CHAPTER SEVEN

“Rose,” the voice echoed. I didn’t open my eyes and stayed rooted to the ground waiting for the beast to attack.

“Rose,” the voice again called for me. I knew I recognized the voice but I couldn’t put a name to it. Someone jerked my body and my eyes flew open. I sharply looked to my side where Aurora stood and watched me. Her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes filled with worry. Realizing my fingers were still brushing the painting, I immediately backed away from it. It was weird. I could still hear my heart pounding. I took a glance at the painting and my eyebrows wrinkled together. I was about to die a few seconds ago but how did that happen? Was I just dreaming?

“What…what happened?” I whispered to her; my eyes still fixed at the painting. I could still see the girl who laid on the ground with the beast hovering over her. The beast. Those golden eyes. I felt chills and I trembled in fear.

Aurora didn’t answer me but she didn’t even ask what happened to me. I had my doubts she knew what just happened. I had this feeling that it was not just a dream. I cringed even at the thought. If it truly was not a dream then I was surely about to die. This place was not normal, I concluded.

“Come on,” Aurora called and I nodded, losing my voicing. With my shaking knees, I continued to follow her from behind. We finally entered the huge dining hall and I stopped in my tracks and gazed at the people who were present at the table. On the head seat, sat my kidnapper, Talon. Aurora had walked to the table while I stood a few feet away from them. She took a seat on the right side of Talon. There were four more people sat at the table and they all fixed their eyes at me but I didn’t glance at them as my eyes were focused on Talon’s, as were his. His amber orbs stared at my bright green and I remembered that girl from the painting. Talon, she had cried. I was sure he knew her as her painting hung in his very mansion. But who was she?

“Take a seat,” ordered Talon, bringing me back from my thoughts. My eyes landed on the mostly vacant seat on the dining table and I considered which one should I take.

“Why don’t you sit here?” Aurora invited me to the chair beside her and I strolled there without any question. I knew all eyes were on me, scrutinizing me, making me uncomfortable. I inhaled deeply and gazed at the people who sat across from me. There were two men, each accompanied by their female companion. I could tell that they were a couple by the way their hands were intertwined and the way they look at each other.

“Hi, I’m Elita,” a girl from across me introduced and smiled at me. I stayed quiet not knowing what to do. I shifted in my seat as I was way too uneasy. Again, why was I here? The air in the dining room was thick and I knew that I wasn't the only one uncomfortable. I could tell by looking at their faces that everyone except Talon and Aurora wanted to know who I was. As if reading my mind, Talon spoke.

“Meet Rose,” said Talon and continued, “she’s going to stay with us from now on,”

I felt the ground slip from my feet. For a second, I thought I heard him wrong. Stay here forever?

“WHAT?” I all but shouted. All heads snapped to me but I glared straight at Talon. Who the hell did he think he was making decisions for my life? H raised a perfect eyebrow at me, not liking me raising my tone but I didn’t give a damn as I stood up from my seat and crossed my hand around my chest.

“I don’t understand,” I voiced, frustratedly, and continued, “are you going to tell why you kidnapped me? Why the hell am I here having dinner with the people I don’t know?” I shouted and ran a hand through my hair. I couldn’t handle it anymore. I was losing my senses. Since I met him, everything was going down. He kidnapped me, then injected me, and brought me here. I also had to suffer that deadly encounter with that beast just because he brought me here. If only I had not met him then I would’ve been home enjoying my ordinary life.

“Sit down,” he commanded.

“NO,” I held my ground.

“I want to know why I’m here?”

“Rose, calm down. Why don’t we have dinner first? Huh?” Aurora tried to console me. Her voice again soothed me. There was something wrong with her voice. The way she spoke made me want to do whatever she wanted me to. It was hypnotizing. I gazed at her for a second. Her blue eyes shined again and she smiled. It was a trick. I didn’t know how to put it but my mind screamed that she had this strange power. I knew they all were different. I had reached the conclusion; they were not humans. I remembered the claws, the change of eye color, the painting, the beast, and Aurora’s voice. It seemed clear to me now. My heartbeat accelerated and I lifted my eyes to the man who was burning holes into my skull. His face was hard but he still managed to look handsome. Silence swallowed the entire dining room and I gulped a lump in my throat.

“Who…” I managed to speak but stopped. He sat in his glory, leaning back on his chair with his arm on the armrest.

“You are not humans. Are you?” I whispered looking straight at Talon.

“What are you?” I questioned. His face was indifferent and I feared he wouldn’t answer. We stared at each other. No words were spoken for a while.

Then his voice echoed in my ears and my breath hitched in my throat.

“We are shifters. Werewolves.”