Amara – Reunion

Author's note: this is from Duke's point of view

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As we moved through the mansion, I could see that the rest of the main floor was more-or-less in the same condition.

The floors were in decent shape, the walls and ceilings showed cracks and damage, probably due to renovation or when someone removed fixtures that were permanently attached.

Serina stopped in the corner room which features a window-covered wall that arched into a semi-circle.

I remembered this room. Those windows used to allow ample sunlight, but now they were covered with boards.

"Was this here when you lived in this house?", Serina asked, and it took me a moment to pull my sight away from the windows and realize that she was talking about a battered grand piano.

I approached the dusty instrument that brought up distant memories.

"Yes.", I responded. "My mother used to play."

I gestured to the opening on the right that connected this room with the adjacent one. "There was a double door between these two rooms, and there was a lounge with a billiard table. My father would read a magazine, or play billiards, and my mother played the piano for him."

"Where were you?"

"With my father. Losing at billiards.", I admitted grudgingly.

Serina stifled a laugh and looked at the piano with longing.

I know that Serina plays piano, and she is good at it, even though she never played for me.

At school, Serina would sneak into the music room and play when she thought that no one was listening. I pretended not to know, but I was always close to her, watching and listening.

Yup. I'm Serina's personal stalker.

"We will fix up this room and I will get you a brand new piano. Will you play for me?"

Serina shook her head. "I don't want a brand new piano. Let's fix this one. I would love to play for you."

I was glad that she didn't deny that she knows to play it.

Her smile lit up the dingy room, and the fact that she didn't want to discard my mother's piano warmed my heart.

My mother also preferred refurbishing things instead of getting new ones. I was confident that Serina and my mom would get along great. 

"You know what?", Serina asked suddenly. "My father plays violin, so when he comes to visit, we can do a duet to entertain you and other guests. Cali plays several instruments. I heard her playing the harp. We should get one and make this a music room…"

I loved that she was planning for those small moments that will take place in the future. Our future.

I leaned closer and gave her a few kisses. Before lust consumed me, I pulled away. There was still a lot of house for us to see.

The second floor was a much sadder story compared to the first level.

The floors on the second level were hardwood, and mostly torn out or heavily scratched. Walls and ceilings crumbled with signs of collapsing, a forlorn image of the grandeur this used to be. There were few moisture patches that seeped from above, and I didn't know if that was due to some pipes leaking from the third floor or maybe the roof itself was compromised.

The stairs were insecure, and I didn't want us to go to the third level, where my room used to be. My parent's quarters were up there, and also another office and a hobby room for my mother who used to do painting, knitting, sewing, crafting, scrapbooking, writing, and I'm sure there were a few other things I couldn't remember.

My father was working a lot, so she kept busy with various activities. Mostly indoors.

At that time, I thought that my mother doesn't like going out, but now I believe she was staying inside for her safety. That theory is supported by the fact that whenever my mother went out without my father, 'Uncle' Bazz or 'Uncle' Ricky would accompany her along with a few other people, warriors probably.

Sergio explained the structure of the packhouse (aka my home) and how things worked, from the werewolf perspective.

The third floor was reserved for the Alpha and his family. In this case, my father, my mother, and me. Other than a handful of carefully selected Omegas, no one else was allowed on that floor.

The second level was separated into private quarters for Betas and Gammas with their families in the East Wing, and the West Wing was reserved for guest bedrooms.

The main floor consisted of common areas that were used for daily activities and entertainment.

My father had his private office on the third floor, and another one on the main level, where he would attend business meetings if he didn't go to the HQ of the Bluemoon corp.

The main level was open for the pack members and guests. Upper floors were only for people who live (permanently or temporarily) in the packhouse.

"I don't think we should go up.", I told Serina when she insisted that we go to the third level. "It's not safe and I don't want you to get hurt, no matter how quickly you heal."

"But, but…", she looked up reluctantly. "Your room is up there and I really want to see it."

"What is left of it.", I said. "Based on what we saw so far, I assume it's completely ruined and unless a structural engineer declares it safe, I don't want us to risk injuries. We can check the basement."

Reluctantly, she agreed.

"Wow…", Serina said under her breath when we entered the basement. "I was expecting a dark and dingy place and this is different."

I guess she didn't expect arched brick ceilings and tiled floors while side windows provided ample light. Technically, this was a half-basement, but it still counted as one.

Serina counted ten rooms, and I remember bunk beds. Of course, whatever furniture was in there, it was all gone now. There was a bathroom with six showers and six sinks, as well as six toilets. Some Omegas stayed in here. Sergio told me that those were single Omegas who didn't want to live on their own. Werewolves are social creatures.

"Is there something lower than this?", Serina asked after inspecting the last room in the basement.

"What do you expect?"

Serina bobbed her head, indicating that she was not sure. "A dungeon of some sort. Your father was the Supreme Alpha, there must be a place where he held and tortured prisoners. I assume you didn't know about it because they told you how everyone is human, but think about it… was there a place you were not allowed to go?"

I was surprised that she spoke about dungeons and torturing like they are totally normal things. It seems that my innocent Serina saw some gruesome things in my absence.

I thought about her question, and I couldn't think of anything that my parents prohibited me, except for one thing. "Nearby, in the forest is an area that was off-limits. The ground collapsed and there was a danger of landslide, so no one was allowed to go there."

Serina smiled smugly. "I bet you that's the dungeon. And I'm willing to make another bet on how you can access that place from here. Something underground, a hidden passage or a portal, otherwise you would see suspicious activity and go to investigate."

Serina started touching the walls, looking for a hidden mechanism, a button, a lever, or maybe a brick that can be pushed.

Her eyes sparkled as she was enjoying the mystery of this place, yet I was dejected to find out how stupid I was.

What else was in plain sight and I didn't see it?

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