Wolf of Stone novel Chapter 33

I walked towards the little pond then bent down and dipped my hand into the cool water.

"Is it drinkable?" I asked.

"Yeah," Axil answered.

I bent down and cupped the water in my hand then brought it up to my face to take a sip. A sigh escaped my lips as the refreshing liquid travelled down my throat and quenched my thirst. I then splashed water on my face as my mind scrambled to make sense of our situation.

"It's already getting dark," Liza noted, bringing our attention to the darkening sky above us.

I sighed in exhaustion, "what are we going to do now? We can't stay here forever..."

"Why are the cops trying to kill us? Who the fuck is the mayor and what shit is he on???" Liza fumed.

"You weren't looking that angry when you were laughing your ass off on our way here."

Liza rolled her eyes, "that's different."

I shrugged my shoulders, "based on how the cops appeared after I made a commotion, I think me awakening my birth rite forced the person behind all this to finally act."

Liza hummed in agreement.

I glanced back at Axil who gazed at the pond deeply, lost in thought.

I didn't really want to interrupt him but at the same time I really needed to know.

"Axil... was that your brother?"

Axil's gaze shifted towards mine, indifferent, "yes, we're identical twins." He answered simply, not giving any further explanation.

I frowned but didn't push further. All I could do was ease his worries by saying, "it's obvious that he's being manipulated. He didn't betray you."

"I know."

I pursed my lips and looked back out at the pond, contemplating our next move. It was obvious that the mastermind behind all of this was sitting comfortably in the mayor's office right now. Either that or they were manipulating the mayor.

"Our main priority right now is to release the villagers of the mind control they're under. If we do that, the mayor loses his lackies."

"But the people are werewolves, why didn't Axil sense them?" Liza asked.

"I still don't know," I replied, sitting down at the edge of the pond and hugging my knees to my chest. "We'll have to stay here for tonight. Tomorrow we could figure out what should be done."

"This area is harmless. I can start a fire over there," Axil pointed at a spot a little further away from the pond, "and you guys could sleep while I take watch."

Liza and I nodded in agreement.

An hour later, after all three of us collected dry firewood, the fire was made and we sat around it to soak in its warmth.

It was weird... being here with the both of them. Just a few hours ago we were sitting at home relaxing and now we were hiding out in the woods to keep our hearts pumping.

Liza and I sat huddled up together as she rested her head against my shoulder. Axil sat opposite of us.

I stared into the fire blankly, my mind spiralling on the events that have occurred ever since we entered that stupid garden.

I was never going to stop complaining about this, no matter how much time has passed or if we make it out of this alive. This was all Liza's fault and she damn well better remember it!

Liza nudged me with her head.

I looked down at her curiously.

"Can you sing that song you wrote when we were younger?"

Nothing bothers me

Here right by the riverside

I'm free to be me

Nothing can touch me now

Not a whisper in my ears

As the wind caresses me

It dries up all my tears."

I locked eyes with Axil as I lightly sang, running my hands through Liza's hair absentmindedly.

His eyes flashed with many different emotions as we stared at each other, yet I couldn't pinpoint a single one. His lips were slightly tilted up, making it seem as if he understood my words perfectly... as if he understood me...

My heart throbbed loudly in my chest as my tummy tingled. I quickly looked away and back down at Liza. Her eyes were closed, my voice lolling her to sleep.

"This is what I long for

A place to calm the fire raging in me

This is what I've dreamed of

This place where I belong is what I need."

My song continued to echo throughout the night, ringing in our ears even as we drifted off to sleep.