Chapter 23: All along

" so it's magic huh...That's what Vale saw in you?" Zik asked after telling Olivia to go get me something to eat. " maybe you guys should normalize questioning your leader about his weird decisions" I still felt a bit exhausted and Zik's questions weren't helping. I kind of want him to leave so that I can think about my life and how I'll continue from now onwards.

" I'll admit that I sometimes think he makes reckless decisions but the results of his decisions always prove me wrong. Everything he does. Good or bad is for the pack and every member of the pack knows this. That's why we trust him" normally when hearing someone praise 'him' I'd feel like vomiting but I'm actually not feeling that way...I blame it on exhaustion because there's no other explanation.

"Yes that's nice. Look I know you probably have some questions you need me to answer or something you want to say but I feel like taking a small nap so...yeah please leave" instead of understanding he scratched his head and avoided eye contact. Maybe he is feeling awkward and I hope that's the case but of course it is never that easy for me "...I can't" I didn't ask why cause I'm sure he knows that he has to explain. After sighing like an old man he finally looked at me " I can't leave your side, I have to protect you from the vampire lord. Your powers may interest him so-", " don't you dare lie to me! Oh my god this is Vale's doing, now that he has seen what I can do he is scared that I have the ability to actually get out of here" this actually made me laugh. He can assign ten werewolves to guard me and I'll still find a way to leave this forest.

Well I guess he'll be watching while I nap and this is good, I'm finally being treated like a prisoner I am. No more pretending. I was about to take my well deserved nap but his next words are what made me frown " you also can't take a nap, Olivia will bring you something to eat and you'll go make more potions". If it wasn't for my life being in danger I wouldn't have done anything to help them, especially him getting impaled by that monster. I got out of bed not caring about the food Olivia was going to give me. I don't think I have the appetite to eat their food. I didn't care to clean myself up, I was still wearing those clothes I got from Roseanne.

I went downstairs while he followed behind me like the fog he is, to think I nearly saw him as a friend. Roseanne and Arina were eating breakfast. Roseanne's relieved smile was met with my cold face, if they think I'm supposed to be like her or will want to be like her they are fools. Also...That thing sitting next to her better stay away from me cause I can't promise to hold myself back. The day continued with Zik being around me. He attempted to talk to me a few times but seeing I was irresponsive he gave up. I tried to focus on nothing but the potions but I failed as my head got filled with doubtful thoughts. It's been weeks since being thrown out of the magic forest yet I still feel trapped and it makes me wonder if this was Serena's plan all along. Did she know this was going to happen?

Maybe dropping me to those perverts wasn't her plan after all. That woman is smart and cunning. This might also mean that she knows about the monsters and well... Everything that's happening outside the enchanted forest. Leaders do it all this time, they hide the truth or tell lies just to keep their subjects in check. Vale is no different from her, he must enjoy hearing them say he is powerful, fair and cares about the pack when he actually doesn't. Wait does this mean that they are working together, did the Serena make a deal with him? Knowing her I'd say it's possible and it actually makes sense. He has no power to see those that are special. This was all planned and they played me. All this time I'm thinking I got away, I was dumb to think that I was finally free of her clutches.

"Err...Era are you okay? Cause you've been looking at the floor for the past few minutes" I looked at Zik feeling a little betrayed. Not by him though. I'm the one who betrayed myself, I don't know why but I ended up letting my guard down. "Where's Vale?" He looked shocked at the way I sounded "I...why are you asking?- I mean what do you need him for?". The blue fire was still burning under the pot but with just a thought I commanded it to come to my hand. He stepped back and I wasn't surprised, this fire is very powerful and dangerous against those that aren't witches. " I don't want to fight you Zik so make this easy by taking me to Vale" the idiot looked at my face instead of looking at the fire but then he nodded surprising me as I expected defiance.

I followed behind him and as we appeared in front of the others they were shocked to see me welding the blue flame with ease. Roseanne was about to do something but Zik told her to stay put which disappointed me because I wanted to see how I'd fare against her. The only thing she could do was stand in front of Arina and Olivia in a protective way making me roll my eyes. I ignored them and followed Zik out of the elixir house and wasn't surprised to see that he was leading me towards the beautiful modern house. That's where Vale stays. I was glad that the werewolves in the pack house didn't notice us as it would complicate things for me.

I stared or should I say glared at the beautiful house determined to get answers from him. I 'will' make him confess what he is planning.