3. Whispers in the Dark

LIAM

Sitting atop a hill together, William was relishing in the peaceful view and sounds from the water hitting the base of the hill in waves while I was Lamenting about the female prisoner.

“I’m not sure why she’s still alive. If she really is such a threat, we should have executed her on sight” I lamented while fishing for the pack of cigarettes in his pocket.

“If we had killed her off already, those who sent her would just keep sending more people. The investigation process is neccessary and you know that” Willaim responded.

“I know you love seeing executions, but you my friend” he said poking a finger at Liam’s chest “reek of impatience” he walked down from the hill absentmindedly tossing a lighter into Liam’s hands.

“How does he always know when I need a lighter?” were the only words I could utter after being frozen in shock for almost two minutes from William’s comeback.

He took out a cigarette attempting to light it but the flame kept sparking with low light and burning out quickly so he tipped it over to check the gas volume only to find it empty.

“How delightful” I let out a frustrated scream as he stormed off the hill.

I had been on the general road to the palace until I caught a glimpe of Williams in the bushes.

“Oh I get it Mr. Stealthy” I chuckled.

“Come on! let’s go back together” I spoke absentmindedly with a hand gesture signalling to follow. I kept walking but there was no response nor were there any steps following behind me.

After realizing that I probably went unheard, I stopped and went back to the point I had seen him to call unto him again.

On approaching, I noticed William having what seemed like a secret conversation with a masked individual. I slowed down my pace and became the stealthy one, mounting my claws to stay on guard. Whatever was happening seemed shady and I refuse to allow myself get caught unaware.

I stood behind a tree from a plausible distance and eavesdropped on the conversation.

“Keep them at bay until the time is right” the masked person said before dissipating into the wind.

“William! I was calling out to you!” he walked out from my hiding spot wadding through the bushes as though I were trying to navigate the area.

“I saw you from a few feet away and thought it’d be better if we just head back together but you weren’t answering. It even looked like you were talking to someone” I tried to sneak in my allegations and test the waters.

“All that nicotine has finally started to affect your senses” William scoffed. “I’ve been on my own since I left you”.

“Then why are you taking the bushes rather than the actual road?” I asked.

“It seems you’ve forgotten that we work directly under the alpha and so our lives are in just as much danger constantly. Why would I

make my daily life an obvious pattern for potential enemies to track?” William spoke in a dismissive manner as he walked ahead.

“We’ll you’re not wrong about that” Liam trailed off.

The main puzzle in Liam’s mind comprised of five important questions:

One: Who was the masked man?

Two: What was his affiliation with William?

Three: What did he mean by “When the time is right”?

Four: Why was William hiding the whole interaction

Five: Could William still be trusted?

My current dilemma was if I should present this to the alpha and find a proper time to start investigating. But having worked together for so long, William already knew most if not all his tactics so it would be easy to pick up that there was any suspicion regarding him from my end.

They both came to a halt and looked upwards. Staring them down were the golden gates of the palace. Entry was granted upon presentation of identification but there was a form of familiarity between the staff so they knew each other and used it as a means to grant easy access.

Within the palace, there were two main areas, the palace town which consisted of a network of stone bricked buildings where multiple items were sold, staff chambers and other hidden compartments of the palace area situated underground.

Beyond this was the palace proper surrounded by its own personal barricade system with guards stationed anywhere the eyes could see.

Upon entry, a short dark bald man hurried towards us in a frenzy.

“For fur’s sake where have the two of you been?” he complained with a defeated expression.

“I was looking all over but to no avail” he continued complaining like a confused rabbit.

“We stepped out for some urgent business” William cleared his throat and answered. This was the default lie we gave to unsuspecting staff when we snuck away from the distress associated with our work.

“Right” he stretched out the word in an unbelieving tone.

“Well I was meant to relay a time conscious message to you from the alpha. You were meant to have a meeting about an hour ago and he seemed very adamant about whatever it entailed but as established, you were both absent” he scoffed.

“My instructions were to find you both and now, yours is being accountable for these past few hours of unreachable absence. I hope you have convincing stories because he’s still as furious as when he gave me the first order” he continued talking, ending with a worried tone.

“Oh please! We’ll be fine” Liam scoffed”

“If anything goes wrong, your head goes first” William grumbled.

Whatever was being set in motion, Liam knew with grim certainty that it centered on the girl locked beneath the palace.

A long walk that included multiple turns and stairs later, we made it to the front of the alpha’s study.

“No! Just save it” the alpha spoke with a washed over wave of frustration “Where is the girl?”