Malika (#Short, Incomplete)

Chapter 4

Chapter 4:

The days were short, with dark falling quickly, black blanketing the gloomy sky. The night was beautiful, clear of clouds and snow, with stars emerging from the empty scope, small but many in number, glowing like balls of fire. The moon made an appearance too, abnormally large and holding a surface of misty white, it's ethereal presence dominating the realm.

The two figures clamber together through the northern woods below, amongst trees that were thickly wound together. The paths were narrow, woodland dense and filled with ferns and bushes that protruded from the grounds hazardously.

Ezekiel is amused when his eyes latch onto the torch the witch accompanying him holds, using it to orientate her way through the thick hoards of vegetation. It stems into a chuckle when noticing the shiver in her bones, her form desperately huddling into her thick furs, but availing to no warmth.

Her opal eyes flash up to him once the noise breaches his mouth, lips curling in displeasure. An annoyed sigh falls from her.

Wolves naturally were gifted with perfect night vision, and better endurance to the cold. Unfortunately for the small witch, she had no such abilities, and had instead volunteered herself to such suffering. If they were under different circumstances she would have used a spell to keep her warm, but she was saving her energy for the spells she'd later have to conduct.

The beta just gives her a sly grin, using a hand to pull her form closer to him, to gain some heat emanating from his body. A blush strokes her cheeks, but she mumbles a thank you, not daring to meet his eyes.

Ezekiel doesn't think much of it, eyes looking forward to the task at hand. His eyes flicker down to the map Adir had given him, with all the crosses marking the locations of the deaths Faiza was do to an energy locator spell on. The nearest one was less than a mile away.

The walk is quiet between them, nothing but the eerie silence of the cold air and the occasional sound of the wind. Ezekiel doesn't fear much – he knew every inch of these woods, but the veil of unknown darkness was beginning to make the witch a little anxious. She stays close to the beta.

A yawn breaks through the male's mouth, the lack of sleep paired with the hectic day finally catching up to him. His stomach also protests; they were currently missing dinner to carry out this task.

The beta glances again at Faiza, who is still heavily dependant on her torch.

He didn't know the female that well, despite from the fact that she was involved with the King. Even then, only Ezekiel and Akila knew of that. No other wolf knew the relationship the two held, considering the witch wasn't the King's half – that would be impossible considering the two weren't even the same species- and that it wouldn't fall well over the pack morals.

Ezekiel didn't judge the King at all for his choices, though his views on who he chose to align himself with were very different.

"What?" Faiza murmurs, red brows knitting together. Ezekiel had been staring moments longer than he should've.

"How are you and Adir?" he responds, his features teasing, lips pulled into a smirk and eyes twinkling mischievously.

Her cheeks redden further, now not only being flushed from the cold. Her eyes dip down, careful to not trip over logs of wood embedded into the dirt.

She doesn't say anything for a moment, unsure of how to go about it. She knew the views of the wolves, and how dearly they held their mate bond. It's why she didn't protest with the secrecy.

"I'm not judging you. He's happy, so I'm happy," Ezekiel points out, features less teasing and more warm. Faiza only shrugs.

"Our "relationship" is unorthodox, I'm fully aware. It's nothing serious anyway, he'll be finding his mate soon," her words are quick and quiet, suggesting that she wasn't really willing on divulging more information on what she truly felt to the beta.

Ezekiel only shrugs to himself. It wasn't his business, and if she didn't want to talk, then it was fair enough. He hums as they trek, grabbing her arm when she almost trips headfirst. His gentle grip doesn't leave her afterwards, knowing Adir wouldn't appreciate it if she hurt herself.

"You aren't mated, right?" she knows the answer, but the silence was beginning to grow awkward, so she had to throw something to pull a conversation together. Ezekiel smiles, knowing what her intentions were.

"Unfortunately not," he murmurs. Faiza's eyes watch him carefully.

"I think its really cute that you're waiting for her," she comments. The beta's green hues slide over to her, brows furrowed and lips wicked.

"Them," it's a quiet, quick correction before he swiftly moves on.

"And I never said anything about waiting," his brow is arched further. Faiza rolls her eyes.

"Please you haven't stepped foot near any female or male, regardless of the fact that there's several in this very Kingdom that would be happy for you to have your way with them. Not only are you the beta, you're not that ugly either," a chuckles falls from his chest with her word selection.

"I'll take that as a compliment ma," he mutters, shaking his head with a grin.

Ezekiel wasn't naïve; he knew he was a topic of gossip among the juveniles and unmated females. He never missed the lustful looks as he walked passed, nor did he miss the flirtatious cues when one was bold enough to walk up to him, with doe eyes, a voice feigning innocence and a touch to his arm or hair. No one really knew of his sexuality, though he had figured long ago that he was attracted to both genders. Everyone just had assumed he was solely into female wolves.

"And no. Unlike my dear King, I don't really get around. Actually I've never gotten around," his words are quiet, now seeming foolish when they're said out loud. Faiza only smiles, eyes softening.

"They'll appreciate it," she tells him, and he just smiles.

"I just think that the mate bond is something really sacred, and that it should be cherished. Why would I throw such a gift away? I know virginity might not mean that much to some people, or even to my half, but I just only ever want to be with them," and Faiza purses her lips. Ezekiel's views were traditional, stemming from his parents.

The witch thought the devotion he had for his half was admirable.

"You never considered finding love out of the bond?" she questions, challenging his ideology.

Through recent years, pairings outside the bond and between species had occurred, increasing with time. More and more individuals were going against their nature, against what the Moon had deemed.

"No, not really. My half is meant to complete me perfectly. I'll wait for them, however long it'll take. Also, I would like to bear pups of my own if I'm gifted a female," he murmurs, smiling when Rhea comes across his thoughts. Faiza nods in understanding.

The Moon had made is so that you could only ever procreate with the one destined for you. It was almost as if she was punishing you - if you chose to go against the one she had gifted you, you were giving up your fertility whilst you were with another.

"I presume you don't share the same thoughts," he grins, and Faiza giggles with a shake of her head.

It's not long before they stumble across the first location. Ezekiel remembers this juvenile in particular – the first one who was thought to be linked to the attacks. This boy was well known in the pack, was set on a path like Roman's – to become a high warrior in the pack, if not General himself. The beta's heart clutches at the memory, though Faiza doesn't share the same sentiment, immediately getting to work.

She pulls her rucksack from behind her back, dumping out the things she needed for this spell.

"Hold this," shoving the torch into the beta's hand. Ezekiel rolls his eyes, tutting at her lack of manners, but complies, using the torch to shine it to where she needs.

She holds a jar filled with the particular ashes of a tree, using it to create a circle over the spot where the juvenile had died. A jar of some herb paste she spent all day making is used, smothering it to her hands. She didn't need much for the spell, but it was going to be energy draining.

The beta watches her curiously, not having really witnessed witches doing big spells like this. If anything, he was jealous of their ability to manipulate and bind natural and mystical elements. She sits on her knees in the circle of ash, eyes closed in concentration. Not all witches needed to chant out loud, and Faiza was alike those.

Ezekiel steps back, grip on the torch faltering.

He knows the spell has begun when the ash lights itself on fire, the flames bright orange and wielding higher and higher.

The female is in her own mind, completely devoted to the task at hand. The wolf grows antsy when the colour leaves her skin, a bead of sweat churning down her temple. Her features shift with slight anguish, only growing more crumpled as the time goes.

She suddenly gasps, choking for air, the tract of her lungs on fire.

The flames turn black before vanishing immediately.

"Faiza?" Ezekiel steps into the circle, ducking down to the female catching her breath, her form shaking just a little. Her inhales and exhales are large, trying to ground herself to this world.

"I'm okay," she breathes shaking, fingers clutching the beta, who gently helps her to his feet.

He refuses to let her go, fearful for her imbalance.

"What did you see?" his tone is gentle, and her features are dimmed with confusion. She turns to him, lower lip caught between her teeth, eyes wide.

"Nothing," her brows furrow in confusion. Ezekiel thinks.

"That's a good thing? Right?" and the witch shakes her head.

"No, everything has an energy source. Not just beings who harbour magic. Even you have a distinct type of energy, so I should've gotten something, even if it was the victim's own energy. But there's nothing here. Like the attack never happened. Like no one has ever stepped foot here," she explains, brows knitting.

Ezekiel frowns. They had marked the spot perfectly; they were definitely in the right location. Faiza speaks once more.

"It's like someone's blocking it. Like someone's taken the energy away. A cover-up. They're protecting themselves," she elaborates. The beta looks at her.

"Taking energy away? Isn't that some funky magic shit?" the words come out before he filters them, but Faiza doesn't comment, head nodding.

"Yes, it's magically affiliated," her jaw clenches.

"So it's easy then. It's one of the witches who live here," the beta shrugs, and Faiza shakes her head.

"Witches can't conceal their magic from other witches. It has to be another species harbouring magic," Faiza explains, and Ezekiel scoffs.

"There's no other species in the Upper Realm that uses magic. So, by theory it could just be a witch whose managed to do so. With the right power and not necessarily here I guess," he trails, and Faiza thinks before hesitantly agreeing.

"I wouldn't point fingers just yet though, this doesn't lead us anywhere. It's no proof that a witch did this. Let's look at the other locations, see if we can get something," she mutters, shuffling through her rucksack to take a drink of a specific cold tea she made to rejuvenate herself for the next spell.

They spent the next two hours trekking through the rest of the other locations, conducting the same spell.

All led to the same outcome – something was blocking the energy, thus leading to no solid lead, though more questions and suspicions had arisen. Though they got a little information, Ezekiel can't help but feel a little defeated. He had expected more.

The pair of them are walking back together, silent with the night blackening above them. The beta was painfully hungry now, and the witch had worn herself out, limbs barely moving to head back to the central part of the Kingdom.

"Yo, is your ass good?" the beta turns when Faiza lags behind him, a yawn breaking through her mouth. She nods, and the second after he turns, a hard thud is heard behind.

The beta rolls his eyes once realising she's tripped over. The witch groans, sitting up and pulling the dead leaves and twigs out of her hair. He squats down, lending a hand to help her to her feet, but before pulling her up a scent catches him.

His nose lifts in the ait, features growing serious, the wolf within him surging forward.

It's blood.

Faiza is immediately kept behind him. He grabs her by the wrist, form already quick as he meanders behind the tree, wolf driving him towards the scent. It's a wolf nearby, he can tell that much. With the memory of the juvenile he couldn't save in his head, the coarse adrenaline pumping through his muscles, the male moves quick, at one point altogether leaving the witch, long legs running as fast as he can.

He skids when the stench is most potent, eyes already falling onto a wolf a few metres away from him. The wolf curls before a tree, blood dripping from it, fur doused in red, with harsh strikes down the belly.

Ezekiel goes to the wolf immediately, quickly analysing it. It was fully conscious and breathing, which immediately eases the beta. It's an even better sign when the wolf uses all of it's strength to shift to skin, the young boy breathing hard with hazy eyes.

The beta tears his hoodie into strips, quickly bandaging the deepest wounds, with tight knots. He uses the male's hands to place over the wound, applying steadying pressure. Faiza runs into view, already having alerted the nearest patrol to arrive. She skids to her knees, placing her hand on the juvenile's head, uttering a spell that would hopefully keep him alive until proper medical attention arrived, allowing her last of her own energy to supplement him.

The male struggles under their hold, his skin sheened ghostly pale, glossed in sweat.

"You-you," he's struggling to form words. The beta hushes him, trying to keep his skin warm and for him to conserve his energy. The male fervently shakes his head, breathing erratic.

"She-she saved me," the words are barely coherent. Faiza and Ezekiel look at each other.

"I"m-I"m f-fine. Help her," it's a plea, thrashing again, turning his face to the other end of the woods.

Faiza nods when Ezekiel reluctantly stands to leave the male, keeping close to him. Faiza ensures that the pressure is stabilised but there's no worry as more patrol have entered the scene with a medic, immediately taking to the juvenile whose chances are looking better by the second.

The witch closely follows the beta, hands clutching the back of his shirt.

They near the envelope of darkness, before Ezekiel finally catches what the juvenile had been telling him.

There's a naked female curled up in the corner, one who wasn't wolf by scent.

In fact, he'd never seen her.

Her skin is like the surface of the moon, but marred with thick prevalent scars all over her bare form, and strange red markings, similar to what the skin would look when you burned tattoos or ink away.

The beta is stunned.

Faiza makes the first move, stripping away her furs and covering this female, and the notion snaps the male into action. Ezekiel steps forward and scoops the female into his arms with ease, adjusting the furs to preserve her dignity. She seems unharmed, but lacks consciousness with her eyes tightly shut, dark hair spilling all over, and lips slightly parted.

His fingers check for a pulse.

It's barely there.