Of ARES

Nine | Dog

I had never met a Cardinal in person. Their contact with the public was limited, staying in the capital city of Selene unless there was a pressing matter to attend. Not only was it safer for them, but Selene was the home of lunar magic—the core of the Moon's power. Without it, the Dark Realm would eat itself alive. 

Magic to balance magic. Power to regulate order. 

The House was responsible for keeping peace and balance in the Realm. The districts like Erepo were instated by the earliest Umbran rulers of the House. It established separation in a world where, at times, the only mutual factor amongst individuals was their worship of the Moon. Later, Wolves were enlisted as protectors, enforcers. It became our duty to the Moon to protect every Umbran that walked the Dark, supernatural or not. Thus, territories were created to encompass each and every district in the Realm—all except Selene and the Deep. Only Umbran Witches were trusted enough to oversee what lied within them. 

If I had any fears regarding Ares, they were twice as powerful when it came to Cardinal Etna. She may not have been Cardinal Locke, the leader of the House of Umbra, but she was more than capable of roasting me in the exact place I sat on the floor. Not to mention, she appeared to be a bit of a loose cannon with her lack of hesitation to light me up. I would take a staring contest with fives Areses than one Cardinal Etna. 

"Are you going to take it?" the Cardinal asked, her hand still in my face. With hesitance, I reached out. I wasn't entirely able to force down the wince as I imagined just how painful it would be if I lost my hand to third-degree burns. Nonetheless, Cardinal Etna pulled me up from the floor without charring me. 

Standing next to the Witch, I realized we were nearly the same height. She was tall, despite the relation to humans. However, I amounted a few inches to the crimson-red heels she wore to match the hooded cloak draped over her. The only dark skin I was able to see was that of her hands and face. 

"Thanks," I mumbled as I tried to ground my feet. The sudden travel by thin air made my legs tingly. Perhaps, it was just the anxiety. 

Cardinal Etna peered around me, surveying whatever stood behind. 

"I suspect you're the babysitter?" She asked. Ares visibly winced at her side. It was supposed to be condescending. I'll assume you're the one who was supposed to make sure our paths didn't cross? Yeah, something like that. 

"A guard," Ander corrected. I hadn't even realized he was poofed into here, too. 

"Yeah, the babysitter," the Cardinal concluded before pointing toward the doors. "You're off duty. I'm sure you have better things to be doing right now." She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.

 Ander did not hesitate and left the office, leaving me with the hot-headed Alpha and hot-handed Cardinal. 

"So," Cardinal Etna began. Her arms crossed, and the fabric of her cloak pushed up to reveal a layer of fine, diamond bracelets, "how long has this been going on?" She motioned between Ares and I. 

"Tuesday," Ares said. Had it been Tuesday that he sauntered across the Delphian border and wreaked havoc on innocent people? Huh, could not recall. 

The Witch eyed me, her gaze lingering on my right arm. The forearm, specifically, where my Delphian pack mark had contorted into the poisonous image of Vici's. If I could have rubbed it away in the shower that morning, I would have. 

"Then, she was a Delphian Wolf, I assume?" 

"Yes," I said, my chest tightening at the past tense. I expected the Cardinal to look up at me and laugh. Maybe even make a snide comment about the unfortunate turn of events, but any amusement had been wiped from her face.