I clenched and unclenched my fist in a sudden unexplainable anger that began crawling under my skin.
A woman with red roses in her hair stood forward, her hair getting caught in the wind. She looked distraught "Great one" she kneeled "please save us, we need you" she pleaded, her voice breaking at the end.
They all kneeled down and repeated her words in unison "save us great one"
My eyes scanned through the crowd. Their desperation and plea filled the air.
"We will fight till the end with you great one. We will destroy anyone who stands in your way. We cannot endure this any longer" the woman with red roses said with a look that could kill in her eyes.
We?
"We were once a glorious clan and we have been reduced to nothing" a younger girl chipped in, her bright violet eyes holding an innocence that I had lost "thankfully you have been brought back to us. Now we can finally claim our place as royalty. Isn't that right?"
"Yes!" They chanted
"Enough everyone!" Came the sound of a familiar voice
A small path was cleared to reveal lylena. Her words holding authority rather than power. "This was not what we had planned." She said angrily.
She turned to me and her eyes softened "we have just gotten our master back. Let us not overwhelm her with our plight. This is a matter for another day"
"It happened again lylena. Again" the girl said through gritted teeth, her eyes holding a deep sorrow.
Lylena's eyes flickered and for a second I could've sworn I saw sadness in them. But she quickly masked it with indifference "not now Yaya" she warned and the girl stood back. Her head bowed but I could see the need to defy lylena was burning in her veins. The innocence in her eyes was a mask. Something people must have mistaken as weakness.
"Someone called me." I stared at the statue, my brows scrunching together "it felt more like a summon and cry for help."
Lylena pressed her lips into a thin line, her eyes flashing with recognition. She knew what I was talking about. "come great one." She urged "Today has been a long day" she held my hand and pulled me along with her. But I couldn't peel my eyes off the statue. It was awfully familiar, like a memory I couldn't remember but could never forget.
The moment the door shut behind me, my knees gave in. I fell as my knees buckled beneath me and I dropped like a sad bag of potatoes
"What is it great one?" Lylena asked in panic
"It's nothing. I'm just exhausted" I brushed it off
She sighed, her shoulders slouching back "your body hasn't fully unlocked your powers yet. You're still transitioning which means every time you use your powers you become physically drained" she tilted my chin up "we need to get your powers back great one"
"How am I supposed to do that. I couldn't even be a proper wolf" I snickered at how weak I am.
"You have to get your memories back. It's that simple"
"I have no idea how to do that either" I said in frustration "isn't there a task that's easy"
"Well" she paused "you had already crushed the easy way we had"
"What!" I froze "you mean the pendant was my easy way out. F**k" I quickly covered my mouth, realizing what I just said.
That was strange. I never curse. Ever
Lylena chuckled "you know....xaaji was infamous for her filthy mouth"
My eyes widened "no way"
Lylena hummed in approval "she had no filter and always spoke whatever was in her head"
"That's unbelievable."
She stared with a sad smile on her face "you've been tamed by your father right from birth. Every spirit of rebellion must have been caged by your family's cruelty" she touched my hair "it's not your fault if you feel different. Your memories will come back and you'll be yourself. Our memories are what makes us who we are"
I smiled "thank you lylena"
I've only known her for a day, yet I loved her more than I loved my father. It wasn't strong enough to die for her, yet It was strong enough to choose her over him.
"I'll take you to your room great one. Tomorrow you will begin training with modi" she said and I stiffened "your brain might have forgotten but your muscles will surely remember" she continued, oblivious to my reaction.
"Modi?" I choked knowing what it meant.
She tilted her head "do you not want modi to teach you combat?"
I gulped. Was that why she had met me earlier.
"Modi is our finest soldier. She is strong and patient and will be able to teach you everything you need to learn. You said a war is coming so you need to be prepared."
"What about makia?" I blurted out and regretted it the moment I said it. I held my breath in anticipation.
Silence
Oh gosh
Lylena took one cautious step towards me "great one, I can feel your heart beating too fast"
Does she not know I killed her? Or is she just ignorant about it?
"It's...uh...it's..a wolf thing"
She arched a brow "a wolf thing?"
I licked my suddenly dry lips "yes. A wolf thing"
She took another step, her frame invading my space and towering over me "why did you run out when modi arrived. You kept apologizing. Why?"
I looked away, the guilt at the pit of my stomach suddenly showing it's ugly head "I was overwhelmed"
"Then why were you apologizing"
"I thought I should apologize"
"That's not a reason, great one. Why?"
I narrowed my eyes "you didn't answer my question either so why should I answer yours" I folded my arms across my chest to seem more confident.
She smiled a tight lipped smile "I did not answer because you already know the answer to your own question" and with that she turned around "come great one, I'll show you to your room"
I had no reply to give and so I humbly stepped in place behind her.
There were many questions that I had unanswered, many things that I wanted to know yet could not ask.
Despite the fact that makia was gone, no one seemed to mourn her death. Wasn't she loved by anyone? Wasn't she important?
Modi seemed fine and I haven't seen vysa anywhere.
As much as I wanted to feel safe here, there seemed to be secrets that they seemed too eager to hide... especially lylena.
But tomorrow I will get answers. Tomorrow I will know it all.