"Any leads on him?" I murmured into Nyssa's ear, noticing her fixation on the marks adorning my neck. Mental note: give Vik a solid smack later—perhaps months from now.
"Indeed. Someone spotted him wandering in the mountains. Seems like he's engaged in the rituals. With some luck, we might locate him this time," Nyssa replied, absently wiping her hands with a towel.
"And how long before that happens exactly?" My whisper probably sounded more like a yell, and I regretted it instantly as Nyssa flinched. She was our queen, after all, and none of us were accustomed to such rudeness. Yet, my frustration bubbled up beyond my control.
It had been four years already, and I felt as powerless as the day I leaped off the cliff. If I didn't take action to reclaim my abilities, things definitely wouldn't resolve themselves.
Besides, there was always the inevitable threat of him discovering me. I didn't want my nightmare to become my reality .
The Ancient Sage remained my sole chance to learn the arts essential for seeking vengeance. But tracking him down was no easy feat. Meeting him or persuading him to take me as his disciple seemed like a far-off dream.
"You understand how challenging it is, right? We've been attempting for four years without success. We need to stay vigilant before he vanishes again," Nyssa sighed, stirring the pudding batter to a perfect consistency.
"Where does he vanish for the entire year? Where does he stay?" My curiosity got the better of me.
The sage supposedly possessed extraordinary power and wisdom that could upheave the entire supernatural realm. Kiara had vaguely mentioned him to me. Frankly, I wasn't sure if her tale held much truth, but I couldn't risk ignoring it, no matter how slim the probability.
Before Nyssa could reply, Liu Xin popped in with a puff, a potbelly, and tested the batter with his finger, teasing it with his tongue before growling playfully.
"Seriously? Liu Xin?" I scoffed, rolling my eyes with enough force to power a generator.
The guy was like a pesky mosquito at a picnic – you swat him away, but he keeps buzzing back. Swearing was probably his secret workout routine and satisfaction? Nah, never heard of it. Yet somehow, he managed to turn the old 'Jade Garden Eatery' into a hit, completely oblivious to the fact that he was unwittingly doing my bidding.
"Three strikes, sweety! You're really committed to this, huh?" He shot back, giving me a mockingly impressed eyebrow raise. His laser focus on my cleavage was almost comical like he was trying to find the answers to life's mysteries down there. Honestly, if I had a dollar for every time he pulled this move, I'd be retired on a beach somewhere by now.
And don't get me started about my financial situation! Poverty was part of the reason I was so committed to taking that Alpha down, you'd think I was training for a marathon!
Seriously, winning the war was cool and all, but did he really have to kick me out of my own palace? Couldn't he keep his grubby paws off my digs? Nope, that miserable excuse for a villain just had to break in. I don't understand what was the dog thinking!?
I huffed out an oh-you-are-so-unbelivingy-disgusted breath and resumed my position behind the sink.
Alright! Liu Xin was my employer and there isn't anything much that I could do about it. As the clatter of silverware died down, the background hum of conversation took over. Ah, Saturday – the MVP of the week, bringing liberation, joy, and, of course, that sweet, sweet salary. It's a trio that no other day can top.
"Alright, let's get this show on the road," Liu Xin declared, pointing to the back office like he was about to enter a secret lair. "Chop chop!" He disappeared behind the ancient wooden doors, probably expecting a round of applause for paying us for our own hard work.
Vanessa. The name I'd reluctantly adopted for four long years. During that time, I went from being a queen to practically a vagabond, skulking around werewolves like a shadow. From living large in a castle to calling a tavern my 'palace,' and from a plush bed to a floor that never warmed up – it was quite the downgrade.
Empress Seraphina Everhart to waitress Vanessa, talk about a career shift. Going from the regal airs of the Serpent Dominion to the grit of Xi City was a journey, let me tell you. And every time someone called me Vanessa, it was like a slap in the face. Where was the respect for royalty?
Reality snapped back into focus as Liu Xin's expectant gaze bore into me. In the palace, this guy would've been shown the door a long time ago. If only that Alpha hadn't wrecked my life and snatched my protector away... then maybe I wouldn't have to endure these cringe-worthy looks.
"What's the special request this week, Vanessa?" Nyssa asked, darting a wary glance around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. Spoiler alert: no one cared. Welcome to life on Emerald Bamboo Lane.
I scowled, Nyssa's image burnt into my brain. She was just as cheerful and kind as she was four years ago, before... well, before everything went to the wolves. No wonder Liu Xin had a soft spot for her... and for me.
That wolf had a soft spot for pretty much every creature with a female reproductive organ. He had a reputation to uphold and a family to expand, after all. And expand he did.
Liu Xin was all about two things – The Jade Garden Eatery, my lovely workplace, and producing offspring like he was running a baby factory. The guy was already raising enough kids to form a sports team at home, and there was another one on the way with his third wife.
Population explosion, anyone?
It'd been over a year since I started working at The Jade Garden Eatery, and not a single day passed without his unsolicited advice on 'how I could improve my prospects.'
The nerve! The audacity! The money!
Dignity, my dearest possession, had been traded off ages ago, long before I set foot in Xi City. Vengeance was on my mind, but now wasn't the time to blow my cover.
I'd take him down when he least expected it, just like his Alpha did to us. To channel my anger somewhere more deserving, I shot Nyssa a withering look, my voice dripping with disdain.
"Give it your best shot!"
"I don't know! Umm... ancient scrolls!?"
"Scrolls? Seriously?" I scoffed, raising an incredulous eyebrow. Did she think I was stashing away tips to open a museum?
Nyssa bit her lip, seemingly stumped for words. Clearly, she'd never met someone so ruthlessly opposed to parchment. Nyssa was once a queen under my province—we weren't the BFFs but she was at least my gossip girl and I'd be lying if I said I hadn't almost forgotten about it.
I shook my head, trying to shake off the absurdity of the suggestion.
"Look, I appreciate the sentiment, but let's not forget we're in the age of digital everything, not ancient scrolls and quills. We're in Xi City, not the Dominion."
She perked up, newfound determination in her eyes. As I left the store, I couldn't help but chuckle to myself. Xi City sure had a knack for throwing curveballs, even for the most jaded souls. Stepping out into the drizzle, I looked up at the heavy gray clouds. It was the first rain of the monsoon, just like the day that flipped my world over.