Chapter 78 What's happening
ZORA
The instant I walked through the doors coming back from training, I bumped into Ryker.
I wriggled my brows at him.
"Heyyy, your stalker isn't with you today."
"Meiga," he grunted out like it was painful for him to say.
I frowned.
He grabbed my wrist one second, and the next few seconds were a blur of trees.
How did he do that??
"Is something wrong?" I asked, taking in the veins popping out on his neck and face.
He looked like he was struggling doing anything.
His hand on my wrist went slack as he fell to his knees, still grunting.
"Heyyyyy..... what's happening? Talk to me. Do you need a doctor or Wesley?"
"I'm okay." He grunted out, "You've been training, doing lots of practice. Do you think you can break it now or soon?"
I blanked out.
I am still not sure. Even with Semya's occasional help, it's difficult and draining, but I really am doing my best.
I swear it, but I don't know if I can do it in time.
Semya came over today to tell me I would have to make a decision soon because I barely have time.
I shook my head and admitted, "I'm not sure. I really can't say. I don't know."
"Then you need to leave. Take your friend and the children. Go back to your life."
I narrowed my eyes, "My life?"
"Your life before me. You need to leave as soon as possible. I can fill my consciousness slipping away from me. The beast is taking control of me. It's only a matter of time before it takes over completely,"
"B... but... I can heal you. I'm not just going to run away and leave you. I'm not going to break my end of the deal!"
"Stop being so stubborn meiga, I'll never forgive myself if I hurt you and my children, the way I did to Grace."
"I'm here to protect us, I'm a witch, remember? Meiga? It's not going to be easy for you to hurt us,"
He let out a guttural scream and pushed me away.
The seven foot beast stood.
Glaring down at me with so much hate in its eyes.
I scooted back on my butt and scrambled to my feet, running away.
Ryker wasn't there anymore. It's just the beast.
Tears clouded my vision as I ran.
A hand suddenly grabbed me, holding me in place.
It was Wesley.
I cried into his shoulders and pointed at the beast.
"What am I going to do? I've not perfected any of the spells to break his curse. I'm still way behind. There is no time anymore. Is there? Ryker is going to disappear, just like that?"
I was rambling, I know, but I couldn't stop myself.
"Calm down, Zora. Ryker is fine, at least for now, but I can't say if he has time. We've been doing research and keeping up with the changes. All o can say is that after this episode, if Ryker turns to a beast, then there's no bringing him back." Wesley explained.
I sniffed, "What's the interval between each episode?"
Wesley shrugged, "I don't know. It depends on the bond. He has transformed up to eight times in the last three days."
Eight freaking time?!
The bond.
The fucking wildthread bond.
I thought it affected only me.
"Did that mean all these while he's always felt the bond?"
Wesley nodded, "But the bond affects the beast mostly, hence the frequent transformation unlike how it affects you."
A scream pierced through the air.
Ryker...
No, the beast held a man between its thumb and forefinger, a smile on its face as he brought the person closer to its mouth.
I threw a pocket knife I had on me out of instinct.
My aim was good, but the knife only bounced off its body.
"Err.... I should have told you that's not a good idea. The body is foolproof against every kind of weapon."
I gathered my silver threads and wrapped it around him, just enough to let the man go.
The beast thwarted at my threads lime it was cobwebs and swallowed the man, walking away from us.
I gasped in horror.
"Ryker already asked you to leave, didn't he?"
I nodded
"Then you have to go. If you don't, I'll have to do it the hard way."
"I want to try." I answered stubbornly, "So don't try anything!"
He pressed his lips grimly, "You should go. I'll take care of Ryker."
"I told you I'm no-"
"I meant go back inside." He patted my shoulders and disappeared.
Courtney was the first person I searched for when I entered, she was no where to be found, same with kids.
I figured they were together, so I called for Marissa instead.
She was at the training ground, with Grace.
"I need help. Can we talk to your grandmother, maybe she can help?"
"I've been trying to get to her, I've not been able too."
I ran a hand through my hair, "I need to save him. I need to fulfill my promise to his mother."
Marissa raised an eyebrow, aside from the promise and deal you made, is there any reason why you're so eager to save Ryker?
"Because I don't want to kill him," I whispered, "and if I don't save him and can't kill him, he'd kill everyone. Not even the witches can do anything. I guess he has always being my destiny."
"Don't you think you should leave as he suggested, find somewhere safe?"
"And then what? Hide all the days of my life? Hoping not to be found out by the beast? No, I can't do that."
"You were right. Ryker killed me and our unborn pup. It was a mistake. It wasn't even him to be fair, it was his beast." Grace piped in, "That already left a hole in his heart. He's not going to be okay if something similar happens to you."
"I'm not going to change my mind. I'm not going to kill him or run away either. If I'm leaving, I'm leaving on my terms, not breaking a promise. So you can either help me or leave everything to me. At the end of the day, it falls back to me anyway."
"Fine, I'm here for you." Marissa shrugged, "Tell me whatever you need me to do."
Suddenly we heard screams.
I glanced up, dread crawling up my spine.
Ryker, —the beast was on the palace grounds and it is tearing workers apart.
The beast turned, staring straight at me even though it was meters apart.
That same burning hatred was there.
Why, though? I had no idea.
"So what are we doing?" Marissa questioned.
I turned to her, "Now that's a very good question I have no answer to. Let's leave this to Wesley. He'll handle Ryker while I prepare before he turns again."
"When will be turn?" Grace asked
"I have no idea, neither does Wesley. Time and the whole universe are really against us." I murmured.
I blinked and the beast was gone.
"He barely stayed up to twenty minutes in that form." Grace cried out, "Things are really bad."
"Zora!!" A new voice joined us,
It was Scarlett, and she looked scared.
"I was going to go to the safety of the basement when I passed by and saw you. Why the heck are you outside? Aren't you scared?"
I frowned at her, where was this coming from. Since when does she care.
"Come on!" She urged, "If anything happens to you, Ryker will blame me."
I raised an eyebrow, "Aren't you supposed to want me dead?"
"Then who would I argue and fight with over Ryker?" She smirked.
"Let's go." She pressed, "Your maid can go some place else."
"My friend," I corrected, laying emphasis on the word friend, "goes everywhere with me!"
Talking about friends, I hope Courtney and the kids are okay. I still can't believe she likes it here.
"I also need to talk to you without the listening ears of your 'friend'
I scoffed,
"Or are you scared I'll lock you up in the dark?"
I narrowed my eyes at her, accepting her silent challenge, "Fine, let's go."
She grabbed my wrists and made us run to the basement.
Memories flooded my mind as to the last time I was here with Ryker.
"So, what do you want to talk about?" I questioned, folding my hands over my chest.
"Easy meiga, there's enough time to talk."
I gave a disgusted look.
She frowned, "what meiga?"
"Ewww, stop it. That sounds so off coming from you."
"But it doesn't from Ryker?"
I shrugged, "He's my mate. He gets the pass. You, however, a big no. I'd rather you call me witch."
"Is that what meiga means, witch?"
"And connard means asshole. So if you're okay with me calling you connard, then fine. Let's get on with it then."
She glared at me in anger, "Fine, witch."
I gave her a stern smile, "Thank you, Scarlett, that wasn't so had, was it? Now, what do you want to talk about?"
"As you already know, the council brought me here as a better choice for Ryker and as the Luna here,"
"So you've said."
"And I'm sick."
"What exactly are you after, Scarlett? Get to the point."
"I need your help. I need to cut a plant and I don't want to go alone."
"Then go with guards,"
"That's why I chose you. You are a witch, the plant is a powerful one. In the long run, I might even need your help with it."
I stared at her, feeling skeptical.
"I don't want to die, please, and I need to go this night"
Ryker should be my top priority.
Ryker is my top priority because he's like a ticking time bomb.
But Scarlett......
She looked honestly scared and afraid. I guess it wouldn't hurt.
And like she said, I am a witch.
I can take care of myself, of us, and if she pulls a dirty trick, it'd be her loss.
I won't even feel sorry for her lifeless body.
"Fine," I agreed, "I'll follow you."
She grinned.