Chapter 16: The Interrogation

The rebel’s breathing was ragged, his face pale and slick with sweat. He sat tied to a chair in the dimly lit chamber deep within Blackwood territory, his hands bound tightly behind his back. The room was cold, the air thick with tension. Shadows danced on the walls, cast by the flickering torchlight, and the faint scent of smoke lingered in the air. Lucas stood in the corner, his silver eyes glowing like shards of ice, while Elijah paced the room, his amber eyes burning with barely contained fury.

The rebel’s name was Jarek, and he was one of Marcus Bloodfang’s most loyal followers. But now, captured and alone, his confidence was crumbling. He glanced nervously between the two Alphas, his red-rimmed eyes darting like a cornered animal.

“Start talking,” Lucas said, his voice low and dangerous. He stepped forward, his shadow stretching across the floor like a living thing. “What is Marcus planning?”

Jarek swallowed hard, his throat bobbing. “I-I don’t know much,” he stammered, his voice trembling. “I’m just a foot soldier. Marcus doesn’t tell us everything.”

Elijah stopped pacing and leaned in close, his face inches from Jarek’s. The heat from his flames radiated off him, making the rebel flinch. “Don’t play dumb,” Elijah growled. “You were there when Marcus attacked us. You know something. And if you don’t start talking, you’re going to regret it.”

Jarek’s eyes widened, and he shook his head frantically. “I swear, I don’t know everything! But… but I know about the creature. Marcus created it. He’s been using it to cause chaos between your packs.”

Lucas’s jaw tightened, his silver eyes narrowing. “Why? What does he gain from turning us against each other?”

Jarek hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. “He… he wants to weaken you. Both of you. He said if your packs are too busy fighting each other, you won’t see him coming. He’s been planning this for years.”

Elijah’s fists clenched, flames flickering around his knuckles. “And the creature? What’s its purpose? Why send it after us?”

Jarek’s voice dropped to a whisper, as if afraid someone might overhear. “It’s not just one creature. There are more. Marcus has been experimenting, trying to create the perfect weapon. He wants to use them to overthrow you both and take control of the realm.”

Lucas and Elijah exchanged a glance, their expressions grim. This was worse than they had thought. Marcus wasn’t just trying to stir up trouble—he was building an army.

“What else?” Lucas demanded, his voice like steel. “What’s his endgame?”

Jarek hesitated again, his eyes darting nervously. “I… I overheard him talking once. He mentioned something about a prophecy. He said it was the key to everything. That if he could control it, he could control the realm.”

Elijah’s eyes widened, and he straightened up, his flames dimming slightly. “The prophecy? What does Marcus know about it?”

Jarek shook his head. “I don’t know. He didn’t say much. But he seemed… obsessed with it. Like it was the most important thing in the world.”

Lucas’s mind raced. The prophecy—the one Aria had warned them about. The one that spoke of two rival leaders whose union would either save or destroy the realm. If Marcus knew about it, if he was trying to manipulate it… the consequences could be catastrophic.

“Where is Marcus now?” Elijah asked, his voice sharp. “Where is he hiding?”

Jarek’s face paled even further, and he shook his head. “I don’t know. He moves around a lot. He doesn’t trust anyone. Not even us.”

Elijah’s flames flared up again, and he grabbed Jarek by the collar, lifting him slightly off the chair. “Think harder,” he snarled. “If you want to live, you’ll tell us something useful.”

Jarek’s eyes widened in panic, and he stammered, “W-wait! There’s… there’s a place. An old ruin, deep in the forest. He’s used it before. It’s hidden, protected by magic. If he’s not there, he might have left clues. That’s all I know, I swear!”

Elijah released him, and Jarek slumped back into the chair, gasping for breath. Lucas stepped forward, his shadow looming over the rebel like a dark cloud. “If you’re lying to us,” he said, his voice cold and deadly, “you won’t live to regret it.”

Jarek shook his head frantically. “I’m not lying! I swear! Please, just… just let me go.”

Lucas and Elijah exchanged another glance, their expressions unreadable. Finally, Lucas nodded, and Elijah stepped back, his flames extinguishing. “We’ll see,” Elijah said, his voice low. “But if we find out you’ve lied to us, there won’t be anywhere in the realm you can hide.”

With that, they turned and left the chamber, leaving Jarek trembling in his chair. The door slammed shut behind them, and the room was plunged into darkness.

Outside, the night air was cool, the stars twinkling faintly above. Lucas and Elijah stood in silence for a moment, their minds racing with everything they had just learned.

“This is bad,” Elijah said finally, breaking the silence. “If Marcus is trying to control the prophecy, if he’s building an army of those creatures… we’re in serious trouble.”

Lucas nodded, his silver eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. “We need to find him. Before it’s too late.”

Elijah ran a hand through his copper hair, his expression troubled. “But where do we even start? That ruin Jarek mentioned could be anywhere. And even if we find it, there’s no guarantee Marcus will be there.”

Lucas’s jaw tightened, and he looked out into the forest, his shadow stretching out behind him. “We don’t have a choice. We have to try. If Marcus succeeds, the entire realm will pay the price.”

Elijah sighed, his amber eyes flickering with frustration. “I hate this. I hate not knowing what to do. I hate feeling like we’re always one step behind.”

Lucas glanced at him, his expression softening slightly. “We’ll figure it out. Together.”

Elijah met his gaze, and for a moment, the tension between them eased. They were rivals, yes, but they were also allies. And in that moment, they both knew they needed each other.

“Alright,” Elijah said, his voice firm. “Let’s start with the ruin. If Marcus has been there before, maybe we can find something—anything—that will lead us to him.”

Lucas nodded, his silver eyes gleaming with determination. “We leave at first light. We’ll take a small group—people we can trust. The fewer people who know about this, the better.”

Elijah agreed, and they began to make their plans. But as they talked, a sense of unease settled over them. They were walking into the unknown, and they both knew the risks. Marcus was dangerous, and he had the upper hand. But they had no choice. The fate of the realm depended on them.