Draugs

Chapter 8 : Stronger

"Charn and Porche will go with them," Vegas's voice said in Phayu's head. He gave a quiet acknowledgment and just like that, his father was gone. "Khun Charn and Khun Porche will be with you," Phayu said. "The signal came from the first abandoned warehouse that we raided that night," Win said. He had joined Dean immediately after putting the blockers up. "Wow! Look at that!" Pai said sarcastically. "Who are they trying to fool? What else?" Phayu asked. "I am tracing it. It can't be that simple," Win said. The others stood around as he fiddled with his various systems. "If they have cloaked this well, they are hiding something," Pai said. "No shit Sherlock!" Dean said, rolling his eyes. "Phayu, I don't like this. We are stuck between a rock and a hard place. We have to protect our Draugs. At the same time, they are too young for us to keep with us all the time. Now this call from the Council. Something is not sitting right," Win said, looking worried. "We will do everything we can to protect our Draugs Win, have no fear of that. And there is something I have been meaning to ask you," Phayu said thoughtfully. "What?" "I know it may be a breach of their privacy, but can't we put trackers on our Draugs?" Phayu asked. Now it was Win's turn to look contemplative. "We can. And we can ask them for permission," Pai said. "How?" Win asked.

"Give them a gift that they need to carry with them at all times or a piece of jewellery they can wear. We can ensure that the trackers will pass the strictest security checks and lie undetected on them," Pai said. "I think we can do that. A necklace would be the easiest. And we solder it with magic. It heats if anyone except us or the Draugs try to take it off," Phayu said. "But not harm them in any manner," Dean said. "Okay. So let's do that tomorrow itself," Pai said. "Now, the other agenda while we wait for Win to do his magic," Dean said. "Our parents?" Win asked quizzically. "Our parents," Dean confirmed. "I know it has come as a surprise, but it somehow feels right. Look at the speed with which we were able to establish a connection with them," Pai said. "We are all victims of the Council," Phayu said. "True, but today I am glad they did what they did. They really miscalculated," Dean said, grinning. Pai was about to reply when Win said, "I got them!" "Where are they?" Pai asked. "Sai Yok, near the National Park," Win said. "They have property hidden inside a national park?" Phayu asked. "Looks like," Win said.

The next day, Rain sat with his chin on his hands and an unfocussed look on one of the tables with Pharm. It was Sky and Team's turn to get their lunch. They always took turns so that it was never a burden on anyone. "What are you thinking about Rain?" Pharm asked. "What happened?" Sky asked, as they put the lunch plates down. "Do you think we are weak Sky?" Rain asked. "What? No way!" Sky said. "What makes you ask that Rain?" Pharm asked in his gentle way. "I have been getting this feeling since yesterday. Our parents don't let us support our mates. Our mates don't let us support our mates. It feels like we are lacking something," Rain said, his beautiful eyes filling with tears. Team rubbed his hand on Rain's back, trying to soothe him, as he looked at the others. Rain was not wrong. They had all felt it in the discussion that had happened at the home of their Draugs. "It's not because we are weak Rain. You know we are stronger than anyone else. Maybe they think we need some time to grow up. That's all baby," Sky said gently. "I understand if they forbid us from joining any kind of planning. I really do. But they forbade us from feeding our mates. In fact, our mates didn't even bother to fight for us," Rain said, sounding disgruntled. "Actually, he is not wrong," Team said contemplatively.

The four fell into silence. After a while Sky spoke up. "There is no point sitting here and breaking our heads over this. Let's eat first, finish our classes and then see how we feel," he said. "That's correct. Rain, let's do what we are supposed to and then we will go and talk to our parents, okay?" Team said. "And we will call our mates and their parents," Pharm said. "They don't know our powers now, do they?" he added gently. Rain nodded. "Sometimes it feels strange that we need to hide our powers from our parents," he said. "I know Rain. But even without knowing anything, we were kidnapped, and that can't be a good thing," Team said. "I don't think they thought we will find our Draugs in the process," Sky said. "And our Draugs are not normal vampires either," Pharm said. "You know, from the discussion we had at Phi Mate's house yesterday, I can say one thing for sure. Our mates will definitely be able to handle our powers," Rain said, certainty ringing clear in his voice. "When do we tell them?" Sky asked. "Not now. The time is not right yet," Team said, with clear conviction.