"So, tell me, what are you doing here?" I asked Jackson, my voice laced with concern.
"I came to look for you," he replied, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
"Here?"
"No, I was planning on seeking an address to where he stayed among the people."
"Oh, well, it's a good thing you're safe."
"You too."
"About our mission, I don't think it's possible anymore," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Why do you say so?" Jackson asked, his brow furrowed.
"He's just too strong, and I fear what he might do to anyone of us."
"Did he hurt you?" Jackson asked, his eyes narrowing.
"Oh, uhm, no, he didn't."
"Layla, don't lie to me."
"I'm not lying, he didn't," I insisted, but Jackson's skeptical gaze made me feel guilty.
He looked at me for a moment, clenching his jaw. "So, what do we do now?"
"I don't know, Jackson. I'm doubting whatever we do would work on him."
"What makes you say that?"
"So many things. The time I shot and stabbed him, I even poisoned his food, but he knew. His appearance shows it all. I was even told he's a white wolf, and he can get extremely mad."
"What?" Jackson exclaimed, his eyes wide with surprise.
"It's the truth. I'm confused myself on what to do."
"I have an idea," Jackson said, a determined glint in his eye.
"What?"
"If we can't harm him, we should harm the people around him instead. That way, we still get to avenge their deaths and return home, even if we don't get back the land."
"No, no, that's not right," I protested, feeling a surge of guilt.
"What do you mean, Layla?"
"They're innocent lives. We can't just kill all of them for a crime they know nothing about."
"Layla, is this you? Have you grown fond of them already?"
"No, it's not that."
"Then what? Have you forgotten what they did 10 years ago? Are you willing to let go that easily?"
I hesitated, feeling a pang of uncertainty. "No, it's just that..."
They're innocent people living here, how could we kill them?. No, no, I must do this.
"Fine." The words felt heavy in my throat. Should we really be doing this?.
"Thank you, Layla," Jackson said, hugging me tightly.
I hugged him back, feeling a sense of trepidation. "You should get ready next tomorrow, which is Friday. All necessary arrangements would be made, so be ready," he said.
"Sure," I replied.
As we hugged again, I suddenly felt someone pulling me away from Jackson. Their hands were around my chest, and I tried to struggle free.
"Hey! Let go of her!" Jackson yelled, but instead, he fell to the ground, screaming in pain and holding his lungs.
"Jackson!" I called out, trying to reach out to him, but the hands holding me didn't allow.
I instantly turned around to see Liam, a smile on his lips and blood dripping from the sides of his lips. His gaze met mine, and for a moment, it softened.
"What did you do to him?" I asked Liam, fury fuming inside me. I looked back at Jackson on the floor, blood on his neck, and my anger intensified. "Answer me!" I demanded.
Liam's smile only infuriated me further. "Don't worry about him, let's go," he said softly, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
"I'm not coming with you," I said and rushed to Jackson's side. I knelt down, touching his face, and he looked up at me weakly.
"You'll be fine," I said, trying to reassure him. "You'll be fine, okay?"
I stood up, my eyes blazing, and confronted Liam. "What's wrong with him? You better fix him."
Liam chuckled and suddenly pulled me away by my wrist.
"Let go of me!" I protested, but he kept pulling me until we reached the table. The people smiling faces and Liam's amused expression only added to my frustration.
"Oh, look who's back," a lady said, her gaze on me as she smiles.
"Sit next to me," she said, standing up and walking to me, pulling me gently to sit beside her.
I hesitated, but Liam's grip on my wrist tightened, and I reluctantly sat down.
"I'm Jasmine, Liam's older sister. He has told me so many things about you and I must say, my brother has great affection for you."
I huffed and looked away. She hands me a glass, with black substance in it. What is this?
"No no, have this one" another lady beside me said, holding onto a glass with colorless liquid in it.
"No" I declined, but she persisted. I took a sip, and the bitter taste surprised me. Before I knew it, I had gulped down the whole glass, and she filled it up again.
"That's enough" Liam said from across the table, worry evident on his face.
I ignore, gulping down the whole glass and filling it up myself this time, gulping everything down in one go. The room began to spin, and I felt my eyelids growing heavy.
"Huuuhh?" I slurred, my vision blurring.
"Amira, see what you caused" Jasmine complained.
She chuckled "not my fault"
"I'm feeling dizzy," I said, my words slurring together.
"Take it easy there" the queen's gentle voice was like music to my ears, but even her soothing tone couldn't calm my growing unease.
I stood up, trying to maintain my balance, and walked to a boy sitting nearby.
"What's your name, mister? You look so pretty. I can cook for you," I said.
The boy smiled, making me confused. "Sure, then, I'll cook for you, sweetheart. Let's dance," I said, pulling him up to stand.
I mistakenly fell into his arms, and I heard Liam's voice, "Hey, what are you doing?, why do you call him sweetheart?"
I turned to Liam, my anger resurfacing. "Don't talk to me"
"He's the man of my dreams," I said, and the table erupted in chuckles.
"It's about time you come take her" the boy said, his chest vibrating as he spoke.
Liam approached me, his eyes gleaming with a hint of annoyance, and pulled me away from the boy's arms. "I'll be heading back now." He said.
"No, I want to stay with him," I protested, trying to wriggle free.
"You won't stay with him," Liam said, his grip tightening, and he lifted me up in his arms. I struggled, but he held me firm, carrying me outside.
"I want to stay with him," I repeated, but Liam ignored me, opening the car door and depositing me inside. He shut the door behind me and came in through the other side, his expression unyielding.
I reached out to touch the car's interior, Liam snapped, "Sit still."
He leaned in, his lips inches from mine, and pulled something from beside me and pulled away. The car started moving, and I felt a rush of excitement.
"Zoom, zoooom, zooooooom, zoom," I said, giggling. "Ha ha ha ha, zoom zoom, we're zooming, haha."
But my mood quickly shifted, and I said, "I miss my sweetheart." I grabbed Liam's collar, pulling his face close to mine. I felt the car stop.
"You took me away from him. I'll make you pay," I threatened, shaking him until his hair fell across his face.
He looked up at me, his eyes sad and cute at the same time. I stopped shaking him, and my anger dissipated.
"Aww, you look cute," I said, my voice softening.
"You're a cute boy. I don't want my sweetheart anymore, I want you now."
Liam's face lit up with a smile, and I asked, "Why're you smiling?"
He didn't respond, but I continued, "you look really pretty too."
I slowly released my grip on his collar and fell back into my seat, feeling the car move again. Sleepiness washed over me, and I muttered, "Vroom, zoom, zoom," before my eyes finally closed.