Chapter 46 With the Enemy

Chapter 46 With the Enemy
“Can you just free me? At this point, I don’t think I would be running away anymore.”

The Stranger chuckled.  “I don’t trust you when you say you won’t be running away anymore.  After all, for the past hour, you tried four times to escape, even when your hands and feet were bound.” 

I squirmed as I tried to sit up.  The Stranger’s horse-drawn cart rattled over the rough provincial roads.

I didn’t even know how he secured a black horse with a cart.  The only thing I knew was that after forcing me to let him tag along, he showed me his cart, hidden by the side of the road, two or three miles from the Northern gates.    

The hay he stacked around me felt itchy against my skin.  To top it off, he even donned a farmer’s clothing, with overalls and everything.  

What is he up to, this time?

I stared at the back of the Stranger’s head, a million thoughts running through my mind.  Everything about him felt… convenient.  

He often showed up whenever I needed help.  Even offering advice and warnings when I thought I didn’t need them.  

He might be one of my mates, but he’s Alfonso’s informant too…

And if I don’t tread carefully, I might be branded a traitor next time.  That kind of scandal would be harder to escape.

And I don’t want to lose my head yet.  

“You’ll burn a hole through my head if you continue to stare at me like that, my dear trouble.” 

He snapped his fingers, releasing me from the binds on my wrists and feet.  I sat up and peeked through the stacks of hay.

We’re travelling between wheat fields.  If I remembered correctly, it was the route going to Estern Creek.

“Are we going to Estern?” I asked.  “Someone might recognize us both.”

He chuckled.  “They might recognize you, but I doubt they would recognize me.  I have a cloak back there.  You can use that to hide your face.”

I rummaged through the things he placed with me in the cart.  There were bags of gold coins, some weapons, and thick documents I was tempted to look into.  

As soon as I saw the green cloak neatly folded on top of a stack of papers, I took it and put it over my head.  

The cart passed Estern Creek’s welcome arch, and the Stranger helped me get down from the cart.  He gave a stable boy a small bag of gold coins to take care of his horse.  

He pulled the hood of his cloak over his head, but kept it open enough for people to see his face.  

I kept my head down low, my eyes roaming around to see if I would recognize anyone.  My Father might be quietly placing his pawns everywhere, ensuring I won’t escape the scandal.

My heart skipped a bit as the Stranger pulled me closer to him.  In a low voice, he commanded me.  “Act natural.  You’ll look more suspicious if you keep on doing that.” 

I followed his word.  As we turned through alleys and corners, he greeted a few locals, claiming we were a farming couple passing through town.  

He picked a cozy watering hole near the town’s center, small enough to host fewer people than expected.

I froze as soon as I saw a couple of Black Wolves drinking up front, their voices loud enough for everyone to hear their conversation.  

The Stranger pulled me, telling me to continue walking.  However, I felt his steps falter as he heard the conversation the Black Wolves were having.  

One of them sneered as he downed a mug of beer.  “Ha! Did you see that Hestia’s body? She’s a knockout!”

“Bitches like that only care for wolves with great powers.  Now she’s hiding inside the Temple.  Must be convincing other Council members to let her continue with the trials.”

“Why did she even come back? She dropped out of the competition to marry Alpha Hunt, then disappeared.  Now that he’s found a new Queen to serve, she came back, crying as if everyone wronged her.”

I glanced at the Stranger’s fist as they curled into a ball, veins popping out of his arms and knuckles.  

“Let’s go,” I called as I tugged on his sleeve.  “They’re not wrong, anyway.”

The Stranger remained quiet, even after he had booked a room for us.  As soon as I set my things on a nearby table, he threw his things on the bed and walked out without a word.  

I listened until I could no longer hear his heavy footsteps.  Until it was nothing but silence and the quiet shifting of the establishment where we were.  

I did not dare follow him.  After all, I didn’t want to be recognized by the Black Wolves drinking outside the pub, nor did I want to know what he was going to do.  

I lay on the bed, my mind in a mess.  Mother hasn’t answered my calls, and Fluke was silent too.  

If the Council decides to punish Castiel because of me, I don’t think I would be able to forgive myself…

I’ve made a fair amount of mistakes in my life.  But if ever my carelessness leads to somebody else’s demise…

My eyes darted to the Stranger’s coat as it fell off the bed.  I got up to pick it up, only to notice a small piece of paper lying on the floor.

A receipt… of a purchase of an aphrodisiac.  While I’m not certain if it was similar to the one Medea used on Augustus, the date on the receipt told me that it was bought before the second trial.

My body grew cold as I stared at the piece of paper, more questions running through my mind.

Why did he have a receipt like this? Did he…

The door creaked open as the Stranger walked back in.  His once pristine farmer clothing was now smeared with something… red.  His golden eyes glowed in the dim light of the room, like a predator.  

And his mouth… stained with blood.  

I instinctively stepped back, hiding the receipt behind me.  But it was true that Reds possessed heightened senses, that he had noticed that movement before I even knew it.  

His eyes went to the cloak that was on the floor.  The Stranger then shut the door close, as I held my breath longer and longer…

“What are you hiding behind you, Hestia?” he asked in a low, dangerous voice.  “Give it to me.”