The Runaway Huntress
Chapter 85 - 84

Chapter 85: Chapter 84

Chapter 84

Veronika lifted the small box off the table. It looked like a proposal ring box. It had a bit of weight. She flipped open the lid, and a silver ring with tiny red stones engraved on it was tucked in a cushion inside. She stared at how simply stunning it is.

"Wear that all the time. That’s not any ordinary piece of jewelry. That would make you immune to all the compulsions and charms any other supernatural would dare when dealing with you. That’s to protect you from any mind controls and manipulations." Zek explained the purpose of the gift.

"Even from you, Mr. Stavrus?" She asked with her hooded gaze.

He smirked at that. "Except from me. Why would I cut ties with my puppet?" It was harsh to refer to that term, but it is the truth of what she is to him.

Her face instantly turned grim, and there was a hint of annoyance in her eyes, but he did not pay any attention to it.

Liam glanced at his hand as he also had the same ring. "Mr. Stavrus, was this also?" He let the question hang in the air.

Zek turned to Liam. "Oh, yes, Liam. I forgot to explain the purpose of that a long time ago. But I’m glad that you followed my instructions without further questioning my intention." The old man studied the ring in his fingers as he just discovered what’s its purpose.

He turned his attention back to the woman. "Put it on, Ms. Jorda." He demanded as the woman didn’t move it from the box.

Her face remained stoic as she lifted the ring and put it on her ring finger. As soon as it had settled, she hissed from the stinging pain in her skin under the ring.

"Relax. That would only be for a few seconds. The ring would burn your skin a little to sip your blood, and so the immunity would take effect. Like, knowing who it belongs." There was a smirk ready on his lips as she was trying to straighten her face, but there was still a wince showing on her stunning feature. She glanced at him. He was sure the woman was cursing him on her mind for not giving any warning. Then in a blink, she changed her expression, just as she remembered that she should not make such a face on him or even attempt to look at him with contempt.

He liked it that she seemed like a strong woman. She had to be in order to survive his terms and the corporate jungle out there. But of course, there’s a certain woman on his mind that he wanted to be with even if they would be against the world.

*************

Melisca’s

mind was drifting to dreamland as Gea continued the lecture about the supernatural. It was already afternoon, and she kept on glancing at the large digital clock above the entrance of the camp. It glowed in green neon lights. Her lack of sleep was coping up in her system. Even the energy from the meal she had taken at lunch wasn’t enough to make her mind stay focused.

Gea stopped and put down the tablet to her side. She exhaled an exasperated breath. "I know this is boring for you, Ms. Lorwey." She started to berate her again.

Melisca silently blew out a hiss as she drowned Gea’s voice. Her mind was literally sleeping. The woman kept talking about how important the details were for her, so she had to listen. She knew that, and she planned to learn it by reading the notes she received from the trainer. She would certainly read them when her mind and body were active enough to process the details on her brain. But for now, her mind was sinking in drowsiness.

She grumbled when she couldn’t take it anymore. "I’m so sleepy, Ms. Gea. Can I just study on my own when my mind was awake enough to absorb every fucking letter that my eyes could read on the paper?" She didn’t mean to be vulgar, but the sleepiness was making her irritable. She stifled a yawn that wanted to escape.

Gea was silent and stared at her. She was trying to read Melisca, for she couldn’t make up what really was her personality. She was formal in their earlier encounters, and then, at some point, the newbie would turn dismissive. There was also the hint of confidence mixed with arrogance.

She had also heard from other girls that Melisca woke them up from having a nightmare. That may have been the reason why the woman was sleepy from not having proper rest. And it was only her first day, for Christ’s sake! She shook her head and came up with a decision to let her off the hook this time. Since she had proven herself how advanced her capabilities were compared to the other trainees.

"Fine. I’ll let you return to your quarters this early. But tomorrow, there would be no excuses."

That made Melisca’s hazy eyes jolt in surprise at the trainer’s consideration. "Thanks so much, Ms. Gea." She instantly stood up from the bench and went straight ahead to the lockers. She did not even wait for the woman to respond.

She just fetched her keys and card in the locker. She had no change of clothes, so she’ll have her shower in the dorm. Before she exited the arena, her eyes landed on Lorna. And unexpectedly, their eyes met.

Lorna had a questioning look on her face. She was silently asking where she was going. She gestured that she would be taking a nap. Lorna nodded, then she continued her way out.

In the lobby, there were no other people lounging around but she did not expect to see Daisy. The woman was facing her back at her, she was talking to the receptionist. She hurried on her footsteps silently to not get their attention.

"Melisca! Liz, dear." Portia called to her with an energetic tone in her voice. It was like she was waiting to catch her to start a gossip.

Uh-oh. She was almost tiptoeing on her way out of the lobby so that her boots wouldn’t make any noise on the marbled floor. Her eyes clenched and her face contorted. She grumbled on her mind. Then she turned around with a passable friendly expression. She only looked at the receptionist. She doesn’t have to glance at Daisy, she can already feel the evil glare that emanated towards her.

"Yes, Madam?" She asked, not taking any step towards them.

Portia smiled sweetly at her. "Please grace me with that beautiful face of yours, dear. Come here."

Her eyes glanced to Daisy on their own accord. The woman was squinting her eyes at her. But she sauntered to them as Portia kept waving her hand for her to come closer.

"Why are you here? The training time’s not done yet." Daisy’s sharp tone did not go unnoticed to her ears.

You’re out here yourself. She almost said that out loud but she bit her tongue in the last second. Her footsteps got heavier as she strutted close to them.

"Now, now, Daisy. Don’t scare the girl." Portia had no idea that Melisca wasn’t a softhearted girl that would cower just from a hateful tone and murderous look. If it’s in another circumstances, she would answer back at Daisy without hesitation. No careful words, she’d just say what’s exactly on her mind.

"How’s your first day, girl?" Portia asked with a light expression on her face, she was obviously interested on her.

She stopped and propped an elbow on the countertop to lean her weight on it. It was a white granite with a smooth furnish.

"Unexpected." She answered. She was at the side, more than an arm’s length from where Daisy was standing. Her elbow nudged the clear jar that was close to the wall. It was full of different candies and sweets. "Are this free?" Her mood lit up a bit upon seeing the variety and the colorful wrappers of them mixed together.

"Yes. You can pick anything. Just leave some for the others."

She did not hesitate to get a handful of them and pocketed it in her suit. "Thanks for these free sweets."

"You’re welcome, dear."

"Why are you here, Lorwey?" It seemed like Daisy was curious enough to repeat her unanswered question earlier.

"I’m about to take a nap. My mind was at the dreamland’s door. Gea gave me permission." And at that, she yawned covering her mouth. She also wanted to stretch out her body but that would be too disrespectful. She still had an ounce of proper manner left. Somehow.

"She dismissed you just because you’re sleepy?" There was a sarcastic snort at the end of her sentence.

"Why did you suddenly storm out of the arena?" Melisca asked out of curiosity or maybe just because she couldn’t hold back her thought that she voiced it out loud.

The woman’s face instantly turned grim as her lips formed a thin line. Her eyes were shooting another set of daggers at her. She can feel that the woman wanted to strangle her on the spot. She was just asking a question.

"To my office, Lorwey." The woman did not wait for her response and turned her back at her. Expecting her to be on her tail at once.

She looked at Daisy’s back with her own array of daggers. How she wanted to shoot her head bullseye with a bullet instead.

For damn’s sake, I just wanted to sleep!