Killing On Command

Chapter 11

Zach

I stayed with Grogg for a few days after that fateful night which left us all feeling more alone than ever before. Alex had still not returned, and I knew exactly why. They'd changed her, and I knew that I'd never see the Alex I knew, my Alex, again. I missed her. I'd been assigned a room at the Inn to use permanently if I ever wanted it, and was thankful for the gesture that Grogg had given me. He was a nice man, and I knew that he had always had the best of intentions for everyone.

I lay in the comfortable bed in my room. It was plain; rather dark due to the lack of lit candle on the dresser,  but comfortable. I liked it here at the Inn I dare say more than at my own home. I had my reasons now, seeing as I had only spoken to my Father about the latest news from both the Bloods and Lupine recruitment. I'd been keeping Grogg and Scarlotte safe, which they were both grateful for in the long run. In return, they gave me a roof over my head and as much food as I wanted (Although I rarely asked for it).

It must have been around noon on Saturday morning when I arose from my bed. My arms and legs were healing well, and it was thanks to Scarlotte, who had been nursing my injuries since she had returned from the Infirmary a few days back. She tried to keep a smile on her face, but I knew that the puffy red circles around her eyes meant that she'd been crying for one reason or another. Her wedding had been postponed, but was still to go ahead before the Sacred War took place in a few months time. Her fiance, Edward, had visited her at the inn during our process of cleaning it up for reopening, and was pretty happy to help considering his background. 

"Your wounds are healing so quickly..." Scarlotte told me, a little confused. She'd come into my room after I'd woken up to change my bandages and to bring me breakfast. "Maybe Lupines heal faster than Mortals do... I can't know for sure, but I'll make note of it." She confirmed, writing it down on a piece of parchment.

"How long will it be until I can leave my bed?" I asked her. She placed the quill down on top of the parchment. 

"You can now, but I wouldn't advise you going far. I'll have to change your bandages in a few hours and re-apply some of the ointment too," She said. I never took note of her before, as she'd always hated me. Now however, we were on the same side... At least until the Sacred War...

"I need to go and see my Father today, I shouldn't be too long. I think I might have a lead on where to find Alex," I told her. She raised an eyebrow, and then nodded.

"I wouldn't worry about finding her," She said. "She'll be long gone by now. In fact, she's probably found somebody else to leech off. You'll mean nothing to her."

"What?" I questioned, standing up. I felt my legs ache from the lack of movement as I did so, but wasn't going to stand for anybody insulting Alex while she was not around to defend herself."I thought you wanted her to come back home, to know that she was safe-"

"I only said that around Father." She interrupted. "I never want her to come back, she's poison. You should keep away from her if you know what's good for you." My mouth fell open for a moment, and then she smiled.

"You're sick... You know that, right?" I asked her, disgusted. "I'm going, I'll dress my own wounds from now on," And then I left, hobbling out of the door and barging past the blonde girl with more force than I expected. I knocked her to the floor, but didn't look back at her. She had always craved the attention, and now that she was the only daughter, she was getting more than she originally wanted.

I gave Grogg a little silver to buy some food for us before I left the Inn. The street was quiet, and the only people walking around were well known Lupine families. I caught a glimpse of Iris and Michael, who waved at me. I nodded back, being careful of my legs as I walked. Michael ran up to me, then placed a hand on my shoulder.