Chapter 71

MILA

We ate the food in silence, but once the food was done. Luke got up and started to get everything ready.

Sapphire came closer to the surface and watched him. "What do you think of him?" she asked.

I looked back at her, confused. "What do you mean?" I asked.

"I mean, can we trust him?" she asked, looking at me.

I looked to Luke, who was placing all the rubbish in a bag. I could sense Archer's eyes on me.

I looked back at Sapphire. "I think we can," I said. "I mean, Archer trusts him. He wouldn't have let us anywhere near him if he didn't."

Sapphire nodded.

I glanced around and looked at Archer, and his eyes were white. I knew he was talking to Drack or someone else.

After a few moments, he stared at me. "Are you ok little dove?" he asked.

I nodded without saying anything.

Archer searches my face, but movement from the side draws our attention. Luke was standing with the bags in his hands. "I think we should leave," he said. "We will change the direction and head to a motel to change your looks, and then we can move to another place."

I stared at him. "I think that will be a good idea," said Archer.

Luke nodded and turned to the door. He headed out of the room.

"Do you trust him, little dove?" asked Archer, making me look at him.

"Drack must have said something to him," whispers Sapphire in my head.

I sighed.

"I do," I said. "I do if you do, he's your friend."

Archer nodded.

"I trust him with my life; he saved me back in the day," he said.

Archer stared at me for a few moments, making me feel on edge. I could feel my power fill me, and it was starting to get intense.

"Shall we go?" I asked. I cleared my throat.

Archer nodded and moved up off the floor. I got up and stretched my arms and legs. We both headed to the door and walked out through the dark corridor. The smell of dampness hits my nose, which makes me scrunch up my nose.

We get outside, where the fresh air hits my nose. I couldn't help but close my eyes.

I opened them and glanced toward the car where Archer was leaning against the open boot. Luke was putting the stuff into the boot. I could hear whispers, but what was said was hard to hear.

I walked toward them, and both men stopped when I got closer. They both turned to look at me. Luke smiled. "Let's go," he said. "Before someone spots you."

I nodded, climbed into the back of the car, and shut the door.

Archer and Luke climbed into the car, and Luke started the engine and headed in a completely different direction.

I stared out of the window as we passed trees.

I wonder if there are wolves close by, I wondered.

Sapphire was resting in my head. Her head was on her front paws, but her eyes were wide open.

The car journey was quiet, but we arrived at a motel after fifteen minutes. I stared at the place, which I must admit looks like it has seen better days.

Luke parks the car and gets out. He walked over to the office and went in.

I opened the door and climbed out. I closed the door behind me and leaned on the car.

Archer climbed out and looked around.

After a few moments, Luke came over and smiled. "We are in the room opposite," he said, pointing toward a door opposite the car.

Luke goes to the car boot and gets everything out.

I couldn't help but look around, but something didn't feel right.

I moved off the car and walked over to the door, as Archer and Luke were waiting for me.

I got to the door but couldn't help but look over my shoulder. Someone was there, but I couldn't tell who it was, but they were there. There was no scent, but they were there.

Sapphire comes closer and starts to growl.

"We can't be here too long," she said as she stared through my eyes.

I turned and walked into the room as Archer held the door open from me. As I walked past him, Archer looked over my shoulder.

"We can't stay too long," he muttered.

I looked around the room; it was run down with tattered wallpaper on the walls. The smells that came from this room were something that should not be invited. Someone either took a dump somewhere or had sex in the toilet.

I scrunched my nose up and felt my stomach turn.

"I know it's not much, but we need to get you both changed," says Luke as he looks at me.

I didn't say anything.

Luke cleared his throat and went into the bag. He started to pull out a box and threw other items onto the bed. I walked over and picked up the box.

I couldn't help but frown.

"What's this?" I asked, holding up the box.

Luke smirked. "I thought it would suit you," he said.

I glanced back at the box.

Luke had bought hair dye, which was bright red.

I looked back up, and Luke was heading into the bathroom. I glanced toward Archer, who was smiling. "I think it will suit you," he said as he glanced toward the box.

I looked toward Sapphire, who had a face look on her face. "At least no one will recognize you," she said.

I groaned.

"Come on Mila," Luke shouted.

I walked toward the bathroom.

This is going to be hell; I thought as I closed the door behind me.

I walked over and sat on the toilet as Luke pulled everything out of the box.

"How long is this going to take?" I asked. Luke looked over at me and smiled. "It won't be long with you, but Archer is another thing."

I couldn't help the weird look on my face, making Luke chuckle.

"Archer has never…." he starts to say but stops to ponder over something. But he looked at me. "Archer is set in his own ways, and change is not good for him, or that's what he thinks."

I nodded.

Sapphire stays quiet, but I can sense something within her.

"Let's get started," said Luke.

Luke starts to place all the contents into a plastic bottle and shakes it. Luke walks over to me and puts the dye in my hair. I watched in the mirror. The hair starts to take shade, which makes my eyes go wide. Luke looks at me and smiles. "It will turn out all right once it is all in," he said.

"How do you know?" I asked. "How do you know how to put hair color on?"

Luke stops and stares at me for a moment and sighs. "I'm a qualified hairdresser," he said. "I love making people look amazing and feel great."

My eyes widen. I never thought Luke was a hairdresser; he doesn't seem the type with his muscly arms and tattoos.

Luke laughs. "Never judge a book by its cover," he says. "I might not look like your stereotype hairdresser, and I like to make people feel good about themselves and even get to know loads of interesting people along the way."

I nodded.

Sapphire started to hum in my head.

Luke carries on with my hair; after fifteen minutes, all the hair dye is on. My head looks like someone has poured a load of ketchup into my hair. Luke placed a towel around my shoulders and looked at me, "you can wait in the room," he said. "We have to wash it off in twenty-five minutes."

I nodded. I got up from the toilet and headed into the room, where Archer was lying on one of the beds. Archer looked up and smiled. "You look funny," he said.

I frown. "Thanks," I said. "I guess."

Archer stares at me but sighs. "I never meant it in a bad way, little dove," he said as he got up from the bed and walked over to me. He placed his hands on my shoulders and gently squeezed, reassuring me.

I smiled.

"Now it's your turn, old man," says Luke from behind me. I looked over my shoulder, and Luke had a stupid grin on his face.

I wonder what he has planned for Archer.

Archer groans. "I really don't want to…" he said, but I looked back at him.

Archer stops talking and looks at me.

"Archer, a change is a good thing," I said. "You never know; it might make you feel better."

Archer stares at me for a few moments and smiles.

"Ok, I will give it a try," he said. "I hope he doesn't make me look like a clown."

I couldn't help but the slight laugh that slipped through my lips.

Archer walks toward the bathroom, and Luke steps aside for Archer to walk in.

The door closes, and I can't help but sigh.

I glanced around the room, but my eyes drew to the window. The curtains were drawn, making the room a little darker than it should be.

Sapphire was up on all fours, staring through my eyes as I kept them on the curtains.

"Someone is out there," she says, with a snarl slipping through her mouth.

I gulped.

Sapphire looked at me and cocks her head to the side. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"I don't know," I said as my eyes stayed on the curtains. "I don't know if I can do this."

The anxiety takes over, and I know it's the magic that I have inside me.

I'm a ticking time bomb, ready to explode.

The thought of people after me scares me, but it also makes me angry deep within. It fuels everything that I have inside, which is not helping.

Sapphire stares at me. "You got this Mila," she said. "We will do this together."

I nodded.

I knew she was right, but something tells me this will get worse before it gets better.