Little Black Riding Hood

Chapter 43

Katrina's POV (Atsuko's Aunt)

I watch from my niece's bedroom door as she sleeps. Blade hasn't left her side ever since he brought her back last night.

My sons informed us after the battle was over. I know Philip's decision for us elder members to leave it to the kids is for all of them to learn but I have never expected that my niece..my brother and sister were all part of Dragon Forest.

Flashback to after the twins informed them of their victory

Philip rolls his chair to face Javier and me. He eyes me.

"How is it that you did not know that your niece was Dragon Forest the whole time?"

"She was adopted, Philip. How could you expect her to know?" Javier defends me. He's right, I didn't know. How could Big Brother and Sister leave me out of this?

"I was also told that her parents died in an accident-that their bodies did not survive." Now that I think about it Dragon Forest was completely annihilated without leaving any bodies behind.

I gasp and close my mouth in horror. "No.."

Tears start to form as they dripped down my cheeks. Javier pulls me closer to his chest as Philips sigh.

"There weren't supposed to be survivors so how did Japan's Dragon Forest members actually survive? You went to Japan for a while to accompany her, did you notice anything?"

I shook my head. While Atsuko was just 10, she was just quiet. No tears, nothing.

"The trauma she went through and I myself as her family did not notice her pain. Oh Atsuko..."

Javier caresses my head even more. "Enough blaming yourself. Your brother and sister have their reasons for not telling you like you not telling them what you are."

"Yes, just like you want to protect them, I'm sure they want to protect you too from their enemies. If the culprit that killed them knows you're linked to Dragon Forest or not, they will still come after you."

Philip stands up. "For now, we will have to wait until Atsuko is up to have her explain everything."

"You won't get it out of her." a cold voice says. The whole room got up and saw Kray with another two of his vampires.

"What brings you here?" Philip asks.

"Even if you ask Atsuko, she's bound by Dragon Forest to never reveal anything."

"She revealed her mission to me," Blade says appearing behind them. He glares at Kray before making his way to his father's side. "I'm her mate. She was telling me the truth the entire time."

"Is Atsuko awake?" I asked with a shimmer of hope to just rush back and hug my niece.

Blade shook his head. "No, her dragon wanted me out of the room." he sulks as I noticed some healed claw marks on his face.

"But it does not mean that she will reveal what Dragon Forest is all about." the young man behind Kray spoke. Why does he look so familiar?

"I'm already dead so I am not bound by Dragon Forest." He says.

Blade's POV

I snort. "I don't believe you."

The whole room turned their attention to me.

"If you say that you are dead, then the tattoo should be gone. I've seen how a Dragon Forest member dies. If they die, their tattoos disappear." I said while remembering how Atsuko lied about not knowing that young woman that died in her arms. She knew her and she thought I did not notice how her panther tattoo disappeared when she took her last breath. Atsuko was in so much pain I let that question slip aside.