The Scent of the Monster _ Aita's Children

Chapter XIII _ Don't Tell Lucas

Selene was sweating profusely. She was short of breath, and her left ear throbbed; she felt something warm running down her earlobe. Was it blood?

Tecla had forced her to recount everything. She had tried to hold back as much as possible; it was private. She didn't want to share those memories—they were intimate. It felt like betraying her parents. But in the end, she had given in.

At first, she didn't understand why Tecla was so interested in her past; but now, looking at her, exhausted and feverish from pain, while the scout hadn't flinched, it was very clear.

Tecla had "squeezed" her.

Now Selene wouldn't have the strength to resist any of her questions.

"Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to go back to the other night. Shall we, Selene?"

"No, we shall not at all!" the girl admitted in one breath. At least it was the truth.

Tecla barely smiled: "It's almost over, Selene. I just need to ask you a couple more questions."

Selene looked at the old hunter with eyes heavy with sleep and fatigue.

"Come on, Selene, don't worry," the pirate reassured her, "you can tell her everything, we have nothing to hide."

Maybe he didn't; but she had a secret.

If Tecla forced her, Selene would confess that the werewolf was Raoul. Lucas must not find out. Despite the exhaustion and the pounding headache, she had to find a way out... then an idea came to her. She lowered the Qed barrier and, making sure Tecla listened carefully, she spoke:

"You said you don't trust Lucas; but I trust him. And if Lucas tells me not to talk to you, then I won't talk to you."

Selene saw a flicker of pride and respect on Lucas's face. She felt a little guilty for the undeserved admiration. What she was really hoping for was that Tecla would notice her lie: when she said, "I trust him," it was a lie.

Tecla remained silent for a moment, pondering. Finally, she called the squad captain.

"Please, take the prisoner to the entrance hall. Wait there for further instructions."

As they dragged him away, Lucas went wild: "I swear you'll pay for this, Tecla! You deserve to rot in a ditch! Did you hear me, you bitch?!"

But his shouts faded down the hallway, muffled by the batons hitting his abdomen to shut him up. When he was finally out of sight, Tecla turned off her blue eye. She stretched her neck with a sigh of relief, but nowhere near as relieved as Selene. The girl was trembling, ready to collapse; if she wasn't crying, it was because she had forgotten how after so many years of fighting. Even the librarian, Amedeo, withdrew the typewriter. Whatever they would discuss from now on, it was completely private.

"Alright, Selene, now tell me everything."

Lucas had been seated in front of the reception desk, where the innkeeper was sitting, hiding his embarrassed eyes behind the erotic calendar "Max" from '94. On the cover was the stunning Eva Herzigova lying prone on a white beach. The man occasionally peeked over the edge of the magazine, always finding Lucas's stern face staring back at him. Ten minutes had passed, and Lucas had an eye swelling from an overly enthusiastic baton.

Finally, Tecla appeared at the top of the stairs, followed by Selene and then Amedeo. Lucas tried to jump up, but the guards pushed him back into the chair. The Vassal first addressed the innkeeper.

"Thank you for your cooperation. We trust you'll be discreet about what happened this morning."

Meanwhile, Amedeo silently pushed an envelope across the table for the innkeeper to take. As the man grabbed the money, he noticed Lucas blowing him a kiss: a promise that he'd pay for selling them out. The innkeeper snatched the money and disappeared into the back with his tail between his legs.