Chapter 39 Spite
ZORA
Ever since we came back from the luncheon yesterday, I locked myself up in my room.
Better to stay away than keep making a mess out of myself in front of him.
As if my body knew it was time, I opened my eyes in the early hours of the evening to greet the stream of moonlight, breaking in through the window.
Like I told Marrisa earlier this morning, I'm going for a walk. A breath of fresh air to calm the turmoil in my head.
Suddenly, a figure stepped in front of it, blocking the light and plunging me into near darkness.
But I could tell who it was from the silhouette.
Marissa
I released a sigh. “There's no stopping me, Marissa.”
“You are going to get into trouble with the Alpha.” Her tiny voice whispered fiercely as she shifted into a wider stance and spread her arm as if to block me from passing through.
I nearly choked up as I got up from the bed, stretched, and approached the window. Marissa shuffled backward as I got closer to her until her back bumped the ledge softly.
“Zora…”
I have to go out tonight. It's my coping mechanism. Wind in my hair, moonlight in my face…”
I could hear her pensive breathing as she considered leaving the window or not.
“Come on. I'll be back before the break of dawn. No one would know, not even Alpha Ryker. Then you won't get into trouble.” I touched her shoulder imploringly.
“ Please, Marissa, if not, I'll go crazy here.” I added.
"And you are not ready to tell me what's wrong?"
"No." I answered quietly
She angled a face towards me, staring long and hard before stepping to the side with the long side.
“Okay but I'm not coming with you.” Marissa folded her hands and looked to the wall away from me.
I smiled and silently pushed the window open. I had found a way to climb down without making a single noise.
I also realized that most of the guards in this area were quite nonchalant. They didn't think a weakling like me would dare to sneak out through the window, especially with Ryker breathing down my neck every minute.
I didn't think I'd be back to this so soon, but the window meant avoiding him, so the window it is.
But, honestly, I was in dire need of fresh air and some illusion of freedom. Landing on the soles of my feet softly, I looked both ways.
The area was deserted, but still, I needed to be careful. I wasn't going anywhere out of Ryker's tall walls.
Totally not.
Where I was headed was the vast expanse of the wood that stretched behind my window. I used to be disturbed by the eerie midnight sounds, but now I ran to them for relief. As soon as my foot touched the soil, I got ready to sprint out of excitement until I heard a sharp whisper.
“Wait!”
My head snapped backward.
What the hell!
Marissa!
I swallowed my words until we walked far enough to be hidden by the thickness of the woods. I swerved around without warning, and she bumped into me.
“You said you weren't coming.”
“I thought about it. Who's gonna keep an eye out when you want to do something ridiculous?"
“Stupid?”
“I didn't say that.”
“But that's what you mean.”
“We aren't meant to be back here, Zora. For all we know, one of the Alpha's men could be out here doing whatever. They might also mistake that you are attempting to run away again and voila, both of our heads on a pike."
“Nobody is here, Marissa. That's just your fear talking.”
“And how would you know? How are you so sure?”
“Can you catch a scent?”
Marissa blinked severally and looked away, turning shy. She wouldn't lie to me. And if she caught a scent, that would have been the first thing she would have said as soon as she had caught up with me.
“Great! When you catch a scent, let me know.” I continued walking.
“Ugh! She groaned lowly. “What if Alpha Ryker finds out?”
“Who's gonna tell him?”
Dead silence answered my question, and the cool breeze teased us gently, caressing our skin
From the corner of my eyes, I watched her shoulders relax. But it was brief. It seemed the tension transferred from her shoulders to her lips. It wouldn't stop talking and asking questions I didn't wanna answer.
“But where are you headed?”
“There's nothing out here.”
“Wait! Are you really trying escape again? Oh my god, Zora!” She gasped, paused, then resumed.
“Why aren't you saying anything?”
“Are you meeting someone? Alpha Ryker will skim the both of us alive before snapping our necks ugly.”
Damn it! I cursed internally and called out her name sharply.
“Marissa!” I gritted my teeth, running out of patience.
She blinked at me, reddened, then frowned at me. “I'm loyal to the Alpha.”
“I'm just looking for a nice spot to dip myself in and stare at the sky.”
“You're going exploring?”
“You could call it that.”
“What?” She sounded like she couldn't believe what she had just heard. “You're escaping the palace for that?”
I glared at the path in front of me, disliking her tone. “Yes. To me, it's worth it.”
“It's not worth my head.” She mumbled.
“You can go back if you want to.” I hopped over a low branch.
“Still not gonna save my head. It is my duty to tend to you. Alpha Ryker assi-”
Can she just stop for one second? Please, I came out here to momentarily escape my pathetic life!Allow me to enjoy it! I yelled in my head.
Marissa uttered nothing.
Her words were swallowed when the dense thick forest suddenly thinned out instantly. We hadn't realized we were approaching a clearing until the wind rushed into my face.
I breathed it all in. Here, the moon shone brighter, not concealed by the thick tall trees.
I slowed my pacing, enjoying the view. Something glistened to my left, as light bounced off it. I recognized the surface of a lake.
Finally!
I smiled, but I only took one step before I heard it. Some rustling sounds ahead. Everything in me went alert. Every single strand of my hair spiked up, and I listened with very fiber in my body.
Judging from Marissa's wide eyes nearly the size of saucers, I could tell she had heard the rustling. Perhaps, even more detailed than I did.
1...
2...
3....
4...
I counted till ten. Nothing. No sound. Just the wind doing its thing and the lake to my left calling to me.
Perhaps I had heard wrong. Or maybe it was just some wild cat doing its business.
I got to twenty, and I concluded it was a wild cat. I released a breathy, shaky laugh, nervous as heck, but proceeded towards the lake. Marissa didn't look too good. Her eyeballs seemed like it was about to pop out.
“It's just a coyote. There's nothing to worry about.” I said to her, adding a smile that didn't feel like one.
I directed my gaze back to the lake and allowed myself to picture dipping into it.
Bliss. I encouraged myself.
“You're a fool, Zora.”
I snapped my head towards the direction of the voice.
There was no one, but I was certain I heard it.
Soft, like it was at the top of my ear lobe, mocking and full of spite.
I turned to Marissa. “You heard that, right?”
She bobbed her head vehemently and swallowed loudly, shifting nearer to me. My wolf was god-knows-where, but Marissa reeked of fear, and I didn't need my canine abilities to sense it.
Or maybe she was just nervous.
Marissa didn't strike me as one to be easily scared.
“We sh-should head b-back.”
“What if what's out there follows us?” I whispered back. How does it know my name?
No, it isn't an it. It's a who.
And as much as my heart was beating a thousand per minute, I was curious enough to want to find out.
“I see you haven't changed. Not one bit.” The voice came from the other side and turned around sharply, nearly tripping on Marissa.
This time, the owner of the voice waited long enough for me to see.
It was my sister.
“Julie?”
She smirked, waved at me, turned around, and dashed into the woods.
And I followed.