"Which runes?" Benjamin asked like someone who was interrogating a prisoner.
Rain backed away in fear. It was as if she didn't recognize Benjamin at all for a moment. He was different and the opposite of what Rain had known all along, who was always gentle and patient.
"I... I don't know which rune I used?" Rain replied in a trembling voice.
Rain avoided Ben's glare by tracing the now blank page with her finger.
"I do not know. The rune suddenly came into my head, and I just drew it."
"Are runes you've seen in some book? When you were at Chiel's house?"
"How do you know if I saw a book at Chiel's house?" Rain was starting to get annoyed. It's as if Ben is stalking her every deed and secretly distrusts her.
"It doesn't matter Rain. Most importantly, where did you get those runes? And what kind of rune could open the portal to the image? Did your dad teach it to you and then erase it afterwards?"
"Maybe," Rain muttered desperately.
Benjamin backed away while brushing his fingers through his hair. "Of course!" He started walking. "What else could it possibly have other than runes taught by your dad? However, using runes by ordinary people would be against the law. It doesn't matter now. Where do you think your dad is hidden? In what kind of painting?"
Rain raised both hands and shoulders together. "I don't know! I think there are some paintings where my dad lives. Jace and I have been there and met the shredders. They won't give up and are still on guard at my dad's house."
"It seems you've missed a lot without me."
There was a note of hurt in Ben's voice. However, Ben's face suddenly darkened when he heard the term ripper mentioned. He turned his face away from Rain.
"If they wanted your dad, something must have happened. So far, nothing has happened. Maybe your dad's disappearance was just baited to attract something bigger?"
"What do you mean, Ben? What is that, something bigger?"
Rain can't just trust Ben. She had already been informed about Mayor Flynn's infamy. When she discovers that Benjamin is Mayor Flynn's son, Rain must not believe him even though her conscience tries to refuse.
Ben turned quickly and held Rain's shoulders. The man almost gripped her hard.
"You know what Jace Dauntess wants!"
"I don't know!" shouted Rain, breaking away from Ben's grip.
"He wants the witch? Everyone thinks your dad is the warlock. Because Jace is also excited to find your dad, right?"
Rain shook her head while biting her finger nervously. "That fact is known only to Jace and the people involved with Darkwood's curse, including Mayor Flynn. If Benjamin finds out, it means he may also be involved," Rain thought very carefully.
"The only way to find your dad right now is to return to Jace!"
"What?" Rain was taken aback by the idea. "Not!" Rain firmly refused. "You are asking me to return to that dangerous man?"
"There's nothing we can do here. My dad could only do something as mayor. If Jace gets to the witch first, he'll turn Westlake Town into hell again. However, only Jace Dauntess has the power and strength to find your dad. You could show him what you just did, and he'll figure it out. But, sadly, he wouldn't like it if I was there."
"Then what should I do, Ben?"
"I will protect you. I will always take care of you. Return to Darkwood and tell him all of this. If Jace Dauntess finds your dad, I will find a way to get you out of there."
Rain hesitated a bit, but there was no way she could think of it. She finally nodded in agreement.
***
Jace and the forces of darkness have decided to take Rain to Mayor Flynn's private residence. They didn't care what other people thought, but picking up the queen-to-be was their priority.
"What if they think we've come to fight?" Sam asked.
"That's much better than us standing around like fools and accepting all this defeat!" said Erica excitedly.
They had just finished dressing themselves up to be normal humans in general. They wear casual clothes to travel.
It was still drizzling when Jace pulled the van out of the garage to the end of the street and honked twice. The forces of darkness who had turned themselves into humans immediately ran into the car. Randall had offered to drive, but Jace had refused.
They had run through the puddles that had accumulated on the asphalt. Samantha's oversized boots even clicked satisfactorily with every step she took. Jace let the engine run and crawled back to pull the door aside.
"Remember, we're not playing detective," Jace told his assistants. "We are going to carry out a grave and important mission. We will be dealing with mortals out there. No one can hurt them no matter what."
"I can't wait!" shouted Sam with great joy. "This must be a lot of fun. I'm tired of flying in the sky, and this time we're going to drive to pick up the queen-to-be."
Jace pursed his lips and hissed. "You guys are too much!"
Erica, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. "Nothing is too much when it comes to your life and death, Your Highness. The rituals West and the shadow brothers performed in the city of darkness are only temporary. We don't know when the monster inside you will take control and throw a tantrum again."
"That's right, Your Majesty," Randall said, confirming Erica's words. "The runes on your body are also expanding. The black rose's curse and poison were getting more and more. You pushed yourself too hard and used too much rune power that they almost devoured you."
"I can't let those damn wolves devour Rain!" The veins in Jace's neck tensed. "They act as if Ben is the victim. Even though they deliberately did that to trap Rain and take away her trust!"
That same night, Ben was about to accompany Rain back to Darkwood. But a high-speed Van stopped in front of them. The van door opened violently, and a hand pulled Rain inside.
"What the hell? Who are you?" shouted Rain.
Ben, unaware that Rain had been taken away, could only curse. He immediately got into his car and followed. However, Jace and his assistants, who had just arrived, intercepted Ben's car. They also demanded to know where Rain was.
"She has gone!" Ben shouted desperately.