Chapter 106 Ch. 76
“What?” Zara asked, bewildered. She watched as men gathered around Ethan, Jace, and Dylan, binding them up; and no matter how much they struggled and thrashed against their grip, it was to no avail.
She rushed forward after them—even though there was really no point—and was stopped by two burly men.
“Where are you taking them? What are you doing to them?” yelled Zara, stomping towards Lorenzo, whose eyes flickered to Noah.
Lorenzo ignored her and strode towards Noah, who had his hands shaking. The ends of his hair glimmered in the light from the lamps all around.
“Look at me,” Lorenzo said in a casual tone. “I should kill you, you know.”
Noah swallowed hard.
“Don’t you dare!”
Zara was ignored again.
“I will be sparing you because you are probably the reason those three are still alive.”
“Look, I… I mean no harm, I just… I just wanted to find Zara and—”
“Who told you all about us?”
“No one. I just… Google?”
Lorenzo’s eyes began to glow red. His pupils bore into Noah’s. “You will tell me who told you all about us. About our weaknesses.”
Noah’s pupils dilated, a dreamy look taking over him. “Prunella.”
“You will forget all about this. Zara is still kidnapped; you know nothing about what she is. You will go home and clear all your chats pertaining to this. Now, hand your bag over.”
Noah obliged him.
Zara watched as he was escorted by two men into a car. The engine revved and then the car zoomed off. She wanted to protest, but what was the point? The bloodthirsty Lorenzo had been gracious enough not to kill him, unlike Ivanna. Unlike her, before he knew what she was.
Noah was safe if he didn’t know anything.
“Are you hungry?” Lorenzo placed an arm around her shoulder firmly.
“No. Don’t touch me,” she spat, pushing him off. She was too weak compared to him.
He guided her towards the main entrance, the large double doors automatically opening at his presence, welcoming them into a large lobby that smelled like incense. Her eyes darted around the space; one long couch sat at the end, a vase beside it.
Lorenzo pushed the sliding doors leading to the main living room open. She stared in awe, jaw almost dropping. She knew Ethan was rich, but he didn’t act rich.
“Where’d you take him to?” she finally asked. “What are you going to do to him? Kill him?”
Lorenzo looked at her like she was crazy. “Why would I kill my son?”
She let out a breath of relief. “So what… you know if you harm him, I’ll feel it, right?”
“I have no intentions of causing him physical harm.”
“When am I going home?”
“Do you always ask this many questions?”
“When am I going home?”
“You’re not,” he said as they approached the winding staircase.
“I’m not staying here.”
“I never said I was giving you a choice,” he replied.
“I can’t stay here, I—”
“What happens when you go back home?” asked Lorenzo as they got to the landing and began walking down the hallway. A different man pushed the door to one of the rooms open. “You get kidnapped again? Two things may happen—they will kill you or they will do things to you that you’d wish for death. I’m sure you have enough experience where you were to know everyone will kill for your blood.”
“You’re no different than them,” she spat, her eyes blazing.
“Maybe I'm not. But I value my son's life; hence I value yours,” replied Lorenzo. He sat on the queen-sized bed and patted the space next to him.
Zara didn’t move an inch.
“Zara. You are not human, so you have to stop thinking like you’re one.” Lorenzo stood up and drew the curtains, allowing more breeze into the room. Zara glanced towards the window; the sky was clearing up as day was breaking already.
“Zara, you are special. You're likely the last of your kind to exist, and the power that has been dormant in you for years has begun to awaken. Join us… join our clan. We will be powerful together.”
“No.”
“The only other option you have is to be with another clan or get killed by the Veiled…” Lorenzo murmured. “You don’t want that, do you?”
Zara swallowed hard but didn’t reply. She blinked back the tears forming at the corners of her eyes.
“We are the only clan with your best interest at heart.”
“Only because of Ethan.”
“Yes. Luciano, who is the heir. Does that tell you enough?”
She looked away, unable to meet his gaze. “But you’re not going to die… you’re immortal.”
“Death can meet anyone.”
“I thought you guys lived for an eternity and never age.”
Lorenzo snorted and broke into a laugh. “Then why are my hairs graying?”
“I’m… confused.”
“We age, Zara. Every two hundred years… and when we get to our peak, we stop aging. Let’s say like 80 years in human years. But we are weak, and so we grant the elderly a death of mercy. Because who wants to live forever as a frail being? We are agile creatures. We thrive on adrenaline.”
“It’s still a long time for you then, isn’t it?”
“If I don’t get killed before that.”
“What makes you think you’ll be killed before then?”
“Our clan is powerful. We are all over the world, we are always targeted… and now my son is bonded to a catalyst. Word will spread eventually, Zara, and we will constantly be attacked.” He paused for a second. “Do it for Luciano. You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
Zara bit her lip.
“Join us. We’ll help you train your powers. And we’ll only get two pints of blood from you per month, which we won’t be needing anytime soon. We got enough from those bastards that took you.”
“Your only job, Zara, is to heal. And train,” he informed her. “Will you? Be a part of the Moreau Clan?”