330- Diamonds
POV Seraphine Valerian:
As I went down the staircase, irritation turned to anger. I was a prisoner in that place and didn't even know why! What made Viktor attack me and take me to his castle, why wouldn't he return me to Konrad? And the latter, what did he want with me?
My head spun. I doubted he had tried to hurt me. We were friends, he had talked to me for a year, took me for coffee, and hugged me when my father died. He even told me to leave there, as if he knew I was at risk.
Why did Viktor lie, accusing him? What if it wasn't a lie?
“Damn it!” Nervous, I knew I wouldn't reach any conclusion.
What I needed was to stay away, go back to Germany. That would end my lifelong dream of settling in Romania, being a gypsy, belonging to a family or clan. I never had that opportunity, and I wouldn't have it, with my father dead and putting everyone in the village at risk.
All because a cursed beast decided to get in my way and chase me!
“Good morning.” Daciana gave a big smile when I entered the kitchen. “But you look great! You've improved a lot, Seraphine. Do you feel well?”
I would feel well if I escaped from there. I gave a smile, knowing it wasn't her fault.
“Yes. Good morning.”
“Come sit and have your coffee. Adelina is going to take you to see the village.”
“Thank you.”
I looked at the younger woman, attacking a sandwich and nodding, with her mouth full. It was a great opportunity to go out with her, even though I was still irritated that she had locked me in the room the night before. What mattered was that I was intact.
“We'll go now in the morning. In the afternoon things are going to get complicated around here,” she said, after swallowing and taking a big gulp of juice.
“Why?”
“My father called a meeting with everyone. It seems things are going to get ugly!” She pouted. “I won't accept staying in a prison!”
“Don't talk nonsense! Enough of this litany, girl!” Daciana scolded, and she fell silent.
I observed, understanding that the other wanted to leave to meet other people, and Viktor was holding her there. The day before, she had even asked him to send me away, so that peace could return and they could have more freedom.
After we finished coffee and the guard opened the front doors for us, I concentrated fully on the village, ready to find some escape route or create a plan.
I looked around, the place beautiful and green, the impressive castle behind us. It was truly like diving into another world. Almost a dream.
“I'll show you the back first, where the mines are, then we'll go to the center.” She took a side street, still somewhat irritated, thoughtful.
“I didn't want to be here,” I defended myself.
“I know that. It's not your fault. My father is just too stubborn!”
“He doesn't let you leave the village?”
“Never.”
“And why not?”
“Long story. He thinks I'm in danger. But how am I going to find my destined one, be sure it's him, locked up like this?”
“What is a destined one? Like a soulmate?”
“Yes. You probably don't understand anything, right? Humans have children with several people, marry, divorce, all crazy! We don't. I can only have a child with the wolf destined for me. At least among the Tharnak. Each pack is different or believes in other things. How would I know? I was from the Budapest pack, but I was raised here. That's what matters.”
I didn't fully understand, but I let her talk. Meanwhile, my eyes scanned the surroundings. Parallel streets that headed toward the dense forest. Buildings further ahead, in front of what looked like a mountain peak. Where did those paths lead?
“Everyone believed my destined one was Alpha Lucian, and they brought me to meet him, but I was a baby. He didn't want me. Now I've grown up. I'm sure he'll change his mind.”
“Do you know him? Do you like him?”
“How, if my father won't let me? Would it cost him just to accompany me to see if it works out?”
“But you don't need to get pregnant by him to know?”
“Yes! And how can I get pregnant if I'm not in his company first, to feel if there's attraction, something that connects us? I can't even go to the Lust festival to find other suitors.”
“Lust festival?”
“It happens once a month, on a full moon night. It's in a neutral territory called Noctheria, where the Elders live. I've never seen them, but they say they are the most ancient and powerful beings in the world. Triplets or just one, divided into three. One is blind, another has no ears, and another has no mouth, but they communicate through telepathy and are like magicians.”
Things kept getting worse. I furrowed my brow, not trying to understand. It was too much craziness for my head.
As we approached a rock wall, I noticed some high holes in it, covered by an improvised wooden gate.
“What are those holes?”
“Old secret passages. But that mine is deactivated.”
“Secret passage? To where?” All my attention focused there. I noticed no one was watching over it.
“To outside Averwyn. But like I said, these don't lead anywhere.”
Of course she wouldn't tell me. My heart beat fast with the possibility of sneaking over there and escaping, or at least trying.
“Are you planning to run away, Seraphine?” I was startled by the question and stopped spying around. The clever she-wolf completed: “It's almost enviable. If you go, I'm going with you.”
I looked at her, and she smiled. She was testing me. If I showed my intentions, she would turn me in to Viktor.
“It's no secret that I want to leave, Adelina, but your father already told me it's impossible. And I don't know anything.”
“Yes, it's impossible for you, not for me. I've already thought about escaping. I just didn't have the courage.”
I didn't trust Adelina. So I kept quiet.
“We can only go this far.” She stopped before we reached a gate where two enormous guards stood at attention. A stone wall around it. “On the other side are the mines, and it's dangerous. You need authorization to enter; sometimes there are explosions to find diamonds. Beyond that is the cliff.”
“Diamonds?”
“We're sitting on top of infinite wealth. Come on, I'll show you the village.”
When we turned back, I looked discreetly at the passages. It would be easy to move the gate and enter. I needed to get candles or a flashlight from somewhere, wait for an opportunity when no one was watching me.
It might lead to nothing or be a disastrous place. Or maybe it wasn't used anymore but would take me far away, to a place where I could run and hide. I would only know by trying.