Malia’s POV
“Why are you being so mysterious? Just tell me already,” I pressed as we rounded another corner and walked down another long hallway.
“Don’t you like that about me? The mystery. It adds to my charm,” he said smugly.
I scoffed. “It only makes you more annoying to me.”
He chuckled. “You’re in denial, Malia.”
“Whatever.”
“But don’t you think we’re not supposed to be walking together so soon, after what happened yesterday? Lila will not be pleased,” I said.
“Well, if it makes you feel better or less afraid, Lila is not in the palace. She’s on her way to her uncle’s pack as we speak.”
“It still doesn’t matter. What if she has asked someone to spy on us?” I asked, my voice laced with worry.
He stopped and turned around. “I don’t see or hear anybody following us. Trust me I’d know. That’s why the Moon Goddess blessed us with these abilities,” he answered.
“Indeed,” I murmured, painfully aware of my curse. Not being able to transform into a wolf also comes with not being able to tap into those abilities.
“I didn’t mean to remind you about… that,” he said and I was surprised by his intuitiveness.
“It’s okay. I’ve learned to live with it. I cannot keep on feeling bad when other werewolves use or talk about their gifts,” I said with a smile.
He took my hand in his and we resumed walking.
We came to a hallway that had a door at the end. It was the only one in that hallway.
We reached the door and he pushed it open. My eyes widened in surprise.
He motioned for me to go in first and I shook my head.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I said to him.
The door he just opened had a staircase that went down to goddess knows where. It was dark. Like the stairway to hell itself.
He smirked. “I didn’t know you were a scaredy-cat.”
I glared at him. “I’m not. I just have a bad feeling about all this.”
He chuckled. “That’s because you’ve seen too many horror movies.”
Without saying another word, he brushed past me and descended the stairs.
I just stood there until he called out.
“There are no wicked spirits here, Malia. You can come down now. Watch your steps, please. I don’t want your broken leg on my conscience.”
I breathed in deeply and prayed to the Moon Goddess for protection.
I closed my eyes as I walked slowly down the stairs.
I lost my footing and would have fallen to the ground but he caught me and carried me bridal style.
I still didn’t open my eyes when he set me down gently but I could tell that this space we were in was brighter.
“You can open your eyes now, Malia.”
I opened them slowly. I took in the view and was immediately caught up in a trance-like state.
I heard someone gasp vaguely. It was probably me.
It was a really big room filled with lots of sculptures. Each one told a story.
I moved slowly, unable to get enough of each one. It was pure perfection captured in stone. It was history preserved and immortalized.
There were sculptures telling the story of how our ancestors came to be and the fight with the vampires.
Ryder allowed me to feed my eyes in silence.
I finally got to the end of the room and saw the last of the sculptures.
I turned to face Ryder. He too seemed in awe.
“This isn’t my first time in this room. But it never fails to enthral me every time,” he said in a voice filled with wonder.
“This is beyond beautiful,” I murmured.
He looked at me and smiled. “Don’t tell me you’re about to start crying.”
I hadn’t even realized that there were tears in my eyes until he called my attention to it.
I blinked furiously to prevent them from falling.
“You see, sometimes scary things like dark stairways can lead to beautiful experiences.”
I nodded as I chuckled. “Yes, you’re right.”
He grinned and then did a double take. “Wait. Did you just agree with me? That’s a first.”
I smacked him playfully on the arm. “Don’t start. Besides, you stated a fact.”
“Still you agreed with me on something,” he insisted.
“Don’t spoil it by arguing now,” he added when I opened my mouth to say something.
I rolled my eyes.
“So which one do you prefer? The conservatory filled with poisonous flowers or this room filled with sculptures that tell stories?” He asked.
I thought about it for a moment. I’d have to disagree with the late Luna on this one. This room beats the conservatory hands down.
“Oh come on. You don’t have to think too hard about it or pretend to. I can see the answer in your eyes.”
“Okay, okay. Fine. This is better.” I said, giggling.
“Did the Luna come here often?” I asked.
“Yes, she did. But not as often as she went to that damn conservatory. Scientists are still trying to figure out her obsession with deadly plants,” he joked.
“What about your father? Did he also have a favourite place in the palace?” I asked and immediately felt stupid and too nosy.
What was my business with his parents’ favourite places? I wondered.
“Please you don’t have to answer that,” I said.
“Don’t worry. I know you’re curious about me and my family. I tend to draw that kind of curiosity in women,” he replied smugly.
I hated the fact that he was lumping me together with other women.
“I don’t want to know anymore. So you don’t have to tell me,” I murmured in irritation.
He chuckled. “I know you don’t mean that.”
I snorted.
“Well, to answer your question, my father’s favourite place wasn’t here in the palace. It was the training field.”
“Oh. I see. So he enjoyed training or fighting?”
“Both.”
He suddenly chuckled.
“Do you know what’s funny? My mother could never understand my father’s love for fighting and he could never understand her love for deadly plants.”
“But still they loved each other fiercely,” I pointed out.
He arched an eyebrow. “And how would you know that?”