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Marcus turned to his wife gently, and his face expressed both concern and seriousness. He loved his wife dearly and understood that his wife could not appreciate what he was doing. However, as a Vitrian elder, it was his duty to go help those in need, and Sofia, who was not born a Vitrian would not understand it or appreciate it and more so when Celina was involved.
“Sofia,” Marcus tried to explain gently. “You know I have to help anyone in need of help. I'll get you to safety and go help others. If you were in Celina's shoes and I was not home, would you have been happy if Xavier or Alexis or Bathe didn't show up to help? Tell me honestly; how would you feel?”
“Then let Alexis help her! After all, he is her husband.” Sofia complained bitterly.
“You know Alexis has been away for the last few weeks in London.”
“Why can't you see everything happening is linked to Celina,” the young woman continued and sighed. “Celina is the one behind everything; Zacharie's problems as the medical and spiritual head of the Vitrians, Alexis’ problems defending his decisions as a leader, Bathe and Luciana's marriage in trouble ...”
“Sofia, not now ...” her husband shouted.
“Not now?” Sofia paused for a moment and stared at her husband in confusion. “You've just told me you would be dropping us off and then going to Celina, and you expect me to be quiet about that. It is either me, Marcus, or ...” Marcus’ phone rang out loudly, startling them. It continued to ring until Sofia picked it up.
“Who is it,” Marcus inquired in haste as Sofia picked up the phone and gazed at it.
“Xavier,” Sofia voiced out, calming herself down.
“Put it on speaker, please,” Marcus requested, making sure he wasn't going to let all her moaning get to him.
“Marcs! Marcs!” Xavier sounded disturbed in his deep voice as he called his friend by his old teenage name.
“I am here, Xavier,” Marcus spoke out loud enough for Xavier to hear him.
“Oh, thank goodness, where are Sofia and Wanda?” “They are with me,” Marcus answered. “We were attacked earlier and have just left the house.”
“You were attacked?” Xavier repeated in bewilderment. “Alexis just called me. He sounded confused and disoriented.”
“What do you mean?” Marcus was shocked that Alexis would sound confused. “It is not in Alexis' nature to seem confused.”
“Yes, I know, he is looking for Celina, said he got a call from Celina that Adrian is dead that he was burnt alive.”
“What!” Sofia was shocked. “Who would do that? Bathe.”
“I don't know,” Marcus shook his head. “You and I know that Bathe would never do that to her.
“No. That is beyond Bathe,” Xavier agreed, but his voice was weak like he was not sure of what he was saying about his friend Bathe.
“Where are you going to be? Where are you taking Sofia and Wanda to?” Xavier asked.
Marcus turned to his wife. He and Sofia looked at each other for some seconds. Sofia understood the look on her husband's face; it was that look he wore when he was uncertain about something or whom to trust.
“I will call you later; there is a bit of urgency here.” Marcus tried to change the discussion. “You call up Luciana, and let's know if Bathe is home or not. Sofia and I would look for Celina.”
“Okay, good.” Xavier went off the line.
“You didn't tell him you are dropping us off.”
“No,” Marcus answered gently but didn't look at his wife.
“Xavier and Bathe are your best friends.”
“Yes, I know, but the situation calls for wisdom. I don't know what is happening or how demons seem to be targeting us now. I can't reveal your safe place to anyone, and I can't take you and Wanda to where I have to go; it won't be safe. Though Xavier might not be the one behind all this, he might mistakenly pass the message to the wrong person.”
Realizing that her husband honestly was trying to protect her and Wanda and not just dumping them to get away to Celina, Sofia kept quiet on the allegation of him going off to find Celina.
“Do you think Bathe would do such a thing – I mean burn Adrian alive, do you?”
“No, Bathe would never do that.” Marcus continued to speed towards the church. “Although I know Bathe's relationship with Celina has been rather complicated lately, Bathe would never hurt a child.”
He could sense the calmness and change in his wife’s tone. He drove for a few more seconds and then continued.
“You know, it would make me feel so much better if you could just trust that I am looking out for you and Wanda.”
“I am sorry,” Sofia said gently. “I am just shocked that we are under attack, and my brain can’t stop buzzing on who is behind all these. It seems it has to be someone who knows us all very well, someone or people who know where we all live,” she replied but unknown to them as they discussed, another giant demon that had been sent to them to make sure Wanda was killed, had been following them.
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