CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: XAVIER

I've been tracking Kory for a while now, and I discovered that he was hiding out at an abandoned lab in werewolf territory; he was either stupid or had a motive for choosing an enemy zone for his hideout.

My father was a habitual liar, so when he swore he had nothing to do with the vampire royal family attack, I knew he was lying, but I still wanted confirmation on his involvement from Kory before proceeding with our plan.

As I reached the lab, a swarm of Lycidas surrounded me before I could react, and Kory emerged from the shadows, his amused eyes never leaving mine.

"Look who we have here, it's the hybrid Prince himself; what brings you to my humble abode, Xavier?" 

"You lied, Kory, you said you attacked the mansion to get rid of Venus and I?" 

"Yes, that was the only reason I attacked," "Then what about the attack on your sister? That seems like a better motive than the bullshit story you told us about us being a thorn in your side in the future."

"You are quite nosy, do you know?" Kory said, as his amused expression faded to a frown. 

"You can say that, but I see it as looking for answers." 

"OK, I admit it, the real reason I attacked the duke's castle was to assassinate the king for what he did to my poor sister; you and Venus were just collateral damage."

"I see and what exactly did my father do to make you go to such lengths to get revenge"

"Your father used one of his mutts to seduce my sister and then ordered him to poison her with frathine; I had no idea she was seeing a wolf until my mother found her almost dead in her room with the wolf about to kill himself."

"What happened to that wolf? I'm sure he's dead; you're not that patient when it comes to torture."

"No, come see him yourself." Kory stated as he cleared the way for me to enter the lab; I had a feeling it may be a trap, but something else told me he was telling the truth.

"Don't worry, they won't attack unless I tell them to, so you're safe, hybrid, and my beef isn't with you"

"But you were trying to kill me just a few days ago."

"That was a few days ago; I could always kill you later, but I have other priorities right now."

"And what exactly are those priorities?"

"If I'm lucky, I'll save my sister and possibly kill your father." 

"I thought it wasn't that bad"

"Your father used a lot of frathine on my sister Xavier; finding a cure will take some time, which is what I'm doing here."

"So you're not deliberately turning your people into Lycidas; you're looking for a cure for your sister."

"I may have a lot of werewolf blood on my hands, but being a sadist isn't my thing."

"I see, well, I want to kill you as well, but that can wait; let's look at that prisoner of yours."

"Do you trust me now?"

"I'd rather eat wolfsbane than trust a vampire, but you may have information I need, so I'll have to trust you for the time being," 

"I see then let's go" Kory stated as he beckoned for me to enter the lab, which I did, and when we both stepped in, I saw a half-dead werewolf strapped to a chair in the middle of the room.

I sat across from Kory's werewolf prisoner, who was confined by silver shackles while Kory merely stood by my side, calmly studying the prisoner with murderous intensity. I could sense his rage at the wolf radiating off him, and I don't blame him; the wolf did try to kill his little sister.

"Hello Freddie," I said, and the wolf looked up at me, his face contorted into a frown as he hissed at me.

"Traitor," he yelled at me as he glared at me 

"You're not well-liked among your people." Kory commented, his gaze fixed on Freddie, but I ignored him and continued to question Freddie.

"Why did King Leon order you to poison Kory's sister?"

Freddie's yellow eyes gleamed with anger as he growled at me in response to my question. His hands struggled against the shackles, but it was pointless; he'd never be free of the metal restraints.

"Do you think I'm going to tell you anything, hybrid mutt?" You have no authority over me." Freddie said, his fangs bared at me and Kory.

"I made him give up your father once, I can make him give up the reason why, just give me a moment with him.'' Kory said with a devious grin, and I saw panic in Freddie's eyes.

"I think you'd rather talk to me than him," I leaned forward, my voice sinking to a deadly whisper, "he wants to kill you for what you did to his sister, so would you rather have him interrogate you or me?"

Before settling on me, Freddie's eyes moved from me to Kory, but before he could say anything, Kory moved forward and their eyes connected.

"My sister didn't deserve what you did to her. So If you answer every question he asks, I might be able to make your death as painless as possible".

"How does that help me? You'll kill me whether or not I give you an answer,"

"You get to experience a pain-free death" 

"If I tell you anything, he'll take me back to Verna, where I'll face the werewolf court.

"You almost killed my sister, and you think I'll let you off scot-free? Like hell I accept such a deal".

"That's the only way you can get your answers".

"I'll see what I can do".

"Hybrid, you're treading on dangerous waters"

"Kory, I'll handle this and see that he gets the punishment he deserves at Verna."

"Why should I believe you?

"Because, like you, I don't lie".

"Now talk otherwise all deals are off"

"Fine, Leon wanted his sister out of the picture because she knew too much about a secret he didn't want anyone to know. He was afraid of being exposed, and he knew she wouldn't stop until she destroyed him with that secret."

My eyes furrowed as I leaned back in my chair, taking in the information Freddie had just given me.

"What's the secret?"

"I don't know."

"You really don't want to leave here if that's all you're giving me."

"I don't know. You have no idea, Xavier. King Leon is not only a werewolf, but also a puppeteer. From the shadows, he rules over everything in this realm."

"Trust me, I know what my father is capable of, so you have no idea what this secret that Kory's sister knew about that nearly got her killed"

"Yes, what I know is that it has something to do with the witch Michael recently married."

My gaze swings from Freddie to Kory, his face was devoid of emotion as he stared at Freddie

"Thanks for your cooperation."

"Whatever, mutt, now get me out of here!"

"What do you mean?"

"You said you'd take me back to Verna to be judged."

"No, I said I'd handle it, and leaving you at the mercy of Kory is how I handle it."

"You liar"

"I didn't lie, I just twisted the truth"

"You're not going to get away with this; Michael will find me and I'll tell him you're working with the enemy."

"You'd be dead by then, Freddie, and it's not like Michael is looking for you; he has abandoned you,"

"He would never do that" 

"How naive" Kory chuckled 

"Do whatever you want with him, he brought this on himself" I replied as I turned to walk away as Freddie began screaming and shouted profanities at me.

"Shut him up," Kory ordered, and one of the Lycidas knocked Freddie unconscious with a blow to the head.

"Is he dead?"

"No, but he will be soon, he is very lucky, I don't want to prolong his death for as long as my sister is in pain."

"I don't blame you, but I now know my father lied to me about not being involved in this attack, and you weren't lying."

"I don't lie, Xavier, I find it distasteful."

"I see, well I hope you find a cure for your sister, Kory,"

"I hope so, hybrid, and please convey my greetings to the Princess witch."

"Goodbye, Kory,"

"Goodbye hybrid," Kory said as he led me out the door, and the Lycidas were nowhere to be seen, which made me suspicious. "I told you I don't lie, they will not attack you hybrid," 

"I'm having trouble believing a vampire doesn't lie."

"I'm not saying all vampires don't lie, just me" "Hmmm"

"Get out of here, you're stinking up the place."

"You're extremely rude"

"Don't care, get your hybrid ass out of here," Kory yelled as I exited the lab and left the area before traveling to the rebel camp at Ashenwood to see Sebastian.

Sebastian was already waiting for me when I arrived at the hideout; he was seated reading a book when I stepped in.

"Hey Sebastian," I greeted as his gaze moved away from the book and focused on me.

"Hey, Xavier, what have you been up to?"

"I was looking for Kory," I answered as I sat down in front of him. 

"Were you successful?"

"Yeah." 

"And where is he?" 

"Just know he won't be a problem for now." 

"Why do you say that?" 

"My father actually did some harm to his sister; he had one of Michael's men make her fall for him so he could get close enough to her to poison her with frathine,  so he is looking for a cure for her."

"Damn, where is the werewolf now? I'm sure the motherfucker is dead."

"No, not yet, but he'll soon be judging how patient Kory is with him."

"He isn't all that patient,"

"Yeah so, I'll give him a week more to live,"

"Does he still want to kill you and Venus?"

"No, my father was his main target, which means we don't have a mole, but we can't be too sure, so let's keep looking."

"All right, I'll keep looking, but I have news from the capital."

"What is it?"

Your father is hosting a ball to celebrate the victory at the duke's mansion. Will you be going?"

Sebastian, when have I ever passed up an opportunity to piss off my father?

"Never," 

"So I'm definitely going to the party," I said with a small mischievous grin on my face.