The Phantom's Gambit-Chapter 59: No one is safe

"It’s just that no man or supernatural being has been able to destabilize me like those werewolves did," he said, his brow furrowed in concern. "I mean, I’m not invincible, but I’ve always been resistant to supernatural attacks. I’ve faced vampires, witches, and demons, and none of them have ever been able to get the better of me. But those werewolves... they were different. I feel like Dominique has someone - or something - aiding him. Someone stronger than all supernaturals combined. That’s why he’s looking to take down all supernaturals and have humanity bow to him."

I stared at him, my mind reeling with the implications of what he was saying. None of it made sense to me. I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea that Octavius was immune to supernatural attacks. Was he some kind of powerful human? That didn’t seem possible. But then again, I’d always thought supernatural creatures were the stuff of fiction, and yet, here I was, dealing with them on a daily basis.

The more I thought about it, the more my mind spun with possibilities. What if Octavius was something more than human? Something I couldn’t even begin to comprehend? The thought sent a shiver down my spine. I looked at Octavius, really looked at him, and wondered what secrets he might be hiding.

But if Octavius’s assessment was true - that no supernatural attack could affect him, and yet, this one had - then we were in grave danger. The thought sent my heart racing, my mind spiraling with the implications. Especially since I had publicly humiliated Dominique, dragging his reputation and plans through the mud. He would stop at nothing to get his hands on me, and the fact that the father of my children was somehow involved with him only added to the mystery.

I thought back to everything I knew about supernatural creatures. Weren’t werewolves and vampires sworn enemies? How did Dominique manage to control the werewolves? And how could we be certain that he was even behind the attack? The more I thought about it, the more questions I had.

"One thing I still don’t understand," I said, my voice laced with frustration, "is how Dominique has the werewolves under his control. How do we even know that’s the case? How do we know it was Dominique who orchestrated the attack? And how does he allegedly have access to a being powerful enough to hurt you?" I paused, taking a deep breath before asking the question that had been nagging me the most. "Who are you, exactly?" I asked, my eyes locked on Octavius, searching for answers.

Octavius’s piercing gaze seemed to bore into my very soul, his eyes never leaving mine as he stared at me with an unnerving intensity. I felt my frustration simmering, my mind racing with the tangled threads of my thoughts. It was as if I was teetering on the edge of sanity.

"I think you have what people call today post-traumatic stress disorder slash post-trauma depression," Octavius said, his voice calm and measured, never once breaking eye contact. "You should rest."

I shook my head, my mind recoiling at the suggestion. "I don’t think my mind will be at ease knowing fully well there’s a lot of danger looming around me and the people I love and care about."

An odd silence fell, like a heavy blanket smothering the air. Octavius’s gaze never wavered, but his expression shifted, his eyes clouding with a mixture of emotions I couldn’t quite decipher. It wasn’t until I spoke the words "people I love and care about" that I realized, with a jolt of awareness, that this might be the reason for the strange look he was giving me.

I turned to Octavius, my voice laced with a mix of confusion and concern. "What... you’re family now, am I not supposed to care for you?" I asked, my eyes searching his face for answers.

Octavius’s expression shifted, and he chuckled, a low, soothing sound that seemed to vibrate through the air. His smile, warm and genuine, spread across his face, and I felt my frustration, which had been simmering just moments before, begin to dissipate.

Something about Octavius’s smile, his presence, and his reassurance had a profound impact on me. It was as if his words, his expression, and his very being had a direct line to my soul, soothing my worries and fears. The tension in my body began to ease, replaced by a sense of calm and tranquility.

"I knew they sent Dominique," Octavius continued, his voice smooth and even, "because one of them blurted it out." He paused, a faraway look in his eyes. "I plopped onto his bed, interested in this new information."

Octavius’s gaze refocused on me, his eyes narrowing slightly. "For a while back, I’ve felt like someone was watching me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I mean, I get that usually, but this time was different. It was as if..." He trailed off, his voice hanging in the air, leaving me wondering what he had been about to say.

Just then, Celine and Ava walked in, their presence a gentle interruption to our conversation. "I don’t mean to intrude," Celine said, "but I came to tell you the babies are asleep now."

Nadia took the opportunity to check on Octavius’s temperature, her movements gentle and precise. "You can continue, don’t worry about us," Celine said with a reassuring smile. "We’ve heard more than enough to understand the conversation you’re about to have."

I shot Celine a questioning look, wondering how they had managed to eavesdrop on our conversation. Ava, settled beside her mom on the couch, snickered mischievously. "Vamp ears," she whispered, as if sharing a secret.

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I muttered an "oh" under my breath, feeling a bit self-conscious about being overheard. Octavius, however, seemed unfazed, and he continued our conversation as if uninterrupted.

"I was on my way back from work, fixing someone’s pipe, when a van suddenly pulled up in front of me. Huge men, clearly werewolves, jumped out and grabbed me, shoving something into my mouth.