Chapter 3

Rhea

My mind is still spinning from what just happened when I get to the hospital where my father stays. My hands are still trembling even though Sira has told me to calm down.

I take a long deep breath before stepping out of the car. I greet the receptionist and head straight for Papa’s room.

About a year ago, my father, Will Grayson, was diagnosed with dementia. Along with his heart problems, it’s been a hard struggle for the both of us. My papa feels guilty and sad that I have to spend my time taking care of him. That’s why he always tried to encourage me to mingle and date. He has no idea that the two people I chose to be close to played me for a fool.

While I was driving, Marcus already sent me several text messages, begging and asking me to come back so we could talk. He sent another message saying that I should stop acting immature and childish, that the world doesn't revolve around just me. I almost turned the car around to go back and beat the shit out of him. What a bastard.

The last text was the final straw. I blocked his number after he asked if I could still send the four thousand dollars. I can't believe how utterly stupid I've been. He must have been laughing at my dumb ass whenever he asked me to help him with money and I gave him my last card. If not for my phone going off, I would have foolishly sent him the savings meant for my father's treatment. I’m so dumb!

'Well, I tried to warn you, didn't I?’ Sira’s voice echoes in my head. She sounds amused at my situation which is pissing me off.

"Who the fuck are you? How are you always listening

to my thoughts and how can I hear you in my head?" I ask in frustration, my voice rising higher than normal. I hope I don't wake papa up in case he's sleeping.

'I am a part of you, Rhea. I've always been a part of you. You just chose to shut me out.’ What does that even mean? I pull at my hair in frustration, ready to ask whoever she is to get out of my head when my father's frail voice stops me.

"Rhea, darling? Are you here? or am I imagining hearing your voice?"

I should have known that my father would easily recognize my voice even if he was asleep. He's never been a deep sleeper. I release a sigh and make my way into his room. Mrs Rose sits quietly beside him, feeding him a drink.

I clear my throat and force a smile on my face, hoping he wouldn't notice the distress on my face.

"Hi, Papa. How are you feeling?"

"Cupcake. I was just thinking of you when I heard your voice. I'm fine. I just miss you. Come here, cupcake." Papa raises his arms, waiting for me to embrace him. I give him a watery smile before hugging him tightly while he's lying down, careful not to put any weight on him.

"I'm here now papa. Hello Rose, thank you for watching after him. I hope everything is fine?” I ask the old woman who smiles at me as she rises up.

"Oh he's fine. He's been good. He was running a temperature earlier but after he showered and took his drugs, his temperature went back to normal. I’ll leave you too now so you can catch up" I'm instantly relieved at her response. I worry about my papa so much because he’s all I have left. I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lose him.

"Thank you so much, Rose. You're the best."

"You're welcome, darling. Oh and I grew some flowers in your garden at home, make sure it doesn't get damaged or removed, Okay?"

“Alright, Rose.”

“That woman and her damn flowers.” Papa grunts adorably. He sounds like he's annoyed but I know he's not because he likes her. Old people love pretending like they hate each other.

"Her flowers are magnificent, papa. Don't be a hater." I laugh playfully as I squeeze him tight before sitting in front of him on the bed. His smile falls the moment he gets a good look at my tear-stained face. "Cupcake, are you alright? your eyes look all puffy and..." his voice fades off as he stares at my wrist, the area where my mother’s bracelet used to be. His eyes are wide open in alarm. I've never seen him sit up as fast as he just did.

He grabs my wrist tightly and inspects it as if he's looking for something in it. “Rhea? Where’s your bracelet? Why did you remove it? You shouldn’t have removed it!” His voice sounds shaky as he tries to get up but I gently push him back to lie down.

“It got broken. What’s wrong papa?” I ask him, my heart racing fast.

My father stares at my wrist like he’s seeing a ghost. His grip tightens, fingers trembling as if he’s afraid I’ll disappear if he lets go.

“Broken…?” he yells. His throat bobs as he swallows hard. “No! no, no, no. That’s not good, cupcake. That’s very bad.”

“Papa, you’re scaring me.” I try to laugh it off, but it comes out wrong and forced. “It’s just a bracelet. I knowIt belonged to mama, but it’s–”

“You shouldn’t be without it,” he cuts in sharply, his voice rising. “You shouldn’t ever be without it, Rhea. Do you hear me?”

I shake my head slowly. “I don’t understand. Why are you acting like this? It’s just a piece of jewelry.”

“It’s more than a piece of jewelry!”

His eyes roam the room like he’s expecting someone to burst through the door. Then he looks back at me, and something in his gaze makes my chest tighten.

“Look,” he says quietly, “there’s a reason we’ve moved so much since your mother died.”

My breath catches. “What… what do you mean?”

“You think it was for work? Or money?” He lets out a shaky laugh that sounds nothing like amusement. “No, cupcake. We were hiding.”

“Hiding from who?” My voice is barely above a whisper now.

His grip tightens again. “From them.”

“From who, papa?”

“The monsters.”

“What monsters are you talking about, papa?”

“The…the werewolves.”

His words make me pause. Why is he suddenly talking about werewolves? They don’t exist. “Papa…you’re not thinking straight. Werewolves don’t exist.”

“They do! And they’re going to come after you. You need to hide, cupcake!” Papa coughs. I rub his back to calm him down.

“There’s no such thing like that, Papa. Let’s get you to sleep.”

He shakes his head frantically. “Listen to me! They exist. And they are not just werewolves, they’re predators, Rhea. Dangerous ones. They rule all of us in silence. I’ve tried my best to hide you from them as much as I can.”

I stare at my father in confusion. Is his dementia getting worse or what?. “You’re not making sense, Papa.”

“You’re in danger,” he insists, his breathing starting to come faster now. “You’ve always been in danger. That bracelet was protecting you. Masking you.”

“Papa, please stop. You’re not well. You’re confusing things.”

“They must not find you,” he says urgently, panic creeping fully into his voice now. “If they do…” He gasps suddenly, clutching at his chest. “Rhea…”

“Papa!” I rush to his side as his breathing turns ragged and uneven. “Papa, slow down. Please. Look at me. I’m right here.”

He keeps shaking his head. “I love you so much,” he pants. “So much. You’re in danger, cupcake. Promise me you’ll be careful. Promise me.”

“I promise,” I whisper, tears filling my eyes. “Just breathe, okay? Please.”

My hands tremble as I reach for his medication, grabbing the sedative quickly. I help him take it, murmuring soft words over and over until his breathing finally starts to slow.

“I love you, my princess.” he whispers again, his eyes fluttering. “I love you so much.”

“I know, papa,” I choke out. “I love you too.”

Minutes later, he’s asleep.I sit there for a long time, staring at his face as my mind spins. None of the things he said makes sense, but I don’t know why I feel scared.

That's when my phone decides to ring, the sound making me jump. I glance at the screen and my stomach drops when I see that it’s my work supervisor calling.

I gently place my father’s hand back on the bed, step out of his room, and quietly close the door behind me before answering.

“Mrs Denver, good evening.”

“Why did it take you so long to pick up?” my supervisor snaps immediately.

“I’m sorry…I was busy, ma’am,” I apologize quickly.

“Check your mail. Now.” The line goes dead.

My heart thuds as I open my email. The subject line hits me first.

REASSIGNMENT NOTICE

I open it. It’s a notice saying that I’ve been reassigned to work as a junior assistant nurse at Raven Manor for the next three months. Adrian Raven. I recognize the name only because he’s a popular billionaire and philanthropist who hardly steps out of his territory. There was a time when rumors about him being a criminal went viral. Some say he kills people, some say he harvests their organs. Others say he’s an evil incarnation.

I’ve never cared about him or those rumors, but now that I’ve been assigned to work as a junior nurse for him, I feel scared for my life. What if he’s really as dangerous as they say?

I quickly open my G****e app and type in Raven Manor. When I see the pictures, my breath stutters. The place is a fortress, massive enough to hold hundreds, maybe even thousands of people. Everything about it looks old-fashioned, but still very beautiful. Dread fills me as I scroll through more images. This isn’t just a job location. This is the kind of place you disappear into.

I check the address, and my heart sinks even more. Northern Maine. A place that’s cold, isolated and private. Almost a whole day away from here.

How am I supposed to take care of Papa from thousands of miles away?

***