Shifters (Feline english version)

Chapter 37

Unsurprisingly, I found myself again on the threshold of their damn boardroom. Hannah was following me closely, so closely that she was almost glued to my back and nearly hit me when I stopped, hesitating to push the door. True to herself, she moved and opened it while pushing me hard in the back. The door closed behind me, leaving me alone. Having no choice but to move forward, I did so, although fear knotted my stomach. No matter how much I despised Charles, I was not stupid enough to underestimate him.

What I saw first were the six lateral beams spaced about one metre apart, which supported the building's exposed structure. Third time I came here and yet it was the first time I paid attention to it, and for good reason. My gaze had almost instantly focused on the hook located two thirds of the height of the first beam on the right. Obviously, the place where they had Jude tied up before Charles beat him to pulp. This little hook was nothing special and seemed to have been there for a long time, given its rusty appearance. But now that I knew... I couldn't look away from it anymore. Charles, who was casually waiting for me on the steps of the stage, noticed it and smirked at me without even trying to hide it. I had the increasingly unpleasant feeling that I was not going to like our meeting at all and that, as an added bonus, he was going to enjoy making things last.

- 'Christina! I thought for a few minutes that you wouldn't have the "balls" to come,' he whispered meanly.

I remained frozen for a few seconds due to his vulgarity, then, understanding that all this was skillfully thought out, entered his game as best I could. No way I'm letting him have the upper hand.

- 'Indeed, I don't have any!' I replied in the same way while opening my arms. 'But as you can see, that didn't stop me from being there. What do you want from me?'

- 'You interfered in the justice of a metamorphic community of which you are not even a member. You knew there would be a price to pay for that... Especially since you're not even one of us after all, Christina.'

- 'Coming from you, I didn't expect anything else,' I replied with all the sarcasm I was capable of. 'And I don't remember allowing you to be on a first-name basis,' I continued straightforwardly.

- 'As you can see, I have no need and especially no interest in your permission! I am only formal with the people I meet for the first time and those I consider my equals. You are no longer in the first group and will never be in the second,' he continued to explain, staring at me. 'So you no longer deserve this special treatment.'

- 'You pretentious bastard...' I couldn't help but say to him out of anger, before he shut me up very effectively by standing up all of a sudden, and approaching me in a flexible and threatening way.

Instinctively I backed away, even though I was angry at myself for showing my fear like that.

- 'I think you forget a little too easily that you are alone with me in this room for the moment,' he scolded me in a barely controlled voice. 'But you'd better pray for it to last, because if I involve the council, the punishment will be public and I will choose it,' he threatened me while circling me like a hungry shark.

- 'Let me guess. Another medieval torture of some kind?' I said, ironically, while straightening myself up.

- 'That's right, be smart. You won't laugh so much if it comes to that. Unless you liked the little sample earlier?'

His gaze was lecherous and his voice dripping with painful promises. Maybe I should have listened to Jude for once and not come and face him alone. His smile widened further and he inspired deeply, as if he could feel my fear and that he was enjoying it. I began to panic seriously and looked for a way to escape, when he continued in a mocking voice.