ZARAMANNI (BOOK ONE)

‘What were you thinking, Zaramanni?’ The shrill voice of the principal reached her ears. ‘You almost killed Gavin!’ Rustling noises followed. ‘What were you even doing with broken glasses?’

Zaramanni looked up, her hard gaze tearing away from her hands which were coated with Gavin’s blood hours ago.

When she locked eyes with the principal, the woman whose red-ginger hair was well layered on her shoulders in all of its glow, let out a soft gasp.

It was almost as though she could see something in Zara’s eyes that she had never seen before.

But, the principal soon composed herself, cleared her throat, sat up, and said, ‘You have to be punished for what you have done. You almost killed Gavin. If not for his kindness and consideration, you will be in jail right now.’

‘Mrs. Amber,’ Gavin spoke from where he was seated. ‘It is fine. She must have been angered by something. I am just glad I was there to stop her from harming herself.’

‘Wow.’ The woman had dreamy eyes and she dutifully admired Gavin whose neck was still bandaged. Zara took a quick look at the white material wrapped around his neck and she wondered why she changed her mind last minute. She was ready to kill him. She almost killed him. ‘You are such a wonderful soul. I don’t understand why she’d want to harm you.’

‘It’s fine ma’am.’ Gavin smiled. ‘She doesn’t have to go to jail, the suspension is fine. It will give me the chance to visit her at home so we can talk things out. She was trying to kill herself, that’s a terrible thing to do.’

Mrs. Amber nodded in agreement, her eyes still showing how much she admired the person Zara knew as the monster in her life. ‘The school will try its best to help Zaramanni as well. She must be going through a lot. I am just glad you were there to stop her. Too bad she stabbed you in the process. You could have died.’

The woman looked at Zaramanni who didn’t regret what she did.

‘It is fine, ma’am. We should get going. I have to drive her home.’

‘Definitely. Zaramanni Agnes, grab your stuff and don’t step into this school until your two-week suspension has ended.’

Scraping noise from Gavin’s chair as he got up filled the air.

And, Zaramanni peeled her back off the wall.

Soon, the duo was walking out of the room. Zaramanni walked behind him because she was certain Gavin would drag her somewhere so he could attack her.

She trod with caution.

But that was not enough.

All of a sudden, a tight grip on the collar of her blouse made her struggle for air and, within that struggle, her head was bashed against something metallic.

Zaramanni’s lips let out an inaudible scream as her head felt a thousand pain at that very moment.

Her blurry eyes caught a glimpse of Gavin’s shoes as she staggered, almost losing her balance.

Gavin’s hands went around her shoulder and he pulled her closer to his side. ‘You are in for a treat, little freak. You tried to kill me. But now…’

‘What is going on?’ The principal must have heard the noise.

Instantly, Gavin made a groaning sound. Zara managed to look up and saw him rubbing a portion of his head.

‘Oh, it’s nothing,’ he said with a tender voice while he locked eyes with the principal who was now facing them.

‘Really? You look hurt. Is it your injury?’

‘No.’ He sighed as though he was reluctant to speak. He sure knew how to act. ‘It is-’

‘What? Tell me,’ the woman urged.

‘She hit my head against the locker. No,’ he stopped the woman before she could approach Zaramanni, ‘it was a mistake, I am sure.’

’Was it?” Mrs. Amber made sure to glare at Zaramanni who, at that point, just wanted to go home. ‘If you say so. You may leave.’

Gavin’s arm still around her shoulder, he initiated the pace with which they walked. As their steps advanced, Zara stole a look at the guy and she felt rage overpower her for a moment.

It almost blinded her.

But Zaramanni soon composed herself and hoped she would get another chance to show Gavin that she was no softie…

~

Zaramanni felt a sharp pain in her head as she woke up from the dream that angered her. But the hard feeling that was pressing against her spine made her squeeze her face out of curiosity.

She was in the process of sitting up when something dropped on her head.

“Ow,” she cried with a low voice as she watched the object that fell on her noisily roll onto the ground.

Staring at that metallic plate with little wolf-head drawings on it made Zaramanni more curious. A quick look around her and it became evident that she was not in her room.

But she was pretty sure she fell asleep on the soft mattress.

She vividly recalled Clarisa wishing her a good rest.

But there she was, lying amid plates and cutlery that shined brighter than Zenrada’s sky.

Zara groaned and her attempts to get up caused chaos on the stacked plates.

As her squinted eyes took in the room she was in, it occurred to her that she was in some sort of kitchen. Scanning her sight through the large room, Zara soon finalized that she had slept on the kitchen floor.

But how?

She was more than certain that she wasn’t a sleepwalker.

“There you are,” Clarissa’s melodious voice called from the entrance. Distress all over her face, she rushed towards Zara, her gown sweeping the floor. “What are you doing here? Why did you leave your room?”

“That’s the thing…” Zara sounded like a lost soul. “I don’t remember leaving the room. I woke up on those plates.” She pointed towards the utensils that magically became her bed.

Clarissa’s eyes darted towards the stack, then toward the girl with the haggard hair. A serious look on her face, she asked, “Did you walk in your sleep?”

“If I did, how would I know?” Clarissa nodded her head and her lips made the sound of realization. “I have never done it though.”

”There’s always a first time for everything.” The woman dropped a fruit that resembled an apple in Zara’s hands. “Lord Elias has been waiting for you for a while. You have to hurry to the library or you are going to face his anger. And Lord Elias is an ugly sight whenever he is angry.”

“It can’t be that bad,” Zara spoke after she dug her teeth into the fruit. It tasted no different from that which she was familiar with. “Besides, how late am I?”

“I don’t know. Just go.”

“Okay, okay. Can I at least wash my mouth? I don’t want to murder Lord Elias with my morning breath.”

Clarissa reached into the pockets of her plain a-shaped gown. She brought out a bottle. “Here, mouthwash.”

“Yes ma’am,” Zara replied obediently even though she found Clarissa’s authoritative tone very cute. After handing the woman her half-eaten apple, Zara faced the huge sink behind her and turned the tap. She then began the quick wash, making sure not to leave out her face and hair.

~

“Alpha Darren once made mention of an instance where he saw your powers in action,” Lord Elias spoke once Zara entered the large room which still looked unbelievably huge. The man turned to face Zaramanni. “What thoughts did you have back then?”

Zaramanni realized he was talking about the little incident that happened when she was journeying with King Darren and Alisha.

“I remembered something terrible.”

“Hmm,” Lord Elias hummed as he nodded. “How did it make you feel?”

While Zara was appreciative of the fact that he didn’t ask her about the details, she had no hard time realizing how the unusual trip to the past made her feel.

Looking up at the aesthetically webbed ceiling of the library, she said, “Angry. It felt so real and it made me angry.”

“Hmm.” He began to stroke his short beard. “Do you think your anger fuels your power?”

“Is that possible?” Zaramanni suspected his speculation may be right.

Each time she woke up from those annoying trips down memory lane, she always opened her eyes to see something floating around her. Or like the case was when she earlier woke up, she found herself in a place she wasn’t supposed to be.

“So many things fuel the power that drives us, Zaramanni,” the he-wolf replied calmly. He sounded like a motivational speaker.

As she processed his words, Zara recalled how she ruined the sacred room in Amarxona with her scream.

“Anger and pain. I feel both.” She could never forget the pain she felt when Ezeman’s master pierced her palm with a sharp blade.

“That is bad news then.” They locked eyes, and Zara’s brows knitted with curiosity. “Those are emotions that can cause more damage than expected. Anger and pain,” he scoffed lightly while a reminiscing look was sustained on his face, “can get out of hand and bring downfall.”

Zaramanni shrugged before she spoke. “There may be other ways to bring out my powers, who knows?”

“Well, until we find a way to bring your abilities to life without destroying the manor, let’s do a little experiment.”

“Experiment?” Zara’s eyes followed him as he reached for a nearby chair. “What kind of experiment?” she asked.

“Have your seat.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and sat her down. “I know it may sound risky and contradictory, but we need to explore your anger and pain.”

“What?” Worried, Zaramanni sharply faced him.

“Relax. I will stop anything bad from happening. Now, sit back and close your eyes.”

Zara was highly skeptical, but she found herself following Lord Elias’s instructions. “I want you to remember the very thing that causes your heart to ache so much that you just have to feel anger.”

Zaramanni was about to protest his request, but something within her became curious. She wanted to know if Lord Elias’s little experiment would be successful.

She wished to see what would come out of it.

So, with her eyes still shut, Zaramanni recalled her earlier dream.

Gavin’s devious eyes had stared hard at her while he pretended to be the good guy by walking her home. At that moment, she was certain he would have screamed about how much he wanted to deal with her, but the principal was watching. So, her monster had to maintain a good and forgiving image.

Zara sank her buttocks into the softness of the chair, and her hands wrapped around the handles a bit hard.

Zara started to recall every moment Gavin cornered her and reminded her about the amount of hatred she was supposedly entitled to.

Her mind drew out an image of his devilish smile that always looked satisfied each time his minions successfully threw their trash at her.

Each time he hurt her with his touch and words, every moment he greeted her with a reminder of the hell she was about to face… she remembered it all.

Anger.

Pain.

Tears.

Scars.

More tears.

Her courage.

She remembered it all.

Zara could feel tears roll down her cheek, but suddenly, bright blue light flashed through her mind.

It was blinding and enough to snap her eyes open.

As though she had just completed a rigorous exercise, Zara panted hard, her darting gaze glued on the glossy floor.

“Zaramanni.” Lord Elias’s call sounded like it was miles away. “Can you hear me?” His touch on her shoulder felt light. “Are you okay?”

Her panting reduced gradually and Zara found the will to tear her gaze from the floor and sit up. When her head slowly turned to face the mystical eyes of the old librarian, she noticed something.

“D- did I do that?” Zara asked, her finger pointed at the mess behind Lord Elias.

With a deep sigh, the he-wolf glanced at the mountain of books stacked behind him. “Yes.” He faced her. “The books wouldn’t stop flying. It was chaotic.”

“I did that?” Zara had a babyish look in her eyes and her shoulders slightly slumped. “So, the experiment was a success?”

“Yes.” His swift reply was followed by a lazy exhale. “It also means I have to clean this place up.”

”I will help you,” Zara quickly offered.

Lord Elias got up and reached for a book very close to them. Stretching the very hard cover in her direction, he said, “Read this book before tomorrow evening.”

“But it is hard to tell what time it is in this place,” Zara whined as she accepted the book that felt heavier than it looked.

“Is that why you came late for today’s class?” Zara smiled sheepishly. “Anyway, read the book. I have a council meeting to attend at the palace. I will be back before tomorrow’s class, so make sure you read it.”

”Okay, sir.”

For a moment, Lord Elias wore some sort of fatherly look in his eyes. But that soon disappeared and he hastily said, “Okay, get out of my library. I have to clean up before I leave.”

”Let me help you, Lord Elias,” Zara offered again. But the man-wolf refused to listen. He helped her out of the seat and pushed her towards the exit.

With a pitiful look in her eyes, Zara hugged the book to her chest and wondered why he wouldn’t let her assist him.

After all, she was the reason the library was turned into a dumpster… A book dumpster.

Lord Elias didn’t call her back so she proceeded toward her room which she was yet to set her eyes upon since she woke up.

While she walked past the lonely yet well-lighted corridors, Zara felt how sweaty her armpits were and she had more reason to rush towards her room.

A bath was undoubtedly seriously needed.

Thankfully, she didn’t miss her way.

But Zara’s steps were soon halted when she heard voices coming from the corridor that led to her room.

’I said, come with me!’ A masculine voice thundered.

’No, Andrea. I am at my workplace. I have a duty here. I will come home when I have free time.’ It was Clarissa who replied to the angry man, Zara was sure of it.

The tone of their voices worried Zaramanni, so she headed for the path the heated exchange had come from.

But, as soon as she made it there, her eyes saw something that made her gasp while her heart ached.

A tall, lanky man who had some muscles to prove he was indeed a man had just slapped Clarissa.

And, his eyes which looked like they had seen the unthinkable in life, glared hard at the she-wolf who held her face dearly.

The man was in the process of raising his hand for another hit when Zara screamed, “No!” and ran towards them.

She ended up receiving the slap and it hurt. So much.

“Who are you?” He spat his words effortlessly and Zara saw that he had no remorse for what he had just done.

“Why would you slap her? What did she do to you?”

”Clarissa,” the man faced the woman, “who is this pest? Get rid of her right now!”

Clarissa obeyed him and tried to pull Zaramanni back but the girl wouldn’t budge. Despite the heat her face was still feeling, she stood her ground and said, “You have no right to slap her.”

The man Clarissa called Andrea chuckled. He chuckled loudly, the entire corridor heard.

“Clarissa is my mate. I have every right to do whatever I please with her. But, who are you? You have such a loose mouth.” He reached for the collar of her silk shirt but Zaramanni still stood firmly even though Clarissa was now begging her to leave.

“Apologize to her. If she really is your mate, apologize to her.”

Zara’s request was followed by a hard kick to her stomach which had her falling onto the ground, her mouth hung open in surprise and pain.

Clarissa had fallen onto the cold ground as well. But the man wasn’t done.

While Zaramanni held her hurting stomach, Andrea approached Clarissa, held her by her hair, and slapped her again.

With great force, he dropped her head onto the ground and kicked her in the stomach just as he had done to Zara.

“Is she the reason you won’t come home to your mate?” he asked bitterly when he knelt closer to her. “Is she the one feeding you lies and wrong advice?”

“N-no,” Clarissa replied weakly, a groan escaped her after as she also clutched her stomach. “I-I-”

”What is it? I can’t hear you.”

Zara, from where she was lying, glared at the monstrous creature. She was still hurting greatly from his hit or she would have gotten up and graced his body with her kicks.

“I am sorry,” Clarissa’s feeble voice spoke and Zara frowned. “I- I don’t-”

”Speak up!” he howled and grabbed her hair again. “I can’t hear your stupid voice!”

”What the fuck is going on here?”

A stern masculine voice requested from the end of the corridor and it all came to a halt.