Richard and Mr Riegrow addressed the entire room with the final decision, but the attendees' attention was divided between them and Ilay. No one raised any questions at the end, instead, they eyed the door like a glass of water in the desert.
"I know everyone is eager to leave, but there is something else we need to discuss."
Richard's statement brought the attention back to him.
"Three people were kidnapped, and one is currently missing–"
"I know that my boy was kidnapped," Thomas interrupted Richard, standing up. He eyed Richard intensely, and then turned to look at Ilay just the same.
Ilay barely paid attention to what was discussed, and even though in a small part of his being he could feel Thomas staring at him, he couldn't care less about it. After all, a wolf doesn't bother itself with a fly.
"The chances that someone in this room organised such a thing are high, so if whoever is responsible for this is in this room, I'm asking you to promptly return them to this mansion. Their safety is most important, and we won't ask who did it, as long as they are returned unharmed."
Ilay's eyes found Richard's for a moment, and he finally realised the amount of tension in Ilay's shoulders, the way his arms contracted and his jaw clenched, and the darkness running through his veins and seeping out of his eyes. It was taking him everything he had to stop from destroying everything in his path until he found Taeui.
For a moment, feeling the tension in Ilay rising, Christoph thought he would need to fight him again, but then Ilay averted his gaze and looked outside, his eyes became dazed, and his shoulders relaxed a little.
Richard knew that even if the girls and Taeui returned right this second, Ilay would still hunt down whoever was behind it. There was no way he would let something like this slide. However, he wanted them returned as quickly as possible because he knew Christoph would go with Ilay the second there were news about their location.
The silence continued for a long time before Thomas spoke up again.
"The agreement has been signed, you won't gain anything from taking my son anymore."
His scowl was directed at Ilay, but he still didn't pay attention to him.
"Let's not point fingers without evidence," Richard said, stopping the murmurs in the room and trying to bring Thomas's attention to him.
But Thomas continued accusing him, undeterred.
"Everyone is scared to say it, but not me. Who would kidnap their own family? He is the only one who would be capable of such an atrocity."
Every eye in the room landed on Thomas, who inflated his chest in fake courage.
"Ilay is the only one who would kidnap his own family, his own nieces, for his wicked plans. I know it was you, Ilay Riegrow!"
"Hey," Richard cautioned him.
Dread filled his bones when his eyes jumped to Ilay, knowing he was a pin drop away from killing everyone in the room. Ilay's eyes met Thomas's as he removed his hands from his pockets and straightened his back. He took a step forward, and Christoph moved by instinct, not to protect Thomas, but to protect Richard, who closed the distance between him and Thomas.
"There can be no foul play within the family until the candidates have been chosen. Don't forget that, Rick."
Richard stood next to Thomas, who was frozen in place from the murderous intent in Ilay's eyes, and Christoph stood close to Richard. He visibly showed he didn't care what happened to Thomas, he was there just to protect the head of the Tarten family.
Despite the safe distance from Ilay, Richard stepped back when Christoph lightly pushed him. Ilay looked at Richard for a long moment as if he was trying to remember what had been discussed, and then, as if accepting his words, he looked down at his hand as he flexed it in a daze.
Against Thomas's wishes, the tension in Ilay was dissipating. He was so close to his goal. If Ilay attacked him, he could make Karl the next successor. Without Ilay, Kyle, and Helena, he could easily convince the rest of the family that Karl was fit for it. Thomas was ready to put his life on the line to make sure Karl became what he couldn't.
"Admit it. Admit you took my boy, Ilay Riegrow."
In a swift movement, Ilay punched the wall behind him, smashing it to smithereens, creating a large dust cloud that spread through the two rooms now connected.
"Two years."
Ilay turned his head back to stare at Thomas.
"Enjoy the next two years fully."
Two years was the time limit for the candidates' selection, and any and every child conceived until then would be considered as a candidate.
Just like that, Thomas' fate was sealed, without the reward he tried so hard for. His mouth opened, but there were no words to save him now. Perspiration painted his brow, but more than anything, frustration and regret filled his face.
Ilay turned to leave the room with Christoph right behind, when a strange sound stopped them. The sound of static from the few screens placed around the room filled the space, and a moment later, they lit up with a distorted and indiscernible image.
First, they heard a voice.
– Good afternoon, Riegrow family.
The cheery voice contrasted harshly against the mood in the room.
– This took longer than expected. This Asian man is more feisty than we gave him credit for. Oh, but don't worry, the kids aren't hurt.
Ilay's eyes turned deadly as he focused on a screen. The image soon followed, but there was only one thing filling the screen: a goat's mask.
– We will return them to you, but before that, we have some rules. Hmm? What's that? You won't listen to us?
The voice laughed joyfully.
– You have to if you want to see them again.
The goat mask began to back away, and the spectators anxiously waited to see the full picture; a bare and old room with two windows, scattered dirt and four people sitting on the floor. Scarlet and Amber sat next to Taeui, and Karl sat in the opposite corner.
Ilay was razor-focused on Taeui, noticing the bloody nose and swollen face, the scraped elbows and torn shirt, and every single hair out of place.
The tall man in a goat mask waved at the camera enthusiastically. He wore black clothes and combat boots, and on his waist he had a combat knife and a Glock. Next to him were two other men, also clad in combat wear and animal masks.
– You should be able to see now. Like I said, everyone is safe and sound.
Ilay only had eyes for Taeui, watching the screen with eyes filled with madness.
*****
'That was a pointless effort.'
Taeui was still reeling from the pain to his head, but now had more bruises scattered through his body and a bloody nose. But it was his abdomen that hurt the most, so much that it made him nauseous.
After beating sense into Taeui, they were taken to what looked like an old factory. While being dragged, Taeui burned into his mind the path they took as he tried to work out an escape route. But time was short, and the nausea from the beating was hindering his thoughts, so besides noticing the door to the emergency stairs was blocked, all the windows on the second floor were boarded up, and several men guarded the building, there was nothing useful to keep in mind.
However, from the rather short attempt at freedom, he was able to gather some information.
They were in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by a couple of abandoned buildings and more men than he could count. Everyone had animal masks to hide their faces, contrary to the ones who kidnapped them. Taeui also didn't miss that Karl, who had now joined them in the locked room, arrived in a different car.
"Relax, kids. If your parents do what we tell them to, tomorrow you will all be home," said the man in the goat mask when he ended the live feed."
He stretched loudly and turned to leave, but near the door, he stopped and looked at Karl and chuckled, shaking his head. The movement was very short, but Taeui noticed it. A revolting feeling churned in his stomach, increasing his nausea.
"Are you hurt?" Taeui asked.
Despite everything that happened, he was just a scared 9-year-old boy.
The boy's eyes bulged, and a new wave of unshed tears flooded his eyes. He bit his trembling lips, averting his gaze, and shook his head.
The second they were left alone in the room, Taeui stood up and examined the room for anything that could be used. Amid his exploration, he heard voices from the outside, and inched closer to the door.
"I can't believe that weak ass was at UNHRDO."
"He only got in because of his uncle."
"Is Rick really going to come for him?"
"Definitely. He stabbed me in the eye because he didn't like the way I looked at his assistant, aka that weak ass in there."
Another voice entered the conversation, and Taeui recognised it as the cheerful man with the goat mask.
"There are a lot of rumours between Rick and that guy going around, and even if only half of them are true, I also believe he will do anything to save him."