Chapter 303: Zena’s disappearance.

Zyra’s eyes narrowed as the memory of her mother’s letter flashed back into her mind. Every single word was burned into her head. Her mother had clearly warned her that dangerous people were coming after them. If it was another clan, then her mother would have told the grand elder. It would not have been difficult for the old man to protect her.

Even the mayor had to tread carefully when it came to the most powerful clans. The only enemy powerful enough to send her parents on the run was the Divine Soul maiden herself.

Trinity was power hungry. Zena was the people’s Divine Soul maiden. A powerful one who uncovered over one thousand dungeons. It was not hard to see why Trinity would want her mother dead.

Besides, there was the little matter with the dark Somnivore blood and the involvement of the High Council as well. Who else would want that secret nipped in the bud other than Trinity and the Johnson clan? Their reign depended on their standing as the experts on knowledge of all things Soul maiden and Somnivore. As for the High Council, they were basically Trinity’s puppets.

"Child, what is your grudge against Trinity?" The grand elder asked curiously.

Zyra took a deep breath and closed her eyes tight.

"I am not 100% percent certain but 99% of me is sure that she had something to do with my parent’s death or disappearance." Zyra said, her voice cutting through the quiet room. "I cannot think of anyone else with enough power to make my mother go on the run."

The air in the room instantly froze. Someone actually gasped, and a couple of people held their breath so hard their faces went pale. Bianca, who was sitting right next to her, leaned over, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and gave her a warm, squeezing side-hug. "I will avenge you, sister-in-law," Bianca whispered softly into her ear.

The Grand Elder was the first one to recover. He leaned forward, tapping his fingers on the wooden table. "That is a heavy claim, little one. Do you have any solid evidence to give you that ninety-nine?"

Zyra shook her head. "No. Not conclusive evidence." Her mother had named the High council, not Trinity.

Achilles leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "Then how did you jump to that conclusion, Zyra?"

"I have a letter that my mother left me." Zyra replied.

The grand elder reached out and clapped his hands together so loudly that everyone jumped in their seats. "A letter! Ha! That might be all the ammo we need to blow Trinity’s cozy little throne into pieces."

Zyra frowned, her eyebrows knitting together. "I don’t think it’s that simple, Elder. The letter doesn’t directly mention her name. It doesn’t prove anything at all. I think my mother knew that if she mentioned her, I would go after Trinity."

The Grand Elder stroked his chin, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Can I see it? Where is it? Wait_" He looked around the sleek, high-tech room, then smirked. "Your mother Zena liked to keep secrets. I guess she left all this to ensure your survival."

"You are right about that. I’ll get the letter," Zyra said, pushing her chair back. There was no need to mention Beauty to anyone other than Hunter.

She walked out of the dining area and stepped into the quiet hallway. Once she was out of everyone’s line of sight, she quickly slipped into her Beast Dominion, grabbed the faded letter from her hidden compartment in the glove, and walked right back out.

As she neared the dining room doors, she heard the Grand elder’s loud voice carrying through the hallway.

"_you kids don’t remember, but back in the day, Zena was super tight with Trinity. They were practically best friends! Sabrina was in that little circle too." The Grand Elder tilted his head up at the ceiling, scratching his nose as he tried to dig through his old memories. "Wait, there was a fourth girl, not like them but more of a follower. What was her name again? Ah, my old brain is getting rusty_"

Zyra stepped through the doorway, holding the paper tight. "They were friends?"

"Oh, absolutely!" The Grand Elder nodded like a bobblehead. "Inseparable, those four."

He stretched out his wrinkled hand, and Zyra handed over the letter. The old man unfolded it carefully, humming to himself as his eyes scanned the lines. With every line he read, his eyebrows went up, then down, then up again.

"Mmm... oh, I see... interesting..." he muttered.

Suddenly, his eyes stopped on a specific sentence. His jaw almost hit the floor, and his eyes lit up like bright lanterns.

"Demerides!" he yelled, slapping his thigh. "That’s it! The fourth friend! Her last name was Demerides! I knew I wasn’t losing my mind!"

Zyra took a fast step forward. "Then I need to find her and talk to her! If she was part of their group, she might know what really happened all those years ago. I have been growing my strength and abilities for this one mission. I must find my parents."

Beside her, Hunter reached over and gently rubbed his hand up and down her back, trying to soothe the tension in her shoulders. He looked down at her with soft, worried eyes.

"Zyra, you talk like you actually believe your parents are not dead," Hunter said gently.

Zyra stopped and looked around the room. She shook her head firmly.

"I don’t," she said, her voice trembling slightly, but full of conviction. "I don’t believe both of my parents are dead. Especially my mother." She placed her palm over her beating heart, looking straight into Hunter’s eyes. "I know it sounds totally cliché, like something out of a storybook_ but I can feel it right here. She’s still breathing somewhere out there. I just know it."

Nobody said anything--too afraid to give her hope. Too afraid to laugh at her. Too afraid to respond in any way, really.

The Grand Elder smiled warmly and gave a slow, deep nod. "Honestly? I’m right there with you, child. Zena was very strong. Of that group of girls, she was the strongest. And when she wielded her spear, she was unstoppable. I won’t believe that she is dead until somebody shows me a cold body."

Tears welling up in her eyes, Zyra blinked them back fast and locked eyes with the Grand Elder. A wave of deep relief washed over her. She wasn’t crazy and she was not the only one who believed her mother was alive. "She left that spear with me."

Hunter pulled her close against his chest, wrapping his strong arms around her. He leaned down and planted a soft, lingering kiss right on the top of her head. "If she’s out there alive, Zyra, I promise you we will find her," Hunter murmured into her hair. "Even if we have to flip the whole old and new world upside down."

Zyra folded her hands into fists. If Trinity truly killed her mother, she would burn her down in her sanctum. If Sabrina was involved, she would pay the price too. Not even Hunter’s love would stop her from getting revenge for the life they took from her.