Chapter 31 Gemma's wail

Elena

Two months later

I winced, rolling out of bed as soon as I heard Gemma's cry. I tried going back to sleep to see if anyone would attend to her but I had no luck whatsoever as she screamed louder.

Gemma had the complete gene of the Crooks in her since they didn't need a trumpet or any instruments for their voices to be heard.

Gemma's voice in particular was ear-splitting and I wonder if she was acting this way on purpose.

Acting to gain attention from me or any of her aunts and uncles.

I trudged out of the bedroom in a velvet robe reaching just below my knees.

I bumped into Sparkles who seemed a little cheery this morning.

“Hey!” She mumbled, walking in the opposite direction.

“Hi," I muttered back.

Sparkles and I friendship seem surreal, but I was happy that she was truly a changed person.

She took me like her younger sister even as I was a few months older than her. Also, she was even more protective of me than the rest of her siblings.

“I wonder if that child knew what she was doing sometimes. I would have thrown her out if she wasn't part of this family.” Sparkles mumbled before disappearing down the narrow hall.

It was true, and as I had said before, Gemma's cry was more like an alarm because it often wakes all of us.

Even Kellen who usually sleeps like the dead, her voice wasn't an exception to him.

“Someone should take care of that banshee,” Liam grumbled.

He came out in only a boxer brief that left nothing to the imagination.

“Oh!” He exclaimed.

“I'm so sorry.” I blushed, glancing away from him to Callista's door. Her room was beside his.

It wasn't a new thing to see Liam dressed that way. It happened every morning and he wasn't even uncomfortable I kept running into him.

Weirdo!

I tapped the door, then opened it slowly. I peered into the room to see Callista by Gemma's dressing table.

I shook my head as I noticed she was getting changed. Also, I guess it was the reason she had been crying.

“I'm sorry she keeps waking y'all every morning,” Callista murmured. “I feel I'm doing everything all wrong today. She doesn't want to stop crying."

Callista groaned whilst patting her back.

But, that made her yowl even harder.

Moreover, I noticed she was flinching with each pat. I motioned with my hands for her to stop doing so.

I stepped to where they stood and took the baby from her.

Gemma moaned as I observed her. Her chubby hands went to reach my hair and she tugged on it.

She giggled and hiccupped.

I grinned as I saw how cheerful she was.

“If only babies could talk," Callista said. “I guess she just wanted you to hold her."

I nodded in agreement.

However, I sensed that was not the case as she began to sob again.

“I don't think so. I think something is wrong with her." I said.

I set her back to the dressing table, took her clothes off including her diaper.

Then, I saw the red slashes that covered her buttocks. It looked quite new as if she had been smacked not long ago.

“Why does it look as if she was beaten?" I frowned, my eyes tailing to Callista.

“I promised I didn't do that. I would never hit my granddaughter.” She said, shaking her head.

“I believe you." It was true Callista wouldn't harm Gemma. I had seen how she doted on her, including her kids even if they were grown-ups.

"But who did?” I inquired.

We both stared at each other, then at the door as it went ajar.

“Mom, you need to see this," Ellen yelled. “Oh, you are here.”

She stopped in her tracks as she saw me.

“What is it?" Callista asked.

“Never mind. I'll tell you later." Ellen's face spread into a broad, ingenuine grin.

“I'm always here, Ellen.” I pointed out. “Why are you acting so funny?”

“I am? It's nothing.” Ellen added quickly whilst signalling for Callista with a nod of her head.

“You don't need to hide anything from me and I know it's about him. I already saw the picture of them kissing if that's what you are about to show her.” I grimaced.

Ellen sighed whilst coming to my side. "That's not it but it's more serious and we are making plans to go over there since we have a location now."

“See, he's getting married to her or maybe it's the other way around since he's not in the right state of mind.” Ellen extended her phone towards me.

My heart skipped a beat as I saw the video of him waiting for her in what looked like a garden.

The pillars, tables, and chairs were shrouded with frills and tulles.

Next to Aiden was a rectangular table covered in a pink tulle tutu table skirt. A three-tier cake was stationed on the table with peonies scattered around it.

Moreover, I noticed only two attendees, which were Aiden and the minister that was going to officiate the wedding.

Aiden looked as if he had not been getting any sleep since his disappearance. He looked vulnerable and not like the alpha I knew.

He looked like a puppet.

The suit he donned clung to his body, his brown hair which I had always liked dishevelled was gelled back.

His eyes had dark circles under them and the corner of his lips curved in a small smile.

“This is our chance of getting Aiden back. I'm sorry Elena if you don't want to do this but we need your help.” Ellen pleaded.

I blinked back the tears threatening to slip from my eyes whilst nodding.

“That's fine. I want Aiden back. I think it's time to get back one of our own.”

Certainly, it was the time.

Hecate had cautioned me not to rush into anything because of my emotions which could worsen the situation.

My powers had been unlocked by Hecate, and I had trained more with Maya to become better.

Also, Kellen and Liam had taken it upon themselves to teach me how to combat since I was the only female in the pack that couldn't use a fist or sword.

I was better now in both, thanks to them.

“But before then, I need to take care of what is going on with Gemma.”

“Revelare!" I waved my hand over the slashes and it all came together to form a name.

“S-I-E-N-N-A.” I spelt out.

“That whore!” Callista grunted.

“It's a good thing we are going to destroy her today.” Sparkles beamed. “I like the mention of Violence.”

“You need another witch to be with you,” Maya said as she stepped into the room. “So, I'm in.”

“I heard she got tough-looking armies.” Brad chuckled, cracking his knuckles.

“I haven't used these hands in a while,” Jaxon added as he joined us.

My heart leapt with joy as I saw the way they were all eager to go rescue Aiden. It was overwhelming and I couldn't hold back the tears anymore.

“Aww, stop crying.” Sparkles said.

“You guys are so wonderful. Aiden is so lucky to have y'all.” I said, wiping the tears gliding down my cheeks with the back of my hand.

“We are so lucky to have him because he wouldn't wait this long to rescue us if we had been the one in trouble,” Jaxon said.

I nodded because it was the truth.

Aiden was more like a do and think later man. No matter how awful the situation looks, he would jump into it and it was a wonder he always comes out victorious.

“That's right. We need to get going.” Ellen announced.

“Don't you think we are forgetting something?” Sparkles inquired, halting us.

“The evil twins!” Liam yelled as he dashed out of the room.

Kellen followed behind whilst shaking his head.

Everyone chuckled, then left the room.

Maya and I did double layer protection to seal the doorway. The only person that could break the spell we had used was Hecate herself since she had taught me.

I glanced at the house one more time before entering Ellen's car.

I touched the necklace on my neck and did a silent prayer for the mission to be successful.