Chapter 42: Talking to Father-in-law
Dylan's heart dropped looking as he saw Isabella collapse. He just went aside for a while and here his wife was lying in her pool of blood.
"Isa.. Open your eyes. Stay with me baby.." his voice trembled as he cradled her in his arms.
Dylan shouted for help and immediately the shop assistants arrived at the scene. Everyone was shocked looking at the bloody scene.
Everything that happened later passed by in hurry. Someone called the ambulance, and the security checked the cameras. Suspiciously, the cameras went off for a few minutes before working again.
Dylan didn't check with them as he was busy rushing his wife to hospital. Rage burned hot as he held her hand.
His eyes stung with tears but his jaws were tightly clenched in anger. A terrible pain shot up in his chest and back again, but he silently endured as his fear of losing Isabella shut down all other thoughts in his mind.
The doctors told him that it looked like an animal bite, but except for blood loss, there was no other serious damage.
Dylan nodded in relief and went into the ward to check on Isabella. She was still asleep due to drugs. The white gauge on her delicate neck made his heart ache.
He regretted leaving her alone for those few minutes.
Resting his forehead against hers, he closed his eyes as tears finally escaped his eyes.
"Dylan"
Dylan wiped away his tears and looked around. He frowned finding no one in the room except for one other sleeping patient sharing the ward.
He was about to go back to his previous position when the voice called him again. This time more clear.
It was a deep male voice, filled with authority.
Dylan was sure he hadn't mistaken this time. But he couldn't figure out where that voice was coming from.
"Who is there?" Dylan asked as his grip on Isabella's hand became tighter.
"Don't panic. I am Isabella's father."
Dylan's expression turned funny. Isabella's father? He didn't have time to play now.
"Look. Whoever you are.. Stop playing games. There are cops outside. And I will make sure to destroy you for hurting my wife." Dylan warned looking around. It was so creepy to hear voice but unable to associate it with a face.
"I don't have time for this nonsense. Let my wife treat Isabella." The deep voice spoke again. Dylan was a little calm now. So he sat down and felt the voice reverberating within him.
"Who are you? How do you know Isabella?" Dylan asked again.
"I am Lawrence. Isabella's father. And Isabella's mother want to help her heal."
Dylan frowned as he fell into deep thoughts. Can he believe this? What if this new ghost batch is scamming him?
"I don't believe you." Dylan replied.
The voice didn't come up for a few seconds before speaking again. "I know Isabella told you about her parents. You can ask me any question and verify if we are her parents or not."
Dylan pursed his lips. Since this seemed to be completely out of his control, he decided to test first.
"What was Isa's age when she got lost?" Dylan asked the first question.
"Almost 5. Her 5th birthday was in 2 months"
'Correct' Dylan thought.
"Isabella always carried a coin with her. What's the symbol on it?"
"A griffin" Lawrence answered immediately.
Correct
"Isabella is allergic to?"
"Pollen" The king answered again. His daughter was allergic to pollen, hence he cleared out all the pollen flowers from the palace. It was the same till date.
Correct
"Isabella's favorite scent?"
"The smell of soil during rain"
"Favorite color?"
"Navy blue"
Dylan pursed his lips.. Someone with enough research done on Isabella could answer all these questions. Another question popped up in his mind.
"Isabella's best friend in Mythiopia?" Dylan asked. It took a lot of time for him to remember that kingdom's name. He kept remembering Mitochondria.
There was brief pause on the other side. Dylan thought it was game over when Lawrence replied again.
"Her father, which is me. She didn't have any friends here." The voice sounded a little heavy here.
Dylan exhaled. Fine. He still had one last weapon with him.
"Isabella got injured before she got lost. How did it happen?"
He knew because Isabella when arrived had her both hands bandaged. His heart ached even when she was a complete stranger to him.
"My little girl was climbing a book shelf in the king's chamber and fell down. She injured both her hands in the fall."
Correct.
Isabella told him that when he asked back then.
"Dylan. I am Aliza. Isabella's mother. Please son. Let me heal her.."
A feminine voice sounded this time. This too came from within. His gaze fell on Isabella's unconscious form. Her face was pale, and she looked very weak.
"Last question. How are you able to talk to me?" Dylan asked nervously. The reply came almost instantly.
"The coin Isabella gave you is part of a pair. I have the other coin with me. Whenever she is in danger, the coin sends me a signal. It took me some time to cross the gate separating two worlds. I was only able to cross it a few days before your wedding"
Dylan's eyes widened in realization. No wonder he was feeling as if someone was spying on him all the time. So he was under his father-in-law's radar.
"Son. Let me heal her." Aliza anxiously interrupted.
Dylan took a deep breathe and kissed Isabella's hand. "What should I do?" he asked.
"Just hold her hand. I will pass my healing energy through you. It might feel weird, but there will be no danger." Aliza instructed.
Dylan didn't know what this healing energy is, but still complied. Soon he felt something cool and soothing spreading through his chest and then move towards the hand holding Isabella.
He himself felt quite refreshing and energetic because of this. Dylan also noticed Isabella's complexion improving. Her pale lips regained their original pink color, and her cheeks cutely flushed again.
Soon her eyes fluttered open and her sight fell on her husband worriedly looking at her.
"Isa. Baby. Are you fine, love?" Dylan asked softly as Isabella took in her surroundings. She felt completely fine but was in daze remembering what happened at the store.
Knock. knock. knock.
A cop walked in after knocking to see if Isabella was awake.
"Hello Mrs Jordan. How are you feeling?" The elder man asked politely. Dylan helped Isabella lean comfortably.
"Better officer. Thanks for asking."
The cop nodded and took out his notepad.
"May I know what happened at the store?"
Isabella looked at Dylan for a couple of seconds before turning to the cop. "I just remember having a sharp pain in neck and everything went black. I wasn't able to see who or what it was."
Isabella reported. The cop noted down her statement. It was important since it could threaten the safety of other customers too.
"Did you find anything officer?" Isabella inquired.
"We are still investigating Mrs Jordan. The security cameras failed to capture anything. We will inform you if we find any leads."
Dylan thanked the cop before he closed the door behind him and walked back to his wife.
"How are you feeling princess?" Dylan asked, his hand gently cupped her face.
Isabella held his hand as she worriedly looked at her husband. "What happened to you Dylan?"
Dylan got confused. What happened to him?
"Nothing. I am fine. You are the one who got hurt princess" Dylan replied. Isabella shook her head and stroked his face in worry. Now even he felt something wrong after looking at Isabella's expression.
"Your eyes changed color Dylan. And there is something behind you."
Dylan didn't get it at all. Eyes changed color? He looked back to see what it is but found nothing.
Noticing his confusion, Isabella took him to the washroom and made him stand in front of the mirror.
A shocked gasp escaped Dylan's lips and his eyes widened looking at his reflection.
He always had pitch black eyes, but now they suddenly turned into dark blue orbs with a hint of gold in them.
He almost couldn't recognize himself because of the change in eye color. "H-How?" He panicked. He wanted to go to bed, sleep, and then wake up thinking this all is a dream. It was all scary.
As if that wasn't enough, something flashed behind him before disappearing. Isabella saw it too.
The flash was more like a black and blue lightening which came and went behind him every now and then. He didn't physically feel anything. It happened on it's own.
Isabella rubbed his back to calm him down. "Let's go home first. Okay? Everything is fine." she encouraged.
Dylan would have laughed at how their dialogues are reversed but didn't have wits right now. What was happening to him? He felt terrible chest pain and then it went away. That was all he knew.
"Dylan?"
Isabella's voice snapped him out of his daze. Not wanting to worry her anymore, he nodded promptly.