Bab 61: Mystery
As **Zadkiel** stood on the porch of **Faelar's** house, a growing sense of unease churned in his gut. He gently rapped on the door, and it swung open to reveal **Faelar**, who greeted him with a warm smile.
"Zadkiel! Good to see you. What brings you here at this hour?" Faelar asked, his tone friendly and inviting.
"Have you seen my kids? Amara and my two sons? They seem to have gone missing," Zadkiel replied, trying to keep his voice steady despite the growing worry.
Faelar's expression shifted slightly, but he maintained his calm demeanor. "I haven't seen them, I'm afraid. They're probably out hanging with their friends, enjoying the night. You know how teenagers can be," he replied, chuckling lightly.
Zadkiel nodded, though the knot in his stomach tightened. "Thanks, Faelar," he said, turning to leave. As he walked back towards his home, he glanced down at the ground and noticed a series of footprints—multiple sizes and shapes—leading toward Faelar's house.
His heart raced as alarm bells rang in his head. "What the hell?" he muttered, his instincts flaring. The footprints were too numerous to ignore.
In a sudden surge of protective fury, Zadkiel spun around and charged at the window, bursting through it with a crash. "Faelar! Where are my kids?" he demanded, his voice booming through the living room, a mix of anger and desperation etched across his face.
Faelar jumped back, shock replacing his earlier friendliness. "Zadkiel! What's wrong? You can't just break in here!" he exclaimed, eyes wide.
Zadkiel's gaze narrowed, scanning the room for any sign of his children. "Don't play games with me! I know they're here!" he growled, his fists clenching at his sides.
Faelar took a step back, his demeanor shifting from surprise to concern. "I swear, I don't know where they are! They could be anywhere!"
**Zadkiel** stood there, breathing heavily, as **Faelar** finally answered, trying to calm the situation.
"They went to a party a couple of blocks down. You're overreacting, Zadkiel. Just some teenage fun," Faelar explained, raising his hands in a placating gesture.
Zadkiel hesitated for a moment, then sighed, feeling the weight of his earlier outburst. "I... I'm sorry for breaking your window and accusing you. I'm just worried, you understand. I'll go check out the party," he said, his voice more controlled as the adrenaline started to fade.
He turned to leave, but before he could take a step, everything suddenly went black.
When Zadkiel awoke, his head throbbed, and the room felt eerily still. As his vision cleared, the first thing he noticed was **Faelar**, lying dead on the floor in a pool of blood.
Panic surged through him, but when he tried to move, he realized he was unable to. His body felt heavy, and the world around him seemed distant and distorted. "What... What's happening?" he muttered, his voice weak.
His mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation. He could barely recall what happened after Faelar's explanation. "I've been drugged..." Zadkiel thought, piecing it together as his head pounded. He must have been unconscious for hours, and now here he was, immobilized, with Faelar's lifeless body at his feet.
Fear and confusion gripped him. What had really happened while he was out? And more importantly, where were his children?
Hours passed, the weight of time pressing down on **Zadkiel** as he lay helpless, staring at **Faelar's** lifeless body. Just when despair began to creep in, the door creaked open, and his wife rushed in, her face a mixture of relief and worry.
"Zadkiel! Where have you been? The kids and I have been searching everywhere for you!" she exclaimed, rushing to his side. But then, her eyes fell on Faelar's body. Her breath hitched, and she collapsed to her knees, trembling. "W-What... What happened? Did you...?" Her voice faltered, fear clouding her judgment for a brief second.
Zadkiel, his voice hoarse but steady, immediately reassured her. "I didn't do this... I swear. I don't even remember how I got here. I think... I was drugged."
She stared at him, her heart racing, but then slowly nodded, choosing to believe him. The terror in her eyes subsided as she realized the truth. She let out a shaky breath, gently placing her hand on his arm.
"I believe you," she whispered, regaining her composure. "Come on, let's get you out of here."
She hoisted him up, his body still weak, but with her strength and determination, she managed to get him onto her shoulder. Together, they made their way back toward home, her words offering some comfort. "The kids... they're waiting for you at home. They've been so worried."
As they moved through the darkened streets, Zadkiel's thoughts were plagued with guilt and confusion. Faelar's death, the drugging, the missing memories—it all too convenient and suspicious. But one thing was certain: Something dark was unfolding, and he could feel the weight of its approach.
As they neared the house, the soft glow of the lanterns outside their home came into view. **Lira**, still supporting **Zadkiel**, smiled softly.
**Lira**: "We're almost home, dear."
**Zadkiel**, his voice laced with exhaustion, muttered: "Sorry about the trouble."
**Lira** gave a light chuckle, brushing off his apology. "There's no trouble at all, but I do have to wonder… why were you gone when I woke up?"
Zadkiel hesitated for a moment, thinking back to the night. He didn't want to worry her too much, especially with everything that had already happened. "I woke up and noticed the kids weren't home, so I went looking for them. I ended up at Faelar's, thinking they might be there... and things got out of hand." He paused, glancing at her tiredly. "But in the end, there was nothing to worry about. It was just me being paranoid."
Lira gave him a reassuring smile, though concern lingered in her eyes. "It's not paranoia, Zadkiel. You're just looking out for them. But they're safe, and that's what matters." She squeezed his arm as they took the final steps toward their home. The house loomed closer, and the tension that had built up during the night began to ease.
But something in the air still felt off. The night seemed too quiet, and as they reached the door, Zadkiel couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
As they reached the door, **Zadkiel** felt a sudden unease. Something gnawed at the back of his mind. It was strange that **Lira** had found him so easily, especially after everything that had happened. His instincts, sharpened from years of both peace and battle, made him pause before opening the door.
Turning to his wife, he asked cautiously, "Where were the kids before they returned home while I was out looking for them?"
Lira, not missing a beat, smiled and responded, "They went to the pharmacy to pick up some hangover medicine for you. When they got back, they noticed you were gone and woke me up. That's when I went looking for you, and… well, here we are."
Though her answer seemed reasonable, something about it didn't sit right with Zadkiel. He replayed the events in his mind, trying to shake off the unease. His hand hovered over the door handle, but before he could open it, he glanced at Lira again, this time studying her closely.
Her explanation was perfect, almost too perfect, and despite the calm tone of her voice, there was a faint tremor—something he wouldn't have noticed in his younger days but now picked up on easily.
"Lira…" he started, his voice quieter, but filled with a growing suspicion. "Are you sure everything's alright?"
Lira blinked, her expression momentarily faltering, but then she quickly composed herself, smiling warmly. "Of course, dear. Why wouldn't it be?"
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone