As she walked behind him along a certain path that seemed to be some sort of shortcut, she could see the wind rumble through his clothes. She looked at the sky and it was getting dull. She took her eyes back to him and could tell it felt safe having him around yet she worried he was but a stranger. She stopped and he noticed he could no longer catch the sceptical rhythm of her footsteps. With his hands still crossed behind his back, he turned towards her.
"Why have you stopped?" He inquired.
"I can't. I just can't." She answered back standing with a hand on her waist and the other in a demonstrating manner.
"Can't what?" He asked.
"This is a game, it has got to be some sort of mind game. I am being tossed around from one spot to the next, this has got to stop, it isn't funny " she said,
"I guess that translates to you not trusting me." He said, "I just saved your life." He told her.
"Yes, you did. Lately, everyone's been doing that and it just doesn't add up, I need to know what the f*ck is going on and you, you can't be real. You look like a prince who just walked out of a fairytale book and this place–it's f*ckn weird and the people, even the air." She replied.
"I see you use the F-word rather frequently. That gives you away." He said,
"That I am not from here, yes now please show me the way out of here." She told him.
He exhaled with his eyes fixed on hers.
"I believe that should be the way through which you came." He told her.
"Urrrrgh!" She voiced in frustration turning her back towards him. Her eyes rolled about as she tried to manage her breathing.
"You are upset." He said, " you should never be caught off guard in a place you do not wish to be and turning your back to a stranger is off guard." He told her and then continued his journey.
She turned back towards him only to meet with his back view.
"I have been walking behind you and still am behind you yet I am a stranger." She said angrily to him.
"Who is lost and alone." He answered back, still walking on.
"Are you not scared of me!" She yelled from where she stood. He smirked.
"Not really." He answered. "You have two picks, come with me or remain here outside my protection." He said in a louder tone, still walking on.
––––––
Standing on the balcony of a certain apartment, Stark's eyes remained pinned on the space before him. He held on to a glass of wine he sipped from while maintaining silence. The evening was cool and the wind that came with it. He was dressed in a white sleeve that gave out some cleavage and black pants to go with it. Soon after, he heard the room door open, followed by gentle footsteps but didn't move a muscle.
"Is it done?" He asked,
"Just as you ordered," Cain replied.
Taking the last gulp, Stark threw down the glass and began loosening the buttons of his shirt as he began walking back inside the room.
"Let's get this over with, shall we?" He said,
"Disregarding the risks?" Cain inquired as he followed behind him.
"Living is a risk," Stark responded.
"But this is far too risky. Anything could go wrong. Everything actually and then for what?" Cain argued.
"Shove your sentiments aside, it's disgusting." Stark turned towards him swiftly.
"Hah." Cain exhaled sarcastically. "You aren't one to talk of sentiments, not when it is your drive to do this! Entrusting your life to the hands of a mage! They are not to be trusted! You know the rules!" Cain added.
"If my death is what worries you. You are my beta, if I don't make it back alive, you have the pack. Just kill some alpha so your eyes get to sparkle red for more authority." Stark told him.
"I do not need to be the alpha!" Cain said irritatedly.
"Then I don't see what you need. I only see an inferior challenging his superior. You know the rules. Do as you are told and know your place." Stark stated and then made his move outside the room leaving the door open.
He confidently walked on taking a turn. It was obvious the apartment was a large one. The corridor had bright lights that shone around and now he was before a door. He turned the knob pushing it open. He stepped in. Standing with his hand crossed behind his back, was a tall dark-skinned man with full long dreads on his head. He wore some sort of weird costume and this caused Stark to roll his eyes.
"Are you the one? Zeddicus?" Stark asked,
Zeddicus turned slowly towards him, freeing his hands. Stark could see his face had some sort of demarcation. Half of it was darker than the other half.
"I have been taken by an enemy against my will," Zeddicus replied. His voice was deep.
"Yes, we both know our history well," Stark replied, folding his arms.
"So how sure am I that once you have gotten what you want, your next move wouldn't be to kill me just like your fathers before you did to mine," Zeddicus said,
"I could say the same for you but if anything goes wrong, you will be dead for sure so don't even think of being smart," Stark assured him.
"What do you want?" Zeddicus seemed provoked.
" I need you to walk," Stark answered.
"Shadow walk?" Zed inquired.
"Yes," Stark replied.
"Then you must have some balls," Zed told him as he moved closer to his face.
"You will help me find someone. Alicia Peterson is her name." Stark told him.
"She must be important. Where is she?" Zed asked,
"Haven" Stark replied.
"It is impossible to get there. There is a reason why it is called Safe havens." Zed told him.
"Well, there is a reason we aren't using a portal and a reason you were taken. Don't play dumb with me. I know you have the powers to get us in without even being seen and I guess this has to be the part where you get to know that somewhere in a cave I have got some wolves patiently waiting to eat your wife and daughter, so you had better start cooperating because they are hungry." Stark warned.
Zeddicus seemed to have been thrown off balance and now he feared.
"Do you at least have anything that connects us to this woman?" He asked Stark rather upset.
"That's her picture." Stark brought out a photo from his trouser pocket handing it over to him.
"This will do. " Zed said, angrily collecting the photo.
"So what are you waiting for?" Stark asked,
Zed took some steps away from him and then turned, walking towards a certain space in the room. He went down in a squat position, bringing black chalk out of his pocket. He drew a large circle on the ground while making a humming sound that seemed as though he was reciting some incantations. Stark watched him closely and began moving closer. He realised he wouldn't need to go nude and so he began fixing his buttons.
"Step in," Zed ordered once he got back up. Stark obeyed and watched Zed stretch his palms before him with a faint smirk. Stark looked at him for a bit before placing his palms over his. Zed gripped them hard and continued the humming. Soon they both became frozen as Zed's eyes turned white.
Cain had walked into the room, shutting the door carefully once he saw the two.
"What is this?" Stark voiced from his unconscious state.
"I see it too," Zed said,
"She can't be dead," Stark said,
Cain became shocked and began to move closer to the two.
"And this isn't Haven. Did you give me the right photograph?" Zed inquired.
"Of course I did. What do I look stupid to you? She is in Haven." Stark replied.
"But this is a bloody cemetery! And a weird place." Zed said,
"Then take us inside the grave," Stark ordered.
"It's her name on it as you can see but as you wish," Zed said,
"Believe now?" Zed asked.
"But–the date, I have been with her since this time, i– " Stark sounded confused.
"An imposter maybe," Zed said,
"How do you normally get into Haven? Don't answer, just take us there. Smoke her out." Stark ordered.
"It won't be easy," Zed said,
"Make it possible," Stark ordered.
Cain brought his face closer to Stark's. His countenance had changed and he slowly brought his hands up to his face as his claws pierced out.
'Annoying piece of shit. I could end you right here and now, look at you so vulnerable, unconscious, and the kingdoms will be mine to rule. You can only speak, I don't know if you can hear me. But I wish you can so you know how badly I want to end your miserable life. You believe the story you were told as a child and you seek to harm an innocent soul. If only you knew she would be the end of you. Fool.' Cain vented in his head.