Chapter 117
Paolo stormed into the room, his anger noticeable, where Janice and Alessia were lounging on the couch. He growled, “Listen up. I’ve got a job for you two. You’re going to find out where Alessandro De Luca is!”
Janice and Alessia exchanged nervous glances, sensing the seriousness of the situation. Janice bit her lower lip, unsure how to respond to her father’s sudden anger. “Sandro?” she asked hesitantly. “Why do we need to find him? I thought you only needed the Rose… ”
Paolo scowled, “Because the De Luca Villa is deserted, and I have no idea where the hell he’s gone off to. Also, the fact that I’ll be getting the rose doesn’t mean I shouldn’t kill my enemy if I got the chance.”
Alessia fidgeted, intertwining her fingers as she spoke softly, “Exactly, we don’t know where Sandro is either. How are we supposed to find him?”
“That’s your problem, not mine,” snapped Paolo, his impatience running thin. “I need no questions or protests from you two. Just do as I say. And don’t come back here until you’ve found him. Understood?”
“Yes, Father,” Janice replied quietly while Alessia nodded her response.
Paolo glared at them for a moment before storming out of the room.
Janice let out a deep breath, closing her eyes briefly before reopening them. She knew that locating Sandro would be no easy task. If he wasn’t at the De Luca Villa, she couldn’t fathom where he might be. Moreover, returning there held its risks. She had been a spy, and Sandro could quickly eliminate her without allowing a chance to explain. However, she reasoned it was still a better alternative than being in her father’s presence.
Janice sensed Alessia’s excitement, evident by her restlessness. She didn’t need to ask; the anticipation was detectable. It was only a matter of time before Alessia started to express her enthusiasm.
“Now, where do we begin?” Alessia asked, her stomach knotting with anxiety.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
“We need to know his exact location to plan our mission. We can’t go about mindlessly without a strategy,” Janice replied, her brows furrowing in contemplation.
“Leave that to me,” Alessia grinned, reaching for her phone.
Janice hesitated, concern etched on her face. “Do you think it’s a good idea to make a phone call right now? You’re wanted, and contacting anyone might risk revealing your location.”
“He’s trustworthy and won’t divulge where I am. He was the one who helped me escape in the first place,” Alessia reassured Janice, attempting to allay her fears.
“He,” Janice’s murmured, and her frown deepened as she thought about who it could be. She imagined him being someone like Blaze, who was always there to help damsels in distress, and she couldn’t help the jealousy that unfurled within her at the thought.
For one, she didn’t know why she was jealous of Alessia making a phone call. It wasn’t as if she had said anything about having a close relationship with the person.
Stepping closer to Alessia, she peeked at the phone and muttered, “Head of Security, James.” Janice took a deep breath before shaking her head.
Perhaps she was overthinking, she mused, as she watched Alessia speak professionally on the phone. There was no way she would address him formally if they were involved romantically.
“He’ll be here in ten,” Alessia informed her, and Janice nodded in response.
Precisely ten minutes later, the phone beeped, and Janice rushed out to retrieve the item delivered by the courier. The box was tossed near the mailbox. She found a large map inside, displaying the route to Ascostan.
“How did you know?” Janice mumbled, eyeing Alessia in awe.
“I figured that since I keep having visions about that place, it would be best to start our search there. Besides, we’ve always wanted to visit before we got caught again,” Alessia explained.
“You’re brilliant!” Janice squealed, wrapping her arms around Alessia, momentarily catching her off guard.
“We should take a closer look at the map first. I’ve heard it can be challenging to decipher,” Alessia suggested as Janice released her.
After hours of studying the map, which felt like an eternity, they left Cooan and set off for Ascostan. Alessia and Janice journeyed through the mountains, following the directions on the map as it indicated the easiest way to reach Ascostan. However, Alessia suddenly halted, sensing a strange sensation in the air. She glanced around, realising they were deep into the mountains, but she couldn’t discern the source of the unusual energy that enveloped her.
It was as if an invisible force field surrounded her, and she could feel the power surging through her veins. Instinctively, she reached for the map, gripping it tightly. The moment she did, a tingling sensation ran up her arm. It was an indescribable feeling, like the map was alive, awakening some dormant power within her.
She turned to Janice, her eyes shining with wonder and excitement. “Did you feel that too?” she exclaimed.
Janice looked at Alessia in confusion. “Feel what? What’s happening, Alessia?”
Alessia stared at her hand in disbelief, feeling the sudden pull of power. “Look!” she exclaimed. “My hand is freaking tingling, and I can see sparks!”
Janice turned her gaze and gasped as she witnessed a whirlwind forming around Alessia. “What the hell is happening?!” she cried out.
“I don’t know,” Alessia replied, her eyes wide with wonder. “But I think… I think I can control it!”
Closing her eyes, Alessia tried to harness her newfound powers, attempting to lift them off the ground.
“Fuck!” Janice exclaimed as the whirlwind surrounding Alessia elevated them as if they were weightless. “Holy shit, this is incredible.”
“Can we use this as a mode of transportation?” Janice asked, excitement filling her voice.
“We can get to Ascostan faster, soaring through the skies!” Alessia beamed, and Janice nodded eagerly.
Although it wasn’t easy to fly through the air as she was just getting used to it, Alessia managed to keep them afloat while avoiding distractions.
As they neared the town closer to Ascostan, they caught sight of eerie and supernatural beings lurking in the deep shadows. These creatures were unlike anything they had ever witnessed before. Rough, scaly skin covered their entire bodies, and their eyes glowed with inexplicable radiance. As the creatures emerged from their hiding spots, Janice and Alessia were frozen in fear.
Alessia’s voice trembled as she whispered, “W-What are those things?”