Savage Crown II

35. Thirty-Five

2 days later Natalia
I had slept through another day. My hair was a mess, my lips were chapped and I hadn't changed my clothes since when I had first dropped off Zoey at her grandparents house five days ago. The curtains remained drawn closed to keep out any sunlight. My mind and heart at war with itself. I couldn't bring myself to accept he was gone. I had called Bianca to check in on Zoey to let them know I'd be picking her up tomorrow afternoon with Lana now that I told my family that I'd be okay.

They were also mourning their son who died at the hands of their other son. I had to be strong not just for me but for our daughter & today would be the last day of me being like this. Even if a part of me was dead I had to carry myself up for our daughter.

As the night came I finally emerged from the room and headed downstairs. The huge house was silent and dark. There was no sign of Eli and Owen anywhere as I stood in the kitchen drinking water for the first time in days. I was going to retreat back to the room when I passed Callum's office.

Memories flooded my mind, some happy, some angry and some sexual as I ran my fingers over the leather of the couch and made my way towards the desk where the envelope Gio had brought rested. The confirmation that it was Callum's body burned to ashes in the basement. I took a seat on the black leather chair sinking into it, smelling faintly like Callum as I stared at the envelope in front of me I took a deep breath and opened the drawer on the side searching for a pair of scissors. I sliced the envelope open and pulled out the paperwork that was inside that had one clear bag stapled to it marked evidence.

As I read papers and saw that the only way they were able to identify a body had burned there was because of a handful of teeth that were confirmed as his when they matched them to his dental records. The wedding ring band was also found at the site were the teeth were found meaning Callum was immobile at the time of becoming engulfed in the flames. Tears brimmed at my eyes as I continued reading the report. I ripped off the bag from the papers that contained his wedding ring and held it close to my heart crying outloud. Callum had these rings altered for us to never be removed and now it was the only thing that came back home from him.

I tore the plastic bag open and held the ring in my hands as tight as I could to my chest and let it all out. How could fate be this cruel again?

I cried and yelled until my voice gave it out, time itself seemed to pass differently that I didn't even remember how much time had passed with me sitting there crying. Like a big release had occurred. All the emotions I wasn't allowed to feel the first couple of days were finally let go as I woke up with my face on the desk and Callum's ring held tight in my hands. It was late night, the desk lamp illuminated the office as I slowly opened my hand and stared at the ring in my hands. I rotated it in my hands searching for the engravements on it only to not find any. My eyes widdened as it sent a shock throughout my body stronger than any coffee could. I jolted out of the chair with realization dawning on me that this wasn't Callum's ring. Our rings were plantinum and engraved. I slid the ring onto my thumb since it would easily slide off in my other fingers. As I slid the ring back off my thumb there was no painful sensation or anything digging into my finger. The ring came off smoothly.

I quickly tugged at my own wedding band and quickly felt something painful dig into my skin. The engravements on it shined strongly, grá go deo. In contrast to Callum's ring this was no where near our rings. My heart pounded in my chest as hope began to shine on my darkened world. There was a chance that Callum was alive. I quickly ran out of the office not even knowing where I was headed and ended up bumping into Eli as I turned a corner in the hallway. He caught me in his arms and looked at me with worry as he looked at me up and down for any injuries, "are you okay Natalia? Whats wrong?" He asked worriedly.

My body was still trying to catch up with my mind as a I stuggled to put my thoughts into words. "Relax Natalia you're in shock " he said slightly shaking me, "I'm going to call the doctor for you" he said worriedly

"No!" I mustered out to yell. As I caught my breath and my body began to stablize. He looked at me confused. "Then tell me whats wrong Natalia? What's got you so shaken up?"

"This ring!" I said more calmly and clearer now as I held the ring up to his face, "this isn't Callum's ring." I said as his blue eyes went cross observing the ring , "yes it is his, he always wore that wedding band" Elijah pointed out. "No he didn't, I mean he did one similiar but not this specific one" I countered, " Callum had our wedding bands made of platinum engraved and matching." I paused, "and as of recently he had them altered to never be taken off"

"Never taken off?" He asked confused. "Yes, he had them altered to rip at your finger if you tried to pull it off. Exactly like the one I'm wearing right now" I said lifting up my hand to show my ring off. "Elijah grabbed Callum's ring from my hand and held it to side by side next to mine closely examining it before placing it on his finger and attempting to pull it off. The fake ring slid off with ease. He grabbed onto my wedding ring hand, "if you'd allow me I'd like to try and take yours off" he asked.

"Anything to get you to believe me" I quickly replied. He gently grabbed on my hand and held onto my wedding band with two fingers. One on each side and began attempting to slide it off of me only for me to feel it dig into my skin and caused me to pull my hand away from the pain.

He smiled and took me by surprise when he hugged me, "thank god for Callum's over possessiveness!" He cried, "its too early to get our hopes up just yet but this is definitely a glimmer of hope" he smiled. "I'll call my uncle and we can dig around see what we missed."

For the first time in days I felt like a breath of fresh air. "I'm going to visit Zoey if you'd like to come" I smiled, " then I'm going back to the scene of the fire."

"Natalia, please sit back for this" Eli sighed. "Callum would have my head on a platter if you got hurt." "You can tell him I pushed you to it" I smiled, "my husband knows I am very persistent " Eli finally gave up, "okay but you are wearing a kevlar vest, a helmet and you stand between me and Owen you got that" Eli rose a brow, "this is the most I'm willing to let you off with Natalia."

"Deal" I smiled, "I wish I could tell my brothers to join in but they all need the rest."

"It's best we keep this to ourselves for now Natalia."

"Yeah you're right" I said worriedly, "then lets handle this as quickly as possible together then"

I dried my tears and went straight to the bedroom. Callum would be coming home alive. Callum and I were connected since we met. Like to magnets that were floating in a sea of opposites we found eachother and struck to eachother in every single way possible. Spiritually, physically, emotionally, and sexually we were one and his energy and presence was still felt around me in the air I breathed and the world we live in. He was my other half tethered to me by the gods themselves and by any means necessary I'd find him.