Chapter 4 Elder Zach

• —Fiona—
• Christian has already called for a new ride and I make sure to use the seat belt this time. I had learned my lesson from the accident.
• The rogue is quiet, and I am glad he is not talking or looking at me. We may have sealed a symbiotic deal but it doesn't mean I am not furious they thought it best to kill me. I also will not give up on finding out what they fear so much and use it to get rid of them.
• According to the message Elijah received from the High witch's daughter, Chloe Baguar, we are having a stop over at an elders mansion in the South now that the treaty palace has been attacked.
• “Elder Zach will be hosting us till we decide on the new location for the treaty celebration.” Elijah announces to the rest of us.
• I know Elder Zach. The old man handled a lot of foreign meetings and affairs for the country. “Why can't we just use another part of the treaty palace since it is a huge ground?”
• Christian glanced at Elijah who was now busy typing away on his phone before he calmly explained. “Sternola has had lots of internal and external attacks since the treaty was put in place. But there are a few grounds that attacks do not affect. They have the protection of the gods. The treaty palace is one of them.” He paused, as if he wanted to be sure I was grasping the idea of his words. “Bombing the treaty palace means the entire ground isn't safe anymore.”
• “Oh. I see.” I lean back into my seat and fall into deep thought.
• About the accident. Our encounter with the flagellatas. Flagellatas don't just appear out of nowhere and fight people.
• Why was I the main target of the strongest flagellata? And what on earth happened when the strongest one tried to ingest me? Why did it leave me with a demon mark?
• My gaze collides with that of Xander and he flashes me a boyish grin. Something about him makes me uncomfortable. Out of all three, I liked him the least.
• It could be because he was more than eager to kill me just to keep whatever secret they were trying to hide. Or because the man was known as Sternolas country dick. He could fuck a tree if it has a titties and showed the slightest interest in him. And I wasn't one to like men who have no sense of dignity.
• I rest against the door and look out the window, my thoughts drifting away from the car to the weird dream I had.
• Who was the screaming woman behind the door? Why did she call us abominations? Where is that Golden Palace? And the crest I saw…I rubbed my temple, a headache forming from all the worry.
• Not to add, the bombing of the treaty palace? At the same time we were in such a strange accident with the flagellatas?
• I couldn't put a finger to it but something told me everything was connected. That it was all a web of events that was connected to something bigger. And my instincts have never been wrong.
• I don't know when I slept but by the time I was awake, it was already dusk and Xander was softly tapping at my cheek.
• “Hey, sleeping beauty.” He calls, the signature flirty smirk on his lips.
• I alight from the car, rubbing the sleep off my eyes and the drool from my mouth when I notice the powerful figure of Elder Zach walking towards us.
• Even though I couldn't get a good look around the compound, I know that the house is old and huge. The architecture dates back to hundreds of years ago.
• The books that lay in the basements of houses from the past like these are one of the things I need. They hold information about the abilities we used to have in Sternola. Precisely, the fifth ability that has plagued me after I found out I couldn't shift like the others.
• The elder stops to greet the witch who must have arrived earlier than we did before walking towards the kings, giving Elijah a particularly lower bow.
• Turning his attention to me, he roams his gaze around my face before shifting it to the jacket on my shoulders.
• “Good evening Elder Zach.” I bow, extending my hand out for him to take.
• He gently kisses the back of my hand and smiles. “You are Alpha Willows eldest daughter?”
• “Yes Elder.”
• He moves closer, grey hair falling over his forehead. “Have we met before Lady Fiona?”
• I shake my head, wearing a polite smile to mask my unease and the tension that was now lining my shoulder.
• “The nonarch has a very common face. Over half of Sternola's women look exactly like her.” Chloe responds regarding me with a belittling gaze and daunting voice.
• The Elder doesn't say a word. Instead, he stares at me a little more before turning to Elijah and saying. “The decision for your stop over was hasty, your highness. But rest assured, tomorrow, I will properly throw you a banquet.” he gestures towards the entrance. “Please. Come in.”
• Xander places his hand over his chest and stands next to the Elder. “People in the South are really nice. Nobody treats me to a banquet even in my own palace.” He stops and gives Elijah a daring look. “How about we switch cardinals?”
• As we walked into the house, Elijah answered. His tone is calm but I can feel the mockery brimming in it. “We may not put it up but we have very low tolerance for rogues in the south. In fact, rogues here are likely to die fast. Something about our air I think.”
• The implications were clear and it further piqued my interest. Why were they hating each other's guts in public yet friendly behind doors?
• “Ouch.” Xander whispers something to the Elder who in turn softly laughs.
• At dinner, I am gulping and eating everything I can get my hands on. I have never had food this good before. Back at home, Kim and her mother always made sure I only have left overs.
• “Your wolf energy feels familiar, Lady Fiona.” Elder Zach suddenly says from across the table as he continues to eat.
• My legs freeze instantly and I manage to look at the older man with a blank expression, mouth filled to the brim with food I was now rushing to swallow.
• “That is strange. I couldn't feel any wolf energy from her.” Chloe interjects glancing at Xander who was seated next to her.
• Chloe is right. The elder is strange because he shouldn't feel any wolf energy as I have none. I cannot shift and Fayla is nothing but a subconscious of what my wolf would be should she exist.
• But as if he didn't hear the lady comment, the Elder continues. “Were you perhaps here with your family during my Gabinhams celebratory banquet early this year?”
• There's something that has kept me alive ever since I found out my kind of species belongs to the pit of hell. Ever since I found out how huge an abomination I was years ago.
• So I open my mouth and do the one thing that I am used to. The one thing that feels familiar. I lied. “No. I was indisposed during your banquet Elder Zach.”