Haunted Heart

Power

    She waited for what seemed like hours. Finally the soft click of the lock sounded and the door swung open. The petit women who had brought her food walked in carrying yet another tray. She stopped just inside the door and glanced down at the tray sitting next to Angela. “Why haven’t you eaten” the women asked in a soft voice. “I am not hungry” Angela replied and stood. The older women moved to the bed placing the new tray down and picking up the old one. She turned to Angela and said “please eat, you must be starving”. Angela just shook her head. She watched the lady for a moment, trying to decide if she would be the one to answer her questions. 

    But the moment quickly passed as another man walked into the room. He was not as large as her kidnapper, though he still emitted an air of power and strength. This man was also closer to her age and dressed in a tailored suit with a clean cut appearance. His eyes struck her as odd though being that they where a bright shade of green that she had never seen before. The older women tipped her head slightly at him before excusing herself from the room. Angela remained standing and watched as the man walked over to the bed and sat down.

     “Come sit, we have much to discuss” he said. It was a voice that brooked no argument. Not wanting to start a fight she would loose Angela sat on the opposite end of the bed and folded her hands in her lap to keep them still. Whomever this guy was she had to keep her cool, she couldn’t risk having her eyes change or she was dead for sure. 

    ‘Who are you and why have you kidn*pped me?” She asked in a voice that was much calmer than she felt. 

    The man let out a soft chuckle and a small smile momentarily graced his lips before answering her. “I am your savior” he replied. 

    “How can you be my captor and my savior at the same time?” Angel asked. “Because” he said “I know what you are, and I’m the only one who can help you finish what your father started all those years ago”. 

    Angela sat quietly for a moment, stunned to silence. “I don’t know what your talking about” she replied. If she admitted she was a shifter the man would surely kill her. Better that she act ignorant then have to try and defend herself once again. 

    The man only smiled and shook his head. He stood and walked around the room as if contemplating his next statement. “You may be able to fool the humans” he said “but you will never be able to fool another shift”. 

    “What do you mean?” Angela asked in a quiet voice. 

    He turned to face her and smiled. “Because your power is too great to hide” he said. Though she knew that she had powers and knew how to use them, it had been years since she had even tried. And she certainly didn’t have any special abilities. Yes she could shift, but she didn’t think it was anything of note. “Tell me something,” Angela said, “if I’m so powerful how did mister two tons manage to kidnap me without even breaking a sweat?” 

    “Because you do not grasp the fullest extent of your abilities. Especially now that you have reached full maturity” he stated. “You are the last of your kind. And because of that you will be hunted now more than ever. In addition you are now in a position to take your rightful place, as Queen.”

    Angela’s head snapped up and she stared at him in disbelief. “There is no such thing as a Queen of the shifters, and even if their was it certainly would not be me. I am just a bear shifter.”

    He only smiled and walked to the door. Before he could leave she found her voice and asked “Who are you?” He turned to her and said “ My name is Zander. I am the leader of the lions.” 

    As Zander closed the door behind him Angela released a breathe she didn’t even know she was holding. There was no way that she was Queen of anything, let alone all of the shifters. Her parents would have told her if that where true. She sat for a moment, trying to wrap her mind around what Zander had just told her. So many questions floating around in her mind. Why did they think she had more powers? If it were true why didn’t her parents tell her? What did this mean for her future? 

    Her head still reeling Angela stood and walked over to the door. She turned the knob and to her surprise it opened. “Why didn’t he lock it?” She wondered. Angela slowly crept out of the bedroom into a long hallway. She looked in both directions unsure of her next move. Did she try to escape? Or did she go after Zander and hopefully get the answers to all of her questions. Though she wanted to leave and forget about the last few hours she knew she needed to stay and sort it all out. 

    Hoping that she was making the right choice Angela turned right. As she walked down the hall she looked in each of the rooms. Angela continued walking until she came across what looked like a library. She stepped inside and took a moment to look around. 

    The room was filled with the smell of leather and old books making her smile to herself. All but one wall of the room was lined from floor to ceiling with bookshelves. The final wall was covered with curtains of a deep rich red, that hung heavily over floor to ceiling windows. As she moved to open the curtains, to get a better look at her surroundings, the door creaked open. 

    In walked Zander, his hands tucked in his pockets, a quiet smile on his face. “I should have known I would find you here” he said “would you like a proper tour, or would you rather meander around aimlessly and get lost?”