The Year of the Tiger (Book 3 of The Almair Series) (Completed)

Chapter 53

I sat up gasping for air and groaned in annoyance before I laid back down, closing my eyes while I pursed my lips. My head started to pound something terrible as if something took a hammer and started to bang it against my eyes. Thanks a lot, Hermes, I thought, and I could have sworn that I heard him chuckle in response.

The pain slowly started to ebb away until it became bearable enough to open my eyes and sit up. Slowly, I looked around and noticed that I was in the woods across the street from Shardul's house.

How did I get here? I asked, furrowing my brows. I sighed and shook my head because I knew better than to question it before I looked around and noticed a drink near my bag with a note attached to it. Slowly, I moved towards my bag, my head still feeling as if it was splitting into two, and grabbed the note.

Drink this when you wake up if you feel like shit, it read. It will help you feel better. I will explain it to you later. -H

"Thank you," I whispered, setting the note down and grabbing the drink. I opened the drink and sniffed it to smell... nothing. "What did you give me, Hermes?" I mumbled softly before I hesitantly took a sip of it and tasted the sweet drink I had tasted before.

"Mmmm," I said, closing my eyes while I started to feel better. I finished the bottle before I wiped my mouth and smacked my lips. "Thank you," I mumbled again, feeling energized and ready to train as well as get some of Marcus's hair so that Hermes would be able to help with that.

I closed my eyes and held the bottle in my hand. "Hermes," I whispered and flinched when I felt a small spark go from me and to the bottle. Quickly, I placed it into the bag before I stuffed the note into it and grabbed the small box. Standing, I slipped the box into my pocket before I started to walk towards Marcus's house.

I might want to tell Shardul that I can start training after I am done with Marcus, I thought, taking out my phone. I pursed my lips and narrowed my eyes when I saw that it was five in the afternoon, not knowing how I had gotten so much done in that amount of time.

The hell..? I shook my head and pursed my lips further. You know what? I'm not going to question it. I don't have time to question it.

I sent Shardul a quick text with a small huff before I placed my phone back into my pocket and continued on my way. No cars came down the road, so I quickly ran across the street before making it to Marcus's door.

Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door and waited for either him or Tigra to answer. I had no idea who it would be, but a part of me hoped that it was Marcus. I needed to make sure that he was alive and taking care of himself, at least not looking like he was on death's doorstep like he had in the cell.

The door opened, breaking me from my thoughts, and Marcus stood there looking halfway decent. He pursed his lips in disgust and narrowed his eyes when he saw that it was me. "What?" he asked coldly.

"I just wanted to see how you are doing. Is that so bad?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. I folded my arms across my chest, making sure that my attitude towards him hadn't changed to alert whoever was controlling him that I knew something and was trying to help bring himself back.

"Yes," Marcus replied. "Goodbye." He was about to slam the door in my face, but I stopped him from doing it.

"Come now, Marcus," I warned, pushing it a little more open against his brute strength. "You already know that I will move your fatass out of the way, so you better just let me through." I slammed my shoulder against it, and that force alone caused him to take a couple of steps back while I slipped in. "See?" I raised an eyebrow. "I told you so."

"Why are you even here?" Marcus asked, pursing his lips in disgust.

"Because I want to suck your blood," I replied sarcastically. I shrugged. "I need some of your hair."

He raised an eyebrow. "For?"

"Reasons." I looked around and took in a deep breath. "Where is Tigra?" I asked, not smelling her in the house.

"None of your business," Marcus said. He moved a hand through his hair and scratched his head, and I was wondering if he was trying to take some of his hair to give me or not. However, my question was answered when he placed his hands at his side, not giving me any of his hair.

"Un-huh," I replied, not believing him. "So, can I have some of your hair or not?"

"No."

"Why not?" I asked. "You have a full head of hair on your body. Just a couple of pieces won't kill you."

He folded his arms across his chest. "Then get it your own damn self," he said, baring his teeth at me. Disgust flashed through his eyes, and for some reason, I smelt the fear that the "normal" part of him felt.

I shrugged my shoulders, not fazed at all. "Ok," I replied. Quickly, I moved towards him, and as soon as I felt him move in one direction, I moved that way and wrenched a handful of hair from his head. I felt slightly guilty for hurting him when he yelped, but I did what I needed to do and had the hair in my hand before I started to walk to the kitchen.

"Did you have to make it that painful?" Marcus asked, following after me. He was rubbing the spot that I had taken some hair from him, and I could tell that he was scowling.

I turned towards him and smirked. "Yes," I replied before I picked up my pace and made it into a spot where he couldn't see me. Quickly, I placed the hair into the box before I stuffed it into the bag. I had no idea what Hermes was going to do with the hair, but I prayed that he could do it soon.

I needed to find out what the actual Marcus knew. I needed to see if he could have any valuable information for me, and I was running out of time.

The light that was written in the journal was happening soon.

I could feel it in my bones.

I had no idea when, what day, or what hour.

All I knew was that it was soon.

And I was so not ready for it.