ZARAMANNI (BOOK ONE)

“You really don’t remember?” Zara’s voice trailed Lord Elias whose footsteps advanced towards the library faster than hers. “Really?”

“I have no idea what you are talking about. Are you sure it wasn’t a dream?” He asked while he pushed the doors open. As he stepped into the magically huge room, he let out a sigh of relief, as though he was extremely glad to be back in the library.

Zaramanni paid no attention to how relaxed the man was.

Still rushing after the he-wolf, a deep frown etched in the middle of her temple, she said, “I am sure it wasn’t a dream. It really happened.”

“Zaramanni,” Lord Elias called, the tone of his voice suggesting that he didn’t believe her. “What do you mean? I was at that council meeting. I would have known if you suddenly appeared in the room. Besides, how would you be able to do that? Except your powers are…”

His response which was on the verge of possessing an angry tone halted. Lord Elias began to poke the insides of his mouth with his tongue and he wore a particular look… A look that suggested that his thoughts were taking a different path.

“Do you remember?” Zara eagerly asked. “You covered me with your cloak before I suddenly disappeared.

“I did what?” Lord Elias was perplexed. “I don’t let my cloak touch other people, it is too precious to me.”

Zara folded her arms and she noticed that he wasn’t wearing the robe he used to shield her.

“You don’t have to sound so disgusted as though your precious cloak touched dirt. You did it to protect me.” Zaramanni adjusted her stance. The moment was gradually becoming ridiculous. “Do you not recall how I fell from nowhere and destroyed that table? It really happened. I know it did because after I woke up, Zoey and I kis…”

Quickly catching her words, Zaramanni cleared her throat and her eyes stylishly evaded Lord Elias’s.

Then, she released a huge breath and questioned the insanity of the situation.

“Kis… what? What did you and Zoey do?” the man inquired, one of his brows lifted.

“That is not your business.”

An awkward silence ensued for some seconds.

Then, with his feet advancing, Lord Elias spoke. “Let’s sit so we can talk about this. It seems you may be suffering from memory loss.”

“No!” Zara quickly refuted. She ran ahead and with spread arms, blocked him from taking a step more. “It really happened. It was crazy. One moment, I was being strangled in my bed.”

“What?”

“I began to strangle the hooded figure too. Then we were suddenly zapped into an empty place that had high walls. I began to question the person who confessed to being a creature the fairies sent to capture me.”

“The fairies?” the man whispered with surprise in his tone.

Zaramanni nodded as she thought, ’I am not so crazy now, am I?’

Then, she continued, “After his confession, I killed him because I hated his face.”

“You killed… what the fuck?!” The expression that perched on Lord Elias’s face was quite dramatic. His hands wouldn’t stop covering his mouth as his surprise abounded and bulged his eyes.

Zaramanni ignored him.

“I was pulled out of that place and I landed in the room where you were all having a meeting. King Darren and I locked eyes, so I know it happened. After some clamouring, I was transported back to my room where I started to have happy murder thoughts.”

“You were happy about killing someone?” Lord Elias took a few steps back with a look of caution in his eyes.

Zara shook her head at his overreaction.

“I didn’t mean to. It sort of happened. Anyway, I slept, woke up, and met Zoey who didn’t mention my presence in the meeting. I slept again and when I woke up, a Guardian offered me a drink. I don’t remember what happened after that. All I know is I woke up with a terrible headache.”

“Holy mother of…” the he-wolf halted his approaching cuss when Zara firmly locked her eyes with his as though daring him to utter one wrong word. After clearing his throat, he said, “That doesn’t sound like a dream And, if it is, it’s a peculiar one.”

“That’s what I am saying.”

Lord Elias’s dramatic actions died and seriousness took over him

He then continued his journey to the library’s sitting area and Zaramanni walked with him.

Once they were both seated beside each other, Lord Elias said, “There are two main issues in what you just told me.”

“I think there are a lot more but okay.” Zara gave a light shrug.

Relaxing his back, Lord Elias smacked his lips. He folded his arms and tilted his head to the left.

“One,” a finger on his right hand was raised, “you experienced something that can be likened to the concept of teleportation. Considering how you were pulled into different places within seconds, I think your powers may include being able to teleport.”

“M-my powers?”

Zara didn’t like the sound of that. She hated the thought that her powers would suddenly transport her somewhere. She immediately disliked the fact that having powers would mean that she wouldn’t have full control of her life.

Besides, what if her powers go haywire and she is zapped into a man’s bathroom or another kingdom?

What will happen if she is unable to return?

While she placed her attention on Lord Elias, Zara’s face wore a gloomy look. And, her teeth dug into her lower lip because she started to feel more worried than angry.

“But there is something else,” the librarian continued. “When you met Zoey, he didn’t mention your presence in the meeting room?”

“No.” Zara shook her head. “His actions didn’t indicate that he was aware that I was ever in that room. Either he doesn’t remember or he is good at pretending.”

’And, really good at some other things,′ said a voice in her mind that could not be ignored.

Though the thought of her sensual moment with Zoey drove away her present worries and gladden her, Zara quickly hid the smile on her lips

Lord Elias was now tapping his feet against the ground as he said, “I think our memories were erased. If my guess is right, King Darren probably recalls you being in the meeting room.”

“Is that possible?” Zara considered Lord Elias’s theory and, for a second, her face twitched with confusion.

“You two are connected by the ritual. I think he would remember.”

It was always that damned ritual…

Choosing not to dwell on her anger toward the ritual and King Darren, Zara gave more thoughts to the he-wolf’s words. Her eyes narrowed, and she asked, “So, what could have erased your memories? My powers?”

“It could be the effect of your powers. You were suddenly pulled into somewhere you were not needed. So, yes,” the man gave a curt nod, “it makes sense that our memories were erased. But we still have to check if the Alpha King remembers the incident. Only then can we come to a conclusion.”

Zaramanni was starting to find everything related to her powers complex.

While her buttocks slipped into a more comfortable position, Zara took a deep sigh. She wondered if the pressure her powers were dumping on her would be something she would be able to handle.

Living as a person with powers was already proving to be stressful.

“The second issue,” Lord Elias’s voice dragged Zara out of her thoughts, “is related to your death.”

“My death?”

That was an odd thing to say, it caused Zara great concern.

“Hmm,” Lord Elias hummed affirmatively. “The fairies sent… who did they send again?” he asked.

“A shape-shifting assassin,” Zara replied to him. She recalled the eerie voice of the creature and a small shiver jolted her upper body.

“Right…” Lord Elias looked worried instantly. “And, you killed him?”

“I strangled him to death till his body deflated,” Zara responded.

“Wow. Just wow.” After releasing a puff of air, Lord Elias faced Zara and she could read his worry. “It seems the fairies are not going to back down easily. You are important to them because you are connected to King Darren who is their main focus. I should speak to the Alpha so that we can figure out a way to protect you more.”

“What if my powers suddenly act up and send me to Amarxona? What if my powers deliver me into the hands of my enemies?”

“Zaramanni, if you hate your powers, it will work against you. Be careful with your thoughts.”

The girl’s lips scrunched as the librarian’s quick advice sank into her mind.

“You said one of the Guardians gave you something to drink,” the old librarian continued the earlier talk, his sight now focused on one of the bookshelves which held a series of colourful-looking books in its rows. “You don’t remember what happened after?”

“No.” Zaramanni stared ahead as well and she began to think about cutting her hair again. “I do remember thinking that the Guardian was acting odd, but he said it was custom to give guests drinks. He wouldn’t leave unless I drank it. Thank goodness it wasn’t something bad.”

“It was.” Zara’s head snapped in his direction, and the small smile she had on her lips crashed. “It was something bad.”

“What?”

“It was poison.”

“What on earth are you talking about?” Zara almost jumped out of her seat as she fully turned in the man’s direction.

“Ever since the attack, the people of Zenrada have learned not to trust anyone. These days, they have been having secret meetings and during one of the meetings, they realized that some unwanted foreigners are residing in the Kingdom. You are also a foreigner.

The laws of our lands don’t permit us to chase people out of the kingdom unless they commit a crime. Because of that, some wolves decided to go to the forest of poisons to get potions that will flush out strangers, especially those who are fairies. The poison instantly kills fairies. They have killed two so far.”

“What? You knew about this and you didn’t tell me?”

Lord Elias finally looked at her. “I just found out this morning. I was going to mention it during our class. But it seems…”

“That I have been poisoned?”

“The poison didn’t affect you. You are still alive,” he pointed out but Zaramanni was further angered.

“Still alive? Are you forgetting that I have fairy blood in me? I am still a fairy so the poison affected me,” Zara retorted, her hands gesturing furiously. “I could have died.”

“You won’t die easily, Zaramanni. Your powers and the bond you share with the king won’t allow it. I guess that the poison had a different effect on you. But you said you don’t remember what happened after. So…”

Zaramanni scoffed.

“Look at the bright side, you-”

”What bright side?” Zara quickly cut him short. “Every side I face, someone is trying to kill me. Bright side, my fucking ass,” she cursed bitterly.

Lord Elias gently blinked. Then, seconds later, a light exhale escaped him. “Since you are not dead, they won’t bring the poison your way anymore.”

”Yeah, right.”

“Zaramanni, you have to understand. The people are just doing their best to survive. Forgive their harsh ways, but after what they suffered during the attack, they can’t view certain things with a sane mind.”

Zara stood up.

“Did you read the book I gave you?” Lord Elias asked. “There are some things written there that will help you understand your new self.”

“That huge book? Reading it sounds stressful already.”

“The book just looks big,” the man smirked and he got up as well, “but the contents only fill the first few pages. The remaining pages are blank.”

Zara frowned.

At that point, to her, everything about that realm was confusing and unnecessarily extra.

As she scoffed, she asked, “Why would anyone make such a page? The writer could have just packaged the first few pages and saved paper.”

“Some things have to look real and huge for people to accept it.” Lord Elias had a small smile on his lips. “Besides, it is a good thing. We have a half-fairy living among us, and that is a rare occurrence. I think I should start filling those blank pages based on the things you do. Who knows, the-”

“I have to go now.” Zara found his talking tiring.

“But we haven’t started the class.”

“I don’t care,” Zara replied lazily. “I need a break from my crazy life and my head needs to accept the fact that I can be killed anytime. I should probably start planning my funeral while I am at it.”

“Zara…”

“I will see you later, Lord Elias.”

As Zaramanni dragged her steps, she realized that she had not worn any footwear.

The floor felt cold against her soles. It hurt her to walk on it, but she didn’t hurry her steps or rush toward Lord Elias to ask him for a pair of socks.

Zaramanni continued walking and she went like that until strong, masculine hands wrapped around her shoulder.

The person hugging her from behind, his chest pressing against her back, his voice delighted her by saying, “I found you.”