I raised my hands in surrender. "Alright, I surrender!"
The figure released a low growl. "I have not come to take you to the king."
"Why are you here, then?" I asked, sweat on my brow. I saw what you did to that guard, and I am intrigued.
He chuckled. "I wasn't expecting to hear you admit it!"
"It wasn't me!" I lied.
He chuckled again. "Now, please get up from the floor before anyone sees you." He knelt down, wrapping his hands around my shoulders.
"Who are you?" I scrambled off the floor in panic, our eyes meeting with a terrible realization hitting me in the gut.
"Come on, don't tell me you've forgotten a handsome face like mine?" Ray traced his hands on his jawline.
"Ewww, don't even think that!" I stared daggers at him.
"Oh, my bad, then." He smirked, looking at my armor. "I thought you were supposed to be ill?"
"Yes, I... I am ill. Matter of fact, I was heading to the infirmary." I nodded my head.
"Is that so?" He giggled. "So, why are you dressed like you're ready for war?"
"Oh, this? I was just trying them on, you know, boredom." I nervously tugged at the armor breastplate.
"I would if I were you!" He stretched his hands to help me up.
"No thanks, I can do it myself." I struggled to remove the armor.
"If you say so," he chuckled as my hands fumbled around the armor breastplate.
"I pushed it up and down, but it refused to come out. Do you still need my help?" He raised his eyebrow.
"Probably," I slumped my shoulders. He neared me gently, removing the breastplate, his fingers grazing my back.
Tingles of sensation filled my body, and I held myself back from groaning because of his light touch.
"Hey, we're done," he dropped the breastplate on the table. "Let's go; we don't have time on our hands."
"Go where?" I stood up.
"Out of this pack, somewhere far from my father."
"Why would I do that?" I asked.
"Because you don't have a choice."
"Well, I don't trust you." I folded my arms.
"I will only talk to Derek."
"Too late, he's in Father's custody."
"What does your father want from Derek?" I asked.
"Because he's his son," Ray replied, darting his eyes around the room. "And this is how they talk."
"See, there's no time for chit-chat. Is it either you're going, or my dad finds you?"
"I am not going anywhere with you!"
"Why not? Don't you want protection?" he asked.
"Of course, I want protection, but I am tired of being the damsel in distress. I want to help Derek in whatever trouble he's in, please."
"You can't; you are practically powerless in front of my father."
"I wouldn't think that if I were you," I replied.
"What do you mean by...?" he trailed off as a guard rushed towards the dressing room.
"Hey, hide now!" He pushed me behind the door and faced the guard.
"Sir, something happened," the guard swallowed hard.
"What? Speak to me, Ray!" he hotly responded.
"There is a guard; he's lying on his face, his face is pale, and I think he was attacked by one of those dark things."
I watched Ray's expression change from puzzled to scared, but it's not yet time, he whispered under his voice.
"What did you say?" the guard asked, unsure.
"Nothing, everyone is to guard the king," he commanded the guard.
"Yes, sir, but... don't we have an opportunity to kill this thing if we had Prince Derek on our side?"
"This is not up for debate; obey the last command," Ray growled.
The guard bowed and scurried away.
He opened the door, his voice strict than before. "You ain't safe here, and neither me nor my brother can protect you."
"You don't have to; I said I can protect myself," I argued.
"Alright, I see why he likes you." He raised his hands. "Come quickly; let's go meet Father."
We walked through the guarded door; the stares of the guards poking through my skin like needles. We passed the maid's quarters and the kitchen as we climbed the stairs leading to the Alpha king's chambers.
Everywhere was oddly silent, and the guards only stared at us.
Was I doing the right thing?
I knew that we had reached his chambers, but oddly enough, there wasn't a single guard in front of his chamber.
Is he that powerful to protect himself?
"It's now or never," Ray muttered under his breath, opening his father's secret chambers. The door closed behind us as we stepped in.
I noticed that the chamber was dark, and the only source of light around were candles put in strategic positions. On the floor was a drawing of a prism, its lines tinted with blood.
"What ritual is this?" I muttered to myself.
"Ray, I was expecting you," the Alpha king spoke, his back facing us.
"How did he know we were coming?" I whispered to Ray.
"Because I told him we were coming," Ray smiled wildly.
"What the hell! So you set me up with your father!" I accused.
"I didn't set you up; you yourself wanted to meet him, so here he gestured to his father's direction.
"I shouldn't have trusted you," I mumbled out loud.
"Trust is a strong word, Ariel!" Ray smiled wildly, leaving me at the mercy of his father.
"Come, come on now, dear. I don't bite," the Alpha king threw the coat on his shoulders, revealing a meaty chest devoid of muscles.
"What have you done with Derek?" I asked, pretending to be unimpressed by his large frame and gigantic arms.
"He's safe where I want him to be," he replied.
"Why did you lock him up?" I asked.
"It's to lure you out!" he continued, pouring things into his large jug.
I gulped hard; the place smelled of burning wood, and it was hard to see clearly.
"What are you planning?" I asked.
"Nothing much. I just want to know who you really are, apart from being the child of prophecy," he replied.
"Let Derek go, and I'll tell you everything," I lied.
"Uuuuhh, doesn't work like that. Remember, you ain't in a place for negotiation," he said, drinking from the golden cup on the table.
"I will never let you do anything to me," I ran for the door, kicking wildly at the large door, but it wouldn't open.
"Let me go this instant!" I coughed, the smoke from the incense filling my lungs.
"I will when I am through," he came forward, dragging my head across to the table. I couldn't resist him; it was like he had this power over me.
He pushed my head backwards, muttering incoherent words, and dabbed a black substance on my forehead.
"If the dark one is interested in you, I want to know why," he pushed me to the floor.
My whole body trembled greatly under his touch, my thoughts going blank.
I fell to the floor, grasping my cloth tighter around my body. It suddenly felt so cold, like someone was snuffing away my soul.