“What is your name?” This is the first question Jude will ask on stepping into his room.
“I am Rose, sir.” I bow my head a bit, seeing him wearing a crown on his head and sitting on an official throne. I stare at him in disbelief for a while until Mike jerks me out of my reverie with a bang.
“What was that?” I shudder, and stare at him with quavering lips.
“What were you staring at?” He asks but I ignore and i wink at Jude.
“Can I leave, please?” I ask Jude. He doesn’t reply, he only smirks and adjusts his glasses. Oh, he’s on glasses as well. Taking his silence for yes, I march towards the door and jerk it open. I get out and dart towards the gate. Looking back, I see Jude and all his men folding their arms across their chests and smirking.
“Can’t I leave?” I ask them. “I only saved the Alpha. I also have my pack.”
“We really appreciate that you saved the Alpha but at this moment, half bread is worse than none.” Jude says, beating his lips.
“I don’t understand?” I move an inch back and hit a person. I stare back at the person and at Jude consecutively until I lose control of where I am.
“The pack members are here.” Jude says, and munches my lips. “Come and guide me.” Then he directs me to a different room. A dark one.
“Where is this?” I ask, and almost go out of breath.
“Incase you do not know, I have a wizard trait in me.” He says and takes a seat.
“What… What the hell!” I cuss.
“Don’t get scared.” He replies, and pats a seat. “Come, sit here.”
“There’s no illumination here. How do we see?” I ask him, covering my nose. “And again, why is air hard to sniff here?”
“About the illumination, the switch will be turned on only if you cooperate and about the air being hard to sniff, it looks more like a lie.” He sighs, and I sit beside him. Other members enter and one of them goes near the switch.
“Let her agree first.” Jude says, and he stops in his tracks. Others take their seats. It is dark but I can still see some figures. I can count them. With the guy that’s gone to turn on the switch, they are fourteen. Oh my my.
“Agree on what, Alpha?” I ask him, and adjust my seat.
“To keep the secret.” He clips.
“I don’t… I don’t. Just let me go, please.” I tell him, and make a move to go but he holds my hand and drags me down to my seat.
“I only saved the Alpha, can’t I go now?” I ask, shakily.
“You are a rogue. You’re meant to be held down.” Mike says, roughly.
“Starting to regret that…” I retort, but Jude cuts in.
“Don’t regret it. We discovered that you are an hybrid and you’re capable of invoking spirits best. We also discovered that if the spirit of wizard of witch is put in you, you’ll help us best.” Jude says and sighs.
“She will surely help real good.” Another says, croakily.
“Okay. You want me to help you, how?” I respond, and smirk. If it’s possible to mind link without summoning Spark from a far distance, I would just inform Ben and the real Rose to be on the alert.
“With the map.” He replies. “You know, you were talking about the map that other time.”
“That was how you discovered everything about me?” I retort, sharply.
“Yes.” Jude confesses.
“Okay. Deal. I’ll help you.” I submit and bow before Jude.
“That’s a good one from you.” One of them says, and they all bow before Jude.
“He who never gets a negative response, all hail to the most powerful Alpha.” They chorus, and return to their normal positions at once.
“But before we go on, I need you to sign a deal too.” I tell them, and Jude signals to the guy standing beside the switch.
“Turn it on.” He tells him.
“What is it, dear?” He asks and the whole room glows with different kinds of light. Green. Yellow. Blue. Red. White.
“It’s so cool.” I say in my mind.
“They are two things. First, you have to promise that you will tell me everything I ask you. And everything I ask of and from you.”
“Second?” Mike retorts.
“You won’t make me your mate. I have my mate already.” I lie, and Jude’s eyes glow into a strange color. It returns to the normal color in a millisecond.
“Alright. We promise.” Jude says, and drops something on the ground. The object spreads itself till it could no longer contain any space in the room.
“Now, this is the map.” Jude says, and points at a direction in the map. “Here is where we are going to?”
“Why can’t you just go since you know the direction?” I think in my mind but they hear.
“Bearings change as we move, that’s why we need you.” Mike replies.
“I didn’t ask a question.” I reply, and they all stare at one another.
“You did.”
“I didn’t.” I retort.
“The illumination is on. I understand you. Even if you think about anything, it will be said out without your knowledge. That is the first tactic in the witch or wizard kingdom.” Jude whispers into my ears.
“Screw that.” He says out loud and we both bend our legs and leap on the map with our knees.
“After we go here,…” He says. “… we will go there.”
“Alright. When do we start the journey?” I ask them and sit, reclining my back on the chair and breathing heavily. This room is surely taking my breath.
“When to go? You have to go through the book of witches and wizards.” Jude replies.
“Go through?” I ask.
“Read through.” Mike responds, and i sigh.
“Is he your Beta?” I ask and he nods. I look at Mike and roll my eyes. He fumes with his lips but calms down when he realizes I’m seated beside Jude.
“Where is the book?” I ask.
“Here is it.” Jude gives it to me, and flip the sheets open.
“Okay. Before I start reading, I have a question. Remember you promised not to hide anything.”
“Yes, sure. Don’t you hide anything as well unless we will just get you with…” a hand wraps itself across his mouth, and disappears immediately.
“What was that?” I ask, a bit scared.
“That’s not your question.” He responds.
“Okay. Screw it, Rose. My question is, why are you dressed like a king when I entered into your room?” I ask, and Mike quickly walks up to me and jerks me up. He seats me on a separate and unique seat.
“Read the book here. We need the information urgently.” He dumps me on the seat, and i jam my ass while my bones snap.
“I have started reading.” I tell them.
“We know.”
“I mean, remain silent.” I clip. “Everyone.”
Then, I clasp my hands together and lower it on the book. After two minutes, my mind has been switched to Spark’s and my heart glows with joy. At least, I’ll be able to contact Ben and Sophia.
“This book gives room for spirit and or life transformation.” I pen it down on a sheet of paper, starting it with figure “one”.
“Information about how to start the journey instead.” Jude signals to me. Then my hands move around the sheets themselves and Spark tells me to choose wherever my hands finally rest at. After few minutes of scribbling and seeming like a mad woman, my hand touches: “Happy Kids High School.” And then, I smirk. It soon translates into a grin. Taking my hands off of the book, the book drops to the ground with an unexpectedly loud thud. I follow after It, I have been drained.
“What’s your conclusion?” Jude asks me, and taps my shoulders.
“I am tired. Help me up.” I tell them.
“Okay. Or do you prefer going back into my room?”
“Maybe.” I struggle to say, and i wrap the map in my hand as we all head to Jude’s room. The light outside the room dazzles like lightning till I have to cover my eyes for protection from blindness.
“Does sunlight affect one’s thinking too?” I mutter into Jude’s ears and he shakes his head, meaning ‘no.’
“Alright, thank you.” I say, and escape. I run towards the main gate and just immediately, the whole pack house come into disarray and confusion.