CHAPTER 46

OLIVIA'S POV
My head was hurting and I lifted my hand to press my hand over my forehead, a groaning passing through my cracked lips. It was a struggle to open my eyes, but it was futile because the place was dark anyway.
I tried using my wolf eyes to scan my surroundings, but it didn't seem to change anything. I still couldn't see where I was. I groaned, my wrists aching. I dropped my eyes to see ropes binding me to the floor and I cursed.
I tugged on it, testing the strength. It was futile because it didn't move. It seemed to have some kind of charm on it.
Ignoring the pain shooting through my joints, I closed my eyes and focused on my mind linking with Julian. I had to know where he was. Maybe he was close.
"Julian?"
The link sounded empty and I hissed a breath through my teeth. I tried relaxing my shoulders as best I could and tried again.
"Julian. Can you hear me?"
It still gave nothing but my thought echoing back to me.
Something was wrong. Something was dreadfully wrong.
I tried one more time and this time, my thought bounced back to me as if there was a barrier separating us.
Someone had blocked us from communicating with each other.
I snapped my eyes open, looking around again. If I couldn't talk to Julian, I had to find another way out of here. I couldn't let him down.
I shifted, leaning forward to take a look at the outline of a door on the wall. I couldn't see a handle, which meant it could probably only be opened from the outside.
I was analyzing using my claws to dig my way through when the door opened and a woman stepped in.
Her lips were painted with blood red and her smile was all shades of buried temper. I narrowed my eyes at her, snarling at her. "What did you do?"
She just smiled wider, showing off her pearly whites. They contrasted with the red of her lips, giving her a snow-white look. "I am only here to ask you a few questions, Olivia. Do be calm. We are not animals, no need to snarl at me."
I tugged on my wrists, ignoring the pain that shot up my arms when I did so. "Then why are you tying me up?" Esther laughed, the sound grating my ears. "But you are an animal, Olivia."
She tilted her head as if thinking about something and I was tempted to rip it off with my teeth. "Well, half one anyway. But still an animal nevertheless."
She came closer, her face suddenly cold. "But you are going to answer every single one of my questions like a civilized human being, Olivia. Or I would show you pain and I do not bluff."
I clenched my jaw, glaring at her. She just laughed that grating laugh again, rolling her eyes. "Your determination is cute, but it is unnecessary. You do not stand a chance against a witch of my caliber, Olivia. Especially in your state. You shouldn't cross me."
I watched as a pale pink shimmer settled over her body and she started moving even closer. I relaxed my joints, waiting for the right time to reach out and strike.
She just laughed as she stared at me,
"You cannot access your abilities. Put that thought out of your head. Why do you think you couldn't talk to your mate? Or see your surroundings?"
I wanted to scream in frustration, but I refused to give her that satisfaction. "I made the room brighter." She dusted her robes, giving me a small grin.
"Now. Show me your wolf." I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "You said you had a question for me. That. That's not a question." She looked like she wanted to rip my head off, but she smiled slowly. "Show me your wolf, Olivia."
It was only then I realized how tired I was. I had been running on adrenaline since and I could suddenly feel my bones ache.
What was worse, I couldn't sense anything from my wolf. I couldn't sense her presence, or even feel her running through my head.
Julian would want me to be strong.
I squeezed my hands, breathing in relief when I could feel my nails biting into my palms. I looked her in the eyes, ignoring the warning signs my body was giving me. "No."
Esther laughed, shaking her head. "You dumb stupid child. Look at you. You are as pale as snow, your body is shaking. You are weak...Weaker than you normally are. And yet you still dare look at me like that?"
She lifted her hands, green smoke immediately starting to billow in them. "You are going to wish you had obeyed me. I am not sorry for the suffering you are about to go through."
What she was going to do suddenly clicked and I felt a scream leave my throat. "Wait!" It was too late. The green smoke hit my chest and I felt my body start shaking.
It was like my chest was splitting into two. I slumped forward, stopping myself from crumbling to the floor by catching myself on my hands. I felt a shudder ripple through my spine and a scream resounded in my head.
I was sure I was about to slump when it stopped. I immediately started coughing up blood, still feeling the tremors racking through my body.
I allowed myself to drop, my chest heaving with each breath I took. My vision was flickering and I heard Esther gasp.
Get up, Olivia. Don't show weakness in front of this woman. You are better than her.
I pulled myself up, ignoring how much pain it took to do so. I glanced at her, seeing her eyes widen with surprise and shock.
Something clicked inside them and I felt my belly turn to lead.
What was she going to do with me?
Leo suddenly stormed in, his claws out. He immediately turned to Esther, snarling. "If you killed her, I would murder you, Esther. Deal or not."
He suddenly looked at me and the murder in his eyes had me shifting back. Leo laughed darkly, stepping forward to pin my ankle under his boots.
"You little...You know what I am going to do to you?" I didn't answer him, hearing the blood rush in my ears instead.
His eyes narrowed and his lips lifted in a dark grin. "I am going to kill you. With my bare hands. I am going to rip you limb from limb and relish in your screams as I do it."
I could feel my body shake and I whimpered. Leo leaned forward, increasing the pressure on my ankle. I bit my lips to keep myself from screaming. "And do you know why?"
I didn't answer, making him scream at me. "Do you know why, Olivia?!" I shook my head, feeling tears threatening to burst over. "No." "It's because you went ahead and ran away with my brother. You fucking choose HIM. Like everyone else does."
Leo lifted his foot off my ankle, making me sag with relief. "I am going to make it hurt for you, Olivia. I promise." He reached for my hair, using it to pull me to my feet. I could barely stand and he laughed as I struggled to remain on my feet.
"Leo." Esther suddenly spoke, making him turn around to look back at her. "I know you want to kill her. I know she hurt you. But you need to look at the big picture."
Leo looked at me with contempt, then directed his gaze back at Esther. "What are you talking about?"
Esther smiled, folding her arms. "She is the one." I was sure my face mirrored the confusion on Leo's face and I could feel my legs about to give up on me.
"We need to focus on the bigger picture. It's more important. And what's more, the picture has everything to do with Olivia." Leo glared at me, and I shivered. "Explain. Explicitly."
"You see. I wasn't sure before, but I am now." Esther cleared her throat, stepping closer. "Half of the tree's essence is sealed inside her."
"What tree?" Leo snarled, folding his arms. Esther smiled and looked straight at me. "The Khoyata." I finally felt my legs give way under me with that information.
"The tree from the legend?" I managed to say, hating the way my voice sounded. "Yes, Olivia. The tree from the legend." Esther said and turned to Leo.
"I was looking at the wrong theory. I was correct, but not truly. But now, I am dead sure about it. Olivia, here, has the essence of the Khoyata tree inside her.``
"How is that possible?" I asked, my mind spinning. Esther looked at me, eyes narrowing. "You remember the legend? If one wanted the power Alexander Firadus possessed, they had to drink his blood, correct?"
Esther didn't wait for either of us to respond before she continued. "However, for one to use the power, they had to share his curse."
Leo looked enraptured, eyes shining. "The curse of no memory." Esther nodded, looking like a proud teacher. "Exactly. They needed to share the curse of no memory."
I narrowed my eyes. "I don't have that curse. I have a good memory. I remember everything that has happened to me." Esther nodded. "You have a memory. Your wolf doesn't." My eyes widened, my jaws dropping.
What was she saying?
Esther suddenly stared at me dead in the eye, a smile crawling up her lips. It gave me the feeling she was planning something. Something bad. Something sinister.
"Yes. Your wolf doesn't. And to access that essence, we need to wake up your wolf." She said it so casually, but I felt a wave of trepidation rise up my spine and settle in my stomach.
Esther smiled at me. "If we fully awoke your wolf, you would lose your memory. You would become the proper Alexander Firadus. You would harbor his full strength." Her smile made me remember the sharks I had seen in history textbooks.
"You would become our perfect puppet, Olivia. But that's not what I am after." Esther shook her head, still smiling that shark smile. "That's not what I am after. Oh no, Olivia. I am after the real deal."
Esther cupped my chin, grinning. "I am going to drink your blood. And get infinite power for me to use to my advantage."
She dropped my chin, starting to pace around. "But I need to awaken your wolf for that to be effective. If I don't, I would just waste your blood for nothing."
Esther stopped pacing, staring at me. "If we awaken your wolf and get you to the Khoyata tree, the tree would gain its full effectiveness. It would achieve its full potency."
I was still trying to wrap my head around everything she said. It still wasn't making sense to me.
Was the reason for my inability to shift having the tree inside me? How did I get the essence inside me?
Esther saw the look on my face and laughed. "Oh dear, did we break you? Don't worry, Olivia. We shall uncover more. You needn't worry."
She smiled coldly. "Your mate needn't worry either." Julian? I felt my heart freeze. "What did you do to Julian?" Leo laughed, reminding me he was there. He had been so silent I almost forgot he was here.
"O,h I wouldn't ask that if I were you." He said, smirking. I could feel my blood start to boil and my teeth gritted. "What did you do to him?"
Esther's smile made me realize she was trying to push me. She was trying to push me into releasing my wolf. Through anger. The most common way.
I let out a deep breath, making her roll her eyes. "Oh please. You would let her out. I would make sure of it." She smiled. "After all, she is my key to unlocking great potential. And who doesn't want that?"
I could only curb my expression and pray to the moon goddess. For protection. And for help.