Between Three Desires

Chapter four

Chapter four

Esmeralda

A dull ache throbbed at the side of my head, making me wince as I slowly opened my eyes.

For a moment, everything appeared blurry. I blinked several times, trying to make sense of the unfamiliar room and the person standing beside me.

Where was I?

I tried to sit up, but a sharp sting shot through my head.

“Easy, dear,” a woman beside the bed instructed gently, pressing a hand against my shoulder. “You need to stay down. You've suffered a head injury.”

I glanced at her as I touched my head. A piece of cloth had been wrapped around my head.

The memories came rushing back.

The attack. The light. How I ran into the woods. When I fell. And last—

The man.

My chest tightened. “I can't stay here,” I said hurriedly, pushing against the mattress. “Where is this place?"

The lady pressed me back gently against the pillows, her expression was firm.

"You're at the first Army Camp, dear,” she explained. "The general brought you here last night. You've been unconscious for several hours, so please, don't strain yourself."

The First Army Camp?

I stared at her in confusion. “Thats’s the other side of the territory. How…?”

Her expression changed. “You're from the other side?" She asked in disbelief.

Before I could respond, someone knocked on the door.

She glanced towards it, then back to me. "Rest, dear. I'll be back shortly.” she muttered before leaving the room in haste.

I barely noticed her departure, my mind was still racing, searching for a way out of this place.

The door opened again.

This time, a tall man dressed in black walked in.

He carried himself with an authority that made me instinctively straighten against the pillows. His sharp eyes settled on me with an intensity that made me uncomfortable.

He stopped beside the bed.

“You're awake." He observed, his voice deep and composed.

I narrowed my eyes, trying to remember where I'd seen him.

Then it came back to me.

The horse. His voice. His arms caught me before I fell.

"You brought me here.” I pointed, “Who are you?" I asked, my throat tight.

"General Korvan.” he introduced himself calmly. “General of the first army."

I swallowed. A general?

Before I could ask another question, he pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down.

"Let's start with something simple,” he said, studying my face. “What's your name?"

I hesitated for a moment. "Esmeralda.” I answered. "Esmeralda Saul.”

He nodded slowly.

“Esmeralda Saul." He repeated as though committing my name to memory. "You caused the boding light last night, didn't you?”

My fingers tightened around the bedsheet. I didn't know what to say.

His gaze hardened. "I saw the light from miles away,” he continued, his voice growing more serious. “And judging by what happened when I found you, I suspect you know more about it than you're willing to tell me."

“I don't know what you're talking about." I lied, looking away.

He studied me for another moment. “Why did you hide your identity?"

My head snapped towards him. “I didn't hide anything!”

My voice rose with indignation.

"That's impossible.” He countered firmly. “You were tested, weren't you? Someone examined you and confirmed you had no wolf. Yet you released a power able to destroy kingdoms."

He leaned forward. “So tell me, Esmeralda. How did you hide your wolf? And else are you hiding?"

“I didn't hide it." I whispered, tears gathering in my eyes. “I didn't even know what I was."

He let out a small chuckle but there was no humor in it. “So why didn't they find your wolf when they tested you?”

I clenched my fist in the bedsheets, the truth was heavy on my tongue. “I was afraid. I didn't want to know what I was so I ruined the test."

"Afriad of what?" He asked curiously.

I looked down at my hands, the scar of that night had remained, a reminder of my sacrifice. "I was afraid of being separated from him."

General Korvan blinked, stunned. “Him?"

I sniffled, almost embarrassed. “Kael,” I whispered. “We grew up together, and he promised that we would be together forever.”

My chest ached, but I forced myself to continue.

"So I did what I did to keep that promise. If they found out I was any different, they would have taken me away from him, and I couldn't bear that.” Saying it out loud made me realise how stupid I was.

I looked up at general Korvan, desperate for him to understand.

He rose abruptly from his chair and began pacing around the room.

“Unbelievable," he muttered, shaking his head. “You spent your whole life believing you were human, suppressed whatever made you different, all because you were afraid of losing a boy?”

His words stung, but I couldn't bring myself to defend myself.

I had already lost him.

General Korvan stopped pacing and turned towards me.

"Let me see your hand.” He demanded, stepping closer.

He didn't wait for my consent, he grabbed my wrist and examined it briefly, before reaching for a small blade in his pocket.

My eyes widened. “What are you doing?"

“Trust me." He replied, his voice steady.

Before I could pull away, he made a small cut across my wrist.

"Ah!” I winced, attempting to withdraw my hand.

Light spilled out of the cut, illuminating my skin with a brilliant glow.

I stared at it in horror.

“No," I whispered, shaking my head. "Please,”

It only grew brighter, illuminating everything in the room and outside.

General Korvan released my wrist immediately.

He watched as the light gradually faded, leaving only the small cut behind.

I cradled my wrist against my chest, trembling.

Tears finally slipped down my cheeks. "What am I?” I whispered.

General Korvan let out a small smile, amused. “You're the answer to our prayers, Esmeralda."

My lips parted, I didn't understand any of it.

“What?"

He walked to a nearby table and retrieved a thick book. After flipping through several pages, he returned to the bed and opened it in front of me.

The illustration on the page made my blood run cold.

"Have you heard of the gods, Esmeralda?” General Korvan asked quietly.

I nodded, my gaze fixed on the image in front of me.

“They're a myth. Stories told to scare us when we were kids.” I said.

He flipped the page again.

Two enormous beings stood among smaller figures, their monstrous bodies towering over the terrified people beneath them.

“The creatures…” I breathed, my voice barely audible. “Those are the creatures that attacked my village."

“The gods are real, Esmeralda." He explained gravely, pointing at the illustration. "They created these monsters to carry out their will. They've been terrorizing packs for years. They take prisoners, destroy settlements and leave devastation wherever they go."

I stared at the page, remembering the enormous hand that closed around my body, the cries of the people, the chaos they caused.

For a moment the room was silent.

General Korvan opened his mouth to say something but then the door burst open.

Several guards marched inside, their expression urgent.

General Korvan turned sharply towards them.

"What is the meaning of this?” He demanded.

One of the guards stepped forward and bowed. “General, His Majesty has summoned you urgently.”

He glanced at me. “He demands that you bring the white wolf before him.”

My stomach dropped.

Before I could react, two guards approached the bed and seized my arms.

"Wait!” I cried, struggling against their grip. “Where are you taking me?!"

Neither answered. They pulled me upright, ignoring my protests as they pulled me towards the door.

I turned desperately towards general Korvan, searching his face for some indication that he would stop them.

"Tell them to let me go!” I begged, my voice breaking.

His expression remained unreadable.

"Your identity has been revealed, Esmeralda,” he muttered quietly. "Now everyone will want you."