"Hey Mary! Wait up." I yell to Mary as she turns around surveying the crazy person who's screaming her name. After the first painting got ruined by a spirit, most likely from the first power, I redid the painting. Every time I go to sleep, the words invade my dreams, 'Pomozi Nam Lotisia.'
For the last few days, I've been studying the Bosnian language, it's very complicated and the words are just all over the place.
Sasha said that the girls are buried in a tomb, but nobody knows where it's located. Maybe like in an abandoned tomb in Egypt or something. Last night, I watched a documentary on Cleopatra and it talks all about abandoned tombs and such. Since she said I'm the only living Zastitnik known to man, I'm most likely the only person that could locate them. Where would I start for that, also, why haven't I got my powers?
I also wonder how other Zastitnik's dealt with all of this. Were they overwhelmed with fear?
She was saying that Zastitniks can manipulate elements and create energy shields, but for the past week I've been trying to channel my inner 'Zastitnik', but to no avail. I hope they come soon, it would really interesting to have powers then I won't feel so regular anymore. But what really shook my core was when she told me that Grandpa knew about wolves and was pack doctor there. He does go out of town often, maybe that is where he's going. Did my grandmother know about his second life? Did my parents know? I highly doubt it, when I was growing up we didn't spend much time here.
Why wouldn't he tell me that he knew about them, probably the same reason I didn't tell him about Alexander to protect me, and me to protect him. So many people have been keeping secrets from me like I'm some child, except for Sasha. Over and over again Alexander keeps saying she isn't trustworthy and she's here to kill me. I don't get that feeling from her, something inside tells me she's more than what they say about her.
I push my own worrying thoughts aside and focus my attention on Mary. "You got the painting?" Putting my backpack on the ground, I gently unwrap the painting from the dirty cloth and hand it to her. Her eyes lit up on contact with it, I watch her aqua blue nails glide down the wolf's body. "It's. . .amazing Quinn, your talent is out of this world." It took me an extra three hours to finish it, I crossed my fingers hoping my body wouldn't get taken over again.
I throw her a warm smile, "So you think your sister will like it?" The one thing an artist doesn't want to hear, is that someone doesn't like their new painting.
She gives me a dumbfounded look, "Will she like it? I think she will love it; she's always wanted to date a werewolf; I keep telling her they don't exist." I nod agreeing with her. If only her sister knew they were indeed real. Dating Alexander hasn't been much of a challenge than I thought. In the book and movie series they make it seem somewhat of a challenge. Having to keep secrets and taking on a double life. Like Superman or Hannah Montana.
Lyra notices me, but not on a detailed level. I make sure I hang with her and don't act all suspicious around her. Also, making sure Alexander doesn't do anything wolfy-like around her, he sometimes growls, and when he does, I just pinch his arm, gently though.
"Supernatural men are our kryptonite. Well, if she wants anything else painted, maybe a vampire just tell me."
"You got it." said Mary throwing me a thumbs up, her aqua blue painted nail glows under the sunlight. "How much is it?"
"Oh- you don't have t-"
Suddenly, I lose my train of thought. A small, dark and mystifying voice creeps into my head. It seeps in like water flowing into a gutter. 'come to me', the disembodied voice says. I look around the hallway, students walk by laughing and joking around. By the door, I see someone reading a book, while a couple hold hands, probably confessing their love to one another. What is happening?
"Quinn- are –are you ok?" Mary voice comes out distorted, her eyes fill with worry and fear. I shake my head at her, unsure of what is going on. 'Follow my voice Quinn', a gasp escapes me, the disembodied voice knows my name. It calls me like it knows me, like we have been pals for years.
"I- I have to go. The painting is free." I leave Mary confused and lost by her locker. Something is moving my feet, and arms. It isn't me though, something is driving me it's like I'm the car and someone is steering the wheel. I wish to stop but sadly can't. 'That's right go to your car Quinn, come to me I need you', the voice calls out.
"Thanks!" She says.
As I'm 6 inches from the door, Lyra comes up to me. "Hey, where are you going school just started." I try to use my voice, but find that it's lost. My body is not my own now, I'm a mere puppet in a musical. Instead, I just shakes my head and walk out the door, behind me Lyra screams my name but I just ignore her.
"If you don't want to talk that's fine, but ignoring me is an asshole move!" She screams to me.
Within a few seconds I'm behind my wheel, driving down the road to an unknown location. Where is the voice taking me?
I walk quickly up the hill, in front of me lies the pack house. 'travel down the stairs', the voice tells me. My hand grabs the shiny doorknob and enters into the pack house, no one is in here they must be at school or working. Turning down the hallway, I find myself in front of the prison doors. Those same big guys that were here before stand stiff at it. Hands in front, feet a width apart and lips pushed together.
Why am I at the prison, I thought curiously.
"Oh, not you again." One of the guys moans out, I learned his name was Ivan just an FYI he isn't nice. "You're not getting down here." He assures me.
The other guy just stands quietly, I learned that he doesn't talk just stands and intimidates. 'you need to get past the guards.'
"How the hell am I going to do that without getting killed." I whisper to the mysterious voice.
"Who are you talking to?" Ivan asks me. I just ignore him.
'Just hold on, I got this'. What does that mean? My body starts to feel strong, adrenaline rushes throughout my it. "You better move, I don't want to hurt you." The words slip out my mouth like water.
Ivan and his partner just laugh, their perfect teeth shine bright as cackles come out. "Fine, you asked for it." I pull Ivan by his arm and kick him in the gut, while slinging him across the room. Jesus what the hell am I doing, I can't fight. Someone is taking over me, making me do this extraordinary stuff. His partner's eyes widen at me, scared to even fight. He pushes me out the way and runs down the long hall. Damn, fighting is exhilarating.
I look towards Ivan; he seems to be unconscious hopefully he isn't dead. Creeping towards him slowly, my finger nudges him. Before I could inspect more the voice comes in my head again.
"I just can't leave him!" I speak. 'he's irreverent, keep moving'.
'take the keys.' I turn Ivan over, god this man weighs a lot. Taking the shiny brass key from his pocket, I unlock the door and head down the basement. The prisoners lay quietly in their cells, some are rocking back and forth talking to themselves. 'come closer, your almost there', I find myself in front of Sasha. Her bright pink lips turn up in a sinister smile, she's the voice, the one telling me what to do, the one controlling over my body.
"It's you!" I say in disbelief.
In front of me stands Sasha, her vibrant energy lightens up the dirty prison room.
"It's me! Good job on getting here so quickly, you didn't have a problem, did you?"
"Did I have any- are you crazy?! I hurt an innocent guy, yeah maybe I didn't like him but I didn't want to see him hurt." A stir-crazy laugh comes out in rolls.
"Hey, if you want things done sometimes you have to hurt people."
"How- how did you even get me here. There was this voice in my head- and – and someone controlling my body how did you do it?" I watch her arm as a familiar bracelet dangles around, my bracelet.
"First lesson: never give a prized possession to a Red wolf. Another thing I can do is compel people, is that something lover boy didn't tell you." Her lips turn into a pout, Alexander was right she is bad news. I thought she would be somewhat of a good person, guess not. "Now, be a good girl and let me out of here."
"No, I'm not letting you out." I say confidently. Sasha gives me a menacing look; I can tell she's never said no to.
"If you don't let me out Quinn, bad things will happen." Shivers run feverishly down my body. "Get the key and let me the fuck out of this dog cage." The veins pop through her neck.
"I- I can't."
"Fine then, I'll have to compel you." She brings my bracelet to her front while whispering into it. "Unlock the cage so I can get out." Without my consent, my hand is brought up to the cage lock, I try to fight it but there's no resolution. "Good girl." She smiles.
In what seems like a flash, Sasha is standing in front of me. It's weird to see her so close, I've been used to the distance. "Ah, it's nice to be out. See you later Clint." She gives him a salute and proceeds out the door. The alarm in the prison starts to wail, in a matter of seconds people will be down here.
"Where will you go?" I ask, scared of what will happen next.
"Uh back to my Kingdom to come back and kill you all for trapping me." The words come out nonchalantly.
"You can't." I blurt out.
"But I can." One minute we're in the prison, the next were outside in the backyard. Guards surround us, ready to pounce at any moment. "You think I should kill them?" She points to the many guards.
"What- no are you crazy!"
"I kind of am." In the blink of an eye, the five guards surrounding us end up dead. The blood of the innocent lays all over her body. A fearful smile creeps up on her face, while mines droops in sadness for the lost lives.
"Why would you do that?"
"Because I felt like it, also to send a message." She steps closer to me. "No one messes with the Red Wolf's daughter." Her bloody hands grip on my face, soft lips plant gently on my forehead. "You were immense help to me, everything I told you was true. They are keeping you from your destiny, they don't want to see you shine, like I know you can. Kad se želite probuditi, možete me pronaći tamo gdje sunce zalazi. That means 'when you want to wake up meet me where the sun sets.'"
"I thought we were friends?" I say in a small voice, but she catches it.
"Friends are for the weak." Suddenly she's gone, leaving me surrounded by dead bodies. Behind me I hear footsteps coming closer, I can hear them halt behind me.
"What the hell did you do?" I hear Alexander spit out behind me; horror decorates his face.
"Nothing I-"
"My father was right; you are just like Rhella." He whispers. I never have seen him look at me like that, with a look of disgust and betrayal. I look down at my hands in fear, he thinks I'm capable of doing something like this, does he even know me?
I looked at him with such dismay on my face, he said that I was just like Rhella. The blood on my face begins to trickle down, it seeps into my mouth. The magnetic tang swirls around, making me sick to my stomach.
"You- you think I would do something like this. That I'm capable of murder!" Anger seeps through my pores, I see his face change to almost regret.
"No, not you, but your powers, yes." said Alexander.
"So, you admit."
"Admit what?"
"That I have powers, something you kept from me. Yeah, Sasha may be a bad person but at least she kept it real with me. For weeks I've been trying to decipher those visions, understand what they meant and you knew the whole time!" Now the anger is bursting straight out of me. He doesn't have any right to say anything.
"I did it for your protection." He says in a low voice, he stands in a position that would make it easy for him to pounce on me at any moment, few seconds later some guards stand behind him, he holds his hand up for them to stop. Their hands lie firmly on their weapons.
"My protection?! I don't need protecting I need to be told the truth, and they don't need to be here." I spat out pointing to the unnecessary men behind him. "My powers aren't in yet."
Around the corner a woman comes over. She hands Alexander an item that I can't make out. He stands with the item in hand for a few seconds, whatever it is made his stomach turn upside down. His hand opens up, the once mysterious gift becomes known to the world.
"Quinneth what is this?" He says through his teeth. My lotus bracelet that once belonged to Sasha for half a day dangles in the sunlight. My eyes droop down low, damn it I didn't think anyone would find it. The once anger I had starts to flicker off with the cool winds.
"It's mine." I answered.
"What was it doing down in the prison cell with Sasha?" His eyes squint at me, trying to read my every expression. I control it thoroughly, not letting him in.
"I gave to her when I went to go see her." His face squishes up at me. "Don't look at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you are just disgusted with me. I went to go see her because she's the only one that could and would answer my questions."
"I am disgusted with you quite frankly. I can't believe you were so dumb to go down there with her, who by away if you didn't know is the daughter of the King that wants to kill everyone in Nygaard. She's playing you Quinn; she wants you to wake up the first power to take over the Kingdom of Nygaard from his brother, the King Adalwolf." Realization comes over my face. The stories he told me at the waterfall, they were about Sasha and her family.
"Yeah, Quinn she's that daughter and he's the middle brother, the one that married the woman his father didn't approve of. He also wants his older brother, Vet Khan dead and his daughter Katana." He furthers on.
"I- I didn't know all that."
"You know why you didn't!? Because I didn't want you to know, to know all the drama that went on here and I most importantly didn't want you conversating with a murder Quinneth. I do all of this to protect YOU!" Veins pop from his neck, as his hands ball up in fury. "Oh, and if you want to know more, Lyle your friend at the tribune, is Kai Khan, Katana's brother. Also, Katana and Kai are Sasha's cousins, who they also wants dead for betraying them years ago."
Even though I'm a bit startled by his yelling, I don't back down. "Well, if you would have told me all of this, we wouldn't be having this conversation. Its guys like you that keeps things way from the girl, and then when she goes and gets it herself the guy is instantly mad. You can't get mad at me for trying to find out my origin, I have an immense power inside of me that I never knew, and hell no one is going to make me feel bad for wanting to look into it." I step over the dead bodies and stride over to him; we stand face to face my breath hitting his chest while his hits the top of my head.
I strain my neck up at him, ours eyes finally connect. "I'm leaving, don't follow me." I snatch the bracelet from his hand while walking over to my car. His eyes burry deep in my back, I would love to rip them out of his head and stomp on them.
Slamming the door to the house, I began to walk towards the stairs until my grandfather stops me.
"Quinn come back here." I angrily turn back around; he leans against the wall his glasses rest firmly on his nose. "What's going on with you, the school called and said you skipped school."
"A lot." Is all I say.
"You know that you could always talk to me, I'll always be here to tell you the truth." I sling my tongue over my teeth, tell me the truth huh.
"Oh, really now." I cross my arms. "Then tell me this, why didn't you tell me that you knew about werewolves and Alexander?" His eyes widen, I could tell he didn't see that coming.
"Quinneth you have to understand. Me and your grandmother didn't want you to know about this life, to keep you safe." I roll my eyes, I'm so sick of this 'keep you safe crap.' First with Alexander and now with him, not all women are some 1950's damsel in distress. We can handle more than you think.
"Keep me safe, I'm tired of having people keep me safe. I'll just be the idiot girlfriend that stand idle by while everyone lies to me and keeps their identity secret. I've kept it real with everyone, you, and Alexander and what do I get from it LIES AND MORE LIES! From this day on people are going to start telling me the truth or so help me god I'll bl-"
"Quinneth honey, calm down." Blood boils through my entire being, if I didn't know any better my veins might pop out of my eyes and sow evil crimson blood all over the walls.
"You calm down!" I scream back. Suddenly behind me, I hear the light bulbs burst into shatters' the tiny glass decorates all around us. It's all slow motion, the widening of my grandpas eyes, tinkling of the glass and the realization that I did this.
I look towards my grandpa who has curiousness and fright all over his face.
"Alexander was right, maybe I am like Rhella." I say to my grandfather and me.
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