38 - The creature

EZRA THIAGO.

Miss Thalia’s sigh reached my ears as I walked away and while I desired to return to her and converse with her some more, the statement she made about the child made me intensify my steps on the path ahead.

I had my suspicions about the boy and I think they are about to be confirmed.

“Alpha Ezra, where are you-?”

“Emmag, where is that child?” I intercepted what the Beta was about to say.

“The child?”

“Which room will I find him in?”

“The workers lodge ahead. He has a room there. Is there a problem?”

I shook my head. “I am hoping there isn’t one.”

“Did the child do something bad yesterday?”

“I will see you later, Emmag.” My feet itched to rush out of that scene. “Let’s meet in the throne room with the council members.”

“We are calling a meeting?” He was surprised. “Suddenly?”

I threw a thumbs-up and left him to deal with his thoughts.

Once I found myself nearing the workers’ lodge, I reduced my pace, assumed a more majestic posture just as I was taught by those who prepared a young me for kingship, and approached the main entrance that would lead me to the many rooms allocated to a great number of our workers.

“Morning, Alpha Ezra,” someone excitedly greeted.

“Morning. Can you lead me to the room of the boy that was brought here yesterday?”

“Oh, that fine child! Of course. Please come with me.”

As I followed the blurry figure, I wondered what the man was so excited about. My wolf pushed me to ask the man the question.

“Is there good news?”

“Huh?”

God, what is wrong with me? I suck at conversations too much.

I cleared my throat and rephrased my question. “Is there a reason you are so happy this morning?”

“Oh.” The man laughed. “There is no particular reason. I am just happy.”

Is that possible? To be happy for no particular reason?

“Oh,” I said with blandness in my voice. “That is good.”

“Is there something making you happy this morning, Alpha Ezra?”

I frowned at the question. “Do I look happy?”

“Well, not really. You never look happy when I see you, Alpha Ezra.” Speaking about my lack of a happy expression diminished the man’s excitement. “We are here.”

He stepped aside and I glanced at the door.

“Thank you…”

“Gaius. My name is Gaius.”

“Thank you, Gaius.”

Once the man walked away, I found the handle of the door and walked into the room.

“You have hidden yourself well this time,” I said once the door was securely closed. I could not make out a lot of details of the room but I was able to focus on the boy’s figure. “I am impressed.”

“You figured it out faster this time,” he replied. “I am equally impressed.”

My jaws tightened. “What are you doing here? We had a deal, didn’t we? You are meant to leave and leave for good.”

“Was I?” The creature mocked me. “I don’t remember things like that. I have too much on my plate already.”

“You are a Goblin, you have nothing on your plate but mischief and wickedness.” I stepped closer. “What are you doing here? Why are you bothering my Luna?”

The boy got up and I watched as his figure transformed into the true height of the creature. I’m certainly glad I don’t get to see the true face of the goblin.

“Your Luna?” The Goblin’s voice was as threatening as ever. “Your union is fake. You are not mates, so how is Luna?”

An unintended growl left me. “I asked you a question, answer it. Why the heck are you bothering her?”

“Because I want to.”

“Who gave you the job?”

“Why? Do you not believe me?”

My teeth gritted and I wished it was possible to punch the creature to his death. But I have unfortunately tried that in the past and it didn’t end well for me.

“Was it Mona Billani?” Ugh… the woman is not gutsy enough to directly deal with a Goblin. “Was it Lycan Octavius?” He didn’t respond. “It is him.”

“He is great to do business with. You can’t blame me for trying to survive in our harsh world. I have bills to pay, women to impress, things to-”

“Leave right now.”

“I am afraid I can’t do that. I can’t walk away from my work. The last time I did it, it ruined my reputation.”

“Goblin, the last time you did it, no one cared about your reputation because no one knew about your true identity. You are nothing but an unwanted creature that managed to escape the bowels of hell. And I am now ordering you to get out of this place before I find a creative way to turn your skin into fancy shoes.”

“Alpha Ezra,” the creature was unbothered about my growing fury, “you are still partially blind, aren’t you? Have you not yet told your people? You are still depriving them of the truth, aren’t you? Does your beloved Luna know about your disability?”

“Is there a point you are trying to make?” I sneered.

“I can shapeshift right now and walk out of that door to alert everyone about your blindness. How will you be able to handle their wrath when they learn that you have been lying to them?”

“You haven’t changed.” I chuckled while my brain briefly pulled out the memory of the first encounter I had with the Goblin.

It was about fifteen years ago that he slowly descended into my life. He started a relationship with me by helping me walk since I struggled with my sight a lot back then.

I would be ramming into chairs and staircases when he would hold my hand and guide me. Then, he intensified his presence by telling me his name. We advanced to having intense conversations, but little did I know that he made his presence obvious to only me.

So, whenever we conversed around people, others suspected that I was losing my mind and they started to question my capabilities as the next King. When I confronted him about the situation, things became terrible. He haunted my dreams using my greatest fears, he used his eerie voice to mess with my mind and at some point, I lost my mind and almost killed myself when I couldn’t take it anymore.

Getting the Goblin off my back was a hard task and now that he is back, it might be harder to get rid of him.

So, I have to make sure that Miss Thalia doesn’t experience a fraction of what I went through fifteen years ago. She’s having it hard enough, I can’t let the Goblin worsen the situation.

“What can I give you to make you go away?” I asked.

He hissed. “I am here on a mission, Alpha Ezra. Until your beloved Luna is dead, I can’t leave.”

“Octavius paid you to kill her?” The anger in my soul traveled to my fists.

“I am the best when it comes to murder. I will get rid of your Luna as finely as possible and walk out richer than I have ever been.”

“Do you think I will allow you to do that? I will do everything I can to make sure you do not lay a finger on her. I will make you perish.”

“Ooouuu. It’s kind of too late.”

“What?” My heart squeezed at the thought that the creature had done something terrible to Miss Thalia already. “What have you done?”

The Goblin moved closer, his mung bean scent annoying my nose. “I didn’t do much.”

“What. Did. You. Do?”

“Well, let’s just say that your precious Luna didn’t try to kill herself.”

Something in my soul weakened. “What are you…? You…”

“Yes. That was my doing. I perfected the scene as suicide and it would have worked if you and that big-headed Beta wolf had not intervened. Because of you, I had to come down here myself.” A sharp breath rustled my forehead. “Do you get it now? Until Luna Thalia is dead, I am going nowhere.”