Chapter 17

[ASIA]

Bundles of Poison was where Asia planned on spending the night. The bar was better than that Manor where she lived, with the horrible, selfish people she called family.

"You can't war, you can't battle, you are weak, and you are sentimental. You're not a hunter. You're just...woman." Her father's words rang in her head and screeched against her ears.

More vodka. More vodka. She screamed back in her head, and snatched the bottle from the bartender and filled the glass to the brim, before gulping it's content all down again.

Ina had returned about an hour ago, and had come to the bar with Skade Lunaku. Another Noctari, part of Ina's sect and the other best friend of Asia.

He was tall and handsome, with white, dangling strands of locs on his head. Asia had always felt a certain kind of attraction to him, his style and quiet nature. But she could never tell him that. Or even Ina.

"Asia." He called her through the crowd. Asia stood up and they hugged for a while, before Ina pushed them apart.

"It was taking too long." She said, and they both laughed, Asia tucking a strand of hair behind her little ears.

"I got your messages. I can't believe that happened. Fucking Hawk?" Ina said with a scoff.

"Well, it fucking happened, Ina."

"What happened?" Skade asked.

"Have you been drinking?" Ina asked after she noticed how down and smug Asia's eyes were, and how her words fell out of her mouth without control and with total ease. Her stamina was poor and she now slouched the way she did when she had drank so much.

"We're in a bar, Ina. What else am I supposed to do?"

"Come on, we're leaving. Now. " Ina pulled her friend, and Skade threw his hands up in loss and confusion. They headed out to Skade's car.

When they had settled in and Skade slid the car into the driveway, the silence that ensued made him uncomfortable. All of them infact, but Asia didn't want to talk anymore.

"Does anyone want to tell me what's up? I missed my fun night today, I believe I'm owed an explanation. Asia?" He looked at her from the mirror, and for a moment, their eyes locked before she threw them off of him.

How do I even tell him? How can I explain my family's incestuous practices in a way that it would actually sound okay?

"It's nothing, Skade." Asia mumbled. Skade huffed and gave a quick glance at Ina, who was in the passengers seat, and not willing to talk.

"Fine, then."

"You know, today was actually eventful. You know that phone call I had to take that made me leave you today?" Ina asked, turning her face to Asia. "Well, turns out Skylar Salamander actually summoned our Noctari sect to assign us an odd mission."

Skylar Salamander was a senior member of the Umbra Vigilum assembly.

Skylat herself? An odd mission? Asia turned.

"Ina–" Skade was saying. He was part of Ina's Noctari sect as well.

"What? I trust her. Come on."

"You don't have to tell me confidential Noctari business just to lift me off of my pathetic life, Ina. Keep your secrets." Asia said and turned back to her window.

"No. It's not about that, so just let me fucking finish. I'm leaving Nestaraki."

Asia turned again, sharply this time. "You leave this city everyday for your missions, Ina."

"Well, I'm leaving for longer this time. Apparently, the wild SilverTail pack of years ago, remember them?"

"Yeah. Marcus killed their Alpha some eight years ago or so." Asia said, recalling Marcus reporting to her father in his office all those years ago.

"Well, one of his brither's twin sons took over. They've been identified in this small town city, Amoden. Its thousands of miles away from Nestaraki." Skade said.

"Klaus managed to kill a few, but he was badly injured and the rest escaped from the city. He's sent Skade and I to track them. When we find them, we are to alert Klaus and the rest of the sect. We leave tonight, darling."

"Tonight?"

"Short notice, Asia." Skade said.

"Really short notice!" Asia exclaimed. This was not a time she would want her only friends in the world right now to leave her. And they knew it too. Skade knew it, even though he didn't know about Hawk.

"Right now, we have news that one of them was spotted crossung the Amoden border to the bordering city, Grimden, but the truth is they could be anywhere. The more time we spend here, the more time they get farther out of our reach."

"And endanger the lives of civilians out there." Skade added. Asia sighed. Nodding.

"I guess we can spend the night together then, then I see you off."

"Or...why don't you come with us?" Ina asked. Skade pumped the brakes immediately and the car screeched.

"Whoa! Ina–"

"Keep driving, Skade."

"Ina, what are you doing?"

"Asia, remember what we talked about before I left?"

Of course she remembered. Breaking the rules. Asia locked eyes with Ina for a moment before nodding.

"Asia, what are you thinking?" Skade asked.

"Come along. This just might be the moon speaking through me–"

"Yeah, right."

"Shut up, Skade." Ina barked. "Asia, you can choose to continue sitting at home all day and wait for Viktor and Nika to finally marry you off, pretending that you can't be useful in another way, or you can come with us amd return with the head of the SilverTail Alpha, and the rest of his pack in chains. You can show them the extent of your power,and just how limitless it can be."

"She's a Vrykolak, Ina. This is dangerous."

"Exactly. You can show them what it actually means to be a Vrykolak woman. A Noctari queen."

Asia thought for a moment. Ina could never have sounded more convincing, and her wordswrapped around Asia's hand like the night blanketed the day.This was what Asia wanted so much, more than anything, bit st the same time, she didn't want to be bad or do things the wrong way.

But what actually makes this wrong?

Her Father did it, and now he's the most feared Noctari, and her family name stands out in the whole of Nestaraki city.

Why shouldn't she make a name for herself? Why couldn't she prove her worth? That was the only language her father understood anyway. Marcus had proved himself and had been doing that since he came our of his mothers womb. Erin had proven himself without failing to remind her of it everyday. But what had she done? What could she do?

Definitely not get married off.

"Asia?"

Asia breathed in.

"Let's go to Grimden city and kill some fucking wolves."

Skade rolled his eyes and Ina screamed inutter excitement.

"Well, get ready, Asia. Your life is about to begin." Skade said finally. And Asia smiled.

He was right.

It definitely feels like it.