Chapter 4 In The Midst Of Elders.
Chapter 4
Mila POV.
Cold water hit my face like ice.
Splash!
Not once. Not twice. Three times.
I gasped for breath. My lungs burned. Where was I? What happened to me?
Two big men stood in front of me. They wore the pack uniform - dark blue with silver buttons. First, I saw their heavy black boots. Then slowly, their faces became clear. My eyes were still blurry from sleeping so long.
"Get up," one of them said in a rough voice.
Strong hands pulled me up from the cold floor. My legs felt weak like jelly. They dragged me to a small bathroom. The water was freezing cold as they made me shower. They gave me new clothes - a simple gray dress that felt rough against my skin.
Then something dark covered my head. It smelled old and dusty. A sack maybe? My hands were chained together, a kind of chain that gave permit spaces between them. The metal was cold and hurt my wrists. My legs were chained too. I could only take tiny steps.
Everything went dark. I couldn't see anything.
They dragged me down a long hallway. My feet barely touched the ground. The chains made noise with each step.
"Move faster," one guard said, pushing me forward.
My heart was beating so fast. Where were they taking me? What did I do wrong?
Finally, we stopped. I heard a big door open. The sound echoed like we were in a huge room.
"Remove that veil!" A deep but familiar voice which i couldn't comprehend, cut through
The sack was pulled off my head. Bright light hit my eyes like needles. I had not seen light for more than twenty-four hours.
"Ahh!" I covered my eyes with the back of my hand. My messy hair fell over my face.
I sat on the cold stone floor and looked around me. There they were. The elders. All seven of them. Their old faces looked at me with angry eyes. They sat in tall wooden chairs like kings.
Alpha Vexhood, the oldest one, had a long gray beard. He shook his head slowly. "Such shame," he whispered.
Lady Sarah, the only woman elder, looked at me like I was a bug. "Disgusting," she said under her breath.
"Look here, woman!"
I turned. It was him. My mate. Jax. My heart stopped.
He sat on his golden throne like a king. His dark hair was messy. His green eyes looked at me with so much hate. This was the same man who used to hold me gently. Who used to whisper sweet words in my ear.
With the last bit of energy in me, I tried to stand up and run to him. But my legs gave up. My bottom hit the floor hard.
"Sit your ass down, Mila!" Jax shouted. His voice was like thunder.
I flinched. He had never talked to me like that before.
"Why did you kill my mother!" His voice cracked like he was about to cry.
My heart broke into a million pieces. Kill his mother? I loved Luna Catherine like my own mother. She taught me how to braid my hair when Jax and I were tender and I used to visit them.
‘How will I do such a thing?’
"Remove the gag!" Alpha Vexhood commanded. His voice filled the big room. "Let her spit out the reason she killed our beloved Queen Mother!"
A guard came over and untied something from my mouth. I didn't even know it was there.
I opened my mouth to speak.
"Ehen... Ehen..."
Nothing came out. Not even a whisper.
Oh my God! What was wrong with my voice? Please don't deny me now. Especially when my life depends on you.
I tried again. It felt like my voice was stuck like a broken car that won't start.
I used all my energy to force out words. Any words. But I couldn't. It was like someone poured concrete down my throat.
With shaking hands, I touched my neck. Maybe something was blocking my throat. Maybe I could push it out.
"Are you dumb or what?" Elder Sarah asked with a mean laugh.
Then something suddenly occurred to me.
Holy fuck. I think I have messed again.
The water.
The very one I drank in the prison. How it tastes.
Fruity?
Even her body language when she offered it. Speaks a lot. It screams nothing but evil.
What about the jug and the cup? Too neat for a place like that.
I think… wait a minute? Whispers end?... Silencium-9.
I have been poisoned with Silencium-9? The poison that steals your voice forever.
I looked at the elders' wide eyes with pain. They stared back at me with hate. One elder even stuck out his tongue at me after Alpha Jax looked away.
I could picture the intense wickedness in their heart. You have pronounced death on someone and still shut her mouth from speaking?
Alpha Thomas, suddenly spoke. "I hate evil people. But you know what I hate more? Evil people who pretend to be good."
Heavy breathing filled the room. People were hissing and cursing at me from the shadows.
"Can't you speak, Mila!" Jax stood up from his throne. His footsteps were loud on the stone floor.
One. Two. Three steps as he walked down to me.
"It's not a secret anymore! Your sister told us about your evil ways."
He pointed to Rosa, who had just walked in. She wore a beautiful white dress with gold trim. A crown sat on her head. She was Luna now. My place. My crown.
Rosa smiled at me. But it was not a nice smile. It was the smile of someone who won a game.
"How you gave my mother poison," Jax continued. His voice got louder with each word. "You made me think she was getting the best treatment. But she died slowly. She suffered because of you."
My eyes filled with tears. That wasn't true. I loved his mother.
"That wasn't enough for you," Jax's voice was shaking with anger. "You poisoned the water supply of our whole pack with the same poison."
No, no, no! I shook my head hard. None of this was true.
I tried to make signs with my hands. I pointed to my mouth, then made writing movements in the air. I needed a pen and paper. I had to tell them the truth.
Alpha David, waved his hand. "My Lord, you know Mila is very sneaky like a snake. Don't waste time on her tricks. Her judgment was passed yesterday. By now, Pack members are waiting at the border for her."
I put my hands together and begged. I crawled on the floor toward Jax. I pointed to my mouth again and made writing signs.
Please, I thought. Just let me write down what really happened.
"Get her a pen and paper now," Alpha Jax said to one of the guards.
The whole room became quiet. Everyone stopped moving. The air felt heavy. Something big was about to happen.
I could see it on everyone's faces. The elders looked nervous. Rosa's eyes got wide.
"My Lord," Elder Vexhood said quickly, "why waste time on silly things? The judgment was already proclaimed at the palace's ground yesterday. The people have spoken. Let's move on to important matters."
Two guards rushed out to get pen and paper.
Then suddenly, Rosa put up an Oscar performance . Her eyes rolled into her brain. Stuck her tongue out.
Convulsing.
She pretended to shake all over like her spirit was about to leave her.
She looked into my eyes as she was shaken.
"Oh no!" Elder Sarah cried out,
Alpha Jax and all the elders rushed to where she fell. Her body, still shaking vigorously.
I shook my head, ‘Waow! Rosa you can stoop this low?’
Only my mother and I knew the truth. This was all fake. Rosa had been doing this trick since she was five years old. She used to do it whenever she craved the attention of everyone, especially my late father.
I thought she had outgrown that.
Everyone left me alone on the floor.
The pen and paper were forgotten.
Rosa had won again.