Chapter 87 WAS SCREWED
Chapter 87 WAS SCREWED
Kali's POV
I didn't sleep a wink last night, and even though I was kind of expecting it, it didn't make it any better at all. How could I have slept, when his words from yesterday echoed loudly in my ears, like he'd somehow gone behind me to pay a group of witches, just so they could keep on chanting the words over and over in my head.
I heard it even in my sleep, and in my dream, I could swear I saw Diego taunting me, with the word Test etched painfully into his chest and literally everywhere around him. It was a nightmare obviously, and after it, I found it extremely hard to fall back asleep. Now, the sun had risen fully, and I had no idea what the day would bring.
No, more accurately, I had no idea what Diego's idea of a test was going to be.
The mere thought sent shivers racing down my spine, and no matter how hard I tried to convince myself that everything was going to be okay, not every part of me believed it. In fact, at this point, I could say no part of me was being optimistic.
“You can do this, Kali.” I muttered to myself after I'd freshened up. “I know you can.”
The words had barely slid past my lips before a sharp knock came at my door. I winced, not because I was startled, but because I already had an idea who was on the other side.
“Get dressed.” Diego’s voice was the first thing I heard when the door swung open. “You’ve got a job.”
It wasn’t a request, and we both knew it.
I was on my feet before I could ask what kind of job, he had for me. He didn't say shit after his very razz introduction, and the look in his eyes told me this was another test, the same one he'd told me about yesterday. It scared me to my bones, and like that wasn't already bad enough, I had to remember that the clock was still ticking on my two days.
“What's the job about?” I asked as I followed him out of the room. He didn't answer, but I watched his hands fist by his sides. “You can at least tell me, right?”
No, no he couldn't.
Diego didn’t bother to explain until we were halfway across camp, his long strides forcing me to keep up.
“Five new faces came in last night,” he said. The sun was high up in the sky for the early hours of the morning, and if Diego's test really required me to do anything in this camp, I could only wonder how I was going to manage. “They could be useful, or they could be trouble, and you're going to find out which.”
“By talking to them?” I asked. “How's that going to help?”
“By getting the truth out of them. That's your job for today, and your second test.” he huffed.“Without letting them know you’re working for me.”
“What?” I frowned. “And if they’re lying? How will I know if they're telling the truth?”
“You’ll know.” His tone was sharp and final. “Or you’ll regret not knowing.”
His words sent shivers down my spine, but apparently, I barely had any time to gauge my own body’s reaction. When we reached the far edge of camp, the newcomers were there, three men, two women, all huddled near a fire, their clothes dusty from travel. I swallowed as I took them all in, and if the way my stomach churned meant anything, it was the fact that I was going to need a lot of luck if I was going to pass this test. Half of them already looked like they were ready to stab me if I greeted them wrong, so how the hell was I supposed to get the truth out of them?
“Go on.” I felt Diego’s hand brush my arm, just a faint touch before he stepped back. “I’ll be watching.”
Great. No pressure.
I inhaled and exhaled, before making my way towards them. I walked over slowly, letting them notice me before I spoke.
“You’re the ones who came in last night?” my voice came out smaller than I expected and with their eyes trained on me, I had no idea when I let out a small. “Hi.”
“That’s us.” A tall man with a scar over his left brow nodded. “You?”
“I’m Kali,” I said simply. “I haven’t seen you around here before. Where are you all from?”
“East,” one of the women said quickly, too quickly if you asked me. Her eyes darted to the scarred man almost instantly, and if I didn't know better, I would have said she was told to say what she just did. “We're from the east.”
“The East covers a lot of ground.” I tilted my head. “Which settlement?”
“Does it matter?” the man asked, smiling like he thought he was clever. I hated that his smile had a crooked edge to it, but I let him continue. “We just answered your question.”
“It does,” I said, matching his smile. “Especially if you’re planning to stay here.”
I saw the strange looks that settled on their faces, and that's when I saw him, the smallest of the group. A wiry man sat wearily at the edge of the fire, staring at me like he’d seen a ghost, but that wasn't what got to me. It was the recognition that flashed dangerously in his eyes that had my breath hitching.
“You,” he muttered under his breath. “Didn’t think I’d ever see you here.”
The others looked at him, then at me. My pulse quickened, but I kept my face calm, while muttering a prayer to the goddess that all of this wouldn't blow up in my face. Just when I thought I was getting somewhere, why did this have to come up?
“You’ve mistaken me for someone else,” I said evenly. “I don't think I'm the person you think I am.”
“No,” he said, louder now. “I remember that face. The last time I saw you…..”
He barely had any time to finish the rest of his words, before I stepped closer, cutting him off with a low voice only he could hear.
“You finish that sentence,” I drawled, making sure my voice dripped with every hint of seriousness I could find. “...and I’ll make sure you regret opening your mouth.”
I didn't bother to hide my smile when I saw his smirk falter. If the moon goddess thought she was going to ruin my chances of getting Katya her revenge by bringing someone from my former pack to spite me, then she was definitely mistaken.
It'd taken everything in me to put Luca's betrayal aside, but the last thing I was going to tolerate, was someone coming to ruin my plan for revenge. Whether it was from a corner pack member or not.
The others were watching me now, waiting to see how I’d handle it. Call me crazy or whatever, but I couldn't shake off the fact that Diego was still watching me from behind, probably waiting for me to fail.
Instead of granting him his heart's desire, I leaned back and changed my tone, into something more casual this time.
“So, east,” I said, steering the conversation back. “Any trouble on the road?”
They started talking then, too much, too fast, and that’s how I caught it. There was a little slip in their stories, and the scarred man mentioned passing through a river town that I knew had been abandoned for months.
“Thank you so much for your cooperation.” I said with a smile the minute they were all done. “I'll be back soon.”
By the time I walked back to Diego, I had my answer.
“They’re lying,” I said. “They're telling lies.”
“Really?” He studied my face,an unreadable gaze in his eyes. “And?”
“One of them knows me,” I admitted. “But I don't think he will say anything for now.”
I had no idea what I was thinking when he said that, but believe me when I said I didn't see his reaction coming.
“He knows you.” He let out slowly, like he was trying to confirm a statement, and probably himself that he had really heard right. “If what you say is true, then why did you feel the need to add that he wasn't going to say anything soon? Is there something he knows that shouldn't be general knowledge?”
My throat went dry immediately, and my heart slammed wildly against my ribcage. In my attempt to pass Diego's test, I'd accidentally slipped.
Diego didn't need to know that Luca had banished me from the pack for killing Katya. The reason the other wolves believed Luca was simply because he was the alpha, and if Diego were to find out about it, I had no idea how he was going to react.
“So, Kali.” His low voice pulled me back to the present. “What does our little guest know that I don't? What the hell do you want him so quiet about?”
Oh no. I was screwed.