Sold?

•Matthew

I got back home before mom left for work. She was an early riser and like any other day she was ready to leave after making breakfast.

When she was placing the plate on the table, I called out to her, "Mom?"

My voice startled her and she dropped the plate, but it was saved because there was only a mere distance of a centimeter between it and the table.

"Oh Matthew?" She took a breath of relief, "You're up already? You usually sleep in."

"Yes, I was called in at work around 4 a.m. I just came back." I lied to her.

"Oh! Well." She smiled at me, "Have some breakfast then, I'll serve it, come sit down."

I walked to the chair and sat down, then placed an envelope on the table without mentioning anything about it.

"Will you be leaving again for work or are you going to catch a few hours of sleep now?" She asked me as she worked.

"I'll be leaving again." I told her, "I just came to freshen up a bit, grab something to eat and then I'll leave again."

"Oh! Okay."

"Yeah…" I cleared my throat, "I felt like taking a shower too."

"Oh that's good. The water is pretty hot right now, just the way you like it." She placed my eggs and bread on the plate.

I nodded, "Good." I replied to her and then waited quietly.

When she came back with my plate filled with food her eyes landed on the envelope. She paused for a brief second and then sat down on the chair opposite to me while handing me the plate.

"Is that yours?" She pointed at the envelope.

"This?" I picked it up, "No," I shook my head, "I don't know whose it is. I mean it doesn't even have an address, no name, it's completely blank." I turned it around, "Just this black seal." From the corner of my eyes I saw her forehead furrow but when I turned my head to her it was gone, "I saw someone slide it under the door when I was walking back, couldn't see his face though." I slid it on the table to her side, "Pretty sure it's not mine, I don't get paper mails, so it must be yours." I kept my eyes on her as I talked and barely noticed any reaction from her. It was as if she was trying to keep a straight face.

"O-oh yeah." She picked it up and began staring at it while I started eating the toast.

"Aren't you going to open it?" I salted my egg a bit and kept my eyes on the plate, "You always open up your mails immediately."

"Ah yeah." She picked up the butter knife to tear the envelope. There was a letter inside.

Handwritten by Arius's secretary, Lee.

He already told what was written inside so I knew why the color was leaving my mother's face.

The letter stated that Ryan was letting her go because Arius already found out she was the traitor. It also stated that since Huang-fei died, there was no way Arius would let it go and if she came for help from the Blacks he would eliminate her himself.

She slammed her hands on the table and stood up.

I saw the panic in her eyes.

"Mom?" I looked at her in worry, "Are you okay?" I know why she was worried but seeing her that panicked made me anxious too.

She realized that I was still here and slowly sat down, then got up again, "Oh- um I have to leave for work."

She ran out without taking her bag with her.

I sighed and finished my food.

I hope this works out the way I want it to.

I know what she's done is bad. The people of Lorelai are loyal to the Alucards, it's been like that for generations but I can't blame her for doing what she did.

She had a debt she had to repay and that debt was because of me.

Growing up without a father can be hard. He was one of the people who died in the four clan war while working for Richard.

I've never blamed the Alucards for that but mother did.

That's why when we needed help she went to the Blacks. Derulo helped her out but on the basis that since she was a citizen of Lorelai, she would help out the Blacks if the case ever arrived in the future.

It was perhaps her luck that Derulo agreed to help us out financially because mom was one of the people who found and saved Arius.

I sighed loudly. This all was very frustrating and somewhat even scary. There was a possibility that I might lose her. Lose my only family, my mother. I let out another stressful sigh.

"I really hope it works out well." I clasped my hands together and prayed.

I noticed the seal she brought home. After all, in this day and age no one uses seals, it could only belong to Arius but he wasn't in Lorelai then. He came to Lorelai once or twice a year or when he had some business.

That's probably why it was easy for her to take it out of the safe. She took her time as there was no one to suspect her and installing cameras in the castle was pretty much out of the question. The castle is strong and firm no doubt about that but it took ages to just install lights and fans in there.

It's situated in a weird place, getting the wiring there and getting it right is a big problem.

I sighed to myself yet again.

I know mom was wrong. She went to the rival clan just because of the grudge she held.

But still, she's my mother, who has raised me with all the love she had.

And if not for me, maybe Arius will let her go because of Azalea.