37 - Face off with Mona Billani

THALIA ZAHARA.

When I found Mona Billani, she was in the innermost part of the palace which I didn’t know existed. The garden she was seated in looked like a well-kept secret, with flowers of different species and colors sprawled all over the grounds. But the woman ruined the beautiful space by puffing smoke from her cigarette into the air.

I stormed to where she was, dragged the cigar out of her hand, stomped on it and made sure I did all that with my eyes fixed on her.

“Lady,” she eyed me, “is there something wrong with you?”

Without holding back, I pressed her shoulder and pushed her against the back support of the outdoor bench.

As I leaned closer with threats blazing from my eyes, I asked, “What is the deal with that child?”

“What sort of question is that?” She pushed me back so that she could get up and level with my stance. “Are you high on my cigar already?”

“Where is the child from? What is his name? Why is he messing with my mind so much?” My arms crossed and the moment intensified. “Did you put him up to it? Did you ask him to sneak into my room and chant my name like a freaking weirdo?”

“Miss Thalia,” her eyes carried fake concern, “I think the weirdo here is you.”

“You-”

“Do you hear yourself? You are making an innocent boy sound guiltier than Bob the killer.” Bob the killer was a notorious murderer in The Night Stream Pack. I guess Octavius has taken over from him. “Thalia,” she dropped the mock respect she gave my name earlier, “you look like shit right now, so I’m guessing that you just woke up from a bad dream. There is a clear difference between the dream world and reality. Or do you not know?”

“I wasn’t dreaming. The boy-”

She held my arm and my insides churned with anger.

“Miss Thalia,” I so much hate how she’s acting concerned, “I heard that you were rejected at your mating ceremony. Poor you. It must be hard for you to move on. You are lucky you have Ezra by your side, or else…” Her hand started to rub my arm. “… you would be a bigger mess than this. I know it is hard, but please take care of yourself better before you go around accusing a child of doing God knows what.”

“Mona Billani,” my hand gripped hers and with a force, I yanked her touch away, “the next time you touch me, I will make sure you lose more than a few hairs on your head.”

She laughed. “What can a wolfless brat like you do? You are weak as shit.” Her amused lips morphed into a devious smile. “And, you are right there is something special about the child.”

I want to punch her. I really want to.

But I was more concerned with finding answers than soothing the wounds her softly spoken words were inflicting.

“Mona,” I smiled to hide any traces of sadness, “I need you to tell me what that child is. He is not normal.”

Her laughter this time was louder. It echoed in the space. “Thalia, that’s for you to find out. That child is my gift to you. You got married to Ezra, so enjoy the newlywed gift I brought for you.” She stepped closer, and the joy in her eyes made me consider plucking out her eyes. “Make sure you don’t lose your mind because no one is going to believe a word you say about that child.”

“Ah,” a gust of air left my lips and I craned my neck to the side, “how shitty.”

“Yes. Your life is indeed very shitty.”

My anger surprisingly died down. I bit into my lip, let out a calming breath and said, “You are going to regret whatever you are doing.”

“How? Will you stab me to death? Will you use your ‘hidden powers’ to slowly take my breath? Will you poison me?” Each question taunted me. “Thalia, you can’t do anything. Even with Ezra and my stupid brother backing you, you are nothing. And I will make you realize that very soon.”

“You must be pretty jobless to be doing this. Well, if this is all you can do with that brain of yours, no one would want to employ you. Or even be your family.” I smiled. “At least, despite my ‘nothingness’, I still have people who look out for me. You? You are just a pathetic loner who can’t handle the fact that the man she lusts after doesn’t want anything to do with her.”

“Shut up,” she growled in a way that flashed her wolfish nature. “What do you know?”

“I can’t listen to your nonsense anymore.” My legs started to move. “But remember, I will make you regret whatever it is you are doing to get back at me.”

“Didn’t you try to kill yourself?”

Her question made my heart thud and I could no longer move. “What?”

“Don’t bother to pretend. I know all about it.”

My head spinned and I could have felt dizzy if I was still weak from my injuries.

“How? How do you know?”

She grinned. “I plan to make sure that you complete the job this time.” She stepped closer and placed her forehead against mine. I could not escape her eyes, so I saw how much evilness was embedded in them. She reminded me of Octavius’s nature. If he wasn’t already shagging Paterica, Mona would be a better fit for him. Mona’s breath fanned my upper lip and with her wicked grin still intact, she whispered, “I need you to take your life. Can you do that for me?”

I blinked in response.

“You can’t, right?” she asked. “That’s why I want to help you. I will make it easier for you, Thalia.” She laughed. “Just take my gift as graciously as possible and die.”

“Die?” You’d think I was already under her spell.

“Die. Exactly. Di-“

I slammed her head against the arm of the bench and it pained me that my push wasn’t strong enough to make her bleed.

I pinned her head further into the wooden surface.

“You fucking-”

The grip I had on her hair tightened ( while she was talking about wanting me to die, I crawled my fingers into her hair), I leaned closer and said, “I don’t plan to die anything soon because I have a lot of plans that are yet to be fulfilled. So, Mona, do as you wish, we shall see if you’ll win at the end.”

“Just fucking die already!”

“Says the fool that can’t fight back the wolfless lady.” I let go of her and kicked her to the ground. A smile spread on my lips. “Very soon, I will look down on you just as I am doing right now. When that day comes, you will either be taking your last breath or running out of this place for good.”

“You-“

“See you around.”

I walked out before she could find words or an object to stab my heart with. As I rapidly moved, I wondered how she found out about my suicide attempt. Could it be that Emmag told her?

If he did, what on earth was he thinking?

Stuff like that is enough to shake the kingdom with gossip. And if care is not taken, I might become an object of ridicule wherever I go. The wolves of Omeshal already mock me enough for not having a wolf, once they know about the attempt they might suggest locking me away from civilization.

“Miss Thalia?”

I hadn’t realized that I wasn’t walking anymore until Alpha Ezra’s voice went into my ears.

“A-Alpha Ezra.” I stepped away before I could be pressed into his chest any further.

“You walked into me.”

“Sorry about that.”

“Is something bothering you?”

I expected that he would have walked past me. “Huh?”

“Is this what happened earlier this morning?” Is it just me, or does Alpha Ezra seem a little tamer? “That was my mistake.”

“What happened this morning, Alpha Ezra?”

“Uh… Are you testing me with that question?”

My lips formed a pout. “I am just curious about what you are talking about.”

“Oh.” He quickly frowned.

“Wait? You don’t remember it?”

“Alpha Ezra, I don’t. I have no

idea of what you are talking about.” Is he playing games with me as well? Am I

some kind of toy to the universe?

“Oh, alright.” His usual seriousness

returned. “How come you are here? Were you looking for something?”

“Alpha Ezra?” Even though he might think that I am speaking gibberish, I have to tell him about the child and Mona’s threats.

“Yeah?”

“The child Mona came with is weird.”

“He is?”

“You might not believe me, but-”

“Miss Thalia, don’t worry. I will take care of the issue.”

“But I haven’t said anything.”

“I will take care of it,” was all he said and I instantly regretted trying to tell him about the issue.