Jamal's POV
My father's last warning echoed in my mind, "Never trust a stranger, Jamal. Especially one who claims knowledge of the supernatural."
Yet, here I was, standing before a weathered, moss-covered house, drawn by an inexplicable force. The house seemed to hum with an energy I couldn't quite place, an energy that both repelled and intrigued me.
I knocked hesitantly, and the door creaked open, revealing a man who appeared to have stepped out of a time capsule. His clothes were a hodgepodge of styles, his hair unkempt, and his face lined with the wisdom of ages.
Great, I got sent to a fucking soothsayer. Just absolutely amazing.
"Alpha Jamal, I presume?" he asked in a voice that sounded like gravel scraping against metal.
I nodded, my voice caught in my throat.
"It's my utmost pleasure." He said, bowing slightly, "I have been expecting you."
I said nothing, preferring to give as little as possible away and let him figure out this shit by himself.
"I sense some skepticism." He said smiling knowingly at me, "Do you not believe I might have the answer to your questions?"
"That remains or be seen old man." I scoffed.
He chuckled gently, "well then, I hope I will be able to impress you."
I couldn't help myself. "I very much doubt that."
"Come in, come in," he gestured, ushering me into a dimly lit room filled with books, maps, and an assortment of strange objects.
"You're here about Methis, I suppose?" he asked, his eyes twinkling behind his thick-rimmed glasses.
I didn't deny it.
"Alpha Jamal." He said, his voice calm and cool which I found myself finding patronizing, "I understand that you have doubts about my... methods here."
"To say the least." I blurted out, unwilling to give him the benefit of the doubt.
He smiled, apparently unoffended by my interruption, "You and many others, I assure you."
"Well they can't all be wrong." I said, folding my arms across my chest and looking at him, "If so many people doubt your... arts" I continued making sure to say the last part with as much disgust as I felt, "Then why shouldn't I?"
"Well for starters," he said, turning over and motioning for me to sit down, which I ignored. "They usually change their minds after a few days, my results are never to be argued against, even by the most skeptical of you."
I scoffed, "That means nothing, you could be brainwashing them as far as I know."
He chuckled gently and I found myself clenching my fists. Every sound this asshole made somehow annoyed me beyond words. I fought to control myself as I felt my fingernails digging into my palms.
"I assure you Alpha Jamal, no brainwashing is done here."
I forced myself to relax, "And what exactly do you do here?"
But they usually g
"I've been studying mythical occurrences for as long as I can remember," he began, his voice taking on a storytelling tone. "And I've noticed a pattern, a strange attraction between certain individuals and the supernatural."
I raised an eyebrow, skeptical but curious.
"Methis is one of those individuals," he continued, leaning forward, his voice conspiratorial. "She has a unique aura, a beacon that draws in beings from other realms."
I looked at him, trying to hide the irritation growing inside me. For some fucked up reason I still couldn't understand, men like this loved speaking in little parables, never going straight to the point and it irked the living shit out of me.
"Is that the end of that sentence?" I growled through gritted teeth.
He looked at me, confused "Well," he said, "I don't know what else you want me to say."
"Fucking elaborate damn it." I finally snapped, losing my temper, "And be quick about it, I don't have all fucking day."
"Apologies, Alpha Jamal," he replied coolly, bowing his head, "I will try to be as clear as possible."
"Thank you."
He looked up at me, "Methis, is basically like a magnet and supernatural beings around her are like iron." He placed reached for the cupboard placing a dusty old magnet on the table and moving around some metallic shards around it.
"At a certain distance, she is undetectable to them, almost invisible even, but once they get close to her, close enough to feel her around them, they can't help themselves." He dragged one of the shards close and let it go, clinking to the magnet instantly.
I stood there for a while, staring at the whole set up. Yeah, that was definitely more elaborate, but I shook my head, still not convinced.
"You don't believe me, do you?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
I remained silent, my expression unreadable.
"That's alright," he said, waving his hand dismissively. "I've met many like you, those who refuse to believe in the unseen. But trust me, Jamal, there's more to this world than meets the eye."
"I am a literal werewolf old man." I growled, "I have absolutely no problem with the unseen."
"So why don't you believe me?"
"It's just too-" I paused, thinking of a reasonable objection but my brain blanked.
"Just too what Alpha Jamal?" He asked "Ridiculous? Convenient? Unbelievable?"
He paused, his gaze fixed on me.
I hated feeling like this, ignorant and helpless and he seemed to enjoy seeing me like this, which somehow annoyed me even more.
"Before I give you the information you seek," he said, "I need a favor."
I hesitated, unsure of where this was going.
"Tonight, at midnight," he continued, his voice dropping to a whisper, "meet me at the old abandoned mill by the river. There, I will give you your answers, but only if you complete a small task for me."
I considered his words, my mind racing with questions.
"What kind of task?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
"Nothing too difficult," he assured me, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Just a little test of your courage and determination."
I narrowed my eyes, still wary of his intentions.
"Why should I trust you?" I asked, my voice laced with suspicion.
"Because I know something you don't," he said, his eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light. "Something that could change everything for Methis."
His words hung in the air, their weight pressing down on me. I knew I had a choice to make, a choice that could determine the fate of Methis and myself.