Runaway Rogue

Chapter Thirty Six: Indigo's POV

Albert was not particularly thrilled to see that damn truck near his house again and he made it clear by glowering at them as soon as he heard the rumble of the engine. Moving with a spryness Indigo seldom saw, he lifted his great cane in his hand, swinging it about.

"If you intend to steal me from my home again, I can promise one of you will end up with some broken bones!" he warned.

"Albert, we need your help, we are not here to harm you," Indigo stated, rolling her eyes a little as she approached. Caspian might have been frightened of the old warlock, but she would never be. He had helped her when no one else would. He kept her secrets and cared for her in ways no one had, not even her parents.

The warlock paused then, leaning on his cane instead of using it as a weapon. "This man beside you has not done right by me, child."

"But he has done right by me," Indigo defended, feeling her heart warm despite the bitterness of the old man. It was so nice to have someone in her corner. And it was beautiful to be able to be honest.

"Do I care?"

"I think you do and I need your help so I can finally stop taking silver and move on with my life," she added.

Caspian faltered beside her. She knew it wasn't the confession of love most men wanted so badly. It wasn't her telling him that she would be with him forever and ever. But her no longer taking silver meant she would stop running. It meant that he would be able to mark her, that their wolves could play together. That she might really be his.

"You have a solution then?" Albert pressed.

"A risky plan at best, but it's all we've got now and he's getting bolder. He kidnapped a luna. A pregnant one. He's dangerous and not just to me and the others that I take silver pills to."

Albert didn't bother acknowledging Caspian when he said, "If your lad comes anywhere near me, I won't hesitate to turn him into a salamander."

She grinned. "I would expect nothing less."

Albert seemed to be agreeable enough when he finally allowed them into his home, though he did keep a wary eye on Caspian at all times. Sweet Caspian might have been uneasy, but Indigo knew that Albert was all talk, that his hard words were a defense mechanism. Besides, she had another battle to fight right now.

"I need the truth gas," she announced once she was sure she was far enough in the tiny house that Albert couldn't cast a minor wind spell and send her right back out the door.

The old man paused. Then stared. Then laughed.

"Albert, I'm serious," she pressed.

The warlock coughed to cut off the end of his giggles. "Truth gas is incredibly rare and therefore very expensive. Even if I had some, I couldn't just hand it over. I wouldn't be able to recover financially."

"We have the money and I know you have it," Indigo insisted.

"Child—"

"I came in here to pick up my prescription one day and you were telling me everything and anything about yourself. I could smell it in the air, Albert. I know you have some. I don't care how much or how little. I will take anything you can give me."

Albert sized her up, running his murky gaze over her. "This is how you intend to stop an awful man? With a little truth gas?"

"I will never be more evil or more wealthy or more influential than him. If I want to take him out, I can't play the same game he plays," she said firmly.

"This is a dangerous game you are playing, child. Men have such fragile egos. The gods only know what he will do if you don't finish him outright. Is murder truly not easier? I have so many serums and poisons that would come at a much lower price."

"Not unless you have enough serums to take out an entire pack who is undoubtedly not going to believe me that I killed their alpha for just reason," Indigo sighed.

Albert winced. "I'll get you the truth gas and you give me whatever cash you have on hand that you can spare."

The truth gas was unremarkable at first glance. It almost seemed like a gimmick to Indigo, something that could be bought at a prank shop. It was a small mason jar, the kind used for pickles. It seemed like nothing, but Albert emphasized how potent it was, how dangerous it could be. It just looked like the air that Indigo spent all day inhaling until Albert held it up in the sunlight. Then, it seemed to glow orange.

"Go start the truck for her, you don't want her getting in a cold vehicle and freezing to death, do you?" Albert barked at Caspian who had been doing a remarkable job of blending in with the scenery until that point.

Indigo was about to protest. She wasn't so fragile that she couldn't endure a little cold. In all her years of suffering and loneliness, she had taken on much worse. But Caspian was quick to follow orders, so eager to be out of the house it was a miracle he didn't salute Albert before going.

"Here," Albert whispered, moving with swiftness as he dug through his ancient desk. He retrieved a tiny golden object from his desk, lacing it over a chain. "Take this with you. If anything happens, if anything goes wrong, open this. One drop of this serum in the eyes or mouth is enough to kill a werewolf."

Indigo shrank back as Albert approached her, but he ignored her discomfort. "Hold out your hand, child. I will spell the locket so only you can be the one to open it and it has to be done with intent."

She didn't want to and wasn't entirely sure what she was signing herself up for, but she trusted Albert. She held out her hand, palm up. A tiny golden heart shaped pendant was put in her grasp as Albert muttered words so ancient and powerful that her hair stood on end.

"Albert--"

"Wear it everyday and I will know you are taken care of, that I did everything I could to help you. Do you understand?" he rasped.

She could only swallow hard and nod.

~~~Question of the Day~~~

Have you seen any of the wonders of the world?