Chapter 16 - Werewolf (2)

Artha initially wanted to turn around and put distance away, but a particular mark on her back caused him to stand still. 

A strange combination of grey and white colour shaped like an uneven circle was on her back, etched between her shoulder blades. The colour had caught his eyes and for unknown reason the particular mark had caused his heart to ache. Finding the girl about to turn around, Artha turned into his wolf form and stood still.

A smile etched easily on her face, her voice turned soft as she asked him to come into the water.

You will regret it though.

Artha turns into his human form. Her reaction changes within seconds, as she turns and submerges her body, fumbles and swims away as only her head is shown above the water. 

She screams on the top of her lungs, shouting with clear annoyance, stating his identity with disbelief.

"Go away!"

She began to scream frantically, her ears turned red and her body trembled in fear. Artha decided to cooperate after being satisfied with teasing the girl. He turned around and grabbed himself a piece of cloth, wrapped in black as he murmured with a cold tone.

"You better come out. The water is poisonous."

Raiene's eyes widen in fear, she begins to swim across to the edge, when all of a sudden she realises that her clothes are on the other side of the lake. Turning around, she found the guy had already wrapped in black, his back towards her as he stared ahead. Raiene grit her teeth and choose to swim across without a sound, praying inside her head so the guy wouldn't suddenly turn around and face her.

"Stay still. Don't you dare peek!"

Raiene snatched her clothes and fumbled with the top button, after some difficulty, she managed to put on her clothes, glaring at his back. She retrieved her leather bag and was about to leave when she heard his voice.

"Don't you need an antidote?"

Artha turned around and stepped closer to her, from up close he was able to catch her soft features he missed yesterday.

The girl has a tiny dot near her lips and a few dots of freckles around her nose, but one could easily be entranced by her light brown eyes. Feeling drowned, Artha glances sideways and through his peripheral vision senses that she is feeling cold.

Raiene did not have time to dry herself, all she could think about was how to put on her clothes within a second and disappear from this man's sight. Much less the thoughts to dry herself.

Shivering slightly, she stepped away from him, eyeing the guy in front of him. Strands of silver hair had fallen around his mauve orbs, thin tight lips and rough edge of his face caused Raiene to shiver in fear. A few tiny scars scattered around his neck and left cheek, but did not hinder his handsome features.

Handsome?

Since when Raiene cared about a guy's appearance?

Baffled, she starts to shake her head, takes a deep breath and stares with suspicion and doubt, "You have the antidote?"

Artha was about to say no, he was just messing around with her. The lake is part of Qye's Royal territory, no other creature was allowed any access within the premise without permission beforehand.

Initially he wanted to tell her that she wasn't allowed to take a bath here, but the minute he caught her eyebrow pulled up in worry, a smile almost cracked on his face. He clears his throat and turns around, with a single gesture of his finger, he commands her to follow him.

Raiene doesn't have any choice. She can only believe this stranger for now or else, there's a chance she can get killed with this unknown poison.

How did all of this happen?

She could only wallow in confusion. Following his step carefully.

• • ⊱∘────·☽༓☾·────∘⊰ • •

Her eyes hold uncertainty, staring in silence at the familiar closed double doors. Though it visibly showed its life through years as the once vivid colours had faded, no one aside from his children was allowed inside the room, her feet still brought her to the same place over and over every morning.

It has been five years and her brother never leaves that room.

Deair took a glimpse at the sparkling marble floor, staring at her pale reflection, her mouth felt dry as she tried to calm herself. Once again she couldn't muster enough courage.

She begins to turn around and move towards the middle part of the castle, her eyes searching for the little girl. A corner of her lips raised once she is able to find the girl standing near the garden. Eyes the color of lush beautiful green, staring at the sky in silence. Deair was about to greet her when the girl suddenly turned her head and faced her.

Her eyes send a message straight into her mind.

Storm.

Deair raised her head, finding the blue serene clear sky and light wind passing the surrounding. Even though her words had always implied only the truth, she never indicated the right location of the said words. She could only nod her head and approach Elrin with a light step.

"Did you go against Yoani again?"

A corner of her lips raised, her hand lightly caressing the smooth white light hair of the girl. Elrin nods her head, staring into Deair orbs. Swirls of blue circling around the edges of her pupils for seconds, before her smile directed at the sky once again.

It will be stormy.

Elrin whispered within Deair's mind, deep down the little girl was aware that her aunt could only nod her head. She can never understand the bits of vision that she happens to see, her mother had always instructed her to keep it to herself.

Giggling to herself, her sparkling green eyes directed at Deair's eyes once again.

The path is stormy.

• • ⊱∘────·☽༓☾·────∘⊰ • •

Raiene follows his step with hesitation, her eyes subconsciously tracing her surroundings with keen attention, the clear vision of red trees earlier had now changed to thin and dark looking ones. The air felt suffocating and the cawing of several crows only added tension to the eerie air, her heart beating quicker the deeper he advanced forward.

Suppressing her fear, Raiene leaped forward and walked by his side. She didn't even realise that her side was touching him, trying to find protection within his presence.

It was odd for Raiene. He is certainly a stranger, then why would she follow after him obediently and even rely on him. For all she knows, perhaps he is a slave hunter and wanted to lead her to a quiet place before taking her down.

Artha, on the other hand, finds it surprising yet amazed at the little girl.  He is aware that her heartbeat quickens by second, indicating her fear. Despite that, she still chooses to seek protection by his side and relies on him.

Artha suppressed a smile that was about to erupt. It was the first time after all, for someone to put their trust in him. However, upon noticing that she had taken a few steps away from him. His eyes turn a little bit darker than usual.

Raiene chose to take a step away after hesitating for a while, she didn't have a reason to trust him, the only thing she could do is stand still and squint her eyes. Observing him from head to toe, trying to find a single clue could indicate his identity.

Nonetheless, apart from a few scars on his face, Raiene couldn't find anything suspicious from him, he looks cold and stiff but that doesn't mean he is a bad person.

Taking a closer look, she could notice his neat black attire exquisitely made. A coat made out of high quality fabrics and showing off its lustre despite being engulfed within the forest, which lacks the penetrated light of sun.

A crest of blooming peony could be seen on his left chest, shining and intricately sewn with thin thread, a detailed Qye's Kingdom crest.

Feeling doubtful, Raiene stared at him with disbelief, a fearful thought came rushing inside her head, "are you-" she hesitated a little bit, biting her lips, she then gathers her courage to finished her question, "-Qye's guard?" she timidly asked, fear clearly painted on her face.

Ruby had informed her this morning not to venture too far into the forest, she had even repeated Ruby's warning often inside her mind. Qye's Royal territory strictly forbade outsiders without permission.

There was once an attempt at assassination of the daughter of Qye, one who was rumoured to have all abilities and power in the world, the current Queen of Suttern. Since then the territory around the palace of Qye has been increased tenfold and guarded with high level personnel.

Although Raiene never heard Qye sentence a creature to death, she still doesn't want to be an exception.

Artha found her words amusing, though not a single change of expression could be seen within his indifference stature, he raised his perfectly aligned eyebrow, questioning her instead.

"If I am?"

I'm doomed!