Folks Of Fury (#1; Tales Of Elysia [COMPLETED])

four.

No matter how much Ezra questions me for what the Fey Queen wanted from me, I couldn't bring myself to tell him.
Maybe because now that I knew he could shatter my chances at knighthood, I refrained from befriending him anymore than I had started to.
Eventually he gave up and I refused his offer to ride with him back into town when we reached his bike.
And he wanted to insist but his phone rang and this time he answered the call.
I went on to walk my way back and think on the Mab's offer.
I was already interested in finding the culprit of the murders just for the mystery of it but now a better motivation had presented itself.
Knighthood. A chance out of this hell.
But it was even more difficult than it seemed.
With all of the Agnate out looking for the murderer, it would be even more difficult finding him and bringing him to the Moors.
But I had to be able to do it. I couldn't live any longer with the St. Ours.
They would never accept me for what I am; loathing me all because I wasn't like them.
I couldn't continue to live with so much hatred against me. It would end up killing me or rather one of them would.
When I got to the Manor, I was subjected to scornful looks from Johann since he couldn't scold me for this afternoon lest he showed he cared enough.
But Mom sent me to my room without dinner. Not that it was much of a punishment since Tromos and Apelpi would already be out hunting for my food as they did daily.
I'd taken to avoiding as much earing the same food with them as possible.
As I wouldn't know when I would choke into a bleeding convulsion from salt or iron poisoning in my dinner.
I had embarrassed her in front of Eleazar Khan and I was going to be punished suitably later.
I discovered Ezra's father had come to officially begin the courtship between his son and Margot.
But since the former has spent the afternoon with me albeit to their ignorance, it had been stalled.
When I got to my room, I found a stalk of deep purple rose on my reading table.
Its violet shade was unnaturally lovely and filled the room with its scent.
The Queen's rose. The thorns at the stalk stung my fingers as I took it from the table.
The flower wasn't yet in full bloom yet it only needed a few short hours till it would yield.
I looked up to see the glowing descent of the sun in the horizon.
Sooner than later.
But even as I held the rose, my decision had already been made.
It had been since the second Aristyl told me of the Queen's offer, if I was to be honest with myself.
So I peeled off the purple petals and with each plucked one I began to see written inscriptions on them.
So like a puzzle, I lined them appropriately across my reading table till they covered a two page layout.
It wasn't easy to grasp an understanding of what was written on it. I wasn't exactly fluent in Fey speech but with time I could figure it out.
I already got that it was part of the spells found to be carved into the skin of the victims of the killings. The clues Aristyl had promised I would have on acceptance of the quest.
I would need all night to fully decipher them and my stomach growled.
But excitement wavered the hunger and I sat down for an all nighter.

I sat at the second row closest to the window of the Biology lab, which looked out to a section of the quad.
I could see the distant comings and goings of customers through the swinging doors of Rita's Bakery.
It was a cozy café that both students and faculty of Redwood High managed to mingle for those who went out for lunch.
"And if we're done having the excitement of my absence, let's find seats for the class." Professor Wilkins called through the humdrum of AP Biology senior class.
Yes Wilkins as in Raymond's father. He was qualified enough to teach at the state college a few miles from town but he'd rather stay in Redwood.
Because there was something in the water here that compelled locals to fall in love with the town.
I snorted to myself and took out the textbook and notepad I had for the class.
"Is this seat taken?" I all but growled out a yes at that familiar and starting-to-vex-me voice.
Eyes which I had thought were dark brown but now peering so close at me was dark hazel, was unwavering and intense.
What the fuck? What does he think he's doing?
My response must have taken a while to come because I heard the questioning tone of Prof. Wilkins.
"Is there a problem, Ezra?"
Ezra slid into the seat beside me and shook his head, with a cool smile at the man.
"None sir." His voice was warm and husky like dark melted chocolate fudge caramel... or something.
I shake my head to gathered wits. My heart already going into overdrive for some stupid reason.
A cool overpowering cologne of vetiver and lime enveloped the air about us and Ezra glanced at me.
"I didn't know you took this class?" It came out like a question, a means to instigate conversation.
Now you realise there are other people on planet earth aside from you and your boys.
"There are a lot of things you don't know about me." I stiffly replied.
Wilkins scribbles the day's topic; Cell membranes and transport with a non permanent blue marker on the white board.
I count the pages of the textbook as I flip to the right one for the class, in wait for his reply.
"Perhaps I can first start to know what Queen Mab wanted from you yesterday." he murmured.
"Doesn't concern you, Khan so quit asking."
A slight frown mars his brow. And I could tell he would keep driving at it.
But I try for nonchalance and stare blankly at Wilkins pretending to hear a word he's saying about structures of cell membranes.
After a few minutes of success and sparking comprehension of the lecture, Ezra speaks up.
"You know I can simply rat you out to your parents and then you'd have to spill." He threatened with a brave smirk that bedeviled his handsome face.
I narrowed at him, "What makes you think they don't already know? That I didn't tell them last night?"
He shrugged with that irritating smirk like he's privy to some secret.
"Margot said you're never bothered about your whereabouts."
Did she now? "I'm happy to know you two find ways to bring me into your late night calls."
Ezra sighed, leaning back into his seat and facing me entirely as he replied by way of explanation like he owed it to me. What's wrong with you?
"I called to apologise for not showing up."
"Did you tell her it was because you stalked me into the Moors?"
He grinned widely, showing perfect dentition. "It was none or her business, just ours."
Ours. He moved closer, hazel depths encircled by a ring of even dark amber.
I was noticing even the barest details of him by the second.
"Look I'm only asking cause..."
Before he could finish his sentence of revelation, Wilkins cut him off.
"Since the class is apparently not important enough for you, Senoy. You can tell us why exchange between cell and its environment is essential."
Shit! From the periphery of my vision I saw Ezra thin his lips with his cheeks puckering as if restraining a laugh.
I made sure he could hear my irritated growl before starting to answer the question. Luckily I'd read the entire textbook all through last summer.
Ezra didn't bother me for the rest of the forty minutes class and after Wilkins had given us a bogus assignment, he let us off a minute to the bell.
"Senoy, wait up." He called rushing with gathering his books and stumbling after me.
It was a very odd and hilarious sight that drew perplexed eyes from other students still exiting the lab. Even Wilkins glanced wide eyed and confused for a second.
I knew what they all were thinking. Why would Ezra, the considered prince of Redwood, be calling out to me- the town joke?
"You need to stop doing this." I all but snapped at him with a frown.
He stopped a few paces from me in the hallway and blinked before asking. "Doing what?"
"Making a nuisance of yourself. People would start to say I've got some wicked geas on you."
He smirked and tugged out his phone from his pocket and dialled while as he said.
"We can continue our talk over lunch at Rita's."
I frowned at his enunciated words as he pressed the receiving end of the phone to his ear.
"Yeah Lionel, I'll be there in a minute. Save a spot and don't let Micah flirt our lunch money away."
A mumbling sound on the other and he added before hanging up. "No we'll be five today."
"I'm not going anywhere with you. We have nothing to continue talking about."
"Oh yes we do. Besides I want to introduce you to my guys."
What the hell for?
Before I could argue more Eloise and Toby found us and the former already throwing a question about lunch.
"Hey I'm not feeling eating in school today..." her words trailed as she realized who was still standing at my side.
Toby gave a weird look as if to say. "Third time this week, Senoy." like I wasn't already feeling claustrophobic from his sudden interest.
It's my fault for saving him at the revel. He'd be a tree's problem if I hadn't.
"Ezra," Toby acknowledged him with a nod.
"Toby." He responded likewise before he looked to me and posed his question to my friends.
"If it's no problem, I already planned on buying Senoy lunch. As thanks for the other night."
The night you danced naked with a faery and nearly bound yourself to her?
Toby started to say it was a problem as I hoped desperately he would. He was the one reliable person to get me out of this.
But evil Eloise nudged her brother into silence and pasted a smile as she nodded in agreement.
"Good idea. Toby and I are heading home anyway. Family crisis."
The only crisis is right here dammit!
"Hope nothing's wrong." Ezra sounded almost considerate which was unexpected to someone you just met.
They're Shifters and he's a Hound...of course they know each other.
Eloise was already pulling Toby away from us, waving us goodbye as she said. "Nope, enjoy lunch."
Which was secret Eloise speech for "you better spill your guts about it tomorrow."
Toby was watching me expectantly as if I would just unfaze myself from the shock of it and leave with them.
But I didn't and they soon disappeared in the throng of students.
I sighed and glowered at him. "Now that you've scared off my friends, what are your plans?"
Ezra grinned evilly, looking at me from under dark brushwork of lashes. "I told you, lunch with the guys."