Chapter 51: Who Are You, Elien?
Elián;
"Alana, do you know anything about transmigration?" I question as Alana and I walk in silence, and her confused voice follows.
"Trans... what?"
"Migration. Transmigration." I repeat at I finally look at her and her bunny ears flop as the confusion on her face thickens.
"Is that... a new word for moving out of one’s clan?" She questions, and I sigh in frustration before looking forward.
What was I expecting?
They don’t know robots, don’t know board games... but I expect her to know transmigration? How bright.
"It’s nothing." I lie and there’s silence.
"Master Elián... where do you learn the words you use?" She suddenly questions and I stop walking.
"Huh?"
"Don’t take this the wrong way... It’s just that you... well you... You use very strange words sometimes. You say some strange things too. Are they residual memories from your home clan?" She replies, and I blink at her.
My heart falls as I remember my streaming account... all the transmigration movies and books I’ve seen... and how different the real world is.
A bitter smile splits my face as I look away from her.
"You can say that. My strange words are... from my home." I reply, and just then, a young boy dashes past us.
I freeze when I hear the commotion growing up ahead, and to my surprise, Alana grabs me and gently shoves me behind her.
A young girl with small fluffy ears on her head is running towards where we are, and Alana calls out to her.
"Mera, what is it?? Where are you running to?" She questions and the girl stops for just a fraction of a second.
"Alpha Balinar... He’s here..." The girl pants, and my brows crease.
Balinar. Why does that name sound familiar"
"What!?" Alana breathes and I don’t miss the fear in her voice.
I watch the other girl run off, and I look up at Alana who’s still shielding me like she can protect me.
I’m not some Disney Princess. I can protect myself.
"I can’t believe he came here. This could turn ugly." She mutters to herself, and I sigh as I try to step out from behind her.
"Who’s Balinar?" I begin, but she turns to face me and grabs my wrist.
"We have to go back to your room." She says and my brows crease.
I yank my arm out of her grip and pout at her.
"I’m not a toddler, Alana. I’m a man." I note, and she sighs.
"I know that. But it’s my duty to protect you." She replies adamantly, and I eye her.
Has she forgotten that she’s a bunny? How’s she going to protect me?
"Master Elián, Alpha Balinar definitely came here to cause trouble because Alpha Zethar killed his men. He is a scary man, and if he says something wrong in front of Alpha Zethar... even ants wouldn’t want to get caught in the crossfire. We need to get back to your room when it’s safe from all the chaos." She then explains, and I blink at her.
"Shall we?" She pushes, and I blink at her before nodding.
We have just turned around when a scent stops me. I freeze in my tracks as the scent attacks my memory.
It smells like wood. Wood and spice... It’s thick... and uninviting.
"Alpha Wilhelm! I’m sorry for the mess I made at your gate. Your guards won’t let me in!" A deep, gravelly voice yells, and I feel my heart drop into my stomach.
I turn around on instinct, and Alana grabs my wrist.
"Master Elián, that’s him. Let’s go!" She whispers as she tries to drag me, but my eyes remain fixed on the field ahead as the scent draws closer.
Everything fades as a memory slips into my mind.
"You know you don’t have a choice, Elien..."
I blink as my heart picks up a pace and suddenly, in the distance, a dark haired man dressed in a red robe, and leather boots appears.
He’s walking towards the Villa’s main entrance.
As I stare at the man’s back view... at the massive Antlers on his head, and his massive frame that walks nonchalantly as he climbs up the stairs, I feel my heart squeeze.
He suddenly stops walking and I watch him raise his nose to the air.
"Master Elián!" Alana whispers beside me as she tugs harder at my arm, but just then, the man turns to us.
Our eyes meet, and I feel sharp pain in my chest as my heart skips a beat.
Despite the distance, I see his expression change. Like he’s shocked to see me...
"You wouldn’t want me to find a better purpose for you right, boy?" His voice replays in my head and it’s at this moment that I realize that Elien knows this man.
My heart completely stops working when his expression shifts again but this time he’s smirking. A twisted creepy smile.
He looks like a demon. His hair covers one eye, and his only visible eye is as dark as night and has a scar running across it. The side of his face looks like he had something hot or acidic poured on him by accident at some point in his life.
And still somehow... he looks good.
How can someone look like unhinged chaos and still be this... twistedly attractive?
"Master Elián!" Alana suddenly yells behind me as she violently shakes me and only then do I pay attention to her.
"Let’s go!" She scolds as she grabs my wrist and pulls me.
I follow behind her but I can’t help but look back at Alpha Balinar who’s watching us leave with a huge smile on his face.
"Don’t even think about running. I will find you."
His voice replays in my head and as I turn away from him, I can’t help the one fear that has suddenly taken over my mind.
He shouldn’t have seen me. This is bad. I’m fucked...
But then... who is that man?
How does Elien know him?
What kind of life did this Elien guy even live?? What’s all this?? What’s with all this confusion and secrets??
Who are you, Elien? And why do you seem to have such a scary past with that man!?