Chapter 13 False Allegations
Vanessa
Soon after he leaves, the little shiny locket in my hands catches my attention.
I unclasp it to find a picture of my once happy family. Standing on either side of me was my mom and my dad, both hugging me tightly while I held them grinning widely.
We each had one and wore it everywhere we went.
My heart twists itself inside my chest, feeling like tiny sharp needles piercing through it. I miss them, and want to go back to the time when we were still so...happy. But of course, that's only a distant dream I can never achieve until my next life.
Wait, where did he get this? I had been looking for it since that day with Melissa and my heart broke at the thought that I had lost something so special. I fasten the chain around my neck, my thumb trailing over it for a few moments, before walking into the closet.
I flip through the rows of clothes until I come across a beautiful green dress that reaches just below my knees, pairing it with diamond stud earrings and a thin necklace.
After assessing myself in the mirror, I turn to leave when something catches me briefly in my reflection.
Golden eyes.
My heart lurches, and feel the clamminess that engulfs my fingers as I turn fully towards the mirror, but it is only my electric blue ones that stare widely at me.
Did I imagine it?
Then my mind drifts back to the night of the pack hunt. The reflection of my eyes turned golden in the still, clear waters.
I still question till today maybe it had been a dream. But now, I'm not so sure...
I inch away from the mirror, one step at a time.
No. Nothing's wrong with me. I'm just imagining things due to stress. That's all.
Suddenly feeling claustrophobic, I rip the door open and run outside, not stopping until I reach the gardens, my breath coming out in short pants as I bend over, placing my hands on my knees in order to fill air into my lungs.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't, Vanessa," a familiar voice sneers. I still.
What the fuck is she doing here?
With great effort, I push up to stand straight and face Melissa, forcing myself not to cover under her icy stare.
Crossing my arms to steady myself. "What? Came to take me on more leadership endurance lessons?"
Her blue eyes darkens significantly. Wrong move. I shouldn't provoke her like that. She can take me out with just two strikes and I was no match for her then. I'm definitely still no match for her now, especially in my current state.
But then, she does something unexpected. She smiles.
No, it isn't one of those friendly that get your eyes crinkling at the corners. This one looks off...sinister, like she knows a joke that I don't and that makes me uncomfortable.
She steps closer until she's a feet away from me, leans into my space and whispers into my ear, "No, but it's even better. Look forward to my gift, Vanessa." She pats me on my arm, smiles when she steps back and turns to strut away without a backward glance.
Goosebumps rise on the skin she touched, and I stay rooted to the spot, but try to shake the feeling off.
Nah. She was just hoping to get a rise out of me, probably hoping to pummel me again.
Feeling like I've gotten enough air, I stroll back into my room. But I just can't shake the feel that something really bad is about to happen...
The continuous knocking on the door jolts me awake. I ignore it at first, but there is an urgency to it that makes me sit up, groaning in the process.
Reaching for my phone to check the time, it shows 2:45am
Who could be knocking so desperately at this time of the night?
I stand and rub my eyes, padding to the door and open. Immediately, Patricia rushes in, her green eyes wide and alert, looking out into the hallway. She grabs my arm and pushes us both inside, then shuts the door.
The fog of sleep starts to clear.
"Trish? What's going on?"
"Vanessa, I think you're in trouble," she whispers.
"What? How? Why?" I ask in a rush. I haven't caused any trouble recently. Right?
Her hold on my arm tightens and she opens her mouth as if to say something, then shuts it just as fast.
Grabbing her hand, I squeeze and plead with my eyes. "Tell me, please."
"Vanessa..." she hesitates. "You're getting summoned by the Royal Council soon," she whispers.
I drop my hands right then and take a step back. "What do you mean I'm getting summoned? I haven't done anything."
"There's no time to explain. I think you should–"
"Miss Vanessa, you have been summoned to the Royal Court room," says a tall, buff guard visibly armed, as well as the other two I notice when I step out.
"What is going on?"
"I am in no position to answer that. Please, let's go." He gestures and I move, with all three following behind me. I take a quick glance at Patricia, her eyes fill with tears and I give a little smile to reassure her.
The guard opens the door and at the long Island table sits the three people I had met on my first day here, but this time, with more hostility than ever.
"Explain yourself, human," the military looking man says without preamble, and throws something on the table.
"Um...I don't know what you mean?"
"Do not lie to us, human!" he points to the object. "Explain what this was doing in your room."
I move to get a closer look and recoil. It's looks like a carved bone, big and heavy-looking with what I suppose are drawings intricately woven, and marked with blood.
"Are you ready to talk now?"
I hold my hands up. "Wait, I think there's been some kind of mistake here. I don't even know what that is."
He scoffs. "Let me 'explain' then. This is a forbidden object that was used centuries ago by rival packs during a war, especially when a takeover is involved. These carvings here," he points to the drawings. "are marked with the blood of the Alpha to weaken or kill him and eventually, the pack. It's a forbidden object banned decades ago, and was found in your room, and was reported."
My mouth hangs open throughout. Wait. "Who reported it?"
"Melissa."
Of course! Was this her gift? I can't even laugh or cry right now.
"I swear, I have nothing to do with that. Someone set me up."
I look to Elias for help but he frowns sadly and looks away.
"Take her away to the dungeons."
Suddenly, strong pairs of arms surround me to pull me away, but I resist. "Please! I swear, I know nothing about it. I can prove it! Please!" but all my pleading fall on deaf ears as I'm flung into a cell and locked away like a criminal.
Is this my life now?