TEMPTER [Zarry]

Chapter 5

Zayn froze like a popsicle. The toddler too advantage of his stunned silence and statue pose by slowly climbing on his lap and getting comfortable. His small arms going around and holding the white tunic tight. his face was practically smushed in Zayn’s chest.

Zayn felt himself getting more relaxed as his hands stayed on his side. The boy was warm and soft. He could feel his heartbeat. the smell of something like flower fields and milk was surrounding them.

“ Zozo” the boy mumbled once again, his voice low and slurring a little .

This broke Zayn out his stupor. He stood up immediately. The small body falling back on the bed in a swift moment. Zayn looked at him, and the big green eyes stared back wide with shock. It took a second for the boy to understand that what happened, his eyes filled with tears as he extended one of his hands.

“Zozo?” his head tilted a little, wild curls falling on his face as he tried to call Zayn again.

Zayn didn’t know him. He didn’t. he has never seen this child and he wasn’t going to fall for these tricks. Maybe it was black magic or some weird spell because whatever was pulling him towards the boy was not his emotions for sure. How can he feel something for someone he hasn’t seen before.

He glared at the hand offered by the boy before taking a step back and walking out without looking back. Instead of returning to his office he walked towards the interrogation room.

He needed the answers and he will get them.

The gaurds in front of the room bowed deeply before pulling the door open.

This was the nicest interrogation room they had , it had cream coloured walls and just two chairs . no window or vent. The room was dark even in daytime. There were three candles lighting the room . the maid from yesterday was on the floor instead of chair and Louis was standing in front of her. They both looked as Zayn walked in . he immediately sat on the chair and crossed his legs. The maid bowed down, her head touching the floor. Zayn could feel the fear radiating from her.

“Louis” Zayn said but kept his gaze on the bowed figure. He knew she could feel it. Maybe getting the truth would be easy.

“She confessed that the child isn’t hers. she found him two months ago in the eastern forest while she was returning with few other maids from nearby village. They often went to that village to visit the traders market as it had new types of fabric that the Viscount’s wife demanded often. They didn’t have the heart to leave a toddler behind and brought him back thinking they could maybe find his parents. But there was no news of any missing child, so she kept the child hidden in the mansion with the help of the servants. “

“Who are you?” Zayn simply asked as Louis completed explaining.

“ Raise your head and answer !” Louis warned as Anne made no move to rise.

She slowly raised her head from the floor but kept his eyes trained on the floor. “I am an orphan, your highness. I really felt bad for the child and just wanted to help him. He is innocent and so am I. Please have mercy on us.” Her voice was steady even though her body was shaking.

“ You don’t know anything about the child ? he calls you his mother. Are you lying to hide something ?” Zayn could feel the fear but he could sense that her words were truth , he needed to dig deeper.

“ He can only speak few words and ‘mama’ is one of them , I neither taught his those words nor I asked his to call me that. He just started calling me and few other maids mama and we didn’t stop him. I also tried to teach him my name but he never learned.”

Zayn could feel the honesty in her words.

“So, did he act in any strange way or did anything strange in the last two months?”

“No. he is usually quiet and lost within his own world. He never asked for anything not even food or water. He understands what we say but doesn’t talk except occasional one or two words. But I would have to usually hide him in our servant room all day but he never got scared or created a fuss. As if he is habitual to it, I realized maybe he didn’t had good parents and maybe he was abandoned. I was planning to run away with him to my birth village after I collect enough money”

Zayn stayed quiet as he repeated her words in his head. There was no stench of lies. Her aura was faded and weak like a human . there were no traces of magic or any special smell. He would have to look into the child’s history. The face flashed before his eyes. What was that child doing now? was he crying? Or was he maybe scooping around the palace to find ways to kill him.

“Take her back and child too why was he in the guest room?”

“The child was unable to sleep last night after they were situated in their rooms and cried a lot , he was adamant to stay with the maid when guards went to bring her. He fell asleep shortly on the way here so I asked her to drop him in the room, so I could ask her the questions” Louis explained, with a hint of fear in his voice. He had given permission to a complete stranger to stay in the guestroom.

Zayn knew louis since they were kids, he didn’t have unwanted emotions too so it was strange that he did something like this. Did he feel something too? was the black magic working on all of them? They would discuss it later. He conveyed that through his eyes .

“You will work in the kitchens here. I will think about letting both of you live if you prove your worth” that was a lie but still it was not something they were planning.

The maid bowed her head again as Zayn stood up and walked out of the room . He walked out of the room and made his way to his study room, taking the longer route that did not fall in the way of that guestroom.

The best solution was to kill the kid but something was stopping his, maybe he should call Niall soon . maybe he would be able to understand the magic and kill the kid. For some reasons the thought pinched his heart , he didn’t want the child to die. Zayn clenched his fist , this was some really good magic.

Zayn opened the door and his legs collided with something immediately.

“Zozo?” the same green eyes stared at him .

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I am sorry for the delay , it was a super hectic week . I am hoping I can get some free time this week so I can update on time.

Thank you to everyone who is reading , voting  and commenting. It makes me happy that someone is enjoying this book. I'll surely not disappoint you. So please enjoy reading.

All the love - H