Chap 25

Damian POV

After spending the day with Demetrius all we did was spend the majority of the morning in the various warehouses and piers while he took a bunch of calls. He stopped by a newsstand and he picked up a newspaper and I grabbed some snacks since I didn't really eat breakfast.

He called Katrina a few times but she wasn't answering, which I can clearly see was frustrating him. We did drive by her place earlier, but she didn't so much as glance out the window when he knocked on the door.

As we headed out of her neighborhood I dared to ask "What's up with your girlfriend?" I can practically hear his teeth grinding at the question as he lowered the phone. "Her father recently passed away so she just needs some time alone right now." he says tightly. I would offer him advice again but I don't want him to get whatever he is after with her.

We ended up at home after lunch when father called Demetrius as we sat in his office while we worked for a bit since father was away on business. He actually put it on speaker phone while he was typing away on the computer.

Father's tone was curt and all business-like, as his voice cut through the room. "Did you send the reminder to our friend?"

Demetrius looks over at me and while he responds to father "I'll get right on that, I've been a bit preoccupied but I'll do it within the hour."

Father "Ensure that you do, before we have to dispose of her properly. Is there an update on the device?"

Demetrius runs his hand through his hair and his winces a bit as he speaks even though his voice doesn't waver in the slightest. His tone is still even and calm "No she's upset because the authorities found her fathers body"

Father grumbles this sets back their plans but I'm not sure if he's talking to Demetrius or more to himself. Demetrius agrees with his assessment, and adds "I'll keep reaching out, to console her during her grief."

There's no immediate response although Demetrius stares at the phone, as if there was something unspoken conversation happening between the two of them. Demetrius straightens his back lifting the phone to his ear, taking it off speakerphone, "I just need a little more time."

I can hear the murmur of fathers tone on the other end, and Demetrius could fully get out of the room if it's a private conversation. But he doesn't, although he's off speaker I can still make out pieces of his words. He doesn't sound happy in his tone, that's for sure.

He responds, "If I can't, then we'll do it your way." The other line is quiet for a moment, when I hear father say clearly "you have one week, I'll expect progress by my next call" then he hung up on him without so much as a goodbye.

Demetrius released a tight exhale once they hung up, I didn't realize he was holding. Nor see the tension he felt when he was talking to father just now. When I think I'm starting to see what he did for her.

He's trying to save her from father, if he's willing to take Becky to force her fathers hand. I can only imagine what he would do to Katrina if she were to continue not cooperating with Demetrius to the point of fathers intervention. Whatever he may deem suitable for her.

The moment made me feel more connected to him, I walked over to him placing my hand on his shoulder squeezing it reassuringly. He looks up at me confused for a moment but then nods knowingly. We can't speak of this, since father ultimately would disagree with his motives, but it's clear my brother still has some of his heart in tact. Which I'm hoping I can use to my advantage especially since he's clearly in a vulnerable state.

There were a couple calls he excused himself from the office once he started working from home in the afternoon. During those moments I used as opportunities to go on his computer and search the shipment manifest, taking pictures of whatever information I could, being sure to back out of it before he returned.

He grabbed the newspaper, rolling it up and putting it in his back pocket. He looks over at me and asks if I want to go back to my room. Trying to brush me off to handle something on his own. But I need to stay close to him as long as I can to try and find out anything I can on Becky. She must be running out of time, my father is about to get what he wants and I know that can't be good.

Demetrius nods and tells me to stand to the side while he reaches, pushes in a button that's hidden under a fake hammer shaped paper weight that I never really noticed on the desk. A bookcase on the far wall slides out of place with the grinding of its gears. I recall the noise when I heard my father talking about Becky before…

My heart picks up a bit but I don't show Demetrius as to give away my surprise, I try to keep my face stoic, uncaring. Like my father, to feign my allegiance as he unknowingly brings me closer to my goal.

As we walk through the door the bookcase slides back in place automatically, and we take a small flight of stairs down until we reach a forked corridor where we went right. There was minimal security in this area, but as we headed more to our destination. The closer we got the more patrol around made me realize I was getting close to something big. The hallways are gradually becoming narrower than normal, the lights are not fully bright, but I try to pay attention to the path we take. Trying to memorize and commit it to memory, just like I would an exam. Being an imperial scholar required me to have a dedicated memory for situations that are high tense. Not life or death tense situations, but applicable nonetheless.

I could hear the moans and groans of those in pain or suffering and the smell was horrid. I can tell it's a prison because as we got closer, the sounds of various men pleading for mercy as Demetrius and I walked by, prisoners of varying ages begging or cursing us. At the end of the hall is an isolation room, it has a keypad. I looked at the pad and I heard 4 beeps. I only caught the last 3 numbers then he opened the door. But he motioned for me to stay behind and that he would be back in a minute. For the brief moment I was able to look through the door before he closed it shut.

It looked like a small room that had one way glass in it, on the other side of it I saw a sleeping girl on a small flimsy cot. Her frame is small but I know from the tattoo on her ankle that it's Becky. Her is a mess of grime and tangles as she wears a sterile dingy hospital gown.

The door closed and it felt like the sound echoed in my mind, which the memory of her in that state imprinted in me. I didn't say a word for fear of betraying my motives, but my fist shook with anger at seeing her in this state. That was not the Becky from a month ago, where she was excited for school, even if she would sneer at me across a room whenever she caught me looking in Anya's direction. That woman looked battered, bruised and quite likely broken.

I took out my phone and wrote it in my notes on everything I remembered from the conversations to now. When one of the prisoners behind me tried to get my attention "Hey kid, tell your dad I don't belong here!" a chorus of groans from other inmates and comments telling him to keep his mouth shut. But even though I don't face him, he continues "It's true! I would never turn on one of ours, I was tricked! I'm telling you!" he shouts, shaking the bars in frustration.

I look over at him and his eyes are on the floor, "It was nothing I've ever experienced. They took over my brain and made me do it." He looks earnest, but I can't show empathy with the prisoners. I have a goal in mind, and I need to focus. One of the other prisoners mocks him "It was magic right?" he cackles and a few join in, making fun of the man.

"It had to be! How else can the guy make me attack my partner! I would never." He says his shoulders are shaking even though it's clear he's holding back tears. "Come on man, you have to tell him to let me out of here."

I didn't have to reply because as soon as the door beside opened and Demetrius stepped out, he backed away from the bars and the others stood up and started shouting over him at the both of us.

"Let's go." Demetrius says stern and we make our way back the way we came in. He doesn't say anything and neither do I. Seeing all of this makes me sick to my stomach, and furthers my resolve.

After a couple of minutes of walking away from the prisoners, we ended up back at the stairs leading to the main office. Before we approached the door, he turned to face me.

"You were never here, understood?" As much as I want to ask him questions, I choose to nod and keep quiet. There's no point in pressing the matter when I got the information I needed. He placed his hand against a panel beside the door, and we headed back upstairs.

Back in the office and I hung around him and took my notes here and there. But now looking at the operations, those tasks are miniscule in comparison to whatever it is they are planning. I never realized after today how my father really operated. I guess I had an inkling but who really expects the worst out of their family. Especially someone I used to look up to, but this is a new low if I've ever seen it.

He's always had the habit of playing both roles of judge and jury no matter the biases he may have on the matter. That's how it's been during my childhood too, now looking back at everything. He wasn't a good father, he was manipulative and an abuser.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, which reminds me I wasn't looking at Anya's messages since I've been so busy.

Anya - Thank you for staying last night, it meant a lot to me.. I'll see you later?

I didn't realize the smile I had on my face when I was looking at the message, since Demetrius said "Anya checking in?" which makes me blush a bit but I manage to control my thoughts enough to respond coolly. "Her dad invited me over for dinner tonight."

Demetrius says "You've been spending a lot of time over there." but the way he's looking at me, it's clear he's analyzing my features for something. I look at the time it is almost dinner and we didn't really eat today other than the snacks I got at the store, since we've been so busy.

I decided to be childish and ignore the statement altogether, "Can I go or not?" I say holding my phone to the side while I await his answer. After a moment he smirks at me, "Sure." he says crossing the room heading for the door "I wouldn't want to get between you and your girlfriend."

I shoot her a text telling her I'm on my way, while I chase after him trying to correct him, that she's in fact not my girlfriend.