Rylan’s POV
“Rylan, we have a visitor,” Ed announced, causing me to look up in surprise. I glanced at the clock and frowned. “Who would that be?” I sighed. We were not expecting anyone, that I recalled.
“Hello, boys.” the colour drained from my face as I stood up in disbelief.
I watched my mother’s face transform from anxious to resolute as she stood there with Theron, Prince Alex, and Grayson, the weight of their presence palpable. The tension in the air thickened, setting my nerves on edge.
“Mother, what are you doing here? How did you get out? I thought you were being held at the kingdom.” I turned my attention to Prince Alex, but he tutted at me and then let out an irritated growl, which caused my mother to flinch.
“Rylan, there’s no time to explain that, there's something very urgent that you need to know,” my mother said, glancing at Alex again nervously this time, her expression suddenly serious. “It’s about your father.”
My heart sank. “What about him?”
“He’s escaped,” Prince Alex interjected, sharp and focused. “And he’s taken my sister, Eliza with him.”
The breath caught in my throat, a surge of panic coursing through me. Eliza. How could he? “Why now? How did he even manage that?”
Grayson stepped forward, his brow furrowed. “We don’t have all the details, but we need to find her. Your father is dangerous, and we can’t waste any time.”
I felt my fists clench at my sides. All this turmoil with my mother returning, and now to hear about Morgan—the man whowas supposed to be my father —was back in the picture. I could barely keep up.
“Do you have any idea where he would go?” Alex asked, his tone calm yet urgent. I could see the perseverance in his eyes; he wouldn’t rest until we found Eliza.
Me and my quadruplets brothers exchanged glances, uncertainty flickering among us. “He’s unpredictable,” Grayson murmured, almost as if he were talking to himself.
Just when the silence started to weigh heavily, Daniella stepped forward, her voice small but resolute. “I overheard my parents talking about a place on the outskirts of town. A property Morgan used to have.”
“Why didn’t you say anything before?” I asked, catching her gaze. I could feel the intensity of the moment, and I wanted to shake her for not bringing it up sooner, but we didn’t have time for that.
“I didn’t think it was significant!” she replied, defensively. “But if it’s his, you might have a lead. This could be my chance to put things right. To redeem myself.”
Alex nodded, his expression shifting from concern to focus. “Tell us where it is.”
Daniella swallowed hard, glancing at the others before speaking again. “It’s about twenty minutes from here, just past the old quarry. I can show you.”
“Then we need to move, now,” I said, urgency coursing through me. I didn’t want to waste another second. Eliza’s safety was at stake, and I couldn’t let Morgan have his way again. I knew he would be out for revenge.
“Rylan, wait,” my mother called out to me, her voice shaky. “You shouldn’t go alone. It’s too risky.”
I turned to face her, swallowing the frustration bubbling inside me. “I’m not letting you distract me from finding Eliza. That stupid Morgan won’t think twice about hurting her to get back at you for what you did to him and he will punish us all.”
“Then we’ll stick together,” Grayson said, stepping beside me. “No one’s going in there alone.”
“Yes,” Prince Alex agreed, his expression fierce. “We stick as a unit. We’ll make sure you all stay safe.”
“Let’s go,” I urged, leading the charge. We slipped out into the crisp air, the gravity of our mission pressing down on us like a storm cloud ready to unleash.
“Keep the pack under serious watch. Nobody gets out or comes in.” I warned my brothers who nodded profusely.
Eliza was out there. We would bring her home.
Theron decided to wait in the car with my mother and I agreed it would be safer.
The city’s familiar landscape melted into the shadows of the trees and the looming silhouettes of abandoned buildings. Each step felt like a leap into uncertainty.
“Are you sure you remember where it is?” I asked, trying to mask my growing anxiety. The thought of Morgan getting to Eliza before we did was unfathomable.
“I’m sure,” she said, glancing back at me, “I may not have been listening when they first mentioned it, but I remember the names of the places.”
Grayson walked beside me, his expression calm yet serious. “We need to stay alert. If Morgan is behind this, he’ll be prepared for us.”
Alex nodded, his royal demeanor shifting into one of a soldier leading a charge. “No distractions. We move swiftly and quietly. We can’t afford to let him know we’re coming.”
“We should split up once we get close,” I suggested. “It’ll make it harder for him to anticipate our moves.”
“Agreed,” Alex replied. “Daniella and I can take one side; you and Grayson can flank from the other. That way, if he’s there, we’ll catch him off guard.”
“What if we find Eliza first?” I asked, a nagging worry gnawing at my thoughts. I didn’t want to think about facing Morgan—especially in the worst-case scenario.
“If we find her, we regroup and get her out no matter what,” Grayson stressed. “We’ll worry about Morgan then.”
As we neared the area, the trees thickened, casting us in darkness, save for the pale glimmer of moonlight filtering through the leaves. The atmosphere felt heavy, every rustle in the underbrush causing my heart to race.
Daniella suddenly slowed, raising a hand. “It should be just up ahead,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
We creeped forward in a tight formation, the tension palpable. I could feel myself slipping into a combat mindset, every fiber of my being honing in on the potential danger that awaited us.
“There it is,” Daniella murmured, pointing to a dilapidated house barely visible through the twisted branches. The windows were mostly boarded up, but I could see the faint outline of a porch, the wood rotting and sagging under years of neglect.
“Stay back for a moment,” Alex ordered, and I watched as he inched closer, scanning the area for any signs of life or movement. He crouched low behind a bush, Grayson following his lead, their eyes darting around like hawks hunting prey.
As I waited, my thoughts turned dark—what if Morgan was already inside? What if he was hurting Eliza? The sheer weight of the possibility made my chest tighten.
“Clear,” Alex finally said, gesturing for us to move. “Let’s go quietly.”
Daniella led the way again, and I found myself staying close to her, a protective instinct flaring within me. Grayson and Alex took the lead, their presence reassuring as we advanced toward the front of the house.
We stopped just outside the door, the faint creaks of the old wood making my palms sweaty. “Okay, on three,” Alex whispered, signaling with a nod. “One… two… three!”
With a collective shove, we pushed the door open, and I was met with the smell of mildew and decay. The interior was dark, the only illumination coming from the slivers of moonlight that penetrated through broken windows.
“Stay low,” I said, my eyes scanning the room. Shadows danced across the walls, and every shadow felt like it might be Morgan lurking, waiting to ambush us. I stepped further inside, following the others as they fanned out slightly, ensuring we covered as much ground as possible.
“Over here!” Grayson called softly, and I turned just in time to see him kneeling by a staircase that led down to what looked like a basement.
“Check that out,” Alex instructed, his voice barely above a whisper. “Be careful.”
I moved closer to Grayson, peeking over his shoulder at the darkened steps. “Do you think she’s down there?” I asked, dread pooling in my stomach.
“Could be,” he replied, his face stern. “We need to find out.”
Before I could voice my hesitation, Daniella stepped forward, determination set in her features. “Let me go first. I can—”
“No,” I interrupted, instinctively protective. “I’ll go.”
“I know, but we need someone who can scout ahead without making noise,” Daniella insisted, her voice steady. “I’ll be quick. I promise.”
Every nerve in my body rebelled against the idea, but I knew I couldn’t keep Daniella from this. “Fine,” I relented, though my heart raced. “Just be on guard, okay?”
She nodded, a fierce look in her eyes as she turned to the stairs. Taking a deep breath, I followed closely behind, Grayson and Alex staying up top, poised to spring into action if needed.
As we descended into the darkness, I felt the weight of my fears crashing down around me. Morgan was out there; he was dangerous, and he wouldn’t hesitate to wield his power over both Eliza and us.
When we reached the bottom, the air was colder, thick with a gloom that felt suffocating. “Eliza!” I called softly, gripping the railing tightly as I scanned the dimly lit basement. “Eliza, can you hear me?”
Silence met my ears, making my chest tighten even further. But then, a faint rustle echoed from the shadows, and I felt my heart leap. “Eliza?”
“Rylan?” A voice came weakly, and I turned, my breath hitching with hope.
“Eliza!” I rushed toward the sound, my mind racing with anticipation, praying like I never had before.
But as I got closer, the other shoe dropped; the room suddenly felt too quiet, too still. “Where are you?” I pressed on, desperate, determination overshadowing my fear.
Just as I reached the far wall, the dim light revealed a figure tied to a chair, a ragged silhouette.
“Rylan! Help!” Eliza’s voice broke through the darkness like a lifeline, and all the fear and uncertainty inside me ignited into a sharp blade of resolve.
“I’m coming!” I shouted, lunging forward as I fought against the panic clawing at my throat.
With every ounce of strength, I ripped the ropes from her wrists, feeling the weight of that cruel captivity finally break away. As she fell into my arms, relief washed over me in dizzying waves.
“Are you okay?” I asked, searching her eyes as I pulled back to catch a glimpse of her face.
“I—” She glanced over my shoulder, fear creeping into her gaze. “Rylan, we have to go! He’s here!”
In an instant, every sense heightened. I could hear footsteps approaching, ominous and rapid, pounding against the wooden floors above. Morgan was here, and we weren’t alone.
“Go!” I urged, grabbing Eliza’s hand tightly. “We have to get out now!”
But just as we turned to escape, a dark figure blocked our path at the top of the staircase. There stood Morgan, eyes glinting with a dangerous mixture of rage and triumph, and suddenly the weight of my world crashed back down.
“Thought you could just take her away from me?” he sneered, a sinister smile creeping across his lips. “Your own father?”
I growled. “You are no father to us! Not anymore. You won't hurt another soul.” and with that I lunged at him.