"Can you tell me about the scar across your arm miss Red?"
Sophia glanced up to one of the men before her in the church. They all wore black cloaks which genuinely confused her since the church was a place of purity. But she had discovered long ago that none of these men were worthy of being called pure.
She sat on a cushioned chair facing the councilman keeping her face stone cold not wanting to reveal any emotions. All of the perverted men kept their eyes directed toward the girl making her squirm since she could see something within their eyes that didn't seem to be thinking of anything appropriate in a church.
"Don't worry Sophia. Just answer the question honestly. You aren't in any trouble." Randel said trying to sway the girl to speak. His voice came out sweet like honey, but Sophia still remember the way his face changed when she questioned him at her doorway.
He transformed from a charming man into a soulless being her gave her a look of pure hatred.
Glancing toward the man who she didn't trust, Sophia cleared her throat. "I accidentally tripped while cutting wood the other day. I was trying to prepare my mother for the winter season, but now I feel like a fool for even trying…."
She lowered her eyes when answering knowing she was an awful liar. But she also knew that maybe the men would give her sympathy because of her current circumstance.
"Yes…" one drawled making everyone remain silent. "We are so sorry for your loss Sophia. Ruby Red was a kind woman. It is quite unfortunate what happened."
Sensing how the comment was genuine, Sophia raised her eyes narrowing them at the ragged old man who just spoke. He didn't seem to stare at Sophia the same way as all the others. In fact, he looked genuinely sad.
"I am still in mourning." She challenged looking straight into his eyes. "Perhaps we should move this meeting to a different day? It isn't very appropriate or fair how I was forced to come here!"
Sophia's quick snap made some of the men widen their eyes. The girl wasn't one to associate or even speak when she walked around the village. But today it seemed she was not having it.
"Sophia, we are trying to help your best interest. Please trust me." Randel said grabbing her attention with a dazzling smile. But his smile faltered seeing her blue eyes glare in his direction.
"I don't trust you." She spat frowning at the handsome man who was not happy knowing Sophia was speaking to him disrespectfully in front of his colleges. "I don't see why this needs to be discussed today."
The two of them stared into each-others eyes. Randel knew he still had to teach Sophia the proper ways of addressing and respecting him, but he already did a number as he dragged her all the way down here by her shoulder.
After she challenged him about his issues with Clarice, he snapped his mouth grabbing her forcefully basically ignoring her words. Not once did he speak to her or care if she was uncomfortable with the way he dragged her through the village to the church.
Clearing his throat and ignoring the venom she spoke, Randel continued, "Your mother said to me that a wolfman damaged your arm before she died in front of me. As I tried to save her-" He paused hoping it would make Sophia more reasonable thinking he was a knight in shining amour. "She whispered this to me."
Sophia raised her brow surprised at the words Randel spoke. She actually wondered if this was why her mother left the cabin in such a rush. Was it because she noticed the scar?
"That's an interesting dying declaration." She replied. "I can assure you no creature has touched me. So hopefully that can put your mind to ease." Sophia said with a smirk.
Randel didn't allow her sarcasm to affect him. But internally, the man was raging.
"Please tell me about this accident you experienced then. I don't think your mother would be so protective over nothing." He probed.
"I told you, I cut my arm falling down after cutting some firewood. What does this have to do with Madam Clarice?" Sophia asked him with an innocent face that Randel knew she was faking.
The councilmen looked at one another ignoring the question asked. Some sighed not exactly sure how to answer.
And although Randel was furious, he even smiled at how smart his beauty was. He definitely needed to teach her to be obedient to him, but it was cute how she was able to trick the men in the council as easily as him.
"There have been some speculation that she is not doing what's best for the villagers." One muttered concerning Sophia's comment about Clarice. It was now clear that getting any information about how Sophia received her scar was useless. She was far too resentful today making some remember the days Tallkin was alive.
"How so?" She challenged once again.
"Just answer the questions girl!" Came a loud demand from another man annoyed at the girls stubbornness and disrespect. "Were you not taught how to respect the council?"
"She is Tallkin's daughter." One mumbled chuckling to himself. And even though the men were growing a sudden distaste for Sophia at the reminder of her heritage, the men in the council still enjoyed staring at the girl who sat across from them.
"Excuse me?" Sophia piped in upset at the remark they made about her father.
"Perhaps she's also some lousy drunk who can't handle her alcohol properly. Must be something in the family." Another murmured making Sophia whipped her head ready to jump across the room to strangle them.
"Please forgive them." Randel said sending a glare toward his fellow councilmen who changed their demeanor immediately not wanting to upset the man. Yet, Randel was happy to have this be a sort of punishment for Sophia so she could learn some discipline.
Randel was well aware of the status of Sophia. She was a daughter of a drunk and belligerent man who often went against the council. And she was also extremely poor to the village standards which should make her extremely undesirable. However, the man chose to overlook such things knowing he deserved the best in the village.
It just so happened that the best in the village was Sophia Red.
"No one is trying to upset you miss Red." Came a kind voice Sophia recognized as Randel's father who was the only one in the room she felt didn't have an ulterior motive.
"Forgive me councilman, but I'm not understanding the meaning of this. My mother just died and I am trying to process everything." Sophia pleaded hoping this man would help her.
"I understand child." The man said giving her a kind look. "That is what concerns us. We have seen nothing but harm hurting the people of the village when it comes to the season of the hunt. This also is something we have noticed concerning you and your mother."
Sophia furrowed get brows sensing sincerity in the older man's voice. She also caught him looking toward Randel with a frown which somewhat surprised the girl. No one ever looked at Randel in that matter!
"I hurt myself sir. No wolfman has put any harm upon me."
"Thank you." Wilken said giving the girl a nod. "Now can you tell us about your relationship with Madam Clarice?"
"She's the seer and has been preparing me for the hunt sir." Sophia answered.
Randel's father gave her a nod before being interrupted by his son.
"Has she done anything you would consider against the codes of the skies?"
Sophia shifted her gaze to the handsome councilman who had lost all his chances of winning her heart after how he dragged her through the village in such a humiliating way.
"I don't believe so. I know things apply differently for her because of her status as seer."
Raising his brow questioning her remark, Randel asked, "What do you mean Sophia?"
"That she can enter the woods and be protected because of being the seer." She answered not knowing if what she said could damage the blind woman. She forgot she was told not to say anything about that…. "Has she done something wrong?"
"You can leave now." Came the voice of the rude older man from earlier who insulted her father.
Sophia stood up nodding her head walking away from the judgmental eyes of the councilmen who stood up walking around the room discussing the news.
"She doesn't seem happy with your meddling son." Mr Santi said knowing his son would never win the affections of Sophia.
Randel glanced up to the old man who kept watching his son with disappointment.
"Just do as I say father. We wouldn't want anyone to suspect you of murder."
The senior Santi frowned at the words spoken by his only child. "You don't know what you speak Randel. You are meddling against the gods which is not a smart idea." He warned growing frustrated at how low his son was aiming.
"I don't need your lectures anymore." Randel sighed standing up holding some paperwork in his hands. He then looked his father in the eye giving him a charming smile. "Why don't you just do what we agreed? No one will get hurt."
Randel's father looked down knowing that the other day the medical doctor spoke to his son about a memory of Tallkin Red's dead body. Even though the old man did not have anything to do with the death, he knew his son would pressure him to do everything he demanded without question.
If not, the elder Santi would be framed and could not try to save the last of his people before his son corrupted them all.
Randel then walked to the other group of men speaking about the eventually judgment for seer.
"You don't know what you will do my son." Mr. Santi whispered as he watch the corruption begin to take over his sons soul.