Chapter 9: 09: Who is dead?

SORAYA

I flung myself on my bed after carefully adding the spellbook of curses to my growing stack of schoolbooks.

Did you hear?” Adele shot up on her bed, her eyes gleaming with gossip.

In my few days at Fenrir — and as Adele’s roommate — I’d learned one thing: she didn’t need a response to keep talking.  And as predicted, she continued.

"The prince was attacked again. By rogues in the school library."

"I was there," I said lazily.

"Right. You told me you were going to the library. Did you see them?"

I rolled my eyes. "I was there, Adele, of course, I saw them."

"And you are acting so carefree?"

"What am I supposed to do? Cry?"

"Don’t you think it’s strange? Two attacks in one day?"

I did. I wondered who else was after the Prince's life apart from me. I wondered if that would affect my mission here. I hoped not.

But that worry was mine alone, not Adele’s. So I said flatly, "Because I think it is weird does not mean I can do anything about it, Adele. Not everything is supposed to be a subject of gossip."

Adele blinked at my blatant scolding. "You think I gossip?"

"It is a fact, not a thought," I deadpanned.

Adele shook her head, a pained expression clouding her visage. I looked away, willing myself not to feel guilty for calling my roommate out plainly. I tried to assure myself that I was right. If I had not told Adele that, someone else would have. I told myself I was not overly manifesting the coldhearted hunter I had become. Yet I knew I was lying to myself.

A knock on the door sliced through the uneasy silence that had permeated the room. I never answered the door, but I did this time, rushing to open it like it would rid me of the awkward situation of the room.

I did not expect to see who was at the door. It was Ethan Farrow, and Daryl standing behind him with a scowl glaring on both their faces.

I winced at the blatant distaste their expressions carried. I remembered Adele telling me that the Fenrir hated the monarch, and I could not help the thought that crossed my mind. What if it was the Alpha's family that ordered the attack? But why would they?

"Is there a reason why you both are standing at my door looking like you want to kill me?" I questioned, my hands hugging my waist as I cocked my head to the side.

"You have to come with us," Ethan grunted.

"Why?"

"You could have just told her that the principal requested her presence, Farrow. We are not here to kidnap her," Daryl pointed out.

"You could have told her yourself, Prince Daryl," Ethan snapped back.

I regarded both of them with a shake of my head. "Why does the Principal want to see me?" I questioned, ignoring their arguments.

"That is for you to find out. Now come with us before I strangle this self-centered bastard." Ethan Farrow did not wait for a reaction to his statement before storming away.

"Fucking fool," Daryl muttered, following in his stead.

Only the heavens knew what exactly had caused the beef between Fenrir Pack and the monarchy, because it seemed like it was no ordinary misunderstanding between two clans.

I hurried along with the two werewolves, all the while wondering why the Principal had asked for me. Getting to the Principal's office, my eyes widened at the sight.

Quinn Targott sat before the principal, the Alpha of Fenrir Pack sitting beside her, and when she spoke her words, I almost lost my footing.

"There she is, very skilled with all kinds of weapons. Soraya Karter is her name. She would be a good guard for the Prince and Princess."

I blinked.

Daryl staggered back.

I was frozen still as I stared at Quinn Targott like the latter had grown two heads. I surely did not just hear her right, did I?

"Excuse me for a moment, Alpha Fenrir. I need to speak with my daughter," Quinn said and got up, gently pulling a speechless me out of the Principal's office.

"What is going on!" I exclaimed once we were out of earshot.

"Lower your voice, Raya," she hissed, "I'm here to help you."

I bit my lip at the nickname. "It is Soraya, not Raya," I gritted out. "And I thought we agreed that I can do this on my own? I have only been here for less than a week and you are already butting into my mission!"

"I gave you the mission, I can butt in if I want to, Soraya."

"So the attacks were instigated by you?"

"Thirty years in the supernatural world has taught me how to hold the enemy by the neck," Quinn said.

I stared at Quinn grimly, my fists clenching while I tried not to lash out at her. "You could have killed him," I mumbled instead.

"Of course not. It would take more than a baseless attack to kill him, Soraya. His death touch would finish his attackers before they get to his throat."

"So you knew, about his curse. You knew and you didn't think it was right to tell me?"

"About that, you did not need to know because you would have found out eventually. Besides, you are immune to his touch, so it would not have mattered," Quinn answered.

"What? What do you mean, I... I am immune to his touch? And how do you even know that?"

"What I said is exactly what I meant, and as for how I know, that is my secret to keep. Now come with me, we have to finalize this deal."

---

"You sure have some connection, Karter. I am still in awe of how my father could be convinced to make you my bodyguard a day after he sent my sister to shadow me." Daryl Ender's voice was low and menacing, accusation hanging heavily on his words as his palm slammed on my table when all had been settled and we had returned to class.

Every eye in the class turned toward us, but no one dared to interfere, not even Ethan Farrow.

I met his gaze with my icy look. "I have no idea what you are talking about, Prince Daryl."

Daryl scoffed, his eyes turning wolf-gold. He reached for my hands and gripped them tight, lowering his voice to a whisper that only I could hear. "You can fool everyone here but not me, Karter. I am going to find out why you are here, and when I do, you would wish you never came here."

I yanked my hands away from him, the heat of him like a scorch, even through his leather gloves. The statement Quinn had made about me being immune to his death touch flashed through my mind, but I shook it away.

"Did the royal instructors never teach you not to lay baseless accusations?" I hissed at him, infuriation and desire clashing in my mind. It was a hassle trying not to give in to one of both feelings.

Heavens.

"Baseless accusations? You think my accusations are baseless?"

I lifted my chin, letting the challenge gleam in my eyes. "You do not have any evidence to back your theory, so of course they are baseless. I did not take you to be dumb, your Highness."

"I am not dumb," he spat out.

"I thought so too until you started spitting nonsense." I grabbed my bags and stood up. "If you would excuse me, I have to make preparations toward guarding you and your sister, Your Highness."

With that, I found my way out of the classroom, leaving Prince Daryl a raging mess.

The noon faded into the night, and soon it was time for dinner. Adele and I were making our way to the dining when we bumped into the Princess.

"Goddess. I am so sorry, Your Highness," Adele stuttered.

"Not to worry, dear. It was entirely on my part. Also, can we cut on the Your Highness thingy? I am not a fan of formalities," the Princess said, smiling at Adele, who looked like she would pass out from seeing her. "My name is Ilana, so you can call me Ilana."

I raised my eyebrows. Why... why does the Princess's voice sound so familiar?

"Right. Ilana," Adele visibly gulped. "I am Adele, not Adele the singer but Adele the witch! I am so honored to meet you, Your High... I mean, Ilana."

Ilana laughed again and finally took a look at me, cocking her head to the side. "And you are?"

"Soraya," I simply said and started walking away.

"Wait!" Ilana followed after me.

I glanced back. "What?"

Ilana paused for a minute. "Have we met before, Soraya?"

I stopped short, turning around fully. The question took me completely off guard and left me wondering if I was hearing things. "Excuse me?"

"You look familiar, I am just wondering if we have met before."

"I doubt that."

"Step away from my sister, Karter."

"Brother!" Ilana turned towards Daryl and waved him over. "Come meet my new friends!" she said, grinning, and put her hands over Adele's shoulders.

"New friends?" Adele squeaked, her eyes looking like they would gorge out of their sockets.

"I don't remember us being friends," I deadpanned just at the same time Daryl replied to Ilana, saying,

"She is not your friend."

I shot Daryl a dark look. "Technically," I countered, "since I am going to be your guard for the rest of the school year, personal relationships are not advised."

After saying that, I bowed my head in courtesy. "Allow me to introduce myself properly, Princess Ilana. I am Soraya Karter, a second-year student of this academy, a witch just like Adele here, and I am under the royal command to guard you and your brother from now till I am ordered otherwise."

"A guard?" Ilana blinked questioningly at Daryl.

"I guess I was not the only one who thought your coming here was pointless. Father thought so too," Daryl said with a sigh.

Ilana frowned. "And what can she do that I cannot?"

My eyes traveled to the waistband of the Princess and sighted the hilt of a dagger sticking out. Swiftly, I grabbed the girl and pulled out the dagger, my elbow placed against Ilana's neck and the blade of the dagger pressed lightly on her skin.

Ilana whimpered shakily at the sudden onslaught, her breath coming out in rapid gasps.

"Soraya!" Adele exclaimed as Daryl drew out his sword.

"Calm down, Your Highness." I released Ilana, who skidded off to stand beside her brother. "She asked what I could do, I was only showing her."

I smirked and flipped the dagger before handing it back to Ilana. "Soraya Karter at your service, Your Highness," I added dramatically and threw a wink at the Prince.

For the first time since I arrived at Fenrir, a genuine smile graced my lips. This was starting to get interesting.