Chapter 6 The Scent

• ZARYA’S POV
• “What? Why should I do that! Can we just be content with what we have?”
• I woke up with the voice of King Water. He was talking to someone. Maybe outside of his chamber. I blinked two times as I was absorbing where I was. When I completely realized the place and why I was here. The tears in my eyes automatically rolled in my cheek.
• Mom. Dad. Zaiden.
• I am now alone. No family. Just myself.
• I slowly removed the comforter that was covering my body. Actually, I had no reason to live, but when I remembered what happened to them, it kept me moving forward.
• “Don’t make me repeat this, Mother! I. Will. Not. Do. That!” I paused when I heard King Water again. He emphasized every word he said. I thought that he was so upset.
• When I moved a little, I could feel the pain in the lower portion of my body. I was forced to stand up and looked for my clothes. It was all ripped.
• What should I wear?
• I slowly walked to the closet to look for something to wear. It was all a king garment. Well, excerpt for an oversized black shirt. I suddenly put it on.
• “Why are you keeping pestering my life? Go away! Get the f*ck lost my sight!”
• I slowly walked closer to the door. I peeped on the little space on the door. I saw Hali standing while he was facing someone on the right side. I moved my eyes a little. My eyes widened when he was speaking to the Queen of the Water Pack. It was her mother.
• Why is he shouting at her own mother?
• I was shocked when a loud slap lay on Hali’s cheek. He forced her forefinger in his forehead and then did it again to another as he was saying another word. “Put this in your mind. I am the reason why you are in your position now.” She moved closer, the threatening in her eyes were there. “So do as I command.” He pushed his chest, the reason why he backed away a little bit.
• I had no clue what they were arguing about. However, according to their statements, the Queen was ordering something to King Water which he did not want to follow.
• I observed the frustration on the expression of Hali.
• There are people who can’t value the presence of their families. If they are in my situation, they must realize that people will only live once. The time will come, they will leave us without us knowing. At times, it is the most unexpected day of our life.
• The liquid was rolling from my eyes down to my cheek. I gradually shut the door when King Water was walking towards the door. I ran towards the bed and acted as if I was sleeping. I heard the creak of the door and the blag of it when it closed.
• He must be so mad. I was so scared. What if he scolded me?
• I thought he would go to bed again, but I was surprised when I heard the loud sound of music. The genre was the rock that could ruin my eardrum. I opened one eye and peeked at him. He was sitting at the swivel chair while headbanging.
• Is that his way of releasing the stress?
• “Don’t pretend that you’re sleeping. You’re not good at acting.”
• By his words, I sat immediately. I leaned my back at the headboard and stared at him. He was not looking at me. He was just staring at the lyrics of the song. I did not notice that he was having a monitor, a computer, a speaker, and all the things a human had. That means he went to the city.
• “Don’t talk about what you see.” Hali lowered the volume of the music. “You have room at the omega’s quarter. Work hard to become a Beta like your parents, so you can go back to the murderers. Your training will start in the evening, so get rest when you still have time.”
• How can he do that? Saying those words without even gazing at me. He had no emotion to show or he was just having a bad day?
• “Scram.”
• I was hesitant to leave him. He surely needed someone right now. I did not go. I stayed in the room instead, joining him even though there was no one talking between us.
• “I said…” He looked back on me and glared at me with the deadliest stare I had ever seen. I felt so afraid, causing my body to shake. He inhaled and exhaled as if he was calming himself. “Scram. Don’t show your body to me if you don’t want torture.”
• I suddenly moved up. I was about to run when he spoke again. “Wait a bit. I ordered the guard to give you a uniform.”
• He was unpredictable. He was commanded to leave me and then now, he was making me stay? What a man. Tsk. So annoying.
• I gazed at the window. It was probably mid-day. I must have been late in school when I had a normal life. I felt the heaviness in my chest as I heard the voice of my mom saying, “Hurry. The school bus is outside.”
• My senses came back to reality when Hali sat next to me. “Here.”
• I did not know what to feel when he was giving me the picture frame of my family. It had a small burn at the side. I raised my hand to grip that. Automatically, I caught myself sobbing again. King Water let me burst out to the content of my heart. The pain never lessened, it continued to intensify.
• Why all of a sudden? Why all of them? The memories remain in my head that even if I tried to ease that in my head, it would not go away.
• “Starting tomorrow…” Hali talked, he was looking straight while I was gazing at him in a side way. “You're prohibited to cry.” He stood up, put his hands in his pocket. “Crying is just for those weak.”
• I watched him, walking to the door. “Go out when the guard provides your clothes.” He held the doorknob and rotated it. “Don’t leave your scent on my things.”
• What? What’s wrong with my scent?