Chapter 18

CLAUDIA. My chest tightens as Nana’s words roll over me, finally giving meaning to something that I’ve been wondering about. Suddenly, I feel like a gigantic weight is pressing down on me, knocking the air out of my lungs. I don’t think I can do something like that. I don’t think I’m someone who could just… put people under my control. Even if you set aside the moral factor, I’ve never convinced anyone other than John to do anything. Hell, I begged Achilles to not kick me out. If this is true, then why didn’t he agree? This must be a lie. Nothing but an old maid’s tale. Right? So why am I unable to turn away from it? “Most Siren Wolves throughout history have played an important role, delivering tales and warning people of danger,” Nana continues. “A few of them possess great power, the power to command people. And when those powerful ones come by, you know a storm is brewing.” “Do you mean to say that Claudia is dangerous?” Max asks. The old woman is quiet for a long time. But then she says in a soft voice. “I’m saying that she’s not ordinary. She might not be dangerous now, but she very well could be. It’s your choice. How would you deal with her?” Max is silent after that, almost like he’s contemplating getting rid of me. But it doesn’t matter. I don’t need to know what he has to say. I’ve heard enough, and one more word from Nana about me or what she thinks I am would probably be enough to make me announce my presence. So, before I can ram the door down, I just turn around and leave, running down the stairs and heading to my room. However, before I can go and lock myself inside, I run into Ruth, who looks like she’s also heading the same way. As though to confirm this, she says, “Hey! I was just looking for you.” “Not now,” I start to say, but she brushes all of that off and loops her arm around mine. She opens my bedroom door herself and invites herself inside, looking at my still-packed bags with a judging eye. Sitting on the edge of my bed, she beckons me to come close. I sit reluctantly next to her. “What’s up?” “Why did you disappear from training?” she asks. “We were watching you. You were pretty good.” “Right.” My heart swells with dread. I raise my hand to my head and pretend to sway in my spot. “Actually, I don’t feel that good. I think I might throw up.” Those are the magic words. I know that would always make people go away, and I’m right. As soon as I say throw up, Ruth gets up from my bed and pats me on the shoulder. “I will get going then.” With that, she scampers right out of my room. And as I stare at all my bags, still dirty from my time at the cemetery, and idea springs to mind…. I need to get out of here. I need to leave before anyone sees me. Before anyone thinks I’m too dangerous to be around. * * * That night, I join everyone for dinner. It's a strange ordeal, having to go out and pretend like nothing is wrong. I tell Ruth and Henry that I'm feeling better, all the while sharing a meal with them, smiling and laughing at their anecdotes as though I’d be there to stay. I see Max coming to join us, and to my surprise, he doesn’t talk to me at all. I don’t think he even looks at me once. And that's okay. That was my plan. I want to be as inconspicuous as possible so that no one else will notice my absence and think about following me. After dinner, I’m back in my room, counting down the hours until two in the morning, the perfect time when everyone is deep asleep, so I can make my escape. As to where I would go, I still don’t know. A big part of me wants to go back to the palace, but who knows what’s waiting for me there? I have to find a new village, a place where no one knows me…. By the time the clock strikes two, I still have no idea where to go. However, my body and my mind are in perfect sync for the first time since I can remember. My desire to get out of here is enough to overpower the logic of having nowhere to go. I know that there are Rogues out there, but they’re the least of my worries right now. I sling my bags over my shoulders, deciding not to bring everything this time but the essentials. I’m still armed with the knife that Maia gave me, and it would have to do as my main protection for now. The village is quiet. Dead quiet. It seems that Max is right about relocating the village and putting them here, because it seems that the Rogues are afraid of showing up. There are no guards in the building either, an unexpected but welcome scene. The night air chills me right down to the bones as soon as I go out. My breath is fogging up in front of me, and I notice that the snow is reaching this place. There are traces of it on the ground like sugar, twinkling under the bright moon. I walk carefully and slowly, making sure that my boots don’t make crunching noises against the gravel and building snow. I hide behind trees and buildings, slipping into the alleys. The gates are only a few blocks away now, and I think that if I make a break for it, I would be able to go through and get away even if someone does notice me…. Taking a deep breath, I prepare to run. But that’s when I hear the telltale sound of footsteps behind me. I whip around, my pulse racing. I scour the place with my eyes, trying to see anything out of the ordinary, but there’s nothing here. I exhale in relief, taking a step back. Only to bump into a tall, warm body. John. He’s not alone either. Behind him are the very same men in that arena earlier, the witnesses to his humiliation. John smirks. “You didn’t think I would let that slide, did you?” I try to run away, but he catches me by the shoulders and pins me in place. He slaps a gag right into my mouth, his big hand crawling right down to my throat, stopping all my attempts at screaming.