Chapter 5 He Couldn't Have Figured It Out...

DAPHNE

I wonder what he's going to do to me. Is this the moment he kills me? My fingers slide toward the sleeve of my dress where I've hidden a knife, just in case.

Then he speaks. "Come in."

The door creaks open. His red-haired aide walks in and heads straight to the computer. He switches it on and clicks on it, his brows rising in surprise.

"She hacked into the system." He whispers, glancing at Ezekiel. "She searched for Good Time Broadcasting and Natalie Jackson."

"Natalie Jackson." Ezekiel repeats the name slowly, as though he's trying to recall where he's heard it before. "You may leave." He adds, without looking at his aide.

Once the door closes, his gaze on me sharpens.

"Sneaking into my study and hacking my computer is a punishable offense."

I ignore the warning. "How long have you been watching me?"

He squints, slightly tilting his head, like he didn't hear me well.

"I saw the photos." I press. "Of me. Of Natalie. You know her, don't you?"

"Who?"

"Natalie Jackson." I grit out. "Where is she? Where did you do to my friend?"

He doesn't answer right away. His silence makes my blood boil.

"Why do you think I know this person you're talking about?" He asks, his voice is calm and collected.

"You had a photo of me and her, you creep." I blow up. "And her journal had your fucking name in it. Your fucking full name, Ezekiel Hawthorne, with a date. The same day she went missing, she was supposed to meet you."

He remains silent for a moment, tapping his foot slowly on the floor like he's weighing what to say. "That's not enough proof that I had anything to do with her disappearance." He replies calmly, stepping toward me.

I instinctively step back, drawing out my knife. I unsheathe it and point it at him. "Don't you dare come any closer." I warn.

His lips twitch. "So you came armed."

"You think I'd walk into the den of wolves empty-handed?"

He moves forward again, unfazed.

"I said stay back!" I shout, gripping the knife tighter. "Oh, I forgot to mention, my knife is laced with wolfsbane." I tell him as I try to keep my voice steady. "We both know how dangerous that is for your kind."

I expect to see him fidget or afraid, however, he remains annoyingly calm, heaving a sigh as he lazily drag his fingers across his eyebrow.

"Put that down." He mutters in a low warning tone.

"Where is my friend?" I demand, standing my ground. "Where's Natalie?"

"She could be lying dead somewhere." He replies without blinking.

My heart drops. "You killed her?" My voice cracks and a lump rises on my throat. "You monster... How could you..." Tears sting my eyes before I can finish. "You don't even feel remorseful, do you?"

He stares at me with no emotions. "I've killed too many to feel anything like remorse."

"Yeah? Just like you murdered your own father." I throw the words at him like daggers.

He ignores me like he didn't hear me. "Is your missing friend the only reason you broke in here?" He asks instead. "Or are you here for something else?"

"What are you talking about?"

"To spy on us." He answers. "You were sent here as a spy." He starts tapping his foot on the floor again, deep in thought. "I kept wondering why Richard would send his daughter straight to the wolf's den."

"Don't you dare speak my father's name with that filthy mouth." I hiss.

"I could kill you right here." He says quietly.

"Just like you killed my friend?"

His lips curl into a dark, mocking smile. "Seems like you're ready to join her wherever she is."

I glare at him fiercely. I can't stand the sight of the monster who hurt my friend. "I think it's time to send you to hell where you belong." I whisper.

Then I charge forward, fast as lightning, as I drive my knife into his chest.

But what happens next shocks me. He doesn't even move or dodge my attack. I expect him to at least fight with me but he doesn't. He just stands there, staring at me with empty eyes like I didn't just stab him.

I yank the blade out and slam it into him again, harder this time. A low groan escapes his lips and his hand grabs my shoulder in reflex.

The wolfsbane must be working. Without wasting a second, I stab him again and again, deeper each time, not giving his body any chance to heal.

His groan grows louder now, knees buckling, head dropping low. Maybe he's not as powerful as they say...

But then, a cold, sharp laughter escapes his mouth, the kind of laughter that freezes my blood.

"What the..."

Before I can finish, his hand flies up and grips my neck. In one brutal motion, he lifts me and slams my back against the wall, knocking the breath from my lungs.

My head crashes against the wall, sending a sharp pain through my skull. And in that moment, I realize he's fooled me, again. This is the third time today. The wolfsbane hadn't worked on him. Those groans? They were just an act.

His grip tightens around my neck and I feel the sharp sting of his claws as they pierce through my skin. I look up at him, searching for his usual grey eyes, but they are gone. In their place are deep, blood-red eyes. Cold and merciless, like death, like the end.

A wave of panic surges through me and my heart races. I grab at his hand, trying to pry him off, but he's too strong. I can barely breathe. I fear for my life.

"Funny how you thought a little wolfsbane could kill me." He mutters, voice like poison. "How did someone this foolish even survive the human collateral zone?" He gives a low, cruel chuckle. "Then again, you just confirmed what I've been suspecting."

His words barely register as I'm too busy gasping for air. His grip isn't loosening. Seems like he really means to kill me.

"I kept wondering," he continues, as calm as ever. "why would you stay with the humans after your time as collateral was over? Why wouldn't you live among your own kind? And your father... why does he keep throwing you into danger? It's almost like he wants you dead, but doesn't have the guts to do it himself."

"Shut up." I choke out.

He pauses, then lowers his face closer.

"Now, I know why."

No, he can't know. Please, I beg silently. He couldn't have figured it out...

"You." He says, his red eyes burning through me. "You're not a witch."