Descent

Chapter 14

A few hours later

"Why would she leave me?"

"Why indeed my little darling."

Almost the entire Hub had been called to order in what her mother called the throne room. Dove stood beside her mother, her hands clasped together trying to keep her nerves together. The boy Malik sat upon her mother's lap, wiping away his tears. Evidently, Mai and Thomas did not know the definition of being discreet, and now, everything was going to hell in a handbasket. Malik had broken down upon seeing his sister in her mother's garden leaving him without so much as a hello. Now he had spilled the beans that she was indeed his sister, and Ramona was more than happy to console him so long as it meant gathering more information about the fiery redhead. Ramona bounced the boy up and down muttering calming words while hiding her true intentions. She looked around the room, seemingly growing impatient. On the opposite side of the throne stood Buck Hughes, nursing his broken nose that was gifted to him by Mai herself.

"Fucking hell Ramona - we don't have time for questioning. I want that whore's head." he snapped.

Ramona snapped her fingers at him, hushing him, "There is a child present. I expect you to behave."

Dove kept her gaze down, feeling his sight boring into her. He was probably thinking how this was her fault for not being available to his needs.

"Where is the prisoner?" she exclaimed.

At her feet, her crocodiles Oya and Neph also growled with frustration, hoping that their snack would be coming soon. Dove tried to keep her composure as best as she could as a few moments later, two more of her mother's guards entered dragging Roger along the floor. They must have beaten him on the way here because he had a black eye that had not been there the last time she saw him a few hours prior. He was cursing in french as they dragged him forward up the steps, halting just right before the trio.

"Uncle Roger." Malik exclaimed surprised before looking at Ramona, "Why is my Uncle hurt?"

"Oh honey," Ramona smiled, "They were just playing a bit too hard. Let's get you a bath and get you ready for bed. I'll be there in a moment."

Ramona snapped her fingers, another guard approaching to collect the boy. Malik looked back to Roger, still looking unsettled and concerned.

"Don't worry about me champ." Roger replied, "Your Uncle Roger has got everything under control."

His voice rang with faltered confidence sending a dagger through Dove's heart though Malik wouldn't know the difference. Malik went willingly with the guard, poking his head over every few seconds under they left the room completely. Once Malik was no longer present, Ramona's demeanor changed completely.

"I know you ain't that boy's Uncle." She stayed as she stood up, "I also know you know this mysterious big sister that escaped not less than a mere few hours ago. So you better start talking. What are ya'll doing here?"

"Va te faire foutre." he responded as he spat at her feet.

"Oh honey," Ramona laughed as she clicked her tongue, "We don't use that kind of tone here."

Dove watched with worried eyes as her mother snapped her fingers, calling for Neph, the bigger of the two crocodile twins. Neph's oversized figure lumbered forward like a docile dog. Dove could imagine Neph licking her chops if she could physically do so, knowing there's a tasty snack just waiting before her.

"You're going to start talking and you're going to tell me everything that my little friend Malik failed to mention."

The two Highwaymen guards held Roger as Neph opened her mouth, hissing as Roger fidgeted and yelled. Anyone who thought Ramona was bluffing would be sorely mistaken. Ramona did not make empty threats. She fell through with each promise and threat she ever made. This was no different. Roger's head was full-on inside the croc's mouth, sending Dove into a panic.