Chapter 10: The apple don't fall too far….from dem trees.
Ealdor
Ealdor, a village that possessed the splendors of magnificent scenery, enticing nature and relaxed people!Yes, that was Ealdor in a nutshell.
Camelot's closest neighbor was my home…and it just dawned unto me how rarely I actually visited.
I think Gwen was amazed by the scenery. She smiled into the sun and seemed very much at ease.
Her aura was astonishing and her positivity enlightened my heart.
"I think we need to get rid of the car…" she pointed out, I enjoyed seeing her in this light.
"I've thought it through, you can hide it in the garage, there is plenty of room there." I say to her, rather absentmindedly, "We don't really need worry down here…people mind their business and as you can see, hardly any form of people activity."
She glanced around, "I presume you live on the outskirts of Ealdor….however strange that sounds…"I nod with enthusiasm, I was not ready to explain to her any further…she would have to see this with her own we approached the narrow lane that led to my abode, I feel myself growing tense. Once we rid ourselves of the car and find ourselves in my home…everything would seem a lot better, I secretly hoped.
"Follow the path, it will lead you directly to my home." I mumble out.
Her eyes widen, "Hardly any tire tracks. Are you sure we can do this?"
I look at her sarcastically, "Gwen." I simply say.
She shakes her head, "Right. Right. This is your home. You know best."
"Just follow the tracks…" I struggle to bring out my mobile phone. Hoping that either Percy or Leon would be at my place, they were the tech ones and they could ensure that no one could trace my calls…
My thoughts wander off to Arthur, if things go according to plan…he too would find himself in Ealdor and together we could all sit and discuss what was to come.
The car came to a gentle stop.
"Merlin…?" Gwen asked, uneasiness clearly detectable in her tone.
I look up, she had stopped in front of a massive bronze gate…
We look at each other for a moment, "Give me a minute…" I tell her before hopping out of the car.I hear her voice muffle down, upon shutting the door, I know she has a lot of questions, but right now my heart was beating….we were almost safe.
I look at the two Angel statues located on opposite sides of the gate, one of them had the key to the front door and the other would open the gate upon voice command.
A special password….
I take the key hidden inside a covered dent, located at the back of Angel number one.
Smiling I walked across to the other statue, Gwen's eyes trailing me closely, confusion clearly written on her face.
I walk up to the statue, reaching for the earlobe, just behind it did we install the voice command device that would open the gate.
"Excalibur…" I whisper.
The red light flashes with increasing speed, before eventually turning green. I hear a squeaky noise, the gates to my home are opening up, gradually welcoming us in.
Quickly I urge Gwen to drive in…without hesitation she does as instructed, carefully driving her fluorescent pink car into the compound.
After a while she winds her window down, "What now, I see nothing…:"
"It is a bit further down…" I say, jumping into the car.
She looks at me, slightly confused, "and the gate?"
"
It closes automatically…" I reassure her, "Once we get to the house, I will have to deactivate the voice command….one can never be too sure."
"You don't think Arthur is here yet?" She asks clearly worried. Arthur seems to be on her mind constantly.
I shake my head, "Nah, who ever arrived first would have taken the initiative to deactivate the voice command…we are the first to arrive."
She nods her head, "Where is this house of….OMG!" she stops the car, her mouth falls open and I smile at her expression…it was just what I had expected.
"This…this….this is not a house, Merlin….." she manages to say.
"It is my home, Gwen." I quietly input.
"No…it's….it's….a mansion – a manor….a castle!" She steps out of the car, "It's…beautiful…."
it wasn't a castle per se. A mansion yes, built centuries ago by my ancestors…which one I was not too sure of. But it was my family's pride.
8 bedrooms, 2 kitchens, 3 living rooms, pool and an underground attic….what was there to complain?
The Pendragon's possessed many…I had but one…but I treasured mine…and as the years added up, my home would be what it is known till this very day….A safe Haven.
I smile at Gwen, "Thank you…it is the one thing I have managed to keep…." The memories of my parents were vague to me, I was young when my mother sent me off to Camelot…to stay with her brother Gaius….a few months after…the demon illness…cancer took her away from me.
I never knew my father…his pictures were a myth to me….a Grandmaster just like I was destined to become….this was a story I cannot bring myself to tell even now…
Gwen turned to me, "I can hide the car anywhere…you know that?" she commented slyly. "You practically own a…a…country side."
"That is so silly." I tease her, "You are silly!"
"How is it you slaving for Arthur when you got….all this going for you?" her hands glide across the terrain, "It's beautiful." She says one more time.
"Thank you Gwen…but let's just take your pink car away from here…and then my mind is at peace." I lead her back into the car.
The whole time, I do not fail to turn to glance around every now and then.
yes I might be home….but one could never tell…
Camelot Police Station
Kiki sipped on a cup of coffee, this was her third cigarette…what was taking Jake so long to grab the requested files?
She had told him she would be in the office in 15 minutes. Now here she stood a good hour…growing very much impatient.
"Where is he?" She bellowed into the air. She liked the kid a lot...but sometimes, he could get on her last nerves.
Her partner shrugs his shoulders, "You spoil him too much...I can only-"
"Not a word." She sharply interrupts, "You know how you tend to jinx stuff."
She opted for another cigarette, after which she would personally come look for the files…of course after wringing Jake's brainless head.
But the young intern came rushing down the corridor, he paused…he hated when the seniors broke laws and felt it fit to smoke within the vicinity….
"I….I….can't find his files….they…they are gone…" Jake stammered.
The two senior agents looked at him, then they glanced at each other….finally Oliver turned to him, "What do you mean…gone?"
Jake stood straight, now was his chance to prove himself. Kiki and Oliver where creating a name for themselves, young and dynamic, they were gradually becoming rising stars…if he was on their good sides….that would be his ticket to Washington
" deleted, I dunno really...but all gone..." he chirped.
"Fuck!" Kiki cursed out, "I need to see this for myself." She simply stated, "Let's check it out." She said.
The boy took it as an opportunity to tag along, he could show them his computer skills!
But Oliver held him back, "We can take it from here Jake…enough action for you for one day…dontcha think?"
Kiki nodded, "Next time, kiddo...k?"
Jake took the hint, slumping his shoulders and walking the other direction – he was that close….that fucking close.
Quickly he took up pace, his cell phone rang, "Y'ello…Jake witcha." He answered.
"Is it done?" a deep voice asked,
"Yeah….but the files were massive, took me almost two hours, yo!" Jake glanced around him, watching if the area was clear.
A gentle chuckle was heard on the caller's line, "Good. We have deposited the requested amount…check your phone….added a bit of a tip for you as well….might as well appreciate one who clearly is under-appreciated. Check your phone once this conversation is done…."
"They underestimated me! I can hack through anything….but dem two underestimated me." Jake bitterly said.
"It happens…but keep your mouth shut….if word gets out…it's easy to trace from where it came...
Jake….it is that easy….and the result won't be that forgiving…."the older voice warned.
"I understand…but I need the cash…for college and stuff…"
'That's none of my business kid…but piece of advise, CIA ain't nothin' for people like you….ok…in a few seconds you will be able to trace my call….but as expected you ain't that good, kid. Take care of yourself…and remember…family first." The line went dead.
Jake mimicked the callers words, "Family first." Jake sneered, "What a retard."
He looked at the phone, indeed he had been trying to trace the call….but the device he used was new…no one knew about it….these people were experts.
he noticed there was no reception…desperately he needed to check the balance in his account.
He tried switching his phone off and back on, this proved to be unsuccessful. The 19 year old began to panic, perhaps it was a problem with the building, this had not been the first time he had experienced, low or no signal at all.
He rushed out of the building….
Once outside, the network bars on the phone appeared in full force, his emerald green eyes lit up, "Awesome!" he joyfully exclaimed.
A message appeared on his Iphone.
The amount of USD 85 000 has been deposited today, your available balance is USD 85,187.60
Jake couldn't believe his eyes, he wanted to scream into the air, he shuffled his dark brown hair, disbelief but pure happiness…he would celebrate with his foster parents! Yes this is what he would do…take them out to dinner and thank them for everything.
His phone beeped again. Another message from the bank….he glanced at it briefly but had to take another look - a closer one...for he wasn't too sure on what the hell he was reading.
Amount of USD 20,000 has been credited today, your available balance is USD 65,187.60.
"What the…." Jake couldn't even finish he was receiving multiple text messages, each showing a deduction of USD 20,000 and decreasing his available balance.
"Those fucking Fucktards!" he cursed into the air.
There was some commotion happening just around the corner, but Jake was too busy cursing at his phone and at the fact the he was being made a complete fool of.
The black laundry van practically slid round the corner, dragging the attention of most passer-bys.
Its speed was maddening and right in front of Camelot Police Station it came to screeching looks up, what the fuck was going on?The van's back door instantly slid open.
A man that clearly looked like Barack Obama appeared before Jake
"What the-"Jake wondered, confused about what seemed to be happening.
"Sorry Kiddo…you just had to fuckin' try to be such a smart ass…."and with that he pulled the trigger multiple times…
"Go! Go! Go!" the shooter urged, quickly he dropped the Obama mask on the gunned down Jake.
People screamed, cowering in fear...
Kiki rushed out of the building, she noticed the Abercrombie shirt, the torn faded jeans and the red converse shoes...only one person came to mind.
she screamed out his name in agony, "Jake!"Her partner followed after the van...it was pointless but Kiki didn't care, she fell unto the ground, rushing to Jake...
"Stay put! Jake you can do it! You fucken hear me?" she takes in his hand, cradles his blood soaked hair, "Stay strong Jake!" turning around she screams, "Someone call 9-1-1...Please! Please! Help me!"
He looked at her, blood splattering out of his mouth, so much pain, he was in so much pain...but he needed to tell her...tell her, who was behind it all...
"I'll find them..you hear me? I'll find them and make em pay!" she sobbed, "They will pay!" she finally shrilled, rocking the boy who was struggling to remain alive...
The paramedics arrive, and the CIA agent is relieved "Thank God!Help him!"
They rush to Jake...but she notices them stop briefly.
"What is it?" she wildly challenges them, "What is it?"
One of them looks at his watch, "Time of death..."
The words die in the background...she had lost him...
Kiki did not know what was going on anymore, the muliple blue and white and red flashes of the sirens seemed to have distanced themselves from her.
She could feel her partner's arm around her, slowly she turned to face him.
Shock, guilt and disappointment depicted on her, she spotted that she was covered in Jake's blood, instantly she began to struggle to break free from her partner's grip, but Oliver held her tight, refusing to let her go and allowing her to unleash all her fustration, anger and disappointment on him.
A man tapped her, she turns to him, her eyes filled with hopelessness., "I require the deceased name? Mam..."
She would have slapped him for his gruffness, but the man was just doing his job, looking away from him, with a heavy voice she spoke out his name.
"His name, officer is...Jake..."
Full name, mam?"
"Jake...Jake Mordred Drew..." finally...she burst into tears...finally.