~Emily~



As we navigate our way through the crowd scene, running into a few lycans trying to get back upstairs.

A sudden silence soon filled the courtyard.

What is happening?



Soon a figure marched up to the uplift at the centre of the courtyard.


Zayne!

He stood up high, his stance stoic.

Zayne began to address the crowd, as I listened carefully.

'I know most of you have heard about the tragic news from earlier today.

We wish the very best for those two guards, that they wake up and live another day.


I'm also here to tell you that there is nothing to worry about.

We will find who did this to them and Flora as well.

So please remain calm, be observant and stay safe.

Thank you!"


Zayne finished as the crowd rumbled an applause as he stepped down.


A thought about last night soon flashed in my mind.

Seeing Reta, Steph, Thorn and Luther all outside at a prohibited time was very off. What could they have possibly gone to do that wouldn't be okay to do at daytime.


And the very night I saw them was the very night two guards were found unconscious. Could that just be a coincidence or is it what I think it is.

I hope not. For Steph.


But Zayne needs to know this. If Luther and his crew are behind this, then maybe they are behind Flora's as well and maybe others.

I can convince Zayne to run proper investigations on them and then if found guilty, I can find a way to keep Steph's hands clean from it all.

I must see him now!


Zayne walked through the parting which the crowd made for him.

His steps were elegant and emphatic. He carried his body in a

He walked to the end of the courtyard and took the stairs.

I ran as fast as I could to meet up with him, my legs stretched out pulling my body forward. The wind is blowing against my face.


Taking a turn, I met up with Zayne just as he was about to open his door.

'Zayne!"

I yelled out his name,I was still a fair distance away from him.

He froze in his movement as he slowly turned his head around.

I noticed his brows rise up, he was evidently shocked to see me and with good reason.

But for me, my sister's safety is much more important than any grudge I have against Zayne.

'What are you doing here?" Zayne asked, taking a few steps closer to me.

'I saw something last night!" I said, straight to the point.

I was not here to flirt with Zayne, I came strictly to tell him about Luther.


'What was it?" Zayne asked, he was confused by my sudden words.


'I saw Steph….." I was speaking when a looming figure passed behind Zayne giving me a piercing stare, an evil grin worn on his face.

His look sent shivers down my spine.

Squinted my eyes tightly, I caught Luther's face.

Is he following me? What could he want with me?

A thought of Luther's threat last night came back fresh upon me.

If I tell anyone, especially Zayne, then Steph would be killed in plain sight.

'You know what, forget it. Sorry for the disturbance"

I said my words stuttering. I turned to leave before Zayne decided to ask me more questions.

I was beginning to make distance from him when his stern voice halted me.

'Wait, Emily I'm sorry please. But I'm not lying, I swear!"

I can't do this with him right now. Must he always make everything about him.

Two of our guards are unconscious and a resident of the castle missing and the best he can do is to justify himself.


Can't he just admit what he did, then maybe I could forgive him and things could be as they were between us.


'Leave me alone" I yelled at Zayne, my tone huge enough for some passer by to hear, as they turned in our direction.


I walked out on Zayne and ran to Rowan's room.

He's really the only person I could talk to without any other motives.

Zayne keeps on lying to me, Flora is missing, who knows maybe dead and Steph is brainwashed by Luther.


KNOCK

KNOCK


My knuckles hit hard against Rowan's wooden door.

Soon I heard loud footsteps marching to the door.


'‘Hey!!" Rowan seemed very excited seeing me. He had a warm smear on his face.

'So what brings you here?"


'Hi.

Rowan, I was wondering if you had anyone I could take on in training?"


'Hm…. Let me see" Rowan looked up to the ceiling as he brainstormed for an opponent for me.

'Yes I do actually"


'Who? Is it Cedric, or Thorn, who?" I was very eager to know.


Just then I saw the corners of his mouth curl up into a smile.

'NO, it's Zayne's pet lion."


Hearing his words I instantly froze in place. 'Zayne has a pet lion, and I never knew!" I haven't seen many lions in my life, but I didn't need to see much to know how deadly they can be.

The ferocious appearance of a lion I once saw in Riverview instantly appeared in my head.

The guards who were assigned to watch it were viciously torn apart by the lion , the whole iron cage turned into a pool of blood, the memory of that time quickly surfaced in my mind, it was simply a nightmare for me!


Rowan, is he crazy, or does he wish me death? How could I be a match for the lion?

I would be torn to pieces by the lion in an instant.


'The lion would be fed by me beforehand and have me watching over it, you just need to find a way to escape from the lion's hands."

Rowan's soft and gentle voice reached my ears, calming me down a bit.

But still, his words can't just make things better.

This is a lion, even if it has been fed, it is still a fierce beast.

Stepping into that cage with that beast is a suicide.

Rowan actually wants me to fight a lion.

'There just happened to be two fresh foods today, the training will start now."

Rowan's tone was full of unquestionable inside, and after he finished, he walked out of his room and in the direction of Zayne's personal training fields.

Rowan was still barred from stepping foot at the training grounds by Luther, so for a while we usually do our sessions at Zayne's.


I rushed back to my room at the maid quarters and got dressed into a light wear to enable me move quicker and more efficiently, before heading to the fields.

The pathway had become more familiar for me. I easily navigated my way to the training ground.


Reaching there, I spotted Rowan's large figure from a fair distance, but to my surprise there was no lion.

'Where is the lion?" is asked on reaching Rowan.

'I sent in my boys to bring him here to the grounds"


'Does Zayne know you're taking his pet lion?" I asked, recalling Rowan calling it Zayne's pet lion.

'Yes. Actually it was his idea for you to train with him"

What?

Zayne's idea? Is it his way of getting back at him for avoiding him, by putting me in a cage with his pet lion?

Zayne can be really sick sometimes.


'He's here!"

Rowan said, his voice tinged with excitement. He pointed his finger in the direction behind me.

I quickly twisted my head in its direction.

My eyes widened in disbelief, my lips parted open.

Four built guards held either edge of the large cage and in it lay a very large lion .


Is this what they call a pet lion? He is almost double my size?

'Rowan, I can't fight him. He'll rip me apart in minutes"

I said, my voice trembling.

Fear soon gripped my body at first sight of the lion.

'Hey. Don't worry, I know you can do this. Your improvement over the last few days has been remarkable.

Besides all you have to do is avoid the lion for a certain period of time"

Rowan spoke with such confidence, his soft voice calmed me down.

'Okay!"


The lion's cage was well set

.

I gritted my teeth and took the first step with all my strength and followed behind Rowan as we walked to the cage.


In the centre of the iron cage was creeping a huge shadow, covered with hair full of thick power, just lying there letting people feel the invisible terror.


The giant beast seemed to be eating something, he was just lying there, and the sound of blood chewing reached my ear.

As I walked in, I saw the scene inside. I was able to identify what he was eating.

Rogue lycans!

They must be the two rogue lycans Zayne caught trying to break into the castle a few days ago.

Their bodies look disfigured, it was far from possible to recognize their faces.


I stood in the same place shivering, when Lycans have now actually become lion food.


Their bodies were in tatters, and the lion was eating slowly there, a piece of flesh and blood was swallowed by him, until he seemed to eat no more, which he then shakily stood up and shook the body of the fur.

' It looks like he has had enough. Emily come with me"

Rowan's mouth curled up a smile, and then he actually opened the cage and walked in.

I forced my trembling body to follow him, and then I saw the huge lion walking towards us.


'Scups, I'll introduce you to a new friend."


He looked full of relief, and when the lion got close, he went straight to touch the fur on the lion's head, and then pointed towards me.


What is he saying about me? Rowan must be very familiar with Zayne's lion otherwise, he won't come so close to it.

My heart was overwhelmed with surprise that this fierce lion was close to Rowan.

'Emily, the training has begun, and this training will not stop until you can successfully escape the lion's attacks."


Rowan clapped his hands and stood to the side after saying that, and then the lion came towards me slowly.


Seeing this situation my sweat hairs instantly stood up and the next moment I got positioned in a fight stance.


The lion's power-filled gaze swept over my body, and I felt that every move I made was locked by it, and the invisible pressure was like a sea wave coming towards me.


The iron cage was so large it could be considered a playground, so I had space to dodge.

Suddenly the lion leaped off the ground into the sky, ready to pouch on me.


I felt my heart jump at the sight of the lion in the sky.

My muscles began working frantically, as I scrambled to the side of the lion.


Don't get caught by him! Don't get caught by this lion!

My speed and quick reflexes are my strong points, so I can't lose to this lion.


The lion failed to lay even a glove on me in a long time of training, and as long as I could maintain this, I would be out of here in a short while.

My heart was thinking this, but the next moment I was proven wrong.


When I ran to the edge of the cage and tried to turn around, I saw the lion suddenly jump onto the cage post and come in front of me instantly through the rebound of the post!


No!


I looked down at the huge figure in front of me full of despair, I wanted to dodge but it was too late.

I saw the lion's figure rapidly approaching, and the next moment I was pinned to the ground by its huge paws.


Oh no!