77. A Challenge
ZAIA.
“So how old are you, Zaia?” Gerard asks as he sits back, that unnerving smirk on his face getting to me. “I am in my mid-twenties,” I reply cordially.
“A good age. Once you get to my age, you have to take care of yourself a little more,” he chuckles. “It takes a lot longer to recover from tumbles and falls.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Oh? Well, I beg to differ. I think regardless of our age, we all need to take care of ourselves.” I reply. He raises an eyebrow before he nods. “I guess that’s true, we can all be permanently wounded…”
What a strange thing to say….
“So, when did you come to the States?”
I ask. “Not too long ago. “That isn’t very clear, Mr King… Not too long ago could mean a few days, a few weeks or even a few months.” I reply.
He watches me intently before leaning forward, sparing the clock a glance before giving me all his attention. “So… why do I feel like you don’t trust me, Zaia?” Oh? How exactly did he deduce that? Unless, of course, he has something to hide…
“Oh, not at all. I don’t have an opinion of someone I have just met yet. I usually decide an opinion on what I feel depending on one’s actions… and I can’t do that so soon, We have… just met, right? Time will tell, Mr. King.” “I see…”
His demeanour changes for a second before he looks away. “Unless, of course, you expected me to recognise you,” I add quietly.
I might just be making a fool of myself, or worse, even offending someone innocent, but it is the only way I can think of to get answers.
By pretending to know more than I do. His eyes glimmer, his smirk faltering as he watches me. “The thing is… Mr King. You confuse me.” I continue.
“How so, pray tell.” “You say you don’t watch the news… yet you knew of me becoming CEO.” I say, sitting back and crossing my legs gracefully. “As a businessman, business… other companies and rival entities are of interest and so, I… keep on top of that.”
“Of course they are. I’m sure you are passionate about getting rid of all those who stand in your way.” “Getting rid of?” He throws his head back, roaring with laughter, a sound that grates on my nerves. “Those words are a little… extreme, are they not?”
I let out a fake laugh as I look across at him innocently. “Extreme? For someone who used the words ‘cleansed ‘, you scream extreme to me.”
His smile disappears, and his eyes darken. “As much as I’m enjoying this conversation, Zaia… I do take offence when insulted and you are incredibly brave to do so to my face… or incredibly stupid.” His voice is extremely low.
“Then drop the façade, I know who you are,” I reply coldly, the atmosphere in the room shifting. Our eyes meet and I refuse to back down by looking away first. I pull on every emotion in my body, feeling my eyes burn with power, feeling it ripple around me as I glare at him with my aura like a shield surrounding me.
A frown crosses his forehead, and he clenches his jaw. “And what façade might that be?” he asks, almost challengingly. My next sentence might just get me confirmation… This is it. I give it my all and to hell with consequences.
“Yes… You are probably angry we have completed the Triquetra… is that why you are here, to see for yourself? Or to attempt to kill me once again. I know who you are, Gerard. Drop the act, it does not suit you.”
I stand up, my heart thumping as I look down at him with hatred and scorn. There’s a sliver of fear that ripples through me but I refuse to show him that After all, he is possibly the one who tried to murder Val… tried to kill me… and Sebastian. He stands up, towering over me and advances on me as I hold my ground, prepared for anything.
“So… now that we have introduced ourselves to one another, let’s cut to the chase. You chose the wrong side. You are foolish to think that you will win…because I will make sure you will not succeed.” His poisonous words are barely above a whisper as he leans closer to me. His threat is loud and clear.
“And you are an even bigger fool to think you will be the one to succeed. But you are right about one thing.” I begin. He runs his fingers through my hair and I smack his hand away, making him smirk.
“And what might that be?” he asks, now almost amused. Why is he so confident? “That this world needs to be cleansed of scum. I will do the honours to get rid of you myself.” I say venomously.
His smirk falters, his eyes filling with rage. “It seems my small threats have not been enough… don’t anger me because now that you have chosen your side, I no longer need you,” he snarls.
“The triquetra has been completed, that is the end of it. We have as good as won.” I say sharply. He chuckles, “Oh, it doesn’t work that way, not at all… The thing is, the battle may be over, but the war is only just beginning…”
“What do you mean?” “That’s for me to know,” he whispers tauntingly. “I don’t get it… I understand wanting to hurt me, to hate me, but how could you try to kill your cousin’s son?” I ask, glaring at him.
I will never forget the state Sebastian was in. He chuckles. “Oh, that was not my doing. The boys got a little carried away.” I clench my fists trying to contain my anger. “And one of them is my brother, correct?”
Just the thought makes me sick. There’s a glimmer of surprise on his face before he smirks.
“Indeed.”
“Where is he?” I ask sharply. “So, you know about him… intriguing. He’s doing well, ready to unleash retribution on the likes of those who don’t deserve to be called werewolves… but you, Zaia, are the perfect she- wolf,” he smirks. “You can still change your mind. Join us. What do you say?”
“Never,” I reply defiantly. “Then that is your loss. I gave you yet another chance, and you declined it. Since you have made your decision, I am here to give you a warning, Zaia… so listen well. By now you know I don’t play.”
He steps back as he now begins to circle me as if I am his prey but I don’t think he realises I am not so weak. “What warning?” I say. Now that we have a face for the attacker, we can do something about it.
I will tell Sebastian and together we will end his madness. “Stay away from Sebastian.”
My eyes widen in surprise. Sebastian? Why? I frown deeply. From the very start, those messages were pushing us apart Why though?
What does keeping us apart benefit them? “And why do you want us apart? I deserve to know that much.”
He simply smirks. “Because I said so. Now… here’s the deal. If you refuse… your little Sia, who is already near the end of her life, might just die a little faster… If you don’t want that, you will stay away from Sebastian.” He warns menacingly. Sia…
His words make me sick. The terrifying truth that maybe she won’t live long, which I have always tried to deny has been spoken aloud and it shatters me.
“Leave her out of this,” I warn, my voice shaking. “The thing is Zaia, you have proven to be disobedient… so I need to keep you in line,” he whispers, now taking hold of my chin.
My heart clenches as I stare at him. Not Sia… not Sia… not Sia…
“If you touch her… I will kill you. I will kill you!” I scream, shoving him away from me, my heart raging. His eyes blaze and he regains his balance pretty quickly.
“Don’t you dare…” He snarls venomously. “The ball is in your court. Stay away from Sebastian and Sia your little dew drop will be fine… In fact, I have the antidote to the poison that was given to her before she was even born.” He whispers sinisterly, his words make me numb.
She was poisoned? He smirks and this time when he takes hold of my chin; I don’t move, my mind spinning.
“I was hoping it was your son… but we got the wrong pup. It doesn’t matter, it still means I hold the antidote in my hand. Obey me, Zaia, and your child might live past her fifth birthday,” he whispers in my ear.
I don’t move, my entire world crashing down around me. I’m certain he’s telling the truth… the doctors have been baffled from the start “Do you really have an antidote?” I ask quietly. “Yes. I do.” He smiles. “You know I do… You just need to behave.”
I could risk my own life, and stand by Sebastian no matter what but Sia’s life? I can’t risk that…
“Very well…” What do you want from me?” I ask quietly. “I want you to leave this pack immediately.” He says menacingly.
I shake my head. “Even if I want to, I can’t. Sebastian will know something is wrong. Trust me.” “I can handle Sebastian.”
“Not if I suddenly leave.” I respond, trying to think of my options. I can’t risk my baby girl’s life, but at the same time, I want him to think I’m. far more terrified than I am. I need him. to think I’m at his mercy.
Unknowingly, he has given me a vital piece of information. He has just told me that Sia is poisoned… now that I know that… I will look for an antidote, not a remedy to an unknown disease.
“Then? You will stay here?” “Yes… I’ll keep my distance from Sebastian the best I can… I’ll distance myself from him, but I will not leave this pack.”
I will tell Sebastian the truth. The two of us can destroy him. He frowns. “That’s not good enough… I mean, you two clearly disobey me time and time again. How about I give him a reason to become distant from you, myself?” he murmurs. “No one can deny such a beautiful woman…”
I frown, about to speak, when he pinches my chin in his fingers and suddenly pulls me against him.
“What-”
Shock rushes through me before he presses his thumb against my lip, cutting me off, and then, to my utter horror, he presses his lips against mine Anger blazes inside of me like a dragon waking from its slumber and, with all my strength, I push him back. He isn’t expecting it as he’s thrown across the room and, to my horror, his head hits the marble fireplace behind him.
I gasp as I see the bright red blood that begins to coat the white marble, spreading horrifyingly fast…
