Anything For You
Chapter 171

"Miss. Lozenge, now could you please get up let us know what we were studying just now?" The irritated sound of the English professor buzzed in Scarlet's ears bringing her back to the class, while everyone's heads whipped in her direction watching her get up slowly like she was sick. She had been all dived down in the flashback, and didn't listen to anything the professor said. Hauling up and standing straight, she looked at the old man, who surely was pissed, and didn't desire to continue this for long. He gave off the impression that he wanted to just finish the class and go on with his daily lectures without caring much about what the students wanted.

Not being in any mood of explaining anything, Scarlet just bowed slightly and excused herself, apologizing for the disturbance caused. Collecting her books, she shoved them in her backpack and exited the class leaving the even more irritated professor scoffing off at her back, while Eva and Chris just eyed each other. Eva...being cognizant that Chris would ask her something about Scarlet's recent behavior, and Chris...with his hopes high on getting the facts from Eva.

The class resumed, but Eva couldn't focus at all. On the other side, Scarlet came into the botanical garden and sat over the wooden University bench fixated near those lavender and lilies rows. Her mind continued drifting back to the Azure castle and whatever happened there.

She hoped to have someone with her to explain what was going on, to help her understand what she felt while she was unconscious, who was the Ragnara girl and why did she look like her! All these things were driving her crazy. She retrieved the shining thing from her backpack and stared at it...for a long time before Eva startled her from behind.

"You scared me," Scarlet mumbled keeping one of her hands over her racing heart, and the other clutched that necklace. Eva's gaze traveled to the hand-holding necklace and she gasped. The necklace was antic and Eva wondered how did it end up with Scarlet, but reminding herself the day when Carol was in the infirmary, and she tried to touch something shiny in her waist-band, Eva widened her eyes and enquired,

"Don't tell me that this...is the same thing that had been tucked in the waist-band of Miss Carol. And you stole it?" Eva whispered the last sentence to her being in a voice only audible to her and Scarlet to which Scarlet immediately denied responding, "No...No...I didn't steal it. How can you think of that? It's the only thing that is the biggest reason for my worries right now, Eva. You know what happened when I was about to leave the Azure house?" Scarlet asked to which Eva playfully wiggled her eyes and winked at elbowing Scarlet,

"Oh...I know, Emerald kissed you like hell. You know....when I saw you both...I thought you were.....you know.." Eva was shying while talking and noticed a slight pink blush over Scarlet's cheeks. Emerald was reluctant to let Scarlet leave the werewolf world because he believed only he could protect her. After a lot of convincing and pleading, he agreed to let her go only on one condition that she would call him daily, and when she didn't feel something to be right...she would tell him first.

"You bitch.. You shouldn't do that. I never saw you kiss Sammy." Scarlet hit Eva over her shoulder to which Eva flared her nose raged,

"He lied to me about him being a wolf."

"A werewolf." Scarlet corrected.

"Well, whatever it is." Eva rolled her eyes not caring and added, "Well, whatever it is. Wait...does that mean... Emerald is also a...!? Oh my God. OH, MY...GOD. And you knew that?" Scarlet just nodded and shrugged her shoulders confessing, "It was one hell of a surprise for me too. But I guess, he is what he is and he loves me."

"Do you?" Eva asked Scarlet with hopes held high. The latter just nodded and blushed, "Emerald told me that he loves me when I was leaving werewolf world. And...I confessed too."

"So, you are officially dating now. And I am too." Eva said and Scarlet nodded understanding as she was already aware of this thing between Sammy and Eva. They made a cute couple according to her. Drifting away from the topic, Eva pondered, "Did Miss Carol give you this?" Scarlet hummed and told her,

"I was on my way back downstairs after meeting Alpha when one of the doctors asked me to go and see Miss Carol as she wanted to meet me. He added that she don't want anyone to know about that. I went there and she looked bad and sick....ay be because of staying in the cold water for too long. She didn't tell me anything and just handed this necklace to me saying, 'Guard this with your life unless you learn the truth. Grand Empress' life depends on this necklace! And then she passed out. I don't understand anything now." A lone tear escaped through her eyes and Eva just hugged her whispering,

"Shh... Everything will be fine. We will figure it out. Don't worry."

.......

~SIESTA VALLEY-

"Your Highness, what do you want me to do now?" Trevor said reporting back on duty after a vacation of two days. Dankein was sitting over his chair, in deep thoughts puffing the cigar, while Alfie was sleeping in its bucket curling itself when Trevor knocked in and asked that.

The king suddenly came out of his thought world and looked at Trevor. Keeping the cigar aside over the nearby table, he hauled up and took a good look over Trevor's beaming face teasing,

"I think I should often give you holidays. Look how happy and relaxed you are, not to miss rejuvenation. It feels like your wife did take good care of you...or is it the other way around?" Dankein patted Trevor's shoulder and the man just smiled shyly to which Dankein spared him a soft chuckle.

"Well, you must have heard about the Grand Empress of Werewolves?" Dankein questioned Trevor approaching the window and sidelining the curtains allowing some of the light to pass in. Trevor hummed and responded,

"Yes, I heard that she had been missing from the Castle for two days and the royal guards were all found unconscious. My lord, apologies for questioning you...but do you have anything to do with this?

Because if this is...it's going to be a havoc for our people. We can't afford a war with the wolves." Trevor's tone was enough to let Dankein know that he was frightened even at just the thought. How would he react after learning the truth! Well, it wasn't a good idea, and Dankein thought of not telling him for the time being.

"I know that, Trevor. But...a war is invincible and sooner or later, we will end up on the battlefield against those werewolves. So, all of you better prepare yourselves." Dankein said looking out of the window narrowing his eyes at some of the kids of guards who had been raining havoc in the royal garden. He should have been agitated as he adored the garden.

Trevor looked at him from behind and approached him. Following his line of sight, he saw the kids jumping merrily ruining those fresh blooming flowers in the garden underneath their feet.

"I will immediately throw them out of the royal garden, Your Highness," Trevor said while moving towards the door hastily when he heard soft laughter coming over his back. Looking over his shoulder, he found Dankein smiling and shaking his head. "Let it be, Trevor. They are just kids. Besides, if they were my kids, you wouldn't have thrown them out of the castle, right?" Trevor felt like slapping himself for suggesting this idea. But Dankein was never like this before. He whispered, "Your Highness, you are unpredictable sometimes." But his voice was audible to Dankein, who just smiled and answered,

"I like being this way. Anyways, I am leaving for hunting today. I will be back by tomorrow. Arrange for my horse, a bow, a knife, and some food to carry along with...for the horse."

That's it. Dankein was never fond of hunting, but whenever he went hunting, it meant that he was going to someplace far away from where he was never traced. In the past years, he used to go hunting once in hundred years, but Trevor remembered that the hundred years' time wasn't over yet. So, it meant he was going somewhere else this time too. In the hope of getting a good response, Trevor asked him,

"Your Highness, Would you like me to accompany you?"

"No...I will be on my own. Besides, I need someone trustworthy to take care of everything behind my back. You stay here." Dankein ordered putting over his royal coat and securing the buttons of rare obsidian tucked in the sleeves. Adding further, "And yes, You must stop by Silvan. There is a good surprise for you. I bet you will laugh out your vitals after you see it." And excited the room saying, "Feed Alfie timely."

Trevor gave a thought to Dankein's words and passed his orders to the royal attendants to make the arrangements for his hunt. On his way to the royal garden, he stopped by Silvan's room when his ears caught the voice of a woman. His feet moved inside without seeking permission, and he heard the woman say,

"Lord, I hate this woman's body. I want a man. Please, Lord. I am Nexus, your trustworthy and loyal man. Please spare me this insult. I don't want to be a woman." Trevor's ears went numb and his eyes widened looking at the woman whose dead body was delivered to the castle yesterday on Dankein's orders. Without any prior notice, he ended up laughing out loud murmuring,

"Nexus...you look damn sexy, by the way." And made his way out of the room laughing out leaving the irritated Nexus and frowning Silvan glued to their spot.