CHAPTER 9 :

“Today you need to pass the test.” Zek said playfully, teasing her.

“After dinner, Sir. I can’t compete on empty stomach.” She teased him back.

They had been practicing the dagger daily. She was a quick learner he realized. And for the last three nights, her training had become harder because he made her practice with a blindfold.

She was hesitant at first but he did not listen to her, “Vanilla. You should know about your enemy even if you are sleeping.” 

“But I hardly have enemies Zek.”

“You can’t predict the future my Vanilla. But you should be ready for it. Especially if you are planning to become a Luna.” He quipped again.

“You won’t let that go. Would you?”

Tonight after dinner when she was ready for the test he asked her to put on the blindfold.

“Just remember sweetheart. Focus.” He was sitting in the wheelchair carrying the dagger.

“One. Two. Three.”

On the count of three, he threw the dagger. And waited.

“Sweetheart.” He could not hear any sound, no crash or even a thud. “Zella.”

 Terror started to engulf his heart.

What the hell! What was he even thinking to bring it this far? Can he afford to lose her?

“Honey answer me.” In his panic, he leaned down to remove his breaks when he heard a squeal of laughter.

“Zek, I did it! I did it! Whoa!” She was jumping, dancing and singing. “I did it Zeki!”

A slow smile broke on his lips and then his shoulders started shaking with mirth.

“Woohoo!” he was excited for her. She came near him and bent to hug him.

His arms at once came around her as if that was the most natural thing for him to do.

“Hey, Nella! I am so proud of you.” She had to roll her eyes now. He kept on calling her Vanilla, Nella, Zella. And she found all of them sweet.

Later they were again settled on their blanket enjoying their ice-cream treat. The ice cream was served in silver bowls with silver ice-cream spoons.  

“Can I share a secret?” he whispered making her smile. She nodded, “hmm.”

“I was the only one who used to do that with a blindfold. And just look at you. Doing it so well.”

She raised her face while licking her spoon. “Can I also share my secrets with you Zek?”

And when he slowly nodded she looked down trying to decide if she should tell him or not. She had never shared this with anyone. Not even with Ivy.

“The first one is I never liked a garden, even a fake one without a swing. The other secret is a little weird one. When someone closer to me dies. They visit me. For a final goodbye.”

She was expecting him to laugh but he remained serious.

“Hmm. You never told me that you like swings Vanilla. I could have arranged one for you.” He frowned a little. “But people visiting you after death? Does this happen in reality?”

“Not really. In my dreams.” She said while putting a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth.

“What do they do?” he adjusted his blindfold.

“Nothing. Just talk.” She shrugged while deciding if she should start licking the bowl.

“And does it make sense? I mean whatever they talk about.”

“Every time it does, except once when my grandmother visited me.”

“Really? What happened? What did she say?”

“She told me some sh*t story about a werewolf.” She had to turn around when she heard a clanking sound. Zek had dropped the spoon in his ice-cream bowl.

“What is it Zek?”

“Nothing. Tell me the story honey.” He had stopped eating his ice cream.

“She told me about a queen. Who gave birth to a child who was half-werewolf and half-human. And the most peculiar thing is, she asked me to deliver him a message whenever I meet him.” She laughed.

Zek did not reply, he was serious, just sitting there idly. She could not tell if he was thinking or weighing his words.

But something was unsettling. She could feel her heart sinking without any reason. Was it some kind of premonition?

“Really?” for some unknown reason Zek was now clutching the bowl tightly in his hand. “And what was that?”

“If I would ever meet this werewolf I have to tell him that he needs to be patient because once he would turn 18. His injuries would recover automatically. Just a werewolf thing.” Then shaking her head she admitted, “I guess, during those days, I was reading werewolf stories a lot. Imagining myself … a Luna. Haha.”

Zek was unusually quiet. He placed his ice cream bowl aside and covered his face with his palms.

She stood abruptly, “Zek. Are you alright? Should I call someone? You don’t look …”

“I am fine Vanilla.” He raised his palm to assure her. “Can you just leave me alone?” she was taken aback by his request.

“Oh … Sure …”

No, she was NOT sure at all? Why was he sending her away from him? Was he in pain?

That night when she went to sleep, she again dreamed of her grandma. She did not talk much, just kissed her forehead with a smile.

The next day was her school. But she could not concentrate on her lectures. Even Lily who used to be busy in herself noticed it. They all were sitting in the cafeteria during lunchtime when she pointed out.

“Hazel. Why do you seem so quiet today?”

“She is usually quiet, it’s you who keeps on chattering about boys.” Dustin quipped with a wink.

Dustin and Tom used to join them regularly in the cafeteria.

But nothing could cheer her up. She was waiting for the day to get over. She wanted to meet him. She took out the phone from her bag.

She had sent her first message to Ivy.

“Wow! Hazel! You bought a phone?” Lily could not hide the fact that she was awed, otherwise, it was quite rare for her to be impressed other than herself.

Tom took the phone from her, “This is brand new Hazel. Did you bought it?” 

Not waiting for her answer he passed it to Dustin. Both boys were happy for her and congratulated her. She was trying to smile but deep inside she was thinking about Zek.

She could not share it with anyone. Not even with Lily or Ivy.

Zek had become very dear to her. More than a friend. She could see a future with him.

Sometimes she almost did not want to convince him at all for the treatment. What if he would not accept her. What if he pushed her away because she was not pretty enough or did not have hair.

She did not want to lose him. Whenever he shared his happiness with her, she used to feel a certain tickling in her heart. Sometimes she just wanted to take away his blindfold to look at his complete face.

Sometimes she used to imagine how he would look. What might be the color of his eyes? Judging from his hair color which was the darkest shade of blond with red streaks she could tell that he might have blue eyes.

And she was also sure that before his accident he must be a lady killer. She still found him drop-dead gorgeous with his blindfold.

 When she returned to the palace she kept doing her chores half-heartedly. She was cleaning a big, heavy vase when Amanda told her that their salaries were deposited in their bank accounts.

As a scholarship candidate, she was eligible to access her account before 18. While Alec was the guardian but even he was not allowed to draw money from the bank on her behalf.

Her junior debit card was used for most of the stuff.

“Does the bank has your updated phone number?” Amanda asked her before leaving.

She was too busy rubbing the cloth on the vase that she did not raise her head, “Yes I did. Just yesterday.”

“Then check your phone. You must have received a bank alert.” When Amanda left, she kept herself busy with other chores. She wanted the time to pass quickly.

When the night arrived she ran to the roof-top excitedly. She wanted to talk to him, she wanted to tell him how she was mad since last night.

He had not arrived there yet so she just sat there waiting for him. They were having dinner together for quite some nights and she was hell hungry.

To avoid any doubts, or curious glances from people around her she used to join her co-workers, the palace’s lower staff for dinner but never ate much.

She used to enjoy her dinners with Zek. She did not know when she fell asleep waiting for him but when she woke up he had still not arrived.

She was getting worried now.

Is he well? Is it about his health? Oh, God! Is he avoiding me? Why he is not here? It never took this much time to wait for him.

She kept sitting there waiting for him when she heard a slight sound behind her. Smiling to herself she turned around but found Zek’s assistant standing there.

She was on her toes, “Where is he? Is he alright?”

“Yes maám. He is fine. He asked me to tell you that you should go to your room and not wait here.”

“Why? Why he is not here Sir?”

“I have done my job of conveying his message to you miss.” With that the left.

She again sat on the stool and then without any reason her tears started flowing on her cheeks. Did somebody tell him about her appearance? That she is not beautiful?

Zek! I thought you were different.

She did not know why she felt hurt. But then she just stood and left the roof while wiping tears from her face with the back of her hand.

When she reached her room there was a small dinner tray placed on her bed. And this was enough to tell her that Zek was perfectly fine and just did not want to meet her but was thoughtful enough to send her the meal.

Instead of her food, she reached for her phone. As expected there was a message from the bank.

And after reading it she was about to drop the phone. Because the amount deposited in her account was not anything near to her salary.

It was a whopping amount in Millions!  

Author's note : Hey readers! Zeki and Zella are waiting for your reviews. Not here but on the main story. They need your 5 star ratings too and a Diamond! Don't forget to support them. 

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