ZOLA'S P.O.V
I stared at the man sitting across from me. Eyeing him up, trying to figure out what exactly he wanted. But he was hard to read. His face was void of every emotion humanly possible.
"Do you two know one another?" The sweet elderly voice asked.
"No." We both answered simultaneously.
"Then why the tension?" She asked while moving her hand between us.
Should I tell her that he was outside of my room looking directly at me through the window? Or do I just let it go?
"No tension here. I can't speak for her, however." He had the airy feeling of danger lingering in his voice.
"Alrighty then. Let's eat, shall we?"
I looked down at the yummy plate sitting in front of me, which in turn made my stomach growl in hunger once more.
"Go on. You seem famished."
Famished was not a word I expected to hear coming from his mouth. But here we are. I looked down at my delicious plate, picking at the eggs first. I scooped a spoonful into my mouth, letting out a moan of delight. I could feel him staring at me. The stare alone felt like it was burning me with its intensity. What was this guy's problem? He didn't even know who I was. So why the hostile demeanor?
"Sorry to intrude but there is a guest wanting to speak with the owner." A timid voice said from beside us.
"Sure. Let them know I will be there in a minute please." Narissa replied, addressing the employee. "Well, not to end our breakfast so abruptly, but duty calls. You go ahead and finish up, and I will be back after I am finished. Then we can have that tour. Does that sound good?"
"You're leaving us alone? Together?" Skepticism present in my voice.
She looked over to her son, then back at me.
"I'll be right back, okay?" She then said,
I wasn't sure if I was comfortable with the idea of being alone with him. But then again, I couldn't flat out ask what his problem was with her here. Well, it's not that I couldn't, more like I wouldn't. She retreated in the direction we had come from, leaving him and me alone.
"What's your problem with me, Theseus?" I asked as I sipped on my drink. I was doing my hardest to sound authoritative. But that just wasn't me. However, I wouldn't let him know that.
"No problem. Just trying to figure out why you're here."
"It's a hotel. Why else would I be here?"
"He doesn't agree."
He? Who was he?
"I'm sorry?"
"The boss-man thinks there is another reason as to why you came here out of all places in the world."
"Boss man?" I repeated in a questionable way, still not understanding what he was talking about.
"That's what I said."
"Montana is a midpoint between where I am really going. Why exactly does he think I'm here?"
"He wants to meet you again."
Again?
"What does he want with me?"
"To talk."
What did he mean by 'talk'? And who was this mysterious boss man?
"I'm sorry, I don't feel like talking to another stranger."
"It wasn't a question."
"And you plan on making me?"
"If needed, yes."
"That's called kidnapping and it's illegal."
"Pish Posh."
"I am a human. It's against the law to take me unwillingly."
"The law does not give people like you leeway."
People like me? What does that even mean?
"Listen princess, we can do this the easy way. Or we can do this the hard way. But I won't lie, I like it hard."
His comment sent a shiver down my spine, and not in a good kind of way.
"Don't call me princess."
"Is that not what you are?"
"No. I'm not."
"Right. Maybe I should call you Queen instead, yeah?"
"Wrong again. I am no princess and I am no Queen. You have the wrong person."
"I don't think we do."
"Leave me alone. I am not here for trouble. I was just passing through."
"Guess luck isn't on your side then. Because you exist and the timing of your arrival is no mere coincidence."
What the hell was he talking about?
"I don't understand."
"You will in due time. For now, follow me."
"No."
"Don't make a scene at my mother's establishment."
I looked around the room at all of the people. Would he really take me forcefully? Better yet, if he did, would anyone do anything to help? Suddenly, the room became a bit blurry. I could feel myself starting to lose grip on reality. Did he drug me? This was not how I saw this trip going.
"I took precautions just in case you weren't willing to come. I figured the hard way was the only way with you. That's fine by me though. That tends to be my favorite.The harder, the better." His tone sent chills down my body again.
The safety I felt back in my room quickly vanished. I wasn't sure what I saw in those wolves' eyes, but they made me feel at ease. However, the human version was completely different. He made me feel uneasy and danger lurked in the depths of his cold blue eyes. He was nothing like his mother. How did she not see it? Was he that good at covering up his true self?
"Is she okay?" A passing waiter asked.
"Just fine. I guess she had too many morning mimosa's."
His lies were smooth. If I were an outsider looking in, I might have believed him. Heavy on the word might.
I could hardly see anything in front of me, it was a blurred mess. I had a feeling that what I was about to face wouldn't be what I envisioned for myself. I set out on a journey to find my biological father. That curiosity has now left me being taken against my will.
I sent a letter back home letting them know I was on a self-healing journey to find myself and not to look for me. I told them that I would come home when I was ready, and I would send life updates. Now look at me. I was alone and vulnerable. I told them to stop looking for me. I also put a spell on my necklace in order to remain hidden. At this point, I could only hope that this was a simple misunderstanding, and they let me go. But unfortunately, I had a feeling that this would take a turn for the worst.
My head bobbed back and forth, unable to stand on my own two feet without assistance. The more people we passed, the more I felt like I was screwed. Nobody else questioned if I was okay. They simply turned their heads the other way.
"Theseus, what happened?" The familiar voice asked.
"I think she drank a little too much. I was going to take her back to her room."
"How do you know which room is hers?"
"I planned to check the books. Unless you would rather take her?"
"She didn't have any alcohol."
"She needed to take the edge off after you left."
"I wasn't gone long, Theseus. What is the meaning of this? What did you do?"
"Fine. Remember when I said some things are better left unspoken?"
"No. Not her. Let her go."
"Can't do that, Ma. He wants her."
"No. She is just a child."
"She is an adult. 23, to be exact."
He knew my age? What else did he know about me?
"You said he'd never do this kind of thing again."
Again? Has this happened before?
"I can't control what he does. But if we want to continue to have the life that we do, we do as he says."
"She is an innocent woman."
"You don't know that."
"You and I both know that I do. I have gifts that neither of you could ever phantom."
"She belongs to him now."
"You don't have to do this. You can let her go."
"It's too late."
"I should've listened to her. I should've stayed and protected her."
"She will have all the protection she will ever need at his side."
"She didn't come here to be forced to be his."
"Coincidence or fate, whatever you dress it up to be. It didn't matter. She is here now and he wants her. We both know, he always gets what he wants."
"I'll save her from him with or without your help. He won't get away with this. Not again."
That was when a guttural throaty laugh echoed out. It sounded hoarse and rough, almost scary. But before I could see the face that it came from, everything around me became hazy, then there was nothing but darkness.