Lobo rushed to Ariana"s side and stayed vigilant as the three of them walked towards the carriage. No time was wasted as they quickly climbed in and drove off just as the crowd got over their shock. Some people started chasing after the carriage but couldn"t keep up. "What the h.e.l.l just happened back there?!" Ariana shouted as she pointed her thumb behind her. "Someone is trying to put you in a difficult situation." The Countess responded."What?!" Ariana gasped as she paled. "Wait! Why?!" Ariana shouted. The Countess looked at Ariana with a raised eyebrow. "Shouldn"t you be the one explaining why. I only know second hand what happened and even then it"s only bits and pieces. Even my staff"s familiars won"t talk about what happened. I tried to look for the Nahia family but they seem to have disappeared." The Countess said coolly.
"I wish I could tell you but I lost my memories from that night." Ariana groaned. "Have your Lumas not said anything?" The Countess asked as she slightly adjusted her gaze to Ariana"s earrings. All six stones were on her ears. "What happened to your earrings?!" The Countess asked in shock. "Huh? What do you mean. They are all there." Ariana said as she touched to stones. "No. Every single one except Vasu"s stone is different." The Countess said as she leaned in. "Those are not your Lumas in their gem stone forms." The Countess said as she inspection the earrings.
"Oh that. You see...." Ariana explained.
"You stupid child! Did you not find the situation suspicion?!" The Countess lectured. "Well what was I supposed to do?! I mean I was stuck between a rock and hard place." Ariana reb.u.t.ted. "Who said? As far as I could tell you have a magical affinity with every creature. My guess is that you are too powerful and they don"t know how to approach you." The Countess said as she leaned back into her seat. "That could be a reason." Ariana said a little awkwardly as she looked away. "You know something." The Countess said as she narrowed her glaze. "No!" Ariana shouted a little too quickly and loudly, making her more suspicious. "She a taboo." Lobo said as he looked at the Countess. "Lobo!" Ariana shouted.
The Countess was dumbstruck. She never heard something so ridiculous but Ariana"s reaction told her she believed it. "How do you know you"re a taboo." The Countess asked cautiously. "It doesn"t matter!" Ariana shouted as she broke out into a cold sweat. "Ariana you need to be completely honest with me-?!" The Countess started but was immediately interrupted by Ariana. "That"s funny! Honesty! Your letter had lies and horrid things written in it that I almost shut down!"
"Sweetheart." The Countess said pitifully. "No! If I didn"t read the other letters... The other letters mentioned Cayden! He"s okay! I don"t know what he"s doing or why he"s running around everywhere but he"s alive!" Ariana shouted. "What do you mean?" The Countess asked as she paled. "That"s rich. Let me ask you, were the jewel b.a.l.l.s that were sent to the Estate real? Were the body parts with slave markings really out on display in front of the house? Did you really get Cayden"s bracelet back with a severed hand.... Sniff... Did you really get pieces of clothing that belonged to your husband? Sniff, sniff, did you really get death threats daily? Sob... Am I making your life worse?!" Ariana cried as tears spilled out.
"What are you talking about?!" The Countess yelled as she looked at Ariana and Lobo. "You wrote Ariana a very disturbing letter. I should know I read it too." Lobo said. "What?! No! I would never tell you anything like that regardless whether it is true or not." The Countess said with anger and fear reflecting in her eyes.
"But mom gave me the letter personally." Ariana said as she calmed down a little. "I know, I gave her my letter before I left to go to the pick up area. She bragged she had a stack of envelopes to give you so I added my letter to the pile. I watched her add it so there was no way it could have been switched out. I wanted to give it to you personally and had it on me but I changed my mind." The Countess said.
"Mom would have never changed the letter.... But grandmother was it true. The bad things?" Ariana asked as anxiety grabbed her heart. "No." The Countess said calmly. "I"m actually in the process of officially getting your engagement settled with Cayden. So do me a favour, get some sleep and stay at the Academy." The Countess said as the carriage started to slow down. "Okay... I"m actually really tired." Ariana said with a small chuckle. "You look it." The Countess said as she smiled back.
The carriage came to a stop and the door was opened. "James!" Ariana shouted happily as she climbed down. James pulled Ariana into an embrace. His body was trembling slightly catching Ariana off guard. "I"m glad you"re okay." James whispered. "James?" Ariana asked as she looked up. "Sorry I was on edge because of the crowd. I"m just glad you"re safely back in the Academy." James said with a small smile. "But my friends." Ariana asked. "I had already arranged for them to be picked up by Roland. They will be here shortly." James replied. Ariana let out a sigh of relief.
"Ariana... I have a request for you and your... Your new big brother." The Countess said as she eyed Lobo. "Yes?" Ariana asked. "If someone from someone from SCORPION approaches you, run. Run as fast as you can and look for Gregory." The Countess said with unwavering eyes. Ariana paled. "Why? What"s going on?" Ariana asked in a shaky voice. "Has someone made contact with you?!" The Countess shouted then turned to look at Lobo. "I"m sorry grandmother no but your letter, the fake letter mentioned them as a group trying to take down the church." Ariana said.
"Do you still have the letter?" The Countess asked calmly. "No. I thought it was best to destroy all the letters." Lobo answered as his neon pink eyes turned ice cold. "Good... Sweetheart stay safe. I will send you news the moment I have any." The Countess said as her eyes flashed with fear.