The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 172: No Escape ()

’Did you really think you could escape?’ That haunting voice blended in the darkness cackled viciously as its tendrils crept towards Zariah.

Its movement was slow, but sure, predatory for it knew there was no means of escape for Zariah and Zariah knew it too.

Zariah’s heart sank, a familiar terror gripping her.

’A thousand lifetimes...a thousand chances and the result will never change. You will die...they will all die...mark my words.’ The haunting voice vowed.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Zari! Breathe...breathe Zari..." Darren’s familiar voice broke through the haze of Zariah’s subconscious, pulling her back to the waking world.

Zariah’s panicked breaths converted to a quiet gasp, forcefully sucking in a mouthful of air which stabilized her panicked breathing.

When her heart rate slowed, Zariah’s eyes slowly fluttered open.

Zariah’s vision was blurry and it took a short moment to clear, it was only then Darren came into view.

He sat by Zariah’s side, holding tightly onto her hand, his expression contorted in deep concern.

Zariah just stared at him blankly, her mind still reeling from the nightmare she just had and the reality that it was more a message than a nightmare.

A premonition that was already coming true right before her eyes.

Staring at Darren now, his image flickered to that of a lifeless Darren, staring at Zariah with those dead, soulless eyes.

And all Zariah could do was stare helplessly, unable to save anyone... unable to change anything.

"Zari? Are you conscious? How do you feel?" Darren fretted at Zariah’s unresponsiveness.

Zariah was staring at him, that was true but her eyes were hollow and it seemed to Darren more like she was staring through him than at him.

Given that Zariah had only just survived a near death experience barely a short while ago, Darren panicked.

"Don’t worry Zari, I will go get Nile. Just keep your breaths steady..." Darren said quickly and then he dashed out.

Zariah stared at the partly open door through which he had left for a moment before her gaze moved to stare ahead of her.

The more in touch she got with reality, Zariah realized she was staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling.

Darren returned at that moment, with Nile in tow, carrying along with him a bowl of freshly brewed tonic.

The strong smell of herbs irritated Zariah’s sensitive senses and she frowned slightly as Nile placed the bowl on the side table and hurried over to Zariah’s side.

"Alpha, how do you feel?" Nile asked in concern, placing two fingers on Zariah’s forehead to inspect her condition. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Zariah shook Nile’s fingers off with a slight shake of her head, she attempted to sit up on the bed but a wave of pain surged through her muscles and there was especially that head splitting ache in her temple.

Darren made to assist Zariah but Zariah lifted a hand to stop him. She tried again, this time sitting up with great difficulty.

Zariah leaned back against the head board, sucking in a deep, shuddering breath.

"Zari..." Nile began again but Zariah cut him off.

"I am fine, Nile. Just a little strained from exerting myself too early." Zariah murmured in response.

"Ren, bring the tonic over." Nile instructed Darren who immediately complied.

"I do not need it...it won’t help." Zariah refused with a shake of her head.

"It will take the pain away at least." Nile insisted, handing the bowl to Zariah.

Zariah stared at it for a moment before heaving a sigh. She took the bowl and downed the contents in a few gulps, barely taking note of the bitter taste.

"You did not even cringe... I see you remember all that happened back there." Nile commented, his tone grim.

Zariah did not respond, glancing around the room for a moment. As expected, they were not in a place that was familiar to her and so Zariah was certain this was not the Ethereal Palace.

"Where are we?" Zariah asked curiously.

"An inn in the human town. After we lost your trail, we split up to find you and Darren got to you first. He brought you over here by Eloneth’s suggestion and sent word to us." Nile relayed to Zariah.

"You should have known better than to take off like that. You are in no condition to exhaust yourself." Nile reprimanded lightly.

"Right..." Zariah murmured.

Zariah had left the comfort of her domain and even resolved a war between two domains, and still yet nothing had changed. How could anyone understand how she felt?

What was more, Zariah did not even wish for them to understand. For anyone to be tortured the way she was with the knowledge of the future she had.

Zariah breathed a quiet sigh, the thought of the war that had been avoided reminded Zariah that her efforts had not been in vain.

At the least, many lives had been saved and many deaths prevented. As Lord Protector of the realms, she had fulfilled her duty this time.

"The Ethereal Palace..." Zariah began, leaving her question hanging as she was not sure what exactly she was asking to know about.

"In complete pandemonium. Beta Lucas has ordered the Alpha of the Waning Moon Pack off his lands but that Alpha Caedmon has called for the Ethereal Council to plead his cause."

"The council has convened a gathering to discuss the affair. Alpha Caedmon has insisted on being present for it, he refuses to back down." Darren reported.

Zariah scoffed beneath her breath, it was exactly like Caedmon to act out the part of a perfectly dutiful mate.

Zariah took note of the fact that there was no mention of Askel in all Darren had said and she frowned slightly.

"And Askel?" Zariah asked, curious to know where he stood.

"I... well, there has been no word of King Askel since it happened. It’s as though he has completely disappeared." Darren relayed.

"Since?" Zariah asked uncertainly.

"Zariah... since you lost consciousness, it has been three days already." Nile relayed to Zariah.