Chapter 79 Ready?
ZORA
I've not seen Courtney and the kids, but Marissa assured me they are okay.
Ryker and Wesley are nowhere to be found, too.
"Are you ready?" Scarlett asked, appearing at my doorstep.
The sun had set fully now.
I nodded and gestured for her to lead the way.
She did.
Then, somehow, I was the one at the front, leading the way when I didn't even know where we were going to exactly.
"Can you try not to drag your feet" I mumbled, using my hands to pave way through the thick bush.
She laughed softly, “Funny, I thought you were getting to know each other and bonding, not you criticizing my walk”
I glared at her, "Do people bond by keeping silent?"
She huffed, "Thanks for offering to protect me."
I scoffed, "Like I had a choice."
“You do and yet,” she grinned “you’re still here protecting me. Thank you for that."
I rolled my eyes, "Where exactly are we going anyway?"
"You'll find out soon." She answered.
I frowned, I didn't like the way she sounded. Something is off.
Before I could turn to call her out on her tone, something hit me hard at the back of my head.
My ears rang.
I staggered on my feet, clinging on to every thread of sanity I could to stay on my feet.
It didn't work.
I fell to the floor with a thud, pain exploding in every part of my body.
The last thing I saw was Scarlett grinning down at me with a wicked gleam in her eyes.
Oh shit!!
I trusted blindly again. I should have known she was up to no good.
Then everything went dark.
I woke up with a splitting headache, my head throbbed in pain badly.
I tried touching my head with my hands when I noticed something weighing down on my wrists.
Chains??
What am I? An animal?
Oh, fvcking Scarlett, I swear, I'm going to kill her.
My wrists burned and sizzled due to the chains.
The smell of burning flesh filled the air.
I sat up, scanning my environment.
The air smelt damp aside from the smell of my burning flesh.
It was a room with barely enough cracks for the moonlight to flood in.
"Help!!" I screamed, "Is anyone there?"
"You sound pretty when you scream," the annoyingly familiar voice chuckled.
I whipped my head around to find Scarlett sitting few feet away from me, cross-legged, that grin on her face.
"Fucking stronza!!"
"I'm guessing that's another word for asshole? Why say it pretty when you can just say it directly?"
"Actually, it means bitch. Bitch!"
She grinned happily, "Glad to see your brain is working well and you're awake. I was beginning to think they hit you too hard."
"I'm not going to forgive you." I snarled at her, "Better hope to whatever you're serving that I don't get my hands on you."
She flicked her wrists dismissively, "Done that."
I glared at her furiously, disbelief in my voice, "I really can't believe you! You said you are sick!!"
"You were just as gullible as predicted. Little miss do good. Did you think I needed your little escort?."
"Is this about Ryker. I'll leave him soon. Just let me get my children."
She laughed, "I don't give a flying fuck about Ryker."
"No, actually, I do." She continued, "I mean it's wh you're here. I have no use for you, I just need him to play hero."
My thoughts went frantic.
If Ryker saw me like this, the bond would definitely be triggered and there's no saving him then.
"Scarl—" I started.
"Zip it," she cut me off, "I have no use of you doesn't mean my partner isn't interested in you. Don't celebrate too fast."
Partner??
What would they possibly want with me?
"So all these because you wanted Ryker?"
She smiled smugly, "You wouldn't understand."
"Let me go," I snapped, pulling at the chains.
Scarlett laughed, skipping on her feet..
Was she really getting high from my pain?
I was enraged.
I snarled, tugging hard against the chains. I didn’t have my wolf, so I can't break through."
Out of instinct, I reached for my powers, the energy..
Nothing.
There was nothing.
Nothing happened..
My silver threads didn't appear.
My heart dropped. Without my powers, how do I get out of here.
I tried again, taking in a deep breath.
Nothing happened. It felt as though someone had reached inside me and flipped a switch.
“No,” I whispered, panic seeping through my bones.
Stay calm.
I should stay calm
But I tried again, nothing.
A scream left my lips.
Scarlett came closer, crouching at my level, watching me with a sick delight. “Scream louder, Zora. Maybe the trees will come save you or maybe your knight in shining armor will burst through the door."
“What did you do?” My voice was raw with pain, "What did you bastards do to me?"
How am I going to save Ryker if my powers are gone?? All the weeks on practice and sleepless night gone down the drain?
No, I refuse to believe that.
“Oh, that's not me.” She tapped one perfectly manicured fingernail on the chains around my wrists, “Those are imbued with suppressants. You can't use your powers here. Your powers are useless, just like your wolf."
I tugged at the chains angrily, "I swear, you'll regret this."
She shrugged, "Maybe, but right now, I'm enjoying every bit of this. Watching you scream is so beautiful."
"Why are you doing this? Ryker is sick and not in the state of-"
"Revenge," she snapped, "And I'm getting it today."
She looked around, "Do you think painting this room with his blood would look nice or would the white matter in his brain suit it better?"
"You're sick." I spat out.
She winked, "Took you long enough to find out."
And she left.
The door opened a few minutes later.
"Did you forget your pride, or are you here to humiliate me further?"
"Hello Zora." A new voice said.
A person in overall black, wearing voice changing mask entered.
I narrowed my eyes, "Who are you?"
He or maybe she tilted his head, "Shouldn't you be concerned as to why we've taken interest in you?"
"Why?" I asked simply.
He shrugged.
I'm settling on a 'he'.
"To console your wounded ego?" I taunted.
Before he could reply, someone else entered.
She didn't bother with a face mask.
She barely spared me a glance as she walked over to the 'he'
"Brother, why are you here? Shouldn't you wait till it's time?"
A-ha! I was right. It's a he?
I groaned inwardly. Should I be bothered about these things right now?
"I need to talk to her. Why are you here?" He countered.
"Mother asked me to check up on you." She replied, leveling me with a glare.
Oh, so this is a family thing? But I don't remember hurting anyone, especially a family.
"Leave." He ordered.
The girl looked flustered, "B... but."
She had to be within the age range of eighteen to twenty.
"Go." The 'he' said more firmly.
"What are you looking at?" She snapped at me and stomped out.
"Now, where were we?" He said to me, flexing his fing —claws.
"Ah... yes. You were right. It definitely had something to do with a wounded ego, but mostly no hard feelings. I just targeted the direct descendant of the moon goddess who also happens to be a sylunthys."
My heart ran cold. The only people who knew about my identity are...... Marissa.
Just Marissa.
Grace definitely can't visit anyone in her form because of her unfinished business here. So we are bonded of sorts which leaves only Marissa.
Oh goddess!!!
I gasped out, tears clouding my vision. It felt like my heart was being ripped out into shreds forcefully.
Is this what betrayal feels like.
Never in a million years would I have thought......
I trusted her with my life!!!
"I knew who you were before you finally placed a name on it." The 'he' continued.
How long has she been working with him?
Does Wesley know about it?
"Truth be told, it's why I approached you in the beginning."
Me and this person have somehow crossed paths?
Was it from that party?
"As a wolf from a prestige family, I can recognize powerful beings, besides we got a message about you that has been passed through generations in my family. The one whose blood and flesh would make us the most powerful in the world and resurrect three generations back,"
I gaped at him, I can do that?
Neither Semya nor the grimoire said anything about this message.
"My families have sacrificed themselves, gladly giving up their lives, hoping for this day to come. We'd be able to govern every supernatural to exist! Who knew all it would take is an insecure female?"
I glowered at him, loss for words.