Zera remained silent for the next minute after Aaron told her those words. She hadn’t known Xoe for a long time, yet her death has now come as a shock to her. It made sense now why Ivan looked as one mourning because, as much as he denied it, he considered her more than a mere acquaintance. She meant more than that, and it showed all over him.
She knows why his fury was directed at her. She couldn’t understand why he would ever think she had something to do with her death. Why would she kill someone who did nothing to her? What gain was there for her? She had last seen her over a week ago at Ivan’s quarters, and since then, she hadn’t seen him.
Damor took Zion into the house while Aaron and Zera were left alone outside. Seeing Damor back raised a lot of questions, and she did not get the chance to ask them because of Ivan’s confrontation.
“Why does he think I have something to do with Xoe’s death?” She demanded in a calm tone.
Aaron didn’t hesitate to speak. “I believe that is the only explanation that makes sense.”
She frowned. “What does that mean?”
“Xoe isn’t the only wise one dead. In fact, all the wise ones in the packs around the country are dead, all except Ivan. He feels like he has lost his family.”
She knew how the bonds of wise ones worked and their loyalty, despite their different packs and ideologies. They were brothers and sisters of the spiritual order, and losing them felt as devastating as the loss of one’s physical brother. “What has that got to do with me? Why does he blame me?”
“Because an alpha, as strong as they are, cannot kill a wise one so easily. The only one capable of bringing annihilation to the existence of the wise ones in such large numbers is a sage, and you’re the only one in the last hundred years.”
After the war over two years ago, Aaron had told her he wouldn’t have been able to kill the wise one of the rebellion packs as fast as she did. Zera killed him in a flash, and that was because her powers surpassed his. “I didn’t do this.” She told him.
He nodded. “I know.”
“Ivan doesn’t, and I want to know why.” She said this and stormed towards Ivan’s quarters.
“Zera!” Aaron called after her, and catching up to her, he took her by the hand.
She yanked her hand out of his hold and said, “Do not try to stop me, Aaron.”
He held up his hands in surrender and took a step back.
“You didn’t see his eyes; he blamed me, and he wanted to-maybe not kill me, but he wanted to hurt me. He didn’t only accuse me of what I know nothing of, but he wanted to kill me, and I want to know if that’s how low he thinks of me.”
“I am sorry. Ivan, however, isn’t the only one out seeking answers and revenge.” He told her. Her eyes narrowed at him, but he continued before she could ask him what he meant. “The alpha of the Crimson Moon Pack came over to the office earlier, and he didn’t look happy either.” He pressed his lips together. “Ivan is the only wise one alive, and that means the other packs believe you have killed every one of those wise ones, and they want you dead.”
“I didn’t do this, Aaron. This is insane, and this is even more reason to get to the root of this.” She said that and walked away from him.
He didn’t try to stop her; instead, he followed behind. She stormed into Ivan’s quarters, not bothering to knock or follow the normal protocol of being invited.
Ivan was setting down his jar of incense on the floor beside the red woollen mat already spread out.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, not bothering to look at her.
“I came to ask for answers.”
“As you can see, I have no answers to give, so if you don’t mind, I would like to bid farewell to someone who meant a lot to me while she was still in this world.” He said it in a defeated tone of voice.
Her eyes dropped. “I am sorry for your loss, Ivan. I know you cared about her.”
His head lifted, but he didn’t look at her; instead, his gaze moved over to Aaron, who stood behind Zera. “Can you take her out? I need to be alone.”
“I might be here, but I want to think I am not. You two better talk this out and listen to each other.”
If looks could kill, Aaron would have been dead for his reply because Ivan’s glare came hot after his word. “Xoe was a wise one, and the least she deserves is a wise one’s memorial; do not deprive me of the opportunity of having that.”
Out of respect for Xoe and her final farewell, Zera stepped out of Ivan’s room and left him to pay his last respect to Xoe. However, she didn’t return to their quarters; she had a lot she wanted to talk to Ivan about.
Aaron had chosen silence, and she appreciated his presence because, although it seemed less, there would be war between her and Ivan without it. She was equally willing to get down to the root of this, especially after Aaron had told her about the wise ones from the other packs. Someone had laid the perfect entrapment, and if Ivan could fall into it and make her the villain, then the other packs would do much worse. The real enemy was hiding behind the shadow, and no one knew what his next plan was.
Ivan reluctantly bid them back inside after he had completed his farewell to Xoe, and they stepped inside in silence.
“What did you come to say?” He demanded, “Say it and leave,” he said in a harsh tone of voice.
“You’re going to feel really terrible when we get to the root of this and you realise that I was never the bad guy to begin with.” She told him.
He glanced up at her with a cold, emotionless gaze and then asked, “It wouldn’t bring Xoe back, though.”
“Aaron told me all the wise ones in the packs across the country are dead. All except you.” She said, and he stared at her blankly, as if he didn’t understand what she just said.
She pressed her lips together to suppress her emotions and continued speaking. “I didn’t do that, and you and the rest of the pack across the country might not believe me, but it is the truth. I didn’t kill anyone. I would remember if I did something that vile and wouldn’t try to lie to hide it.”
“Only someone with your strength and ability could have killed that many wise ones.”
“That is true, but she didn’t do this.” Aaron spoke up from behind her, moving Ivan’s gaze from her over to him. He continued speaking, “And I believe whoever did would hope that she gets blamed for this and then taken out. Her existence is a threat to them, apparently, and they did this so that the other packs would take her out while the enemy kept their hands clean.”
“That is a wild assumption, Aaron, even for you.” Ivan replied.
He nodded. “Yes, it is, but that doesn’t mean it is impossible. If Zera is a clod-blooded killer, don’t you think I would be the first to know?” He demanded, his brow raised.
“She’s blacking out; you told me it didn’t stop after you stopped taking the pills, so it could have persisted. She kept seeing things; what if she did this during one of those times she wasn’t in control?”
“She is standing here,” Zera said, and she glared at Ivan for using her battles as some form of evidence against her for such a horrible crime. “And it has never been the way you just described it. And let’s not forget that the pills were your creation, and hence the nightmare I have been through has been your doing!”
Ivan pressed his lips together and took a deep breath. “The massive deaths of wise ones mean chaos will unfold for us all. The packs are coming for retribution; they are coming for blood, and they will get it.”
….
“Zion is asleep; it turns out he was already exhausted with school and the drive back home.” Damor spoke up and approached them as soon as he spotted their entrance. He turned to Aaron and said, “Your ice cream is in the freezer. Zion wanted to give it to you, but he felt sleepy and didn’t know when you would return, so he told me to keep it for you.” he seemed take his role as uncle seriously now. A lot has changed with him.
She had taken note of Damor’s presence earlier and was surprised by his arrival, but didn’t get the chance to say anything because they were in the midst of an heated confrontation. So it had to wait, yet it was nice to see him.
Zera then remembered they had gotten ice cream for Aaron on their way back home and never got the chance to give it to him because of Ivan’s confrontation. “Thank you, Damor. For taking care of Zion.”
He smiled, stepped forward, and pulled her into a tight hug. “I’ve missed you, Zera.” He breathed.
“I’m glad to have you back, and I am sorry for how we welcomed you earlier.”
He made a face, telling her it was nothing to apologise for. “I’m not sorry; family fights, and you are family.” He chuckled, “I still can’t believe I couldn’t pin that bastard down. Either he got stronger or I got weaker. The latter cannot be the case.” He said this and glanced down at his hands.
“Still, thank you.”
“Don’t; I won’t accept it. Aaron, however, should have allowed me to wipe the floor with the face of that smug bastard called Alpha Viktor.” He snarled.
Her eyes widened. “You met him?”
“Oh, I did; he called me a dog, and before this is over, he will know just how much of a dog I am,” He vowed through gritted teeth.
“If I’m being honest, I will say I didn’t anticipate your arrival anytime soon.” She pointed out.
He nodded. “True, but we are on the verge of making Hart’s Lab public. I need to see to the final decisions and directions; hence, Aaron called to me and made me come down here.” He pointed it out.
It made sense, and if the lab was near completion, Damor’s presence would be needed now more than ever.
“Welcome then; your arrival couldn’t have been at a much better time,” she told him, hugging him again.