Chapter 51 – Unexpected (Ansel Conrad POV) Pt.5

"We do not take lives-"

"Oh you rather be the fools that are captured by the Elders, than be the man that protected his family. You do not even know you are in jeopardy! You invited danger to your table!" Naomi pointed, squaring off with Lewis.

"I have never even heard of these loyalist people you speak of-" I make a choking sound, snapping out of my own thoughts as it feels like I've been stabbed in the gut. Granddad didn't understand what his words meant or even how close to the truth he was.

Faith spoke of Loyalist and Independents, two rivals. Sure he was not implying much when he used that term; loyalist. But my heart and inner panic could not be pushed aside.

"How did you escape the second time?" I ask Naomi, trusting in her for the second time. I had kept my family safe for many years by living a quiet life. I had never ran into a Kitsune, or Loyalists. However, dropped right in my lap was a girl that knew of a coming world.

And with Andy, came Naomi who was looking out for him, and by the way she grabbed Genesis, Stella and Danny Junior, his siblings as well. It was not the time to think of her motives, but I think it had more to do with Andy wanting to protect his family than Naomi going out of her way to look out for more than just Andy, her Charge.

"Ansel you are not just taking this girls-"

"Granddad," I shake my head, "the time to ask questions and doubt anyone is not when a man with an anagram name for Betray No Elder is sitting inside a house with my wife," I can barely keep the fire, anger and fear out of my tone.

"She is a child Ansel-" I hold up my hand, palm out towards him, eyebrow raised.

While privately thinking, Naomi is a child, but so is Fatima, but Samson left us because of something she knew and now, he out of all my children was the safest.

Kalenah and I spent months trying to make Faith see that there were no such things as Loyalist and Independents. Months of trying to turn off the brainwashing she had endured, never once thinking, she could be seeing a future. Hell we sent that poor girl to therapy, all to undo the damage her mind endured.

"Tell me what you know of this people with the anagram names," I turn to Naomi. "Do not look them up," she warns, mostly looking at Angela who was seated and just opening her laptop. "They are trained and to get the names they have to show great loyalty to the Elders. They go where the Elders want them, they will harm a child if that is what they are told to do, all to serve the Elders." I get a sickening twist in my belly, as Naomi speaks, her own normally dark eyes glow a light gold.

"They have no family, and if they have a family, that is because they are trying to get close to a mark. If the Elders want someone they will find someone near that person and try to recruit them, but they never get their hands dirty. You may never know that you are actually working directly for the Elders. Sometimes you do know though, you do it because you are convinced that by helping them, you are part of this cause," Naomi waves her arms slicing the air.

As she paces, Naomi continues speaking, "You believe that when they finally take a stance that you will be rewarded because you've been a loyal supporter."

I glance at Angela who despite the fear in her eyes, mouths a single name to me. "Taylor!"

"You say all of this, but how do you test it? Do you want us to kill a man without proof?"

Naomi stops pacing, while I run through methods to kill this man that I hadn't seen face to face. "Everyone stay here!" I order, stalking off the bus, rolling my shoulders and putting on my best jovial face.

I wouldn't draw attention to what Naomi was saying, but I needed to get a look at this man Berty or whoever he really was. We carried a few guns with us, not to mention sedatives; all I needed was one peek at this person to see which would be the best route. Entering the house, I climb the stairs right to the front, leading to the upper level of my granddad's house, relaxed and calm, smiling at those from my Den that had gathered on the settee.

The exposed rafters above, that I once thought gave this home a rustic feel, now only send shivers down my back as I can see gaps between the structure.

Plotting. Always plotting, I first try to find my Kalenah, which would not seem out of the ordinary. Once I've spotted her in the kitchen with my mother, Michelle, grandma Valerie and a strange unknown man, I first look away settling my heart that jumped a beat.

Kalenah was a foot away from danger and she didn't know it. There was no way to signal her without this Berty fellow catching on. Putting a soft smile on my face, I walk, almost saunter my way over to them, getting a good look at Berty.

Standing at around six feet two inches, his ginger hair was cut half an inch long. Clean shaven, small bluish green eyes, a sharp hooknose, and thin lips smiled at me as I placed my arm around Kalenah.

"Oh, Berty, this is my nephew, Ansel," Michelle quickly introduced us, and as though he was not this wolf in sheep's clothing he sticks his hand out to shake my own. Without even thinking, I return the gesture, at ease. "It's nice to meet you man, I was just showing Val and Michelle how to make Duck Confit," he waves over to the stove where I can see steam wafting above a tray of smoked meat. Nodding I scope out the rest of the food, "I'll be back, I wanted a plate for Stella, Danny Junior and Trevor," I must not worry Lenah because she nods, moving to go to where the plates must be, but is outdone by Berty.

Without help he opens the cabinet, taking out three plates and handing them to Lenah, a polite smile on his face.

With his back to us, I take time to evaluate his frame. He's fit, thighs filling up his dark blue jeans, and biceps filling his long sleeved, light blue button down shirt.

Berty was in shape, but not overly muscular.

How did these people with anagrammed names work? Was he being watched? Were their more of him around, lingering and waiting just in case he needed backup? Was it all done solo, only reporting when he had something to report? The thoughts run through my head on loop as I take the plates from Kalenah, dishing out meals.

Once I had filled them up, I took a moment to really look at my options, at the guise of scanning the room. Everyone from my Den was up on this floor.

The werejaguars that I helped and relocated to Utah, Cheryl and her daughter Lyanna, Stephen and his two daughters Claire and Kerry were up here as well.

At the large wooden table for twenty, his arms crossed against his chest, was Michelle's oldest son, twenty-year-old Peter. Though he's at the table with his sisters, Mecca, Jenifer and Laura, and brothers as well, when I follow his glare, it's aimed right at Berty.

Brown hair combed back messily, lips thinned and unhappy, his jaw even twitches. Looking over my shoulder, I catch Berty rapping an arm around Michelle, and he only has eyes for her.

Michelle might have no qualms when it came to Berty, but it was crystal clear that Peter had mountains of them. I shift my eyes over to him, resting there too long because as though he can feel my gaze, his shifts his eyes directly to mine. I dip my head, ignoring the questions in his eyes, or the plea I read there.

Peter flicks his eyes to Berty and back. He didn't hide his feelings about Berty at all. All I saw on his face was: I do not trust him.

It didn't matter to him that for the first time in ten years that his mom was actually smiling and that Berty was the reason why.

With enough information on Berty's physical features, I grab utensils and head down the stairs, leaving Lenah behind. With purpose, I stalk back to the bus, dropping the plate with Berty Duck, in the sink, and carrying the two other plates to Andy and Stella.

Before I walk to the sitting area where Naomi and Lewis are squaring off, I stand on bottom of the spiral stairs and crane neck back, "Trevor, come down here, bring sedative."

Naomi turns to me, "You cannot use sedatives," she exclaims, shaking her head. "I know much that you do not, but sedatives take seconds to make its way and knock him out. I do not know how they all converse or how or if the Elders keep track of these men and women by thoughts, but you need to have a surprise death. And then, in less than five minutes we need to be gone."

"Five minutes?" Granddad exclaims, on hand coming up to rest against his chest. Naomi nods, "Yeah, five minutes, less than that. You do not know who he is working with, how is watching this place, you've welcomed him in your home, who knows what he has told people."

"How do we get rid of the body?" Angela asks Naomi, "I mean we have a gun with us. Say we shoot him, within five minutes, how do we get rid-"

"We have tarpaulin, dose the body in lye and bleach, or drain cleaner..." Naomi offers, but that seems too messy, "Granddad do you have any steel barrels?" I ask remembering the ones he used to have a few years back to hold his old oil.

"In the garage," he says slowly, realizing that I was going along with Naomi. As Trevor coasts on the stairs, I go to the glove compartment up front, taking out the lock box with our Glock. Putting it on the table, I rub my face roughly, sighing heavily, my back stiff with anxiety.

"If it has to come as a surprise, he's in the kitchen now teaching grandma how to make Duck Confit, I'll just find away to uhm get behind him somehow," my stomach turns. "Naomi, bring the tarpaulin from the truck Liam was driving, immediately. Uh, Trevor, you and I will move the body to one of those barrels Granddad has, and – and uhm," my heart starts racing, and my body gets warmer.

I turn towards Lewis, "do you guys have go bags packed?" his face pale as ever, but he nods.

"Okay once you hear the gun shots, you need to come in then," I decide as I watch him sink further into worry. There's no way Berty doesn't see his face and realize that something is going on. Nerves high, I unlock the box picking up the black weapon, focused. Once I've inserted a new magazine, I place the gun behind my back, pulling my shirt down over it and walk to the sink on the bus, washing my face. Calming myself, as though nothing is wrong.

We depart the bus, Angela, Trevor to my right, and Naomi to my left. She scurries in her unique way to the trailer Liam was driving, yanking the door open, before jumping inside and out of sight, until I see black hair peeking out.

I want to move my feet, but for a minute as I stare at the house, I'm stuck in place. Fear and uncertainty running rampant inside me until Angela knocks her shoulder against mine forcing me to gaze down at her. She doesn't look up to meet my eyes, in stead she focuses on the ground, "Think of it this way, your kids expect to have their parents – both of you – back with them in a few days Ansel. This guy is just one more thing keeping you from returning to them," I focus on her breaths that I can see as she speaks.

I swallow thickly, "Ang, what if he's innocent, what if he just has-"

"Not even you are foolish enough to believe what you're saying Ansel, he wears that name as a badge, mocking everyone in that house! That's not innocence, that is arrogance."

"That's how the Loyalist work, they trick you, make you feel safe and before you know it, you're trapped," broken speech from a sickly girl, hit me full force, knocking the breath right out of me. Trevor glances at me worriedly, the only answer I have, for him is, "Later."

I start chuckling, shaking my head, because the only other instinct reaction is to rip that man up upstairs into pieces. Let him see my face as I hear him take his last breath. All while guilt bubbles up inside of me.

Frustration builds and I know this is the wrong time to let it out but it's almost like a loosing battle. Faith knew all of this, not everything, hell not even the details – wait... it all hits me as though I'm repeatedly beat with a ply board. Why on earth would she share those with Kalenah and I when we were trying at every turn to prove she was wrong?

Eventually... you just stop. You play along. Hell, Andy eventually stopped asking for his 'Fay.'

"Bro, you've kept us safe for over twenty years, but this was something you didn't know. You do now, let's fix it and get the hell out of here," Trevor comments in a hushed tone.

Exhaling quickly, just forcing the air out of my lungs, I take a step, then another towards the red house, hearing the laughter and merriness that was going to come crashing down.

Before we set foot in the house, to keep my calm, I blurt out the most random thought that could get the three of us laughing. "Do you remember when Angie and Court asked you to father their kids," I snort laughing, almost like I had eight years ago.

"Over Thanksgiving dinner no less," Trevor adds, clearing his throat, catching on to what I was doing. In his best mocking Angela tone, "I'm thankful that I have such an amazingly caring, supportive and intelligent brother. The type of brother that would do anything to put a smile on my face," I nod as we cross the threshold.

"Not to mention that I'm sitting there, with Danny and Scotty," I add with a glance at Angela whose face has actually flushed three shades of red deeper than from just the cold alone.

"Hey, you know how big Trevor's ego is," she defends as we climb the stairs, "I had to stroke it." That alone sends me howling laughing.

Once on the platform, Angela breaks away from Trevor and I, and we saunter up to Michelle, Valarie, Kalenah and good ol' Berty. Trevor slinks right up to Berty, "Eh man, I'm Trevor," this time he's beaten Berty to introductions. "Ansel brought some of your Duck to the bus, had to come up here and see the chef, I haven't had Duck that mouthwatering since I was in Paris a few years back."

Trevor knows damn well he didn't try that Duck.

Jovial, Berty nods. Waving Trevor over, ego stroked, Berty turns his back on us all, "Yeah, I started making it at-" I reach behind my back expertly getting two quick rounds off before anyone can blink.

Cries sound all around me.

Blood and brain matter splatters against the wall, on the food, as behind me Michelle shrieks, her eyes shifting to silver as Berty slumps to the ground and Den members all look to me with fear in their eyes. "Everyone back on the buses now!" I ignore the man that has fallen to the ground, "what did you just do?! Ansel! What did you do?"

"Peter, boys, girls, get your emergency go bags, we leave in two minutes! No Electronics!" I roar above Michelle, the countdown clock in my head already going. Blinking just twice, Peter stands before shaking his sisters out of their own daze to get their bags.

As my Den members rush out, Naomi comes bustling through the downward stream of them, with the blue tarpaulin in her hands. Michelle sinks to her knees, crying, and trying to turn Berty onto his back as Naomi comes to a stop throwing the blue plastic at Trevor.

"If he's like I said, he will have a tattoo on him, something with-"

"Who are you?" Michelle wheels on Naomi, then whirls to face me, "What did you do Ansel?" Michelle cuts Naomi off, but I'm listening. "What kind of tattoo?"

"It will be either Betray No Elders, full out or it can be initials, small-"

"He-he has a marking on his back left leg-" grandma Valarie chokes out shaking in place. Looking around, I dive for the knife caddy, grabbing the sheers and scooting down to cut the back of his jeans open.

"He's – what are you talking about, he said that it was his friends initials," Michelle cries, confused but still crying over a man that I knew for sure was no innocent. When the sheers get hard to maneuver, I rip the jeans the rest of the way until I'm met with a pretty cryptic but plain to make out as well tattoo on Berty's left thigh.

It's old the ink worn but clear as day.

"See, he was with them," Naomi says, scooting besides me. She traces the letters, "B, and this in the middle," her finger starts at the line underneath the 'B' going up, down the thick middle and up above the 'E.'

"That's the N."

"B – N – E. Betray No Elder," Naomi repeats as Trevor loads the upper half of Berty's body onto the opened blue tarpaulin. Rushing back to us as we move him, Peter, Michelle's son, pulls his mom away from the body, "mom, he was bad news," he says holding her and forcing her to look away from Trevor and I. Pulling her away, Naomi steps back as we wrap up the body.

"Everything needs to be shut down, and off, one minute," I tell Kalenah, as Trevor lifts the body, slinking it over his shoulder, and I stop at my mom.

"Hide this place like you did with ours. The minute it's empty, one minute," she nods dazed, following Trevor down the stairs, as Kalenah and grandma Valarie empty out the fridge and freezer into bags, hurriedly.

Naomi staying to help with Angela.

Taking the stairs three at a time, I fly down behind mom and dad. Michelle and her kids are standing unsure outside each with their own duffel. I ignore them for a minute, stalking behind Trevor as he enters the garage, where granddad Lewis was waiting, barrel lid in his hands. Dropping the body right in, once it's securely closed, Trevor, Lewis and I, head out, meeting Kalenah, Val and Naomi with garage bags of food and a closet basket under her arm of foil covered containers.

They head right onto the bus, and two seconds later my mother come out, dagger in hand ready to hide this place as she had with our home in Bend.

I go to Michelle, her eyes wide and dull. Sighing, I lift her face up to mine, "He was going to harm us all," I say believing the words though guilt was still eating away at me inside.

"We can't stay here guys, and neither can you," I wave a hand at the bus, "it's going to be cramped, but we'll make do with what we have."

Peter nods, practically carting Michelle onto the bus, his brothers and sisters following. I stand by my mother as she completes the spell, speaking hurriedly, watching once again as the edges of the barn, shimmer then fade completely. We hurry onto the bus, leaving behind this once paradise that is nothing now but untouched land.

We're fully loaded, still in utter chaos when dad pulls off. Kalenah pushes Michelle into the bathroom, while in public Trevor just strips down to boxers lifting his bloodied clothes and handing them to Kalenah.

"Okay – Peter, take your sisters and brothers to the back, Stephen, and Cheryl, you guys can have the bunks upstairs outside the bedroom, it's occupied. We just need to put some distance between us and Ogden guys, so let us get everything settled down here-"

"Ansel, if you make a minor stop at this storage facility, we're housing our own motorhome there cause I was doing some work on the garage so had to place it there," my grandfather pipes up, "There's just too many of us to fit in here," he waves his arms around.

I look around, he's right. We were already over crowded with Naomi and Andy plus Danny and the rest of his kids. I nod once, "direct dad."

With everyone still moving about, I sit in my spot on the sofa behind my father, my heart racing and hands shaking, adrenaline coursing through me.

"You did good," Angela plops herself down next to me. I wouldn't go into everything in mixed company. I trusted everyone on the bus at the moment, even Michelle, though I'd have Peter and her remain here when we let the others off. Just incase I needed Trevor to sedate her before she caused problems.

I shake my head. Seriously, this is what it had come too? I was sedating loved ones left and right. First Danny, then Leslie and Lia.

Peter just didn't like the guy, which was a plus. But by Michelle's reaction, she had fallen for this guy. As we navigate through the town, I stare right ahead, thoughts tumbling over one another.

Kalenah, Valarie, and my mom I'm sure had questions, if the looks they were giving me meant anything. But instead they just held off, while every once in a while Michelle sniffles sounded. With the door separating the kids in the back from the front, just wedged open, it takes maybe five minutes before Peter comes out and kneels down before Michelle.

"Mom, why are you crying over that A-Hole? He wasn't a good guy! Do you think Ansel would have done what he did if he didn't mean us harm?" he takes her hand. Michelle remains a statue, avoiding even her own mother's pleas.

I won't apologize; I start repeating the thought over and over in my head, until it feels like it is bouncing around. I had other things on my mind right now as well, like what other information did Naomi have that I did not?

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© 2016 roxann_season All Rights Reserved

So I don't want to leave you guys on too much of a cliffhanger... this feels like a good place to stop... I'm off to have dinner :)

Oh so Ansel is the Den leader but it's more like he's kept them hidden. Naomi knows about the Betray No Elders' thing because she's experienced it with her Charges. It's not that she knows more or that Ansel is a bad leader, it's just... someone with more knowledge. Faith... sort of... had the knowledge... but it's broken and I'm so happy we've kinda come full circle because Ansel is realizing that Faith was kept on that mountain alone, but she wasn't so far off about Loyalists and Independents :)

So... Tell me what you think? (especially those that haven't read the other books... I'm hoping no one is overly confused).