The Wolf of the Wilds

The Present

The hotel was still swarming with people. City guards were in the throng now, pushing back at the crowd and calling for the rabble to leave. Helena approached with long strides but slowed as she got within earshot of the commotion. There were confused whispers and hushed conversations coming from left right and centre.

"Someone fell, I heard."

"No, there was a body."

"I smelt blood in the air."

Helena weaved her way to the front of the crowd, near to the hotel's grand entrance. Just as she was about to sneak up the stairs, a city guard put out an arm to halt her tracks.

"Excuse me, Miss. This hotel is under investigation by the city guard and there's restricted access to members of the public," he said, barely sparing her a moments glance over before waving for her to leave.

"Please, Sir. My mate is inside the hotel for a meeting, and I'm worried for him. Can't you make a small exception?" she pleaded. "I promise to not disturb the investigation. I just don't want to be separated from my travelling party."

Turning back to her, he glanced her other with a tired exasperation. "What's your affiliation?"

"Montis," she replied, doing her best to keep a straight face.

After muttering something under his breath, the city guard sighed. "I'm going to check that the Montis are here. Stay put and don't cause trouble." The look he fixed her was one reminiscent of her father's when telling her to stay out of trouble and it took her a moment to reply.

"Of course, Sir."

As soon as the man disappeared through the guarded hotel entrance, she resisted the immediate urge to sneak off and find a side entrance. It took a little more effort than she would've liked to admit, but the façade of a sappy mate was finally getting to her inner anarchist. When the guard returned, she plastered on her best placating smile and chanted an inner mantra. Don't cause more of a scene. Don't break character. Don't you dare do it, Helena Aadila Angor.

"I've found your mate. Follow me," he grunted out, his shoulders hunched, and his lips pursed.

Helena took one final glance around the darkened streets, to the shifting fabric layers overhead and the fearful crowds. She hoped that with such commotion, the rumours would travel like wild fire and strike fear into the remaining assassins' hearts. Otherwise she'd have to strike something else into their hearts.

Nodding silently, she trailed behind the man as they went up the staircase to the guarded double doors. The foyer was quiet but filled with a crackling unease. Many of the hotel's customers were there in huddles, while uniformed city guards rushed around. Helena almost immediately noticed Adrian's pale head of hair but was annoyed to find Oskar stood right beside him.

She was led over to them, quickly putting on a slight frown. "Adrian, what's going on?" she asked.

Several members of the group turned around at her intrusion.

"L- Helena! There you are, where on earth have you been?" Adrian was quick to react, stepping closer to her to obscure Oskar's view.

"I wasn't feeling too well, so I stepped out for some air. It occurred to me that I could go and do a little shopping, but when I returned, I found the entire place in chaos. Has something happened?" Playing along, she wrapped her good arm around Adrian's shoulder. They re-joined the huddle, earning looks from many of their parties. Iona's expression was the most amused and she smiled towards Helena in greeting, subtly nodding to the familiar bag slung over her shoulder. Thank the gods that Iona had the thought to pick up her things.