able to alter memories or block them,” I lie. I know I hid my memories to protect myself from being an Heir.
“When you have some time, come and see me if you would like. I can go through your memories and try to find what triggered you to not remember.”
I nod, but he must think I have no brain cells if he thinks I actually will. “How is Kaden doing?” I ask instead, and his eyes flash for a second.
“He is well, considering,” he sighs. “Maize is keeping an eye on him in the east wing, but sometimes the memories that Rhea changed appear again. We continue to remove them to release his true memories. He gets confused, and can be violent.” So he’s still here.
If I didn’t know what I know now, I would believe his every word and go about my day. But I know better, especially after the last time I saw Charles. “How can fake memories come back, I thought you removed it permanently?”
“I thought so too, but it seems it’s embedded inside of him and it pops back up when he gets stressed, and is emotionally overwhelmed.” I tilt my head at him.
Rhea said his memories were altered, but Aldus and Maize told me they removed the block she had put on it. So what are they doing to him with these... interrogations?
“So Rhea was strong enough to embed a block inside of him?”
His eyes light up. “Yes, very powerful magic, and dangerous. We are lucky we can keep removing her power that’s trying to remove his true childhood memories. Unfortunately, he must stay in the castle for his own safety, and others at this point as we don’t know what he will do when he’s in between reality and the memories Lasandrhea planted inside of him.”
“Any word on her being sighted?” I want to know if they know anything.
“No, though with the posters up with her description and most of Vrohkaria knowing about her and the dangers she poses, she can’t hide forever.”
“You were her guardian, you must feel betrayed by her,” I say carefully, and he looks down for a moment.
“It is very unfortunate. Her parents were well respected, and if they saw what she had become, they would be howling to the winds in despair.”
“Were you close to her?” I fold my arms over my chest.
