Trifecta: Stone [Completed]

Chapter 18: Summoned

The guards escorted me as soon as Pauline told them I was ready to go.

They led me through the building, but not outside. I was disappointed. I had hoped that I would be taken out of the building so I could find more clues as to my location in case I got a chance to get a message home to my people.

Instead, I was taken up the elevator by two burly, scowling werewolves who almost looked tough enough to be from the north.

I did not fight or cause any trouble as we waited. Again, I had no chance, although the long empty hallways looked terribly inviting. I would have loved to make a break for it. If only I were in a fairy tale and could count on a happy ending.

Of course, some fairy tales originally had horrifying endings, so maybe I would be wiser to be careful what I wished for.

I was dragged into another stark set of rooms, this time an office with similarly barren design. A secretary dressed in black and grey pinstripe sat behind a desk.

"Just sit over in the chairs," she ordered.

I did as I was told as if this were an appointment rather than a hostage situation.

Finally the secretary said, "He'll see you now." The guards motioned me out of the chair. I still barely knew what they wanted from me. I hoped the so-called king, or whoever it was I was about to see, would volunteer information. I did not want to have to demand it and harm the compliant image I was attempting to cast.

The guards dragged me up and marched me into a private office. They bowed when we crossed the threshold. I looked at the man sitting across from me. He was wearing a suit and reclined in his chair indolently. He looked to be in his mid-forties. I tried to hide my frown.

"Elise, how good to meet you at last. I am Larson, King of Werewolves."

I resisted the urge to protest the assumed title. He was no king to this werewolf.

"Have a seat."

One of the guards herded me over as if I could not manage such a simple task on my own. Although it rankled, I reminded myself that it was good that they thought I was that incapable.

"You may wait outside the door," the pretender king said.

Both guards bowed and left. I tried to keep my face smooth while I waited for him to explain what he wanted with me.

"My son told me that you are unique among thralls."

"I wouldn't know," I responded.

"No? Why not?"

"My people don't abuse the curse, so we have little experience."

"Perhaps if your leaders had more experience you would not have been turned so unjustly into a thrall. Seems irresponsible to have a power with no concept of how to use it."

I gritted my teeth and the curse stabbed me for the criticism of Serge. I was annoyed, I was on its side on the matter and yet it still punished me for words spoken against him.

"How would they use if they have no one to use it on?"

He considered my words. "Does no one ever commit a crime there? What happens if my fighters are captured by your people?"

We had only had a few prisoners and as far as I knew they were still imprisoned indefinitely. I never really wanted to know. They certainly were not going to be allowed to return to the eastern forces. I was certainly not going to give this man any information on what happened in the territories lest I give him something that the traitors had not already told him.