Chapter 5 A Vessel For The Gods

• —Fiona—
• How do you live a double life without letting them clash? Without getting caught? Without ending up on the field of no return, with your soul waiting to be fed on by the vampires, evil wolves or the black magic users?
• The answer is simple really. You lie. You lie until you are used to it. Until it comes as easy to you as breathing or eating. Until it becomes part of your daily routine like brushing your teeth.
• You master the art of lying at fourteen. That's how to survive.
• In case anyone is still confused, my name is Fiona Willows. I am the eldest daughter of Alpha Willow of the Southern pack. I am a noble born lady that has lived a life lower than that of a servant.
• I was born from wolves but I am a mere shiftless human with nothing but the subconscious of my wolf. To top it all, I have an ability that will lead me not only to the fields of no return but make me a universal lab rat.
• The fifth ability.
• An ability that has been condemned and forbidden for over five hundred years. One that is never to be awakened. An ability I must never get caught with.
• After dinner, Elder Zach engages in conversations of the country with the kings while I am shown to my room and given a few decent clothing. Something the worker mentioned belongs to his daughter who was out for the day.
• I had just taken a shower and gotten into bed when Fayla decided to disturb my peace.
• ‘You smell like a guilty person.’ She mocks.
• ‘We are a guilty person.’ I remind.
• The question at dinner had almost thrown me off my feet but thanks to my art of lying, I was easily able to default it and steer his gaze away from me.
• I have been in bed for over an hour now and I can't find sleep. I have tried and tossed and turned but my eyes are as clear as daylight. One would expect that I will easily fall asleep because the bed is a luxury I have never experienced. But I can't.
• I can't seem to sleep off the feeling that he knows. He knows I was here during that banquet. Why else did he specifically refer to it?
• He knows I lied at dinner and strange as it is, I feel like he knows whatever comes out of my mouth will be a lie. Like he already knew I would lie when he asked. The look he gave, that stare he gave, I can't get it off my mind.
• It keeps bothering me. So much that I was feeling heat from the inside. I leave the room and step out, hoping to take a quick walk and get the heat off.
• The little sting in my shoulder reminds me of the demon's mark on me. For how long will I have to carry this?
• If only I had managed to get my hands on that book back then. If only I had read it and knew the information written in it. Perhaps I will be able to rid myself of this mark.
• I did not intend to, but I found myself walking along the balcony that led to the main study of the house. The night air was chilly and my cheeks were turning cold but the sting in my shoulder was still there.
• I had just turned the corner and was preparing myself for the intrusion when I almost ran into Elder Zach. The old man was smoking along the balcony.
• He raises his head and looks at me, his expression unchanging. Like he knew I would be here tonight.
• ‘He knows.’ Fayla tells me.
• “Lady Fiona.” He calls trying to make sure I don't turn back. “A lovely night isn't it?”
• Having no choice, I walk closer and stand next to him, placing my hands on the stainless railings and looking at the ground beneath. “Yes. It is. I was just out for a walk. I will leave you to your…” I glanced at the cigarette between his fingers and he laughed.
• “Keep my company for a while please.”
• My heart drops at the request but I stay. “Of course.” He remains quiet, the occasional smoke whiffing in my direction once a while.
• “I am an old man. I can tell from a persons energy what they are. Whether it is ten years ago, now or even four months ago.” I hold my breath and he glances at my shoulder. Even though I can feel the sting turn into a burn, I hold it in maintaining my neutral expression. “Sternola is on the verge of ruin. A corruption that perhaps cannot be saved.”
• I remain still with my hands wrapped around the railings. I think he knows. I think he knows my secret.
• Or secrets.
• “We talk about truce.” He continues, the smoke from his cigarette filling my nostrils. “About the treaty. About celebration. How sacred and important non-monarchs are but it is…”
• “It's all a lie. A facade. A mirage to cover up how truly rotten the country has become. The greed for power…” I squeezed my nose as I remembered the things I had overheard and the secret books I had stolen to read. “...the abuse. The treaty is nothing but an insult to the people of this country.”
• Elder Zach laughs and I realise I have lost myself and let my mouth loose. “Yes. A facade. A real insult to the people and to the gods of the land. We forget the main reason. The most important things. The prophecies that came. The ones that were sealed.”
• He is getting closer and I know this could either be a bait or an old man's rant. “What prophecies?” I ask pretending to be innocent regarding the word.
• He ignored my question and turned his body so he could face me while leaning his hip against the railing. His robe moving with the night wind. He stubbed out his cigarette and I realised from his words that he knew the truce was an insult. It's why he never attends the treaty banquets and is always out and about.
• “The Zen Alpha told me about the accident. Be careful Lady Fiona. You escaped death today.”
• He took a step past, but stopped right behind me, his body unusually close to my shoulders. My heart was thumping and I could taste the fear right on the tip of my tongue.
• “Do you know what the nonarch's have in common?”
• I neutralise my expression before turning around, forcing the elder to take a step back. Jokingly, I respond. “That they all end up dead?”
• He smiles. “That they all have an aim. But no matter what the aim is, no matter which cardinal they are from, a nonarch is the hand of the god. A vessel. A neutral party. Good night Fiona.”
• As he walked away, I realised I just escaped quick death. His words were clear. My aim shouldn't go beyond the boundaries of a nonarch.
• I am tired of people telling me what to do. What I can aim for. What I can bloody achieve. Who is to say women can't dream for the sky and even reach beyond it?
• Who is to say an abomination like me can't turn her shitty life around? My father might have sent me to this prison hoping for my death but one thing he didn't know was my tenacity.
• I did not get caught even though I am a shiftless wolf. I did not get caught spying around houses and sneaking into his study to read forbidden books. I won't get caught now. Certainly not until I have what I need right in my palm.
• On my list of people to avoid, I put Elder Zach on the top, walking away as soon as he left. I see Chloe and Xander on the ground floor talking, their bodies almost lumped together. Xander notices me, but his expression remains the same and I don't stop.
• I don't stop walking until I am in my room and right in bed. All I want is to be away from here. Away from Elder Zach and his neutral ground and piercing dark eyes that can see into my soul.
• The following morning when I head for breakfast, I am surprised to see that I am the only one at the table. My sleep was neutral, with no dreams or a screaming woman and no nightmares of being chased by three men in a strange forest. It was the most peaceful sleep I have ever had.
• During my meal, I ask one of the workers where the others were and she tells me they are having a meeting to decide on the new treaty ground.
• After breakfast, I was on my way to the library when the butler approached me. His bald head and stoic face made me feel uneasy immediately.
• “Lady Fiona, the Elder has requested your presence at the meeting. Please come with me.”
• I couldn't say a word, couldn't find the perfect lie. The meeting is for Elders, High Lords, Kings and the High witches. What would they want with a nobody like me?
• Or could it be that Elder Zach spilled his old guts?