The sound of a pin dropping could've been heard judging by the silence that reigned between them. It wasn't an awful kind of silence but was more of a taken aback reaction to Ara's presence. However, Ara doesn't know them and might've interpreted it as hostility instead. They all stared at Ara for several moments that the girl almost pulled back the hood in embarrassment. Ley coughed discreetly to snap them out of it which brought Ara's attention to her.
"I don't understand," Ara said, unsure and dazed at the discovery of her presence.
"There's a lot that we need to talk about and you can ask any questions that you want by then," Ley replied briefly as she decided to talk to her personally and explain.
"I came here because someone told me that they would help me but I don't understand why you're here," Ara stated with narrowed eyes that were full of suspicion while her hand showed the plain white card without any name but just a message and a number.
"You're at the right place. I was the one who asked Sera to drop that business card to you unknowingly," she nodded in confirmation.
"Last time I checked you weren't a magick, how will you help me with my shifter form?" Ara asked however Ley can already see that her mind was closed off. They've gone about this wrong.
"I am not a shifter," Ley looked into Ara's eyes and told the truth even though she'd probably won't believe it unless Ley showed some kind of evidence to back her claim.
"What do you mean? I also saw that video of you when you partially shifted."
"We have to ensure your silence first before you know anything further. These secrets aren't just mine and they concern life and death," She calmly told Ara but her eyes convey a warning and sincerity in one.
"If I want to leave?" Ara fearlessly replied, her body subtly maneuvering to defense.
"You can't," Ley coldly refused.
She saw Ara take a step backward at the words as if she was ready to break out of there no matter what. Ley continued further, "There's a reason why the card says leave your life behind. You don't have any choice at all. The moment you decided to come here closed off any option of you backing out."
It wasn't noticeable but Sera lost her casual posture and Tristan who was sleeping at the ground earlier was now staring at Ara. They were already geared up to intervene just in case Ara tried to run though she would never get past the wards and the gate where other taboos kept watch.
A snort interrupted the tense confrontation and Ley glanced at where the sound came from. Her glance fell to Old Bertie, now in the beginnings of a cackle.
"Are you sure this is a taboo camp? A runaway magick, disabled engraver, human and now even a shifter that can't shift. You're too much of a busybody child. If you're all going to talk and be noisy then get out of my cottage," Old Bertie flippantly drove them all off outside after she extracted Nana from Ley.
Ley led Ara, wordlessly followed by the others, to her own cottage where she stayed when she's in the reservation. It was almost at the outskirts which was just enough to give her privacy but not so far from the other cottages that she still bumped into the others. The cottage was not that big compared to the other ones, containing only a bed, table with chairs, medium-sized cabinet and the bathroom. She put only the barest necessity in here unlike the others with families who have a kitchen installed as well. She usually just scrounged food from them when she needed to since she doesn't stay much here anymore not like before because of her dealings outside.
She opened the door and they were welcomed by a miniature ball of light ensconced in a floating jar that illuminated the space warmly. It didn't contain the dusty smell that usually accompanied a frequently empty room since Luna always made sure that it was clean whenever she's free.
Ley gestured for Ara to take a seat near her so she's closer and has an easier access when doing the tattoo. Sera took a seat as well, settling the briefcase near her feet while Tristan just plopped himself in front of the door lazily though Ley knew that it was intentional. Unexpectedly, Siri went to the bed and huddled in the covers where she looked at them curiously. Seeing that all the others were in place, they can finally focus on facing Ara's distrust.
She looked at Ara's hardened face and said, "I didn't lie to you. What the card says was the truth, I can definitely help you however before knowing anything further than that, I would need to draw a tattoo on you. It's a curse that would kill you if you ever try to divulge our secrets. You would die instantly once the curse realized your intention."
"Do it then," Ara sighed in resignation, her expression tired all of a sudden which got Ley curious.
Ley took out her engraving pen that was always with her no matter what and let it absorb the blood that oozed out of her sliced skin. Fortunately, the curse wasn't that complicated so she didn't have to exert too much effort even though she wasn't fully recovered yet.
Ley glanced at Ara and her face already lost its despondent expression. Ara's eyes widened in wonder and incredulity at what she did with the engraving pen. There was magic surrounding them and supported her statement that she wasn't a shifter earlier.
Ley reached for Ara's arm which the other willingly let her. It could also be that she was still in shock at what she's seeing.
"This won't hurt at all and it won't be visible to others unless the magic in it got triggered which meant you spoke of our secrets," Ley explained however Ara didn't respond except for the biting of her lips that project nervousness to the observers.
Ley was about to start the process however she noticed that Ara was too stiff so she tried to distract her, "Why did you decide to come? To be honest, I didn't expect that you would. I just wanted to give you an option since you seemed to be content with your life already."
Ley glanced at Ara and noticed that she did lose the stiffness but she looked deflated instead from the question. It looked like that was a landmine too.
Ley gave up on the attempts to make her relaxed and just focused her attention on the tattoo. She was in deep concentration when Ara spoke quietly.
"I'm tired of being treated like I'm useless."
It was almost just a whisper but Ley felt the frustration leaking out of her voice. Ley didn't reply and just waited since she felt that there was more to come.
"A few days ago, I was planning to talk to Landon regarding my brother however I overheard something instead. They were discussing an elite group to counter the enemy however Landon told Sebastian not to include me. I've worked harder than anyone else and have the skills to back it up however my inability to shift seemed to always put me at the back end," Ara continued, her voice shaking in anguish.
Ley stilled at what she heard. It didn't sound like something Landon would do judging from the few times she worked with him in the company. He highly values competence no matter what the background of the person.
"Did you speak to him about it?" She couldn't resist asking.
"He was too busy these past few days so I didn't really have a chance to talk to him but Landon rarely changed his mind once he made a decision and I have made up my mind about this too." Ara replied, her usual easy-going demeanor now marred with decisiveness.
Ley decided not to pursue the matter anymore and changed the subject, "What about your brother by the way?"
"I don't know. He just disappeared after Landon took him out of security operations. I think he's up to something again, maybe trying to make amends. I am really sorry about what he did to you. He was too focused on exacting revenge for me that he couldn't see past the truth."
"That's between me and your brother. Don't worry about it besides i managed to get some hits in," she laughed in remembrance which prompted Ara to join in.
The atmosphere now was lighter than when they first started. Ara lost the wariness she had when she arrived here. The tattoo was almost done and they can move on soon to discussing heavier topics.
Ley was putting the finishing touches and magic grew thick in the air in response to her movements. She heard a slight gasp from Ara that she can only ignore since she was at a critical part.
"Y-you are- but how?" Ara stuttered in astonishment.
The bloody skull tattoo glowed red once as if in greeting then faded to nothing. She faced Ara and nodded once in confirmation, "You're right and that's the reason why I can help you."
"But I thought taboos were killed, how did you survive?"
Ara reacted better than she thought. There was no fear or disgust in her features except for guileless wonder. It relieved her that she didn't judge wrong.
She was about to reply when her phone rang so she immediately reached for her pocket to answer, all the while wondering who was calling this late. She saw Gale's name flashed at the caller ID and picked up the phone without thought.
Instead of Gale's voice, what registered was the inhuman tinge of Merda's tone that she knew so well but filled her stomach with dread.
"The base is burning. I saw Landon's base burning to ashes."
That was when the world swiped her off her feet.