บท 10: 10. The Truth Won't Set You Free.
The Home Of The Blood Fairies.
Present Day.
"So, why couldn't you take them all by yourself, August?" Ciara's lips pouted as her inquisitive side took a hold of her. Her left eye squinted as she stole glances of August, who was still so silent. She didn't understand why he couldn't defeat just two people. "Same with you, Zuri-"
"-hey it's really sweet of you to finally acknowledge me by my name. " a thin smile appeared across her face as she sarcastically noted out loud.
"-answer me." Ciara wanted answers and they would provide it. Even if they would cook up some delicious lies, they would provide it to her.
"Ciara, perhaps later we shall discuss that." In a low and slightly authoritative voice, August replied her, then brought his gaze at Zuri. Gavil was already fast asleep on Zuri's laps. In that faint light, a stern look rested across her face, though it was hard to tell since she was always like that. He wondered the last time Zuri had genuinely felt happiness, and love and care. "Are you sure we're safe from those people?" He asked instead, hoping she would find no offense. "I just need to be sure."
Zuri was tensed, tired and stressed. In just one night, she had fought a battle like never before. She had screamed, cried, fought and worst, she used her powers again. It was an intense battle because she knew a price was still coming. Back then when she'd defeated the brothers of hell, she thought she'd paid the price by sacrificing those elderlies in the fire. It was enough price to pay for the cost of her life. Yet, poor Gavil had to suffer for an expensive deal she had made fourteen years ago. Now, that magic had been rekindled.
It won't be long before a new price would be requested. She feared who else would be entangled in that deal. Heaving in a deep sigh, she reconsidered whether it was worth sharing her time with those strangers. If it hadn't been for them, she still would've been saved. Her brows furrowed in confusion as she shot August a big frown. "They will not bother us for a while, I mean it took them fourteen years to find me. You might want to prepare for another decade ahead."
"Wait, what?" Frowned Ciara.
"Who were those people?" August demanded again, curious as to where they might had been from and what they had to do with Zuri.
"Doesn't matter." Replied Zuri. "I was safe from them until you morons brought them to me. Why should I even trust you?"
"Excuse you? They were most especially searching for you, apparently since fourteen years now." Protested Ciara.
"Ciara's right-"
"-hold your horses, lover boy. But I have managed to protect myself for years now with a cloaking spell, until you both found me. How did you fine me? How?"
"No need to raise your voice high. Gavil is still fast asleep."
Zuri was frowning with anger, completely deaf to all of their poor excuses. "Everything points to the time when you both managed to locate me. I demand to know how." Her face hardened as she asked peevishly. Ciara was about to say something but decided to reconsider, remembering that Zuri was the Dark One, and she was presently in a terrible mood.
Both August and Ciara exchanged terrifying glances and for a moment, there was complete silence; nothing but the sound of their hearts beating in their ears, distance and faint rutting deer, screeching owls and irking cries of crickets and insects.
Finally, August broke the silence, mustering the last bit of courage that resided deep down in his heart. "Queen Dalia has been killing and ruining lives for years now," he began to foretell, and Zuri listened carefully. "We didn't really bother, because our kingdom minded their business and tried to level up our defenses. But, unfortunately for us, after Queen Dalia claimed all parts of the North and East Realms, she headed straight for the West. My home."
"I don't understand, why would she want to claim all Realms? For what reason?"
Ciara chuckled out, making Zuri wondered what she had said funny. Zuri's gaze slowly fell on her. "Silly you. Very sad you've been trapped in this forest all your life." When she talked, she threw her fear in the gutters, not minding what Zuri would do next. "You don't even know what is happening in the real world."
Zuri's lips pressed together in anxiety. She loved her life. It didn't bother her at all that she knew nothing that was going on in the real world. "It still doesn't answer my question. How the bloody hell did you both find me? You've broken the spell I worked hard to create. For years, I have been protected from humans like you. How were you all able to locate me!"
"Would it matter in the end?" Querried Ciara. "In the end, there probably won't be any single soul alive because Dalia would have destroyed them all!"
"Who the bloody hell is Dalia!"
"Zuri, you need to relax. Please." Said August. Both ladies turned to look at him, though the brief moment was terrifying. He sighed in frustration. "Listen, I truly want to be honest with—Ciara quiet!—you, Zuri." He shot a warning glance at Ciara who was about to say something else. A silent conversation occurred between the two of them, and luckily for him, August won. A faint helpless smile worked its way up to Zuri's cheeks." Zuri, we consulted a wizard." Explained August, who instantly captivated Zuri's attention.
"A wizard? W- what?"
"Well you're not the only magical being alive, you know?" Snorted Ciara, who was instantly cut off by August irked glare. She rolled her eyes in disapproval, but August didn't seem to care. It frustrated her more, but it didn't matter. Zuri was all that mattered at the moment, so as impossible as it might had been for her, Ciara kept her mouth shut.
"Yes. A wizard. We uh, we have this," sluggishly, August managed to bring out a napkin. No. It was a blanket.
"Oh right, the baby blanket." Recalled Ciara, out loud.
In August's hands appeared a pale blue blanket with a letter fancily embroidered on it. The letters were bold and neatly created with white fabrics. On it were huge words, a name. It spelt out; ZURI.
"It used to be yours. We received it from your mother, Queen of Meridon." Said August, in the nicest tone he could think of. He didn't want to harm her more than she had already been hurt. "Queen Kailani helped us by surrendering this blanket so the old Wizard could track you with it. It lead us to you, your mother lead us to you. She misses you, you know." He decided to add, perhaps it would get on a good side of Zuri.
"She wanted us to save innocent lives, so she helped. You are our savior, Zuri. Even your mother approves of it." Ciara said, but surprisingly even to herself, she meant every word she'd uttered. Because it was true.
Zuri on the other hand, was still so silent. So patient and relaxed.
So dangerously silent.
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