Smoke drifted from a small basin in the middle of the room. It was dark and the only source of light was from a large window at the other end.
A veiled figure was hunched over the smoke, mumbling a chant that could not be heard as the moon peeked through the glass.
On the other end of the basin stood another presence, staring down at the smoke that seemed to go on forever and hoped that it would bring about a different outcome.
This was the second time in three months.
They needed answers and this was the only way they could get them.
Under the guide of the moonlight he saw the hunched figure search beneath the hidden pockets of her dress and produced different coloured runes, picking only those he was convinced were the ones she needed.
He wanted to ask how long till she had the answers he sought but decided against it. He couldn't afford distractions at a crucial time like this.
The runes were lifted above the veiled head, cupped between her hands as if she were offering them to the moon. She always did this whenever she needed guidance from the moon, he had observed as much.
After placing the runes carefully into the bowl she resumed to mumble her chant.
It was the same thing as before.
Her eyes were closed, brows drawn closer to create a fold between in concentration.
Bubbles of smoke fell out of the basin, twisting and turning like vines and grasping at the dark with their soft tendrils before they vanished into nothing. The boiling intensified with her chants, spilling onto the floor with a hiss before she stuttered and opened her eyes with a sharp gasp..
"I can't do it like this"
Small hands held the sides of her temples to ease what he presumed was a headache.
"I had told you last time that I need to do it alone, you only serve to distract me"
She looked across the room to meet the cold eyes of her so called Alpha. They were narrowed on her, thin lips pursed and a frown upon his cold face.
"You told me this could work, were you lying to me. Do you know that lying to your Alpha is a crime that cannot go unpunished? "
The urge to argue with him was suppressed as she grit her teeth. Sometimes he was just too unreasonable.
His head tilted to the side as he tried to observe the girl, he could hardly see her face because her back was facing to the moon which was the only source of light in the room at the moment. He had heard the sincerity in her voice and stood up to leave.
The door opened and he walked out into the brightly lit hallway. Men positioned at the door tensed and became alert at his presence. They had been positioned to guard the door of the small room a few days ago. The girl was not allowed to come out until the alpha gave the order.
Palace walls had ears and they could as well talk hence rumors and gossip travelled even to the insignificant corners of the castle. Luki knew about this and he was the one in control of the information that got out and that didn't.
"Did you prepare what I asked for?"
"In your study"
His second in command silently fell into step, following him from behind. They both had a large build which was typical for Lycans but they still towered above most of them if not the rest.
Being the Alpha and the general they had an advantage to most of their abilities. Years of relentless and hard training had turned them into the monsters they were deemed to be.
In the study a young lad not more than 20 was staring at them, sizing them up both as he sat on the only sofa in the center of the spacious room.
From behind the desk the Alpha no longer looked as imposing as when he had just walked in but he still remained stoic and cold.
For the first time in a long time they had summoned him. Clearing his throat he took a tiny tea cup from the desk and took a sip from the China.
The taste was unfamiliar and left a metallic taste in his mouth. Putting back the tea on the table he shifted in his seat and gazed at the lad through his long lashes.
"This. Now this is what I call a surprise"
The young man leaned back, folded his arms and grinned.
"The witches have been idle lately and I might as well have some use for you"
"We are never idle my friend, we have our own shit to deal with"
"Well I may have something for you to deal with. How about a change of scenery for a bit"
"It depends. Spill"
A low growl had him turning to see the beta stalking towards him in an unhappy expression. He disregarded him and laid lazily on the couch, propping his head up on the arm rest and crossing his feet.
Luki appeared to be already used to this because he remained unbothered and a corner of his lip turned up. However, his beta Ryka was still not used to seeing this.
"It concerns a curse"
A century old curse"
Everyone present in the room became tense and kept quiet, pondering over their thoughts quietly.
There was no one in this realm that didn't know about a curse that was centuries old. A curse that destroyed almost everything it touched.
A curse that has sacrificed a lot of innocent blood.