Suzy's lifeless form rested on the counter, one wing elegantly draped over the other as she lay on her side.
Hunter wiped his tears with a tissue, lamenting, "I can't believe she's gone." I gazed at the bird, still incredulous, "I can't believe she's a parrot."
We found ourselves at Alpha's grand home, rumoured to have over 50 rooms, according to Hunter. I hadn't yet had the chance to ask why a man and a parrot required such an expansive living space.
Alpha approached, the gentle breeze tousling her feathers as he softly murmured, "Sweet dreams, Suzy," while tenderly stroking her head. Carefully, he placed her in a cage and draped a small blanket over it, adding, "She loved being here."
Suzy was a striking Rio blue macaw; I hadn't encountered a parrot like her before, though to be honest, my experience with parrots was quite limited.
Hunter tapped my shoulder, urging, "Let's head home, Dove. Alpha could use some solitude." I nodded, trailing behind him toward the door while sneaking glances back at the covered cage.
Just then, Alpha grasped Hunter's hand.
I don't need any space; you two can stay right here," he declared, releasing his grip and crossing his arms. I turned to Hunter, expecting him to come up with a way for us to escape, but his expression suggested otherwise.
"If that's what you want, then I'll—no, wait, we'll do it," he replied, darting away from me and plopping down on the sofa in an instant. Confused, I glanced at him, wondering what had happened to all the talk of personal space.
I took a seat next to him on the sofa, pondering what my life had come to at this moment. He met my puzzled gaze with a playful smirk and a wink that seemed to say,
"Just trust me.
Din Drinks, 12AM.
Bodies.
There was something about them that puzzled her.
Her friends were repulsed, some even turned away in horror, while a few simply strolled past, indifferent.
What set her apart?
Chanel's gaze lingered on the wounded men sprawled on the floor; they were exactly what her heart craved. Or was it truly?
A mix of terror and longing danced in her eyes as an unsettling ache grew within her—she wanted to flee, yet something deep inside urged her to witness what it deemed extraordinary.
Dead bodies.
Her hands trembled as they drifted toward the knife resting lazily on the table, untouched. She had unleashed her fury upon them with her bare hands, punishing them for abandoning her best friend in the woods, and a sense of satisfaction washed over her.
Or did it?
She wanted to leave, she wanted to go find Dove, that's what she wanted...but her legs wouldn't move...they were playing their own game till her heart got what she wanted.
Her trembling hand caught her attention; it seemed eager to unleash something dreadful. An unsettling question tugged at her thoughts—what would it be like to take a life?
Yet Chanel refused to let it experience that dark longing.
Clenching her jaw, she examined her hands once more before jamming them into her mouth, biting down fiercely. Blood trickled from her wounds, pooling on the floor alongside her tears. Was a life filled with such torment truly worth enduring?
With her hand still clenched in her mouth, she bolted outside, her legs finally cooperating with her urgency. Her heart screamed for her to return, but each desperate plea only made her bite down harder.
She stumbled forward, uncertain of her destination, hoping her racing heart would settle. As she passed through, she noticed a group of men in knight uniforms surveying the area—most likely members of the Knight Squad.
Instinctively, she ducked behind a bush, trying to stay out of their sight. But suddenly, a firm grip seized her arm, and she found herself face to face with a man clad in knightly attire, his striking dark blue eyes locking onto hers.
"Who are you?, What are you doing here at this hour?!", He increased his grip on her hand and attempted to force her other hand out of her mouth.
"Nothing, just came from a bar," she answered, hoping he'd make one of several assumptions about her vague statement. He released her arm, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't you Chanel? The tough one?"
"Yeah, but can't a girl have some fun?" she shot back, forcing a smile that looked more grotesque than genuine. His expression turned to one of disgust, but that wasn't her biggest issue—her hands were trembling again.
Quickly, she shoved them back into her mouth.
The knight's eyes narrowed. "Are you messing with me? Get your hand out of your mouth!" he demanded. Chanel shook her head, fully aware of the consequences of doing so.
His gaze darkened. "That's it; I'm taking you to the palace. The king has definitely witnessed some epic foolishness," he said with a grin that sent shivers down her spine.
In an instant, he tossed her over his shoulder. She didn't resist; she knew her place. Once they reached the palace, she could explain everything to the king—and he was certainly going to lose his temper spectacularly.
.......
The palace was a creation of the king's devoted fangirls, adorned with statues of him dotting the garden and his surname elegantly emblazoned in gold across the white facade of the building.
It could have felt more like a true home rather than just a house if he had been allowed to contribute his own ideas, but he chose to let others take the lead.
Suddenly, the Knight pulled Chanel down the hallway, guiding her into the dining room. There, a maid busily cleaned the table with such poise that it almost appeared to be a delightful task.
"Where's the King?" the Knight inquired, and the maid gestured towards a nearby room. He followed her indication with a nod, then asked, "Has he gone to sleep?"
She shook her head, keeping her focus on her work. "He just finished a meal about five seconds ago and retreated to his room. He should still be awake," she replied, returning to her tasks.
"You'll have to wait in the Knight's chambers until he comes out," the man stated, causing Chanel to recoil. "I could just go home, you know?!" she exclaimed, her frustration palpable.
"You're a threat, I don't know what sort of enemy you are, but you're suspicious. I can't let you out of my sight!", He replied and grabbed her hand, the one that hadn't been infested with her saliva and blood.
"Aren't you supposed to take me to a cell or something?" I inquired, and he let out a scoff. "The cell's full, Lady. We've got plenty of your kind already," he said with a grin.
Chanel blinked in bewilderment. She hadn't heard much about recent criminal cases in their town, and as far as she knew, the palace prison had roughly 10,000 cells—how could it possibly be full?
She followed him toward a structure nestled in the palace grounds, a purple and white building that reeked of darkness yet appeared quite the opposite on the surface.
As they entered the building and ascended the stairs, the Knight seemed to shake hands with nearly every man they passed. Chanel noticed her heartbeat gradually calming, and a smile crept onto her face; she was finally feeling like herself again.
Turning to the Knight, she took a deep breath. "I'll explain why I was outside, but you need to agree to help me," she urged. He chuckled in response, "I can't promise anything, but go ahead and spill," he replied.
"My friend is lost in the woods," she said, brushing her bangs aside. "I'll share the entire story while we hurry, but right now, I have to get to her before those wild creatures find her."
He looked at her in silence for a moment, his gaze steady until he finally chimed in, "Payment before service ." A sly grin spread across his face as he leaned against the wall. Chanel let out an exasperated groan. "Aren't you supposed to be protecting the citizens, given your status as a Knight?"
He ran his fingers through his hair casually. "As long as you're suspected of criminal behaviour, you can't patrol the town until you're cleared of those charges. It's the law. If you want me to overlook that, you'll need to offer me something."
Frustration washed over Chanel as she realised how much time she had wasted. "Fine! What do you want?" she snapped. He took her left hand and raised it to his chest, his expression teasing. "I have a feeling you already know."