The voice she had heard sounded familiar. However, one thing was certain it doesn't spell anything good. She looked and behold it was Tanak with about five members of his pack. Darkness was almost closing on them which may be why Tanak chose such time to pay her a visit with the army of his pack.
Tanak who had always wanted her dead right from the onset, found himself unstoppable in his quest for a tit for tat.
With Kane out of sight, she feared her death could be imminent. She is powerless as long as her magic tools are not within her reach. She swallowed a gulp of spit in her mouth to release her tension.
"I will help you escape not just from your confinement but from the face of the earth, how about that?'' Began Tanak, as he grinned wickedly at the helpless witch.
Clara mustard her courage and speaks, "what do you want Tanak?'' She knew what was going to happen next. Without her power she could be raped and killed at the spot.
"I assume you already know what I want, don't you? Come on stop the pretense witch. You know I want you dead. That alone will send a powerful message to Ferahon. Your mother made a very terrible mistake the day she conspired with the vampires to assassinate alpha Conri, my father killed. Of all the list she had with her, she chose an incompetent witch like you to fight her battle? How pathetic!'' He smirked briefly before resuming, "she seemed to have forgotten you had a weak spot for a Nazan alpha."
"You bastard!" Clara cursed. "Do your worst. What are you waiting for? Get on with it child killer!"
"Putting you to death right here, tonight is certain but, I would like to take my time and enjoy the show in the best possible way I can. I would like to watch you die slowly. You know you would have done the same if you were in my shoes? Too bad witch, you will die without learning the truth and the secrets. Hahahaha….!"
"I'm ashamed your brother Kane. What an honor it would have been if, he could have had me killed by his own hands instead, of a disgusting maggot standing right in front of me."
The other wolves with him echoed his long laugh before Tanak begins to speak again. "But, he didn't instead, he left you to die slowly and alone in misery. What a painful way to die! Now that I'm here to take away your pains and misery free of charge, once and for all, you don't seem too happy? Is that how you treat a good pal? The way I see it witch, you should be thanking me for what I'm about to do you instead of whining." More laughter followed but, Tanak quickly ended their laugh again.
"Ahaa! Look at what we have here boys, her hands and feet have been untied. It must have been a Good Samaritan that had you untied. Who did it witch? Your little secret?"
"What are you talking about? You stink like a pig!'' Clara cursed.
Tanak walked closer to the edge of the pit. "Don't tell me you don't know this one because, it will surely sadden my heart? Tell me, was it not a Nazan wolf that had you untied? Was he here or was he not?"
Surprised, she wondered who Tanak could be talking about. She was sure it wasn't Kane so, who could it be? Unless of course Tanak has been able to burst successfully, the little secret between her and Kane. However, the problem remains how was he able to do that since Kane told her no one knows about their relationship except, his wolf messenger. He had assured her one time during one of their meetings that his messenger can be trusted after, she had raised an alarm about the messenger's suspicious movement. Perhaps, the messenger might had something to do with Tanak's possible wide knowledge of their secret affair.
Interesting to know, Tanak's had once asked her out in one his rare adventures into the human towns. At that time, she knew nothing about Tanak's identity. She was also certain that Tanak knew nothing too about hers. She only learnt about Tanak's real identity when she was caught by the werewolves otherwise, she would had regarded Tanak as a mere human. She wondered if Tanak still remembers that after, a very long time.
"Who exactly are you talking about?"
"You know who I'm speaking of witch. Stop the pretense. Anyway, none of that matters since I'm going to have you killed now."
He had hardly finished speaking when the other wolves encircled the pit and appeared to have gotten ready to attack from all side.
Clara watched only Tanak and one other member of his pack transformed in to the very creatures she was told annihilated her people and subsequently had her father killed. The rest of the untransformed wolves simply got battle ready, while in their human state. Now, she herself is about to be killed too by the wolves. She knows that any second from now, they could be tearing her apart. She simply closed her eyes as they clinched closer to her, overlooking the top of the pit.
It was Tanak in his wolf state that made the first attempt to jump in but, surprisingly he was swiftly thrown aback by a strong unseen force. Seeing what had happened to their pack leader, the other transformed wolf tries to force his way in but, met the same fate.
Furious, Tanak howled and transformed back in to his human state. "What have you done witch? What art of magic was that?"
Clara opened her eyes to meet the very furious Tanak. "Maybe I should have been the one to ask you that since, you and your wolf brothers had me thrown down here. Anyway, it's called, whoop your ass magic," she taunted the wolves.
"How dare you!" His anger towards her grew worse but, it was useless to take it out on her since, it has become virtually impossible to reach where she was. He watched with hatred while, the other wolves with him simply stood and glance at one another in confusion.
"Who did this witch?"
"I did!" Said a voice from his back. Tanak turned around only to meet Kane standing face to face with him.
"What have you done half-brother?'' Tanak demanded an explanation.
"What did you think I have done?'' Retorted Kane. "Tell me Tanak, what's the motive behind your question if not, to have her killed?"
Clara could not see the two brothers but, she could certainly hear both of them talk.
"Kane! Is that you?''
Kane ignored her and continued, "I know you would come by in secret to have her killed and that's why I had to protect her from your wickedness and evil. I out smarted you this time Tanak. I advise you to take your pack warriors and leave at once."
"I can't believe you of all people will put your own kind in danger just to save your bitch?''
"Kane is that you?'' She asked again.
"What is wrong with you alpha supreme?'' Tanak mocked him. "You have finally turned to a puppet of the witches, haven't you?"
"For your own good, I suggest you turn around and leave at once,'' Kane replied Tanak after ignoring Clara for the second time.
"How can I trust you wouldn't do the otherwise when I'm gone? It's obvious you are sympathetic to the witch. No one can deny that. Here and now Kane, tell me the secret or do you want me to spell them out for you?"
"Enough talking! Time to leave!'' Barked with authority.
"This is not the end half-brother. I will keep an eye on you and your witch mate?'' Tanak signaled his pack warriors and they stormed out the scene howling.
When Tanak left, Kane turned his attention to Clara who had been ignored for a greater part of the conversation he had with Tanak.
"You would have been dead by now Clara, you know that don't you?''
She looked up at him, "I thought you were long gone? How did you found out I had some visitors and I that my life was in danger?''
"Actually, I have not gone far. I was still lurking around because, I knew about his evil intensions,'' he paused briefly before resuming, "did they dark magic you had condemned protected you?''
"Certainly, that was what prevented them from advancing. Thank you very much Kane.''
Suddenly, his facial expression turned unfriendly. "Keep your thanks to yourself and save your breath. I can't save you for long, sooner or later they will have you killed. I still can't believe you are part of the operation that lead to my father's death."
She stared at him helplessly. There is little she could now to make him believe her pleads of innocence. "When are my getting killed Kane?''
"Anytime from now,'' he lied. He knew she could be killed anytime once the alphas conclude their plans for revenge on the witches. "A war is coming Clara. Your death will make that happen very quickly. We have remained silent for a very long time until this provocation.''
"Peaceful? Is that what you think? I swear you had nothing bad to do with the humans but, how sure you are that your half-brother has also remained peaceful just like you?''
"What do you mean? Has he killed anyone in one of your towns or villages?''
"You have said it all yourself Kane. He once killed some helpless farmers in one our villages and all fingers pointed at the wolves. I knew it could never be you. At least, you are never cruel. Now that I have met your brother again and discovered his real identity and his unkind remarks against humans and witches I strongly believe he could the one behind those atrocities."
She noticed how badly he gazed at her. Perhaps, he appeared as if he was about to pounce on her. She never can tell what his next move would be. Determined she continued. "Don't be surprised, your half-wolf brother might have something to do with your father's death."