Louisa's POV
"Please don't tell me that you're sick," I crouched down on the side of the stream and spoke to the Salamanders.
"We don't want to talk to you." Mr. Salamander said in a bubbled voice. He submerged in the water and didn't want to come out.
Well, he used "we" to talk on behalf of his sister. That was new.
"Guys, my chest has just been stabbed and I really appreciate that you can talk to me," I said.
Ms. Salamander's giant head popped up from the water.
"Wow! You're drenched in blood!" She gasped.
Mr. Salamander's head popped up as well.
"So much blood!" he said.
"I'm recovered now. Don't worry," I said.
"You can regrow your tail as well?" Mr. Salamander asked.
"I don't have tails, but yes, I have the ability to heal myself," I answered.
"You're so cool!" Mr. Salamander licked me.
I patted his head and asked, "What happened? Why don't you want to play with Will?"
Mr. Salamander looked happy and said, "We're happy to see Will, but at the same time, we want to remain silent for a while."
"Don't you ever leave us with that good-looking smoky hot guy! He was like a demon while he was working. He was especially mean towards me!" Ms. Salamander whimpered.
I said, "Well, I apologize to you on behalf of Colt. He's quite unusual."
"Unusual? He shouted at me for a whole morning just because I misplaced a piece of wood! And it's only half of my fault! His eyes are very distracting! When he talks to me, I only hear 'humana humana'. It's very difficult to concentrate on what he says. Anyway, my head's still buzzing now. I need to take a break."
Mr. Salamander said, "And I'm offended by the way he shouted at my sister, so I decided to stop talking to people who walk on two feet."
"I'm so sorry to hear that. But Will's worried about you. He thought you were sick. Do you want to hang out with him for a while? I'll cook some meat patties for lunch. And I'll talk to Colt to work on his attitude. We shouldn't shout at people who work with us. He decided to volunteer his time to build this project for us, and so did you. I really appreciate your help."
Ms. Salamander swiftly moved to Will and lay next to him.
Will held her in his arms and fed her some frogs.
Mr. Salamander asked me, "Why do you need a watermill anyway? I can do without a Ferris Wheel, you know."
"With a watermill, I can grind grains to get flour, so I can make some bread. I went to the village this morning and I didn't see any people eating decent food. I guess if I can successfully make some bread and ham, I'll be able to trade them for a pair of boots or other necessities in the village."
Mr. Salamander said, "You mean those people who live in the Mountainside Village? They're dummies, but they're greedy. They kept coming to the cave to steal things from Will. You'd better stay away from them."
I said, "Thank you for telling me that. I agree with you. They were mean to Darren this morning and I really don't have a good impression of them."
"Is Darren OK?" Mr. Salamander asked me.
I frowned and said, "He was tortured by the imprint."
"The imprint? Ah. You mean the thing that their masters use to control them?"
I nodded.
Mr. Salamander rolled his eyes and said, "Well, it must have been bad. I've seen a warlock being tortured by the imprint in the past. He ripped off his whole arms and jumped off a cliff."
"What? You mean, you saw him doing it?" I was shocked.
"Yeah, it was a few years ago. He was a warlock who looked just like Darren. But he was a bit taller and stronger than him. He could control water and he used to make a giant water snake just to make my sister happy. We used to hang out with him. It was such a pity that he passed away like that because he was a very positive and cheerful spirit."
"Did you see the man who was torturing him?" I asked.
Mr. Salamander said, "Nah. He was very mysterious. He didn't show up. His people put that poor warlock in a cave and he had to go through their torture. They peeled off his skin, you know. They were savages."
Savages.
My fists clenched.
"Do you... Do you remember anything about those people? Were they rouges?"
Mr. Salamander said, "Nah. They were soldiers dressed up in white uniforms. And I remember they mentioned a name at that time. White something."
"Alpha Lucas of the White Walkers?" I asked.
Mr. Salamander replied enthusiastically, "Yeah! That's the name! It seemed that they were all working for them. How do you know this name?"
I burst into tears and rushed into the shed.
Colt was wiping the blood from Darren's face very carefully.
"Lisa, why are you crying?" he asked.
"Darren, I..." I felt there was something bitter in my throat.
I bent down and started to cough until blood came out of my mouth.
"Lisa, gee, what's the matter with you?" Colt tried to hold me up, but he was too scared to move.
I covered my mouth and held him in my arms.
I couldn't believe that the person who tortured and killed Darren's brother was my mate! Alpha Lucas!
I knew he was pure evil, a ruthless killing machine, but I had never connected him with such despicable deeds. To kill and torture an innocent warlock, just to satisfy his own sadistic needs? Darren's brother used to be everything to him, and he even wanted to take possession of Darren! He even tried to manipulate and take control of me by getting into my mind.
At that moment, I knew there would be no way for him to let me go for the rest of my life.
I might pretend to play house with my friends in this small cottage for a while, enjoying the illusion of freedom, but I knew he was watching me in the dark with his evil eyes.
No matter where I go, he will find me and claim me as his slave. He would rape and torture me until I yielded to him, then he would enjoy the pleasure of looking down at me and begging for him to kill me.
There was nothing in his twisted mind except vice.
He existed to make everyone on earth suffer and submit.
What kind of creature was that?!
Anger sealed me like invisible cement. My blood was boiling like a pot of unwatched water.
Then, it welled up like lava when I finally erupted.
"Darren, I will... I swear to the Moon Goddess that I will revenge..."
Colt opened his eyes and gasped in fear, "Lisa, take it easy. Girl, you are making me scared..."
"I will kill him... I will kill Alpha Lucas of the White Walkers and make him pay for what he's done to you." I said before passing out into oblivion.