Strange Encounter.

Kliara watched carefully as he walked away from her to where he had been called.

“So he is not royalty, just some beef seller” she said to herself feeling disappointed. Kliara has never felt this way before, even her parents dare not neglect her but today, she was completely challenged and to make things worse by a random guy with no status.

As she quietly watches from afar as her father was with the butcher boy , she became more curious than ever to know what they were discussing.

“So you are the butcher boy that will be in charge of the beef” Williams asked immediately he met with the butcher boy.

“The name is Jacob, and yes I was sent to assist you in that” Jacob replied calmly

There was this familiar feeling in the air that got Williams a little wary, he gave out a low grin, one of the maid rushes to whisper something to Williams

“It just came to my attention that Mr Mike was supposed to be the one here, not you, so who are you?” Williams asked as his suspicion grew

Jacob calmly tries to clear the confusion by explaining

“I'm staying with Mike, I started working for him not long ago so I am filling in for him” he said

it was silence for a while as Williams kept trying to figure out why he felt such feelings toward Jacob

“you can send someone to confirm what I’ve said concerning Mike” Jacob breaks the silence

“Well You are already here, let's hope you do the job well”

Williams answered with dissatisfaction in his voice.

Seeing no reason to raise any more suspicion, He had some discussion with Jacob and was specific on how he wants the job done.

A soft voice cuts in. “Good morning Father”

‘I think I recall the voice from earlier’ Jacob thought to himself, immediately Kliara appeared again as Williams embraced her.

“How are you daughter, i was just discussing things over with the butcher boy” Williams stated pointing at Jacob who has already started leaving.

“Has quite the attitude though for a nobody” Williams added.

“So you noticed, “ Kliara said to herself, surprised that her father noticed Jacob’s strange behaviour, although still in the presence of her father, she was completely focused on Jacob as she watches how the distance between them grows with each step he takes.

A feeling of disappointment filled Kliara as it was the second time she has failed to get attention from Jacob.

“Is he doing that on purpose, doesn't he know who i am?” Kliara was filled with many thoughts. She found out Jacob’s identity from her Father and his purpose for coming.

“Well, that went well” Jacob sighed in relief “he was really demanding” Jacob continued, thinking to himself as he walked back to Mike's to prepare what they had discussed.

Remembering how Kliara called Williams Father, he added

“I guess all these fuss was for the girl I saw earlier”

Jacob was new in town, he was met by Mike who mysteriously had a feeling, some sort of attraction towards Jacob and felt the need to take him in to work for him selling beef.

Over the days Unbeknownst to Mike, Jacob had quickly figured out Mike’s secret and why he was drawn to help him.

At Mike’s, It was time for dinner and both were seated, eating as silence filled the room.

“I know what you are”. Jacob breaks the silence.

Mike's face looks confused to what Jacob said and asks what he meant.

But Jacob repeated “I know what you are” .

This time Mike felt how serious Jacob was and noticed that Jacob had seen through his facade , there was no need hiding anymore.

“Well I know myself there is more to you, if my suspicions are also correct, you must be from an old line” Mike also having a glimpse of Jacob’s identity replied now focused to finally find out more about Jacob’s true origin.

“And why do you say so?” Jacob asked curiously.

“Because if you can sense me even when I concealed my animal side from other werewolves knowing where I was, then you are not like other werewolves but stronger ” Mike replied and was now very cautious.

Jacob sensed how uneasy Mike was, to lessen the tension in the air and not wanting to reveal any more information from his past, he said.

“It seems we both have our reasons for being here, you don’t have to worry about me“.

Mike figured there were more secrets Jacob was keeping from him and the troubles that followed, but there was this strong aura of leadership he felt emerging from Jacob, same like the first time he saw Jacob and took him in.

“I understand, but know that I am here if you need to talk to someone ”. Mike assured Jacob

Jacob gave a slight nod of affirmation and excused himself back to his room.

‘I was almost suffocated by the tension that filled the air just now, such animal fury’ Mike muttered with shakily expression

‘Is he truly from the old line’ Mike continued.

An image of a crest he saw on Jacob as he mistook it for a random tattoo at first flashed back at him.

He looked for and brought out a dairy containing knowledge of their kind as well as others gotten over the years.

“I have come about this crest somewhere here” he whispered to himself as he went through the pages of the diary one after the other.

“Yes” Mike whispered as he seemed to have found what he was looking for but immediately he was bewildered, his eyes full of disbelief .

“This is not right, he is not supposed to be here” Mike says as it makes his blood run cold.

The next morning, not wanting to say anything yet concerning his discovery about Jacob, Mike cautiously watch Jacob as he prepares to go to the FINTH’s as per instructed by williams.

“I will be back after making the order” Jacob told Mike who he caught staring strangely at him.

Mike just nodded and told him to keep his head down.

‘What was with his look, he seems to know something’ Jacob pondered as he left.

“Knock knock” a knock was heard from outside Kliara’s chamber. It was Thelma.

“Happy birthday my little angel,” Thelma said as she hugged Kliara.

“You should smile more often, you have turned out to be a beautiful young woman” Theoma continued fondling with Kliara’s face.

“Thank you Mother,” Kliara replied softly, wearing an emotionless smile.

“Out of all my birthdays” she continues “I’m more excited about turning 25 years old, I have waited a long time for this moment”

Thelma smiled and replied “so have we sweetheart, especially your Father” she kisses Kliara’s forehead

“The responsibility of FINTHS’ will soon be passed to you, we’ll be waiting for you down the ball room” thelma said as she left

It was indeed a big celebration, people who seemed important were just pouring in, few of whom she knew while having no clues who more than half of the others were.

Kliara came down to meet the ball room full of people including the other great houses and other royalties, all staring at her as she made her way in.

Chattering and whispers filled the room immediately, all wowed and adored by her presence and beauty. Kliara was used to the continuous flattering, she didn’t break character as she walked to go meet her parents.

“There is my legacy” Williams praised Kliara once more as he showed her off to their guests.

“Are all these people really here for me, Father?” she asked Williams when they were alone.

“There are here to witness a great ceremony , I know you are ready” Williams replied

Kliara remembers how her Father will tell her stories on how it is their duty to keep their world safe from creatures cursed by the moon.

Kliara believed she had a duty to uphold but she wasn’t quite sure what that duty was yet.

It was such a party but as excited as Kliara was, she got bored of the scenery and decided to retreat to her room for a while.

Away from the ballroom and heading towards her room, Kliara caught a glance of a familiar figure dashing out from Williams office .

“It’s you again, You are Jacob ” Kliara’s soft voice startled Jacob as he was totally caught off guard. To recover from the strange position he was met with, Jacob quickly replied.

“Yes and you must be the birthday girl”

Kliara gave out a cold smile and replied “you noticed, but what i can’t seem to understand is why you were coming out from my Father’s office ”

Not breaking character, he answered “I was lost” as he walked away.

Kliara knew fully what she had witnessed which was not the first time as she had caught others who tried to steal from her Father and immediately gave them up.

“If I should report you to my Father that I caught the butcher boy stealing from his office , I wonder what he will say or do” Kliara said as she got fed up with Jacob’s attitude.

Jacob stopped once more, not wanting the situation to raise alarm turned back to kliara

“Seems I got your attention now” Kliara said impressed with herself

‘I have to play this cool, she caught me coming out his office, so to her i was just looking for something to steal’ Jacob thought carefully to himself

“Like I said earlier, I was lost ” Jacob answered with a cocky tone.

“That doesn’t matter,” Kliara said as she also walked away from Jacob, enjoying every moment.

He understood the game she was trying to pull, knowing how important it is for him not to get discovered.

“What do you want” Jacob reluctantly asked falling for Kliara’s trap

Perplexed by Jacob’s words, an idea came running instantly to her, Kliara stopped with a smirk on her face.

‘I can use this as fun at least till I get bored’ Kliara thought, wanting to take revenge and mess with Jacob.

Another footstep approaches “your Father sends for you ” Kliara was addressed.

She looked back at Jacob and left without saying anything.