~Steph~

'You're going to hang Rowan? You didn't even tell me?"


Zayne just stepped out of Luther's room.

I was shocked when he came here to plead for Rowan's life. I never knew Luther had ordered him to be hung.

'I felt no need to after all don't you want him dead?"


No actually I don't , I don't like to see anyone die, it's a sick sight for me. But I can't afford to look weak in front of Zayne,what will he think of me?

'Yes I do"


I reluctantly answered, my heart was deeply disturbed.

Rowan might have tried to kill me but he's still a good person and I was there that night.

Luther triggered his actions and stirred his game.

'Good, I'll be downstairs you can join me when your ready"

Luther said before stepping out of his room.

I got dressed into a blue gown, I had to get used to dressing in clothes different from my maid outfits.

Luther has forbidden me from wearing those and forced Crystal to relieve me of my job.

There was quite a loud chattering downstairs at the castle courtyard. I walked up to the corridor of Luther's room and peeped downstairs.

A good number of Lycans had already turned up to see Rowan get hanged. The noose had been set up and chairs underneath it as well.

I squinted my eyes tightly and from a distance I saw Rowan getting dragged like a criminal to the yard by two guards.

His face was pale and sorrow filled him.

My heart melted in affection, he's not innocent but no one deserves death not even him.

No! I can't let Luther kill him, I have to do something about this. NOW!

I quickly took a jacket and walked down stairs, my steps quickened.

From a distance I could see Felix walking up to Rowan ready to push the chair away.

'Wait please!"

I screamed as my voice travelled far.

The direction of the crowd turned to me, their eyes staring at me.

'Why Steph?

Luther asked, I signalled to him to meet me in private.

'I'll be back, OK?"

Luther came down from a rift he stood on and followed me to a vacant room.

'Steph what are you doing?"

Luther was itching to hang Rowan dead.

'You can't hang Rowan?"

'Why?"

I scrambled for a good excuse to fool Luther.

Luther was very smart so he could easily tell a lie from the truth.

'Remember? We have a war against the vampires?"

Luther nodded in agreement.

'As future Lycan queen I would advise you it's best you keep one of your best warriors alive"

Luther's disgusted face soon changed to an intrigued one.

'Rowan will go to battle for us and if somehow he survives, you can do as you wish with him"

'That's a great idea Steph, I love it!" My tense heart soon calmed down a little.

Luther bought it!

Luther stormed out of the room, ready to pass the information to the crowd.

'My fellow Lycans, there has been a change of plans.

Rowan will not be hung at least for now"

'Sorry for wasting your time, your excused"

The crowd left a bit disgruntled that Luther only wasted their time.

The guards let Rowan off the noose and escorted him back to the dungeon.

I could see the relief on his face, life gave him another chance thanks to me of course.

As he dragged him back to the dungeon, he glanced back at me, our eyes connected.

A smile grew on his face before he turned away from me.

I couldn't help but feel a certain affection towards Rowan. But why?

No! I hate Rowan. He tried to kill me and my feelings towards him will never change.

'Steph!"

A distant female ran towards me, her voice tinged with excitement.

My heart twitched as I saw Emily.

What does she want now?

'Steph, thank you. We really appreciate it.

I knew you'd come through"

I have Emily a stern look, my face a picture of disgust at what she said.

'Emily, get out of my way I need to speak to Luther"

Emily froze in shock by the manner I spoke to her.

I couldn't wait for her emotional breakdown. I walked past her leaving her alone to her thoughts.

'Hey Luther, how are you feeling?" I stood at Luther's door.

He seemed stressed and was ready to sleep.

'I'm tired Steph, just leave me, OK?" Luther's stern voice towards me pierced my heart.

I stood at his door for a moment, before taking a few steps back and closing the door for him.

How could Luther speak so harshly to me?

He couldn't even let me sleep on his bed and now I have to sleep in that old crappy room at the maid quarters.

Well maybe he was just stressed about today.

Tomorrow he'll be better.

I folded up my pillow and laid on my hard bed.

My eyes closed in a short while and I was taken adrift.

I woke up to the morning rays casting on my face.

I squinted my eyes tightly to prevent the direct sun on my pupils.

I managed to close out the curtains before grabbing my towel and heading for the showers.

I got dressed and left my room at the quarters.

I wanted to meet up with Luther, but I had a feeling he might still be grumpy from last night.

I decided to take a short walk around the castle.

'Steph!"

A bold and hard voice reached my ears.

I turned to see Zayne.

He folded his hands as he stared down at me from the top floor of the castle.

'I never got to say thank you for yesterday!"

He screamed down from upstairs.

'Forget it, I wasn't helping anyone by saving Rowan.

We have our own reasons we let him live"

I said in a harsh tone to Zayne.

Not waiting for his reply I turned and left and carried on walking through to the ends of the castle.

I came across a dark tunnel, its gates were open and no security was in near sight.

Curiosity overwhelmed me as I walked over to check it out.

The tunnel was covered in pitch darkness.

The small shade of sunlight at the entrance served as its only source of illumination.

The tunnel walls were weak, and the structure as well.

Pieces of rock particles fell down from the top.

I was sure that any form of major contact whatsoever will make this place come crumbling down.

As I ventured deeper, my foot caught a large rock making a loud noise.

'Who's there!"

A stern voice reached my ears. I was amazed to find out there was actually someone here.

'I'm Steph, who are you?"

The voice that came from deep inside the tunnel remained silent this time.

'Hello?"

My voice echoed into the darkness.

Suddenly a figure appeared from darkness.

Her face was familiar, I scrambled to remember her.

'Scarlet?

Wait, you live here?"

Scarlett's appearance left me stunned for a bit.

I haven't seen her ever since our first day here.

I can't believe she stays here.

'Get out of here, it's not safe for you or me"

Scarlett said in her usual stern voice.

'But answer me. Have you been living here?"

I asked curiously.

'No! I'm here to handle something important.

Now leave!"

I had questions to ask her, but I had to respect her privacy.

I carefully navigated my way out the tunnels.

Taking each step at a time.

But as I walked out, looking back at the tunnels.

Questions ran through my head about Scarlett.

What sort of intentions does she have?

And for whom?

~Emily~

Luther and Steph finally came out of the room after a long and agonising wait.

My heart was pounding, as we all waited for Luther to speak.

'My fellow Lycans sorry but there has been a change of plans.

Rowan will not be hanged at least for now"

I breathe a large sigh of relief.

'Sorry for the waste of your time you all are excused"

The crowd soon dispersed, most of them had disgruntled looks on their faces.

Steph is a life saver, I knew she'll come through for us.

I spotted her stepping out of a room.

I had to go and thank her, she deserves it.

'Steph!"

I screamed out her name as I hurried to her.

'Thank you so much. We really appreciate it. I know you'd come through"

I thanked Steph, my heart grateful.

But Steph gave me a very condemning look. My words meant nothing to her.

'Get out of my way Emily, I need to see Luther"

Steph said her tone was very rude.

I was left dumbfounded yet again by Steph's awful attitude to me.

She then walked past me, after completely making a fool of me.

As she walked further away into the sun, the less I began to recognize Steph.

She behaved like a totally different person to me.

I thought of going to the dungeon to see Rowan but the sun was beginning to set to the west and soon it would be dark.

I'll check on him tomorrow.

I arrived at my room, and without much stress or effort, I drifted away into the night.

My night's rest was a bit more peaceful.

My mind was a bit at rest and almost everything seemed to be coming back to normal.

The next morning soon came and all my activities resumed.

I was up a bit early so I didn't have to hurry to the kitchen.

I gently walked there, my steps graced with elegance.

'Good morning Flora!"

I met Flora attending the dishes. She turned in my direction, her usual warm smile wrapped around her face.

'Good morning Emily!"

I walked past her and into the inner part of the kitchen.

I saw Crystal, standing at the door, her hands folded.

She wore an ugly frown on her face as she looked in my direction.

I kept my mouth shut, despite her presence.

I had told myself that a woman like she doesn't deserve any respect whatsoever.

She walked into the kitchen and came out with the tray in hand and handed it over to me.

Giving me a piercing stare as she did.

I couldn't care less about her, all I could think about was going to meet Rowan and walking out the dungeon with him by my side.

I walked with the tray to Zayne's room, my steps quickened, my movement fueled with excitement.

'Lalalalalalala"

I heard a bass voice singing from Zayne's room.

I gently walked closer to the door and opened his door.

I was a bit amused seeing Zayne singing passionately.

Joy edged on his face.

My heart melted in affection, I was so happy seeing Zayne in such a good mood.

'Hello?"

I said my voice was very faint.

Zayne stopped abruptly, as he slowly turned his head in my direction.

He looked very embarrassed seeing me. His cheeks turned red as he tried his best to look away from me.

'Good morning Zayne" I said, a bit amused.

I dropped his tray on his stool.

'Good morning Emily!

Off to pick up Rowan?"

'Yes I am!" I said my voice tinged with excitement.

'Lovely, tell him I said hi!"

With those words from Zayne I turned and left to the dungeon.

It was about a 15 minute walk from Zayne's room to the dungeon.

'I'm here for Rowan!" I said to the guard standing at the entrance my voice was firm and sure.

He went in and after about ten minutes came out with Rowan by his side.

Rowan wore a smile on his face as he looked at me.

The joy of being a free man once again.

'I told you I will be out soon," Rowan said, now more confident.

I let out a light chuckle, knowing that I feared for his death as well.

'Rowan was going to the grounds right?"

'No rest for the brave"

We took a short trip to the training grounds.

On reaching closer, I noticed a figure who stood right in the middle of the grounds.

His arms folded and his brows furrowed at us.

Luther!

My heart twitched on sight of him.

'Rowan from today forward you are now prohibited to train any Lucan student or warrior. You are termed a danger to them!"

'What?" Impossible