Chapter 148 - Eugene Part 1

"So that's why he missed the Summoning Ceremony." Talisha said as she calmed down. "Talisha you knew Cayden before Ariana pointed him out?" Edlyn asked as she eyed Talisha. "I... might have." Talisha said awkwardly. "How?" Ariana and Halina asked in unison. "I may have run into him a couple of times... I'm not really sure."

"Talisha, you've met Cayden? Where? As far as I know he was staying with his father at the Remo Estate, whenever their was a break or vacation he never came back to the cafe.... I... I tried looking for him once but I always thought the Estate was in Stella Amora." Ariana said as she started to think back. "You're not wrong. The Remo's are very rich and powerful. They can't compare to the Drake's power and influence but their fortune is vast. They have multiple properties all over the Kingdom. Rumors say Lord Remo is a complete dog. Chasing all the bones he can get his jaws into. He's got multiple mistresses all over the place and his wife isn't any better." Halina said as she crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her gaze.

"I wouldn't know. I have never talked to Cayden about his family. The only thing I know is that his father and stepmother are disgusting pieces of sh*t." Ariana said as her eyes flashed with disdain. "Flint too. He did not fall to far from the tree." Edlyn said as she grabbed Thor and hugged him for comfort. "They have a third child and I have heard almost nothing about him but that doesn't mean he's not that innocent." Talisha said darkly. "So how did you meet?" Halina asked, not letting the topic go, even if they got distracted.

"We may have met a couple of times in the Capital..." Talisha said reluctantly. "The Capital?" Ariana questioned. "Ya... that's where I was staying the last couple of years. My family shipped me off to my great aunt and never bothered to check up on me." Talisha said with a shrug. "Were you lonely?" Edlyn asked as Thor snuggled against her face. "Not really I had my girls and we decided to be eachother's family." Talisha said. Ariana looked at Edlyn then Talisha. "So you two have never met before you started here?" Ariana asked.

"No way! My great aunt pretty much let me do whatever I wanted. She never forced me to any parties or mingle with the upper crust. Honestly the only reason you two stuck out was because of the incident at the examination... but how did you become friends? Mrs. Abela hated you, while Edlyn didn't even utter a single word." Talisha said as she watched Ariana and Edlyn's reaction.

"I was persistent." Ariana said as she stared down Talisha. "Funny, I was under the impression the Edlyn was too shy to actually say anything but she proved me wrong. I mean she has quite the strong personality." Talisha said with a cautionary undertone. Ariana felt her blood run cold as her heart raced. She didn't know if many people knew about Edlyn being mute but at the same time how many students actually met and talked to Edlyn was a complete mystery to her.

"I was mute." Edlyn said, causing everyone's jaws to drop. "Edlyn..." Ariana whispered but Edlyn shook her head. "It's fine. People will talk and it's better to have people know the truth. I was mute but I got better. Ms. Hadley is helping me with my enunciation after school." Edlyn said nonchalantly. "Mute... as in you couldn't talk? How can you get better from that? I mean... did the church get involved? Were you cursed or loved by magical creatures? Oh! Did you meet the priestess?!" Halina asked as she practically bounced with excitement.

"The church is no one's ally! Don't believe in their sh*t about the priestess either!" Ariana shouted as she destroyed the date square in her hands. 'Mine!' Duko shouted as he started to eat up the mess from Ariana's bed. No one said a single word as the atmosphere became tense. "Sorry... I'm going to get some air." Ariana said as she started to get up. "No, I don't think that's a very good idea. It's late and people may talk." Talisha said as Ariana got up. Ariana paused for a second then sat back down. "I hate the church." Ariana said after time passed.

"Why... I know there are some pretty bad rumors about them but nothing has been verified... My brother, Theo has reassured me... I mean, I heard stories about the priestess. She is still out there performing miracles for people. If they were bad would she still be helping them?" Halina said softly, hoping to calm down Ariana. "No she's not." Ariana said as her head dropped down to her chest and her shoulders sagged.

Suddenly Talisha started coughing and everyone turned to her. "So I should tell you about myself... You know trust building and everything. So my name is Talisha Valentina and I am the gang leader for a the most notorious female group in the Capital, the crimson roses." Talisha confessed with pride. "Wait what?! No freaking way?! How could you drop a truth bomb like that?!" Halina shouted as she looked at Talisha.

"You wanted to know how I met Cayden? Well there is some things you need to know about me first. A while back when we were... cough... liberating some women and gold from an auction house. It was a little out of our element for us and I thought we could complete the task smoothly but we were surrounded. Our intel was wrong and someone wanted to get rid of our gang after we pissed off the wrong people." Talisha said. Ariana lifted her head and looked at Talisha. "Why would you act if it was so risky and ill prepared?" Ariana asked.

"Some of my girls had family members taken in the middle of the night from their homes... I found out later it was the church who ordered the abductions. They were missing for weeks, then we heard that they had no use for them and transfered them over to the auction house." Talisha said as her shoulders started to shake. "But not everyone was there. Only a third of the women who were taken were given to the auction house. Later we found out the church kept a few and others were given as pets to some of the shadier nobles." Talisha told them as her face paled.