*Danika*
As soon as my alarm went off at sunrise, I woke up but took my time to stretch my hands and legs with a yawn, and gradually sat up on the bed. My eyes still foggy with sleep, I yawned once more and climbed down, going to the bathroom to do my normal routine, after which I came out, wore my trainers, and went out to meet Alfred.
“Hey, Sweetface, what’s up?” he asked, panting while doing a three-lap jog. I smiled at him, taking my water bottle to my armpit.
“I tried calling you yesterday but your phone was turned off, and when I came to the hospital they said you left with one of the doctors. Are you okay?” He was still panting, his eyes pinched halfway, apparently from his exertions. My eyes that were locked on his biceps slowly went to his face and shrugged.
“I’m good, I just needed a little adventure!” I walked off from the terrace and he followed, still jogging. I exhaled, hot white air sauntering into space. “So I’ve decided I will be training twice a day henceforth,” I told him, dropping my bottle on top of the bonnet of the black Jaguar parked in front of the house.
“You kidding?” He finally stopped, his hands going to his waist.
“I’m not… I fathomed I’m not taking this training as seriously as I want, so I want to double up.” I made a clucking sound down my throat.
“What’s all the stress for?” he asked, his blue eyes digging into me. I was stuck for a while without an answer to his question, thinking of a better way to answer without arousing suspicion. Alfred might be at loggerhead with Alonso, still, I can’t tell him my plans. I don’t know why but recently I’ve been having this odd feeling whenever I’m around him. A kind of feeling that is defective.
“I don’t know…” I spread my hands, went on my toe, and started jogging. “Maybe as you said, I just want to be prepared for the unknown.” With that, I twisted my head from side to side and took off towards Lance’s quarters.
“Wait for me!” he called and ran towards me.
After a few laps, I was exhausted and gasping like a dog. I bent with my hands to my knee in front of the car to gain a little strength while waiting for Alfred to return. When he came back and went to the car entrance, I picked my bottle and started drinking.
“Let’s go!” he careened and powered the ignition. I slammed the door shut and just as the car was about to move, the front door slid open and Alonso appeared. He stopped in the terrace, a downcast look on his face when he saw me and Alfred.
I quickly averted my face, not in the mood to face him. Not now, not ever. I’m done licking his ass.
“I need to speak to you, Danika,” Alonso said. He was suddenly in front of the car. Too fast, I speculated but didn’t say anything.
“Too bad, brother. I got her first!” Alfred said as though noticing I didn’t want to speak to his brother. In the bat of an eyelid, the car zoomed off, leaving the aghast Alonso standing there watching after us, possibly heaving with fury as he is used to doing when things don’t go his way. Asshole!
“Whoo! Wasn’t that something?” Alfred spoke up, reaching for the radio to put it on. Loud music blasted forth and I flinched back first, before returning to sharply turn it off.
“What was that for?” he quizzed, eyeing me. “Ain’t you happy we just got rid of the pest? We should celebrate!”
“There is nothing to celebrate about that! Why do you think I should celebrate with you?” I faced him with my hands on my chest, my left eyebrow cocked to the top of my head.
“Because he just doesn’t get it! Yesterday with him was like dooms day to me and you think I will let him ruin it today again? No way!”
I snorted and moved my head back to its former position. “Whatever.”
“What’s biting your ass? C’mon, talk to me. Since Paisley’s announcement yesterday you have been very moody. What’s going on?”
“Nothing, Alfred. I told you I’m fine. I think I want to be quiet now, thanks for your understanding.” I faced the window, the face of Alonso taking position in every nook and cranny of my body. Why do I have to be placed in this position where no matter how I try, I can’t put him where I would want to? It’s so annoying!
Eventually, we reached the training ground and I left Alfred to another position to train with people that I wasn’t so familiar with. I need to acquaint myself with new moves and staying close to him wasn’t doing that. He tries, but I feel he is not showing me everything I need to know. He is being soft on me and that’s not what I want now. My enemies won’t waste time killing me nor would they be soft on me if I find myself in a wry circumstance that demands self-defense. I was sure to end up dead no sooner than I expected if I continue in this way.
The day’s training was brutal and fierce. These men were indifferent to the fact that I’m a woman and fought me without mercy. I was fatigued and laying on the grassy floor, all my body aching me, when Alfred found me an hour later. He helped me from the floor to the car without any question. The drive home was still and quiet and it was to my heart’s delight.
“Thanks,” I said to him when we got home and I went upstairs to prepare for breakfast. I told myself I will not hide from Alonso. I have to put on a brave face with my chin held high, and be the tigress I have decide to be. Hiding in my room would only make me a coward, so now I slay!
“Danika, I like your gown,” Paisley commended when I walked into the dining sometime later.
“Oh, thanks.” I gave her a soft smile with a shrug and went back to my food, ignoring the look Theresa. who also had a look of approval on her face, was giving.
“You know, many times, I must confess that I wish you were my son’s mate, Danika,” Theresa barfed, picking up her glass of wine to sip elegantly as though she hasn’t just dropped a bomb.
I paled on my seat, merely resisting choking on my food by a notch. I took my time to masticate so that I don’t dump all my bowel content on the table.
“No offense, Paisley, after all you are the one sitting by his side. But, I see the way Danika work so hard to be powerful. I see her every morning leaving with my son Alfred to train to be a better warrior and partner to her mate, Lancelot. I have never seen you do any of that, Paisley.” She grazed her an antagonizing glare masked with a false smile.
“T-that is because I am already strong I don’t need to do that. And not now when I’m carrying the royal baby.” Paisley batted her lashes bitchily, seemingly not perturbed by what Theresa was saying.
“You make it look as if Danika is a weakling which is why she is training…” Theresa went on, her fork dangling in her hand with a roasted lamb, hence she pushed to destabilize this peace we were maintaining.
“Mom is there something you are-”
“It’s enough! I want to eat my breakfast without any unwarranted rattling!” Alonso barked, his eyes pinned on his mother.
“Very well, son. I just need to remind your future Luna Queen that being powerful isn’t enough. You have to keep training to make sure you don’t lose your strength or power that easily when the enemy beckons… Even though you are carrying a royal child.” She snickered, and without further ado, focused on her meal.
That was the only time I was able to normalize my harsh breathing and focus on my breakfast. If only Theresa would learn to keep me out of their family clash I would be more than excited.
“Let’s go for a run this evening,” Alfred mumbled to me, when I finished my meal. I turned to leer at him while wiping my hands with a napkin.
I racked my head on my today’s schedule before replying. I know I will go to the library after work, and I don’t know when I will return, so I have to be certain. “I don’t know, Alfred. I will let you know if I can make it,” I mumbled back.
“Okay, take care.”
I nodded and stood, making an excuse to leave.
Throughout my day at work, I forced myself not to think about Alonso. All that remained etched in my head was the library. I couldn’t wait for the day’s work to be over, so I could make my way there. I would leave early so Roland won’t feel obligated to take me there. Besides, there are lots of things I would want to ask Mrs. Dolly without the presence of Roland.
“Are you leaving, Danika?” Sonia, one of the pup’s aid, asked me.
“Yeah, I am. Have a nice day.” I waved and left.
Thankfully, I didn’t see Roland when I left the building so I trekked faster until I reached the interception that led towards the library before slowing my gait. Luckily, a cab was coming and I boarded and gave him directions.
When we got there, the cab man looked at me in an awry fashion, thereafter driving off while mumbling something I didn’t catch.
“You came alone?” Mrs. Dolly asked me when I went in.
“Yes, Ma. Roland is still busy at the infirmary,” I said.
“Okay, not a problem. Are you are still going to the history section or you would want to explore other parts of the great citadel of knowledge?” she rattled, displaying her white set of dentitions as she smiled after asking.
“Still the history part,” I informed her with a slight snigger, unsettled as she strutted with me towards the historic shelf. Then she blew my mind with her next question.
“If you don’t mind me asking? Did your father ever tell you that his mother was a dark whisperer?”
…