Sun Stealer. Walking In Circles (8 page)

             
He greeted everybody and started his speech. I didn’t hear what he was saying and I didn’t care, all I wanted was one glance. I stood there on the front raw next to my son and just kept on gazing into his eyes, waiting for him to notice me.

             
Finally, it happened. He saw me. Our eyes connected and he paused. Suddenly, there was nobody else in the hall but the two of us. He scanned me from head to toe and I could notice he was amused by the sight of my red dress. The last time he saw me wearing it, I tried to kill him. That was also the time I had realized, I was falling in love with him.

             
I drew near my son to let Dark beast realize we were together. I had to capture his first reaction. Did he see him before? Did he know that was his son? But all I got was an envious look. He couldn’t tolerate the sight of another man near me and I could see it tore him inside. 

             
“The beast…” the host interfered, “Would you care to continue?” he asked and Dark beast went on with his speech.

             
I signaled my son it was time for us to walk out the place and we both tried to pull ourselves out through the massive crowd. We managed to reach the exit when suddenly two guards stopped us and escorted us to Dark beast‘s office.

             
“Wait here!” they ordered us and left.

             
“He didn’t recognize you Leo. I don’t think he knows… but he is about to find out”, I stated.

             
We waited for a long hour until finally the door opened.

             
“Almas!” Kujo greeted me with a big hug, “It is so good to see you again!”

             
“You thought of leaving without saying goodbye?” Dark beast raised his voice. He was still standing at the door and gazed at Leo. I could sense a little bit of anger in his voice.

             
“That was a very nice speech,” I changed the subject and tried to grab his attention.

             
“Thank you and who is your nice friend?” Dark beast didn’t take his eyes off Leo.

             
“You don’t recognize him?” I asked after a long pause.

             
“I am sorry, have we met?” he approached Leo to shake his hand.

             
Leo looked at me. He didn’t to know how to react.

             
“Yes you have but it was a long time ago. You used to sing to him when he cried… you used to hold him and play with him for hours…” I answered with tears in my eyes.

             
“Is this some kind of a sick joke?” Dark beast looked at me.

             
“My love, I have found our son. He was stolen from us by your mother!” I cried.

             
“What are you talking about?” he yelled at me.

             
“Why didn’t you tell me she was alive?” I yelled back, “She took our son Dark beast! He was with her the entire time!”

             
Dark beast turned his back on me and didn’t say a word.

             
Kujo looked at me and couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

             
“Leo? My lost nephew?” he mumbled and walked closer to him to take a good look.

             
“Look at his eyes…” he finally said, “He has your eyes, Dark beast!”

             
Dark beast turned around and looked at him.

             
“Did you know he was alive? Did you know your mother had him?” I asked firmly.

             
“No Almas! I had no idea!” he shouted.

             
“So what were you doing at her house?” tell me!” I urged him to speak.

             
“I was lost!” he finally shouted, “I have walked alone with no direction in my life for so many years until… until one day she appeared at my door step. I was yeaning for a friendly face from my past that I automatically embraced her. After all, that was my mother. I was happy to find out she was immortal as the rest of us and she promised to help me. She said it was time for me to become the man I was supposed to be, to become a leader. And that gave me hope. That gave me a reason to wake up in the morning and live life”, he explained with tears.

             
“She could have given you your son, my love. That would have been a damn good reason for you to live, don’t you think?” I said with anger.

             
“I can’t believe this… I can’t believe she did that…” he mumbled.

             
“You don’t believe us?” I raged, “Can’t you see? She had a plan! A plan that didn’t even concern you. You were just a tool! Since the days of old Anomaly, she wanted to rule the land and never forgave me for ruining her scheme. She couldn’t bear the fact that I had stolen your heart and that we were happy together so she stole our baby!”

             
“So all these years, you have accused me of a crime I didn’t commit? All these years I was alone in this world… you left Almas! You didn’t wait for me!” he yelled.

             
“My love, we were both victims of the circumstances but it is all over now. We are back together; we can start all over again. Leo and I, we have a plan…” I started telling him but he stopped me.

             
“No Almas. No. I have a new life now. I have managed to pick up the pieces and move on. I can’t go back now… I don’t wish to go back”, he whispered and then turned to our son with tears.

             
“My son, forgive me for everything and believe me when I say, I have searched the entire world for you and I had no idea she was holding you”.             

             
We all kept quiet for a long moment.

             
“Can you blame me?” I finally asked him, “Can you blame me for accusing you of that crime? You have it in you Dark beast! You cannot escape from the truth. You have this attraction to power and control. You have always wanted to rule the land of Anomaly! And deep down I knew very well the man you were, I just never thought you would prefer it over us. What do you have here? A corrupted government with a wounded society? I am offering you life!” I raged.

             
“Yes, it is a rotten world but you know the old saying Almas; If you can’t beat them, join them!” he stated.

             
“So I wish you all the luck in world. I am happy you have found peace”, I said to him and walked outside together with Leo,               “And by the way, you quoted it wrong. It is ’If you can’t beat them, join them and then beat the hell out of them!’” I stared at him for a moment and closed the door after me.

              “Why didn’t you tell him Almas? Why didn’t you tell him all of his supporters are faked?” Leo asked me as we left the building.

             
“I couldn’t…” I mumbled.

             
I have hurt my man too many time, I wasn’t about to do it again. If he was happy with his life, I would be the last one to shatter his dreams.

             
“Dark beast, I didn’t want to say anything in front of them but once the campaign is over, I quit”, Kujo informed Dark beast.

             
“Quit? Why?” Dark beast wondered.

             
“Almas and Leo’s visit made me realize something important. I should try to save Daria. I should do anything in my power to reunite with my woman and my son”, he explained.

             
“Daria… or Almas?” Dark beast gazed into his eyes.

             
Kujo paused for a long moment. He couldn’t believe Dark beast brought it up again.

             
“Let me tell you something my friend. You were always like an old brother to me, I looked up to you! It is no secret what I feel about Almas but I will never, ever cross that line!” he stormed out of the office.

             
“Is this my favorite nephew in entire world?” I walked towards the young gang standing in the corner of the street.

             
“Aunt Almas? Is that you?” Adam asked with joy.

             
“Yes it is! Come give me a big hug!” I smiled at him.

             
“Well first let’s be accurate! I am your only nephew!” he laughed and ran towards me, “How are you aunty? I have missed you!”

             
“Well, the feeling is mutual”, I said and kept looking with worry over to the gang he was hanging with.

             
“What is it Almas? Did mother send you here? Is that it?” he asked with anger.

             
“On the contrary, my love”, I smiled at him, “I need your help and… I would like you to meet somebody”, I signaled Leo to approach us.

             
“Adam, meet your lost cousin Leo”, I introduced him with excitement.

             
“Leo? I don’t understand…” he stuttered.

             
“Well it’s a long story. Why don’t you join Leo for a nice ride and he will fill you in with all the details. We don’t have much time and I need to inform your mother and Sag”.

             
“Inform? What is going on aunty?” he wondered.

             
“Just trust me, my love. And you two behave okay?” I winked at them as they entered Leo’s car.

             
I sent Leo and Adam back to the valley to bring Leonard and Diamond to the city. We needed all the help we could get. I wrote a note to Leonard with the plan’s details and some items I needed him to bring with him to town. We were all about to meet each other at the club.

             
Nineteen eighty-four was full of guests. It was the weekend and therefore the busiest night of the week. All members gathered along to celebrate their time out. I have noticed Diamond and Leonard had entered the club and waved at them.

             
“Diamond, thank you for coming. This is Sag; he will be running the show tonight. I need you to be on stage and follow his instructions, okay love?” I asked her.

             
“You bet it‘s okay!” she answered and jumped on stage with joy. She was so excited to hold the microphone again and practice her singing.

              “Did you get me everything?” I asked Leonard.

             
“It’s all in here my love”, he handed me my bag.

             
“Wish me luck”, I winked at him and walked towards the dressing room.

             
“Are you sure about this?” Daria asked me with concern as she helped me get ready.

             
“Like never before”, I smiled and kept brushing my hair.

             
“I will be right down the bar, in case anything would go wrong”, she informed me.

             
“Don’t worry! Soon, everything will be over”, I stared at the mirror.

             
Who would have thought, I would be wearing it again? The Sun Stealer outfit. The audience would probably think it was a new dancing costume, but who ever needed to know to truth, knew it. I was the Sun Stealer, the brave fighter from Anomaly and at that moment, I was the hunting tiger and they were my prey.

              The music began and it was my cue to get out there. I marched out with confidence. My eyes were focused on the target and I searched for Eve in the crowd.

             
“It is you and me now!” I held her arm and pulled her to the bar.

             
“My pleasure!” she answered with excitement.

             
I looked at Sag and signaled him to begin. I asked him to play that old beat of his, the one that only he could produce, the one that had the ability to arouse the devil himself. Diamond accompanied him with her angelic voice and together we set the stage of our planed battle.

             
I started moving the way I knew so well. I allowed my body to surrender the beat only to let everyone know, I was not the prisoner but the ruler. I dominated the stage. Eve tried to follow my steps and stick out to the sounds of the cheering crowd. She climbed on the pole and showed off her skills. But she couldn’t beat me. That was my planed game on my field and I wasn’t about to lose.

             
I saw Leo and Adam coming closer to the bar and knew this was my cue. I took a spin on the pole and kicked Eve in the face with my high heel shoe. Eve lost her grip on the pole and fell to the ground. I quickly jumped after her.