Ivan Smith: The rise of the elemental werewolf

Chapter 2

Ivan was very aware of who the woman standing before him was. He’d spent three years with her grandfather after all.

He had been the only reason he wasn’t bullied the first time he entered the prison. What he didn’t quite understand was this talk about marriage.

“I don’t understand.” Ivan spoke. Selene and her fool are honking their car, annoyed that Leah was blocking them.

The assistant waved the driver to move.

Leah smiled, and for a second, Ivan wondered whether she was even human. She looked too perfect, otherworldly There wasn’t even a single hair out of place on her head. Her green eyes seemed to draw you in like a sinking sand would draw one in.

“Grandfather didn’t tell you about the arrangement, I see.”

“No, he didn’t.” His frown deepened.

She sighed. “Almost seventy, and he still plays these games. No matter. How about I take you out for lunch. We can discuss more there.” Even her voice sounded musical.

As curious as Ivan was. The only thing he could think about was his mother. Selene had mentioned that she was dying. He didn't care about anything else.

“I’m sorry. I can’t. I have to go see my mother. She’s sick.”

“Well then, I’ll come with you. I’ll get my assistant to get us something to eat.”

All Ivan could do was stare at her.

His words kept failing him.

“Come on.” She grabbed his hand, and Ivan followed. For someone so small, she was pretty strong with the way she dragged him.

The driver opened the car door and she stepped in, and looked over at Ivan.

“What are you waiting for, darling?” she asked when Ivan didn’t immediately follow.

“I just… It's all happening really fast. I don’t know you.”

“You’re so cute. Isn’t he cute Ray?”

“Yes, ma’am.” the assistant said.

Ivan blushed. A beautiful goddess of a woman had just called him cute.

Ivan finally entered next to her, his mind wondering what the hell was going on, and why he was following this random woman without question. Granted, she claimed to be Master Sinzu’s granddaughter, but none of this made any sense. Especially the marriage part.

“Are you sure you do not want to stop by to freshen up and eat before going to see your mother?”

“Positive.”

“Very well then. Take us to his mother’s place, Sergio.” She said to the driver. A bald man with a single strand if her coming out of the middle.

The drive to Selene’s place was long and quiet. Leah spent most of the time talking on the phone with investors and board members in her company. By the time they got to Selene’s old place, Ivan had gone through every emotion there was: Fear, worry, confusion, infatuation and frustration

As soon as the car pulled up to his old matrimonial home, Ivan practically jumped out of the car and rushed to the front door. He pushed it open and rushed in, his heart beating against his chest erratically.

“Mom!” he called out.

He froze when he reached the small dining room, and found his mother on the floor with a pot of soup spilled across the floor

“Mom.” He ran to her. “Mom!” He gently shook her, fear in his gut. “What happened to you?” he whispered, trying to wake her up, but she didn’t budge.

“Is everything okay?” Leah walked in.

Ivan didn’t speak. Instead he picked his mom up, and placed her head on his lap as he dialed 911.

“I have an unconscious woman at apartment 66 on Brooks Way. Hurry up.”

The operator on the other end told him an ambulance was on the way.

Leah bent down beside Ivan’s mother, and touched her wrist.

“She still has a pulse. Faint, but there.”

Ivan nodded in relief. “Thank you.” He had been too panicked to feel anything.

Leah smiled. Even her smile was beautiful. Perfect straight white teeth, but not the type of white that was artificial. The type of white that said she had brushed, and flossed everyday since she was a baby.

“She’s going to be fine, Ivan. There is no need to worry.” She said again the reassurance in her voice and eyes lulled him to a calmer state. “I’ll call my doctor…”

“No.” he shook his head. “The ambulance is already on their way. “But my doctor is more efficient…”

“I said no. Your doctor doesn’t know her medical history.” he said, trying not to snap at her. She was still the granddaughter of the man that had practically saved his life.

“You are right.” Leah conceded. She knew Ivan was agitated, and any more insistence from her would send him over the edge. The man had had his heart shattered enough for a lifetime, she was sure.

Five minutes went by before they heard the siren of an ambulance coming.

“They are here.” Ivan looked up.

“Ill let my assistant know.” She said and walked out.

Ivan couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Was she really to become his wife or was that simply a tactless joke?

A second later, Leah was back, and behind her were two paramedics.

They rushed in with a stretcher, and began to ask rapid fire questions as they checked her pulse.

“I’m not sure. I haven’t seen her in three years.”

The paramedic nodded as they picked his mother up onto the stretcher, and rolled her out.

Ivan followed them into the ambulance despite Leah’s protest. He wasn’t about to leave his mother all alone with strangers.

****

Ivan paced the hospital waiting room, his posture stiff with worry for his mother’s health. This wasn’t how he had left her when he went to prison.

Selene had a lot of explaining to do.

It wasn’t until twenty minutes later did Leah get to the hospital.

“How is she?” she asked softly. Ivan couldn’t help but notice the attention she was getting from every single man and woman in the hospital.

“I don’t know. The doctors are still with her. They say they are running tests.”

She nodded. “You should sit.”

“No, I’m fine.” Ivan said. Sitting would make him worry even more.

“I insist. The tests won’t run any faster just because you’re worried, trust me. She’ll be fine.”

Ivan hated how his body obeyed her voice. It was the damnest and strangest thing. He had known her for barely an hour, and her voice seemed to compel him like a damn hypnotist.

He sat beside her, and she suddenly brought out a lunch box of food.

“Here, eat this.”

“Not hungry.” Ivan shook his head.

“Ivan, you need to eat.”

“I said I am not hungry.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I hope snapping at people is not a habit of yours. I wouldn't want my husband and I to clash.”

Ivan flushed. He didn't mean to snap at her. It wasn't even his character to yell but she was being pushy, and he didn't like that.“I’m sorry. I’m just agitated. I can’t until I know my mom is fine.

Leah nodded. “That’s quite understandable. I lost my mom when I was eight, and it was the worst day of my life.”

Ivan glanced at her. “I’m sorry.’

“Not your fault.’ she smiled ruefully. “It was all hers. She wasn’t strong enough. That’s what happens to weak willed people.”

Ivan frowned; sure, he’d heard wrong. He opened his mouth to ask how she could say that about her own mother, but the doctor appeared just then with a notepad in his hands.

“How is she?” Ivan stood quickly, practically running into the doctor.

“I have good news, and bad news.”

Ivan’s heart almost leapt out of his chest. In his experience, and Master Sinzu’s teachings. Rarely did that phrase have a good enough news to counter the bad one.

“Good news, doctor.” Leah said.

“The good news is that your mother is stable. She’s asleep now.”

“And the bad?”

“Well, she has a non cancerous tumor in her brain. It’s causing these seizures and episodes. You need to act fast before it spreads.”

Ivan barely held himself up.

“What do you advise, doctor?” Leah stepped in.

“Surgery as soon as possible. Of course, there is a fifty percent chance she makes it. Regardless if nothing is done, well, her symptoms will only get worse, and eventually she'll die.”

“Well then, we will carry out the surgery.”

“No, we won’t!” Ivan said, shocking Leah. She turned to look at him with a fazed expression.

“Did you not hear the doctor?”

“I heard him perfectly. This is not your decision to make. She is my mother. Not yours, only I can make that decision.”

Ivan was furious, and he’d had just about enough of everything today. Enough!

“Well, I am in my office if you need to discuss more of this MR. Claire.” The doctor gave a non-committal smile followed by a nod, before walking towards the other way.

Ivan followed him shortly, his hands balled into an angry fist. He was starting to wonder whether prison was such a bad idea. He was practically king in prison. Everyone feared and respected him.

“Is there no other way to get rid of this tumor?”

“Unfortunately, there isn’t. She must undergo surgery if we are to get rid of it.

Ivan sighed. The first two hours out of prison, and he was already faced with a heavy decision to make. His eyes stung, and he felt like crying at the irony of it all. In prison, he had been happier, blissfully ignorant of what was going on in the outside world.

Ivan sighed. “Thank you doctor.]’ll get back to you”

“Of course.” The doctor smiled, and then he walked out.

As he walked out of the hospital, he began to play with the ring around his finger.

The ring Master Sinzu had given to him.

He still couldn’t believe he of all people was chosen by a man of that caliber to become his eyes and ears in the outside world. His successor. Sure, he had taught him everything about the underworld and its rules. Hell, he had even given him practical lessons by using the other prisoners as his prop. But it was still too heavy a task for him.

Ivan got to the waiting room to find that Leah was gone. He felt a bit sad. As odd as she was, her presence helped ground him.

Then he heard footsteps walking towards him. When he looked up, he saw her assistant.

“Mr. Smith. Miss Leah apologizes for leaving abruptly. She has a few matters to attend to. She asks that I drive you to dinner as soon as you are back.”

“I’m not leaving this place until my mother is awake.” Ivan said.

The assistant said nothing, but an exasperated look settled on his face.

“I’m afraid she insists.”

Ivan stared at him.

Everyone had been telling him what to do since he walked out of prison.

Sign the divorce papers.

Take the money.

Leave his mother to the doctors.

Now Leah wanted him to leave the hospital.

For the first time, Ivan wondered what exactly Master Sinzu had arranged and why

And why Leah Dalton seemed determined to become a part of his life.

“I don’t care if she insists. I am not leaving this place until I speak to my mother.”

The man nodded curtly, then turned and walked off.

Ivan ran his hand down his face, then hung his head. This was not how he had planned on spending his first day of freedom. Not even close. He had planned on going out on a date with Selene, and spending the night with her having rigorous sex instead he was now divorced with his mother fighting for her life.

He wanted to punch something, hell, he wanted to cry, but he knew tears never solved anything. So, he stood and made his way to the ward his mother was in.

He pushed the door open, and the first thing he noticed was everything connected to her vitals. He hated the sight of it.

She was sound asleep. Ivan kissed her on the forehead, and waited beside her.

By the time Mrs Grey woke up, it was evening.

“Ivan? Is that you?” She asked.

Ivan jumped. He had been dozing off.

“Mom?!”

“Oh, my son. You're here.” She pushed herself to sit up, but Ivan stopped her.

He hugged her.

“I missed you so much, son.”

“Mom, you're okay.”

“Barely.” She smiled, staring into her son's eyes.

“Oh, God. You've changed. You even have muscles now and a beard.” She caressed his face.

“What happened to you?” Ivan asked.

“I should be asking you, that. Tell me everything.”

It didn't take long for his mother to slip back into sleep.

The doctor instructed him to let her rest as she was under a lot of stress and would need to regain her strength by resting.

Ivan stepped out after a while to get something to eat.

He noticed that Ray, Leah's assistant, was still waiting in the waiting room. He ignored him completely. He didn't have time for this.

Then, just as he turned the corner, he bumped into Selene with Benson both holding a pamphlet that read the words “what to expect as an expectant mother.”

Benson couldn't believe it.

She was pregnant.

He felt like crying. For years he had begged Selene for a child but she had kept saying they needed to wait.

When they finally noticed him, Benson smirked.

Selene didn't look at him, just walked right past him like he wasn't there.

“So, that’s it?” He asked before he could stop himself.

“Leave with your dignity intact. This is a hospital.” Benson smirked.

Ivan couldn't take it. He ran towards Benson about to bunch him when Ray stopped him.

“You don't want to do that, sir!”