Zach's POV

(Five year old Zach)

"Go see who is at the door Zachary."

I drop the book and run to the door. I open it and peep out to see my uncle who is on the floor. The smell of blood is thick in the air. I run back to my mother, getting her hand in mine and pull her towards the door. She's about to protest but gasp when she sees her brother on the floor.

"Don!" She calls for my father while rushing to her brother. "What happened Lloyd?" She cries, gathering him in her arms as much as she could.

I'm pushed away from the door where I stood by my father. He takes uncle Loy in his arms and carry him inside, my mother following closely behind.

I close the door and follow them. My mother quickly treats his wounds and stops when they start healing on their own. After sometime, uncle Loy sits up looking a bit better than earlier.

"What happened?" Mum ask.

"Leila." Uncle Loy whispers.

"No no no no Loy. Please don't tell me you are still seeing her. Didn't she find a mate?" Mum exclaims.

"Go to bed Zach. Your brother is already asleep." Dad demands and I get up from where I sat. I start walking to my room but want to hear more of what happened to uncle Loy. I open the bedroom door and close it but don't enter my room. I try my best not to make any noises as I kneel at the end of the corridor, just enough to hear the conversation but not be seen by the elders bickering in the living room.

".......pregnant. How can I leave her?" Uncle Loy yells.

"You shouldn't have done that in the first place. You knew what the rules are and yet you did that. Can you get more stupid Lloyd?"

"Sis you don't understand. I love her. Do you know what love is? Even if you could change back the time, I'd still do the same again and again. I don't regret it."

"But what about me? I can't be alone without you. You are all that I have left." Mum sobbed and I peeked round the corner just in time to see uncle Loy embrace her.

"You are not alone. You have your husband and kids now. Be happy and don't cry about me. I don't want to leave you but there's no other way. I've seen the kids being born and now they are 5years old. That's enough for me. I'm sorry I won't see my nephews growing up to be responsible men." He murmurs and my mother cries hard.

I still don't know what is happening and why they are crying. Knocks sounds at the door and my dad leaves the two to open the door. Growls, yelling and cursing is heard before my father walks back to mum and uncle.

"Sella they've come to take him." Dad pronounce.

"No. Don please don't let them take my brother."

"I'm sorry love. There is nothing I can do to help." Dad holds mum who is still crying. He pats uncle Loy on the back and I see two men take hold of my uncle and leave the house.

"Why? Why is this happening Don?"

"I'm sorry Sella."

***
(Eight year old Zach)

"We have to move Don. This feud keeps getting worse and worse. Our children are growing and time is passing. We can't raise them in this suffocating environment of hate and envy. Until when will they blame us of what happened? We don't even know where Leila went and they blame that on us too." Mum says while nursing the wound on dad's arm.

"No Sella. Let's wait a bit. I'm sure all this will die down. The fights are not that big and the injuries not much."

"How can you say that? The other day it was your torso and yesterday it was your hip. Today its this and what about tomorrow? We have to move Don."

"Alright. We will talk about it later when the children are asleep." Dad mumbles while looking at me and my brother.

Mum sighs but don't say anything as she continues working on my dad's injured arm.

***
(Fourteen year old Zach.)

I lay on the bed while thinking about everything. My brother left an hour ago to see his woman. He couldn't take me with him today because they wanted to spend a quality time together. I toss and turn on the bed willing for an afternoon sleep to take me to dreamland but it never comes.

I groan and sit up, deciding on an afternoon walk instead. I exit my room and almost bump into my smiling mother.

"Oh thank goodness you are home. I thought your brother took you with him."

"He left me behind." I scoff and she holds my hand and pull me along with her. "Ma where are we going?" I ask.

She takes me to the living room and stops before my dad. They sat me on a chair and I scan the room with a frown. I didn't know we were having visitors today.

"Mum-"

"Son this is Frank and his wife Nelly. This beautiful lady here is their daughter, Scarlett." Father introduces and I greet the visitors politely. I still don't know why I'm here and being introduced to these strangers though.

The rest of the day is spend with me sitting on the chair and hearing the adults talk about different things. Scarlett attempted a conversation earlier but stopped when she saw I wasn't into it much. I silently thank the gods when the visitors leaves the house for the night. I get up to make a clean escape to my room but my dad stops me, ordering to find me here after he sees the visitors off.

I sigh and sit down again. My parents comes back a while later and sit on the opposite seats from me.

"Son, what do you think of Scarlett?" Mum ask.

"What about her?" I ask back now wondering if I was supposed to think something of her.

"What your mother means to say is, do you like her? Did you find her attractive?" Dad questions.

"I don't know her, so I'm not sure if I like her or not. To answer the other question, no. I wasn't attracted to her."

"That's expected since it was the first meeting. With time you will be attracted to each other. And you will get to know her to like her." Mum claps her hand in glee.

"Wait ma. What do you mean?"

"What she means to say is that you are engaged to Scarlett. This meeting was just to introduce you two together. She likes you and in time you will like her too." Dad explains and I look at them in horror.

"Why?"

"Because you are of age son. She is a good strong girl. She will make a good mother in time. She is of same tribe like us." Mum says and I shake my head.

"No mother. Why not let me find a woman of my choice? Why choose for me?"

"Baby you could have already find one of your own when your brother did. But you didn't. We've waited but nothing is happening. As a mother, I have to step in and look out for you."

"But ma,"

"Enough! Go to your room Zachary. There is nothing you can do about it now."

With a glance at my parents, I leave the room and run to mine. This can't be happening.

***
I groaned and got up from the bed. I took the glass of water on my stand and drank until it was empty. I sighed and checked the clock. I was up early once again this week. I walked to my closet putting on some shorts and running shoes then exit the bedroom.

Once outside the house, I took off running. I've been doing this since the past days because it helps me clear my head after a night of strange dreams or were they memories? No they couldn't be memories because no one here lives in caves like the me in my dream. One thing I was certain of was that I've never been in a cave before. The thought of it wasn't exciting.

I ran for an hour or two and then head back home. I took a shower and got dressed, ready for a long day at the office. My routine was back to the old one, now that Cemil wasn't in the picture anymore. It was just me, my son and my two best friends.

'Good morning.' Shane signed when I got in the dining room.

"Good morning- wait up, I'll be right back." I left the room since my phone began ringing and it was Kenneth calling me.

"Hello."

"Hey man. How is it?"

"All good. What's up?" I asked wanting to get over it and sit down with my son for breakfast.

"I have a favour to ask of you."

"Go on, I'm listening."

"Can I stop by your office? I think it's best if we talk about this in person. I'm in the city with Roman. He wanted to see CJ." Kenneth explained and I shrugged. If it was a long story then it was best in person. That way I won't worry of having my breakfast time with Shane disturbed.

"I don't mind. You can stop by and I think we also need to talk about the event and other things." I told him while walking back to the dining room.

"Alright. See in a few hours then."

I ended the call and started eating with Shane. We didn't talk much andi didn't mind the silence. Our time together was never awkward and we enjoyed even the silence.

I carried him to the car after breakfast. I buckled him up and was about to take my sit beside him when one of the gate guard stopped me.

"There is a woman outside requesting to see you. Her name is Scar." The guard whispered and I frowned. What did she want now?

'I'm coming son.' I signed to Shane who gave me a nod and I left immediately. I stepped outside the gate and spotted Scar who was leaning against her car on the other side of the road. I crossed over and stood in front of her.

"What are you doing here?" I asked right away.

"Good morning to you too Zach. I've missed you. It has been a long time since I last saw you." She smiled and touched my chest but I slapped her hands off me.

"Quit the bullshit and tell me what you want. I have work to do and a son to drop at school." I told her sternly.

"How is Shane?"

"Really? Is that what you want to ask coming all the way here?"

"Why do you act as if what happened was my fault? Is it bad for me to know how my son is doing?" She yelled and I took a step back. I wasn't in the mood to deal with her at the moment.

"What? So it was my fault? Really?"

"Yes Zach. It was your fault and it will always be your fault. But I'm back now. Shane is my son too and I'm planning of being the mother that he needs. Not even you will stand on my way and make sure your friends stay away as well." She glared at me, opening her car door and drove off in speed.

I stood there and watched her speed off. Her words still sounded in my ear and the threat stood out. I knew the look in her eyes. She won't stop until she gets what she wants.

I got back inside to the car and the driver took off. I dropped Shane at school and instructed the guards to keep an open eye on Shane and to call me if something happen. I also added extra guards to be sure my some would be safe. I needed to talk to Scar and figure something out.

I reached my office and after a brief talk with Charles, I started working. I didn't get far though since I got a call from Kenneth that he has arrived. The door to my office opened and I looked up from the papers scattered on my desk, expecting to see only Kenneth but surprised to see he had company.

"I hope you don't mind I came with the two. They wanted to tag along and I had no choice." Kenneth explained but I hardly heard him. I was stuck on one of the two who stood in my doorway.

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Hello!

I feel like I'm writing one book with four POV. The intersecting point of Unveiling Secrets and Sacred Ties is one of my best parts. What do you guys think?

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Until Next Time!!!

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