\[Elise’s POV\]
The first alpha of Emerald Moon. How was it possible that he was that man? Didn’t that one go crazy and kill his entire pack? But from the visions I had til this point and the clues that the members of his pack were actually the rogues were right there.
“How?” I hiss, trying to make sense of what this man was saying. “Why?”
“All will be revealed,” he promises me, clutching the bars of mine and Forrest’s cell. “But first, I should punish my men for treating you so poorly.”
Frowning, I eye Ezekial, trying to make sense of what he was saying and how he was acting. What was this about punishment? And for what? For putting a prisoner where a prisoner belonged?
“Do you have split personalities?” I ask, unable to keep my cool. “First you capture me and drag me back to wherever the hell this is and now you’re saying that your men treated me poorly by putting me in this cell.”
At my words a loud laugh escapes Ezekial, one that echoes around us, causing my insides to churn with how dark and dangerous it actually sounds.
“This is a place for prisoners.” He explains, sobering up. “You, my dear, are not a prisoner.”
“Okay, now I’m certain that you’ve got split personalities.”
How in the hell was I not a prisoner when I was brought here against my will? Was he also going to say that Forrest wasn’t a prisoner either? Was he just an innocent bystander who got brought into this or…
“What about him?” I ask, nodding toward Forrest. “Are you going to say that he isn’t a prisoner either.”
“No,” Ezekial chuckles. “He is a prisoner.”
“Then I’m a prisoner too.”
“What the hell are you playing at, pipsqueak?” Forrest demands, drawing my attention toward him. “Why are you trying to piss him off by being defiant?”
“Because none of this is making sense.” I snap.
It was already creepy as fuck that the original alpha of Emerald Moon was standing in front of me after what I read about him, but now he was even saying that I wasn’t a prisoner. In all honesty, I would rather be a fucking prisoner over a guest since I didn’t know what this man was capable of.
“Is it supposed to?” Forrest challenges, his lips twitching into a deeper frown. “We were taken by this creepy fucker and brought back wherever the hell this is. I think the best thing you could do is go along with him, don’t you?”
“Yeah, but…”
“Hello,” Ezekial calls, interrupting mine and Forrest’s argument. “I do believe you should listen to the gentleman.”
Gentleman. This creepy bastard was actually calling Forrest a gentleman and acting like he was hosting a get together.
“If you come with me I will properly explain everything.” He continues, pulling a key out of his pocket. “What do you say?”
Opening my mouth, I prepare to argue. To say fuck that. But I don’t as I realize that maybe this would give me an opportunity to try to escape.
“Alright,” I hiss through gritted teeth. “I’ll give you a chance.”
Smiling, Ezekial moves forward and frees the chains that are binding me and grabs them.
“Sorry,” he says as he turns and begins to lead me out of the cell by them. “But you can never be too careful.”
“Right,” I huff, realizing that the guy was full of absolute shit. “So much for being a guest.”
“Quit trying to pick fights, pipsqueak.” Forrest calls after me.
Rolling my eyes, I don’t bother saying anything. Instead, I allow Ezekial to lead me out of what I can only assume is the dungeon of wherever it is that he is hiding and up a set of stairs that lead to the bottom floor of the place, which, to my surprise, is decorated extravagantly with golden pillars, pristine white floors, and a large chandelier the hangs over the entrance of the place.
“Aren’t you fancy,” I mutter, continuing to take in the area around me until my gaze comes to rest on the roof which is painted with depictions of the goddess. “And holy.”
“That’s right,” Ezekial chuckles, beginning to lead me up a set of winding stairs. “As the blessed one this is the fruits of labor to get here.”
The fruits of his labors. Was he referring to all those people he killed or turned into rogues? It was fucking ridiculous. Did he steal all their money and belongings? Is that how he could afford such fancy things?
Either way, I knew that none of this was the fruits of his labors and was all due to him killing and destroying.
“This,” he announces when we reach the second floor, snapping me out of my head. “Will be your lodgings.”
As he speaks, he leads me to a large metal door with a keycode entry device. After putting in a code that I can’t quite see, he steps aside and waits for the door to groan open, revealing an intricately decorated bedroom with a vaulted ceiling, skylight, and barred floor to ceiling windows.
“Not a prisoner,” I huff taking it in. “Then what is all this?”
“Precaution so you don’t run away before you’ve joined me.” Ezekial responds, leading me inside so that I can see a large king side bed with blood red drapings around it, a chest of drawers, and a large closet with dresses of all colors hanging inside.
“Hopefully this is all to your liking.” He says as my eyes trial across the gaudy things. “I had my personal assistant set this up just for you.”
“Uh,” I say, hating everything about it. “I’m not quite sure where you got the idea that I was into girly things, but…”
“She was,” Ezekial says softly, his gaze taking on a far away look. “She loved such things and I would do whatever I could to make sure that she only had the finest.”
She. He had to be talking about whoever it was that I possessed when I had my visions. Was he using me to replace her? And if he was what did that mean for me?
“Uh, buddy,” I say slowly, trying to draw him back to reality. “I don’t quite know who you’re talking about, but…”
“Never you mind.” Ezekial beams, returning to his cordial self. “For now, you should focus on washing up and changing.”
“Why?”
“Because you will be joining me for dinner.”
“And why would I do that?” I demand.
Was this guy crazy?
“You want answers don’t you?” He asks, immediately snagging me. “I’ll give them to you after we’ve shared a meal.”