Chapter 47: Chapter 47

As Prince Dakar got out of the car, he pocketed his keys and walked hurriedly into his castle. The wind was blowing gently and his hair was being tossed around as he walked in. Camper leaned against the car and stared at Dakar's receding back.

“Have I ever seen Prince Dakar like this?” he asked himself aloud with his arms crossed. He had this deep assertion that Dakar and Avril knew each other. And had something for each other. But how would he find out more? Dakar was a closed book. Could it be that he was lying about his memories? He hadn't said anything about his curse since he returned. He had been lifeless but just because a human girl stepped into the territory of the pack, he changed.

Camper stood upright and sighed before pocketing his hands again. He knew what to do already. His best friend was Dakar and he wanted the very best for him, so he would work towards giving him the best. He had to make his friend have some joy in his life apart from the one he derived from fighting the traditional fights at night and beating the hell out of the wrestlers.

Camper began to walk towards Avril's quarters in deep thought, mapping out plans and the things to do. Suddenly, he saw a shade of dark colors in his blurred up vision. He cleared his eyes and saw Nana and Chidi walking away from the direction of Avril's quarters. He looked at Nana who seemed to be thinking like he was, while Chidi was whispering something to her. They saw him and suddenly stopped walking, Chidi also stopped whispering.

“Hello, black queens,” he hailed with his beautiful smile.

“Hello,” Chidi said with a fake smile. She didn't trust any werewolf yet and was weary of them.

“You two are coming from Av—Fiorella's place?” he asked and Nana peered at him.

“You know her real name? How?” she asked. He smirked sideways.

“Never mind that. Is she at home? With Verona I mean?”

“Why do you ask?” it was Nana who questioned.

”Because apparently, the prince wants me to get his concubine... Verona actually,” Camper stated and stared at Nana in an amused and interesting way. This was her. The one he wanted to be friends with.

“Yes, they are at Fiorella's place. Let's go, Nana,” Chidi held her friends hand and pulled her along. They walked past Camper who turned around to look at them. Well, to look at Nana actually. She herself felt this urge to look behind her and when she did, her gaze met his. Immediately she turned her face forward and giggled.

“What's with the giggling?” Chidi asked with a frown.

“He's so cute,” she answered and Chidi rolled her eyes.

“Here we go again,” Chidi muttered sarcastically with an eye roll.

Camper smirked as he heard what they had said.

“I'm cute, huh. I guess I don't need Fiorella to be the mediator between this pretty girl and I,” he said to himself and rubbed his chin. He walked away towards the quarters and got to the entrance. He knocked and a minute later, Verona opened the door.

“Camper,” she called at him.

“Hey, pretty. Dakar wants you in his quarters right about now,” he hastily said and pointed his index finger downwards.

“Now? Like right now?” Verona asked with bulging eyes.

“Yeah. Like right now so...shoo. Just shoo,” he chirped at her and she laughed.

“Sorry, gotta go babe,” she said to Avril who was sitting on the couch staring at them. Camper peered at her and smiled.

“Hey, babe. You're lonely right now. Aren't you?” he inquired and pushed Verona from the path then entered inside.

“Verona and my friends have been with me so...”

“Don't worry, I'll keep you company while she's gone,” he stated and pushed Verona out of the house then shut the door. Avril bit her lower lip as she stared at the door as if she could still see Verona through it. Why had Dakar called her? She truly hoped it would not be what she thought it would be. Her heart was beating really loud. Was that nervousness or jealousy?

“She would be back in a few minutes. The Prince just wants to inquire about something important. That's all,” Camper said in cue. Avril exhaled and tucked hair behind her ear.

“So, pretty one. How are you?” he sat down beside her and stared at her with his bright smile.

“Why so you smile so brightly all the time?” Avril asked.

“I smile when I see beautiful creatures of God. And I'm staring at one right now.”

Avril laughed out loud at Camper's statement. What a man!

“Well, that's a good confession,” she acknowledged.

Camper relaxed on the coach and stared at Avril as she looked into space.

“Don't you miss your family?” he asked.

“Family?” she chuckled.

“I don't have family,” she added.

“What about friends?”

“None except the ones I'm with here.”

“Oh, so how long have you been friends then?”

“Well, let's say three years,” Avril answered and smirked at Camper.

“You all have been together as friends that whole three years?”

“No. Not the whole three years. Anyway, why are you interested in my life before I came here. Aren't you guys uninterested about that?”

“By 'you guys' what do you mean?”

“I mean you guys, the werewolves.”

“We didn't wipe your memories. Which means we might be interested. You see, there is something about our prince that we're trying to figure out,” Camper said in a serious tone and sat up. Immediately Avril heard about 'the prince' in his statement, her heart tool a leap.

“The prince? What about him?” she inquired.

“Well, you might have heard about how he had been cursed and disappeared. Well, he reappeared and lost memories of all the time he was away. So we are no longer wiping memories because we might find people who might have met him.”

“Oh. Wow. Uhm,that's a good idea. But do you think the prince would want you people to dig out his past while he was on exile? What if he hates those memories?”

“That's why this is a secret kept from him. So I would like that you don't tell him about this conversation.”

Avril gulped down.

“Ssure,” she drawled.

“Ask your friends if they had come across him before. Anything that could give us a clue would be welcomed, okay babe?”

“Yes, sure. I'll be willing to help.”

Camper got on his feet and smiled at her.

“I'll be on my way now. Take care of yourself, Fiorella,” he winked at her then walked out of the house. Avril was still staring at the door that he disappeared through when Xiao Wéi walked out of the kitchen with a cup of coffee steaming in her hand. She walked to Avril and sat beside her.

“Why are you staring at the door like you can see through it?” she asked in her Chinese/Asian accent.

“The prince's best friend was just here,” Avril answered.

“Okay?”

“He wanted to know if we had any clues regarding the prince. If any of us knew him before we came here.”

Xiao Wéi's eyes bulged.

“What?”

“Yeah. I asked if the prince knew about this enquiry and he said it was a secret.”

“Something is not adding up.”

“Yes. Especially the fact that it is a secret. It's his life, why would they hide it from him? And if he doesn't want it, of what importance is it to them?”

“I personally think some of these guys might suspect that you're...,” the Chinese girl trailed off. Avril sighed.

“Verona already knows. Well, not the details though. Just...just the surface of the matter,” Avril revealed and Xiao Wéi's eyes bulged again.

“How?”

“She reads minds.”

“Does Gia and Aria read minds too?”

“I don't think so. But then, I couldn't say.”

“This place is crazy.”

“I think we should work on keeping a low profile, Avril. Let's just forget about everything else and all burdens and just live a normal life.”

Avril smiled sadly at the advice her friend just rendered.

“You are saying I should forget about everything, huh?”

“Yes. At least for now. Just focus on getting on the good side of this Dakar. Then you could try to revive his memory then. Not now.”

“Yea. I guess you're right.”

She bit down on her lower lip hard but decided to just let go of her pressing desire of Dakar remembering her again. Like Verona had said, this wasn't the human world.

\*\*

Verona bowed to Prince Dakar as she stood before him.

“You called for me, sir,” she said. He exhaled and sipped the drink in his wine glass.

“I am aware that you have befriended this new humans we have amongst us,” he began with a voice devoid of any emotions.

“Yes, sir,” she replied.

“I want you to keep an eye on them for me. I suspect that they're holding on to something which is false and plan to use that against me and the pack. I already have people watching, but I have decided to add you to the crew.”

Verona's eyes slightly lifted in surprise before she quickly tucked them back down again. The prince didn't appear to be telling a lie so she somehow, believed a bit of what he said.

“What exactly would you like me to do, your highness?”

“Teach her to be a closed book. I don't want people to see through her for the time being.”

Verona sensed that something was already amiss. Why was he suddenly referring to only one person when he meant all the humans earlier?

“Prince, please be honest with me. I can already detect a lie,” she said courageously. Dakar lifted a brow at her then scoffed.

“You sly woman,” he muttered under his breath.

“Please be honest with me,” she pleaded again. She couldn't reject his order and decide not to work against Avril because he was her Prince. And more so, for wrong reasons. That would be betraying her friend.

“Fine. I...” he trailed off then sighed deeply.

“I think she... I feel she knows me,” he said and Verona lifted her face to finally look him in the eye.

“No. My memories are not back. But, each time I look at her I feel like I've seen her before. I want you to teach her to be a closed book, so others won't try to see through her like I'm trying to do,” Dakar half lied. Well, Verona believed immediately. She was somehow elated that the prince remembered Avril partially and couldn't wait to tell her.

“Yes, my prince. I'll train her mind and soul,” she stated and bowed in respect again.

“Don't...tell her about this. Because I can see how excited you are,” Dakar warned, and like a balloon poked by a needle, Verona deflated and her face saddened. Avril would have been so happy to hear that he remembered her a little.

“Yes, prince,” Verona replied. Suddenly, Dakar's eyes began to darken. He gulped painfully and tightened his right fist. Verona saw his veins getting red...or were they even veins?

“Leave,” he ordered in a dark, deep voice that sent chills to her spine.

“Prince Dakar.”

“I said leave!” he boomed and sped towards the staircase. He ran up and entered into his room. His hand was getting swollen and redder, a scream escaped his lips. It was like he was being sucked through a small pipe, as big as he was. His vision got blurred as pain seared through his entire body. It was supposed to be every hour. Was he already into another hour? Luckily, he located the bedside drawer amidst gritted teeth and yanked it open.

“Arg!” he groaned as he fell to the floor, bleeding from the mouth. He felt his head spinning but he grabbed the already wrapped roll and lighted it almost immediately with the lighter there. The smell of the burning herb instantly cleared his blurred vision and as soon as he took a painful drag, the pain ceased. He laid there on the floor taking deep breaths with the cigar burning in his hand.

He was a strong man so he couldn't just break down and cry. But he was going through the worst life anyone could live. However, he would pull through. He assured himself as he laid down there that he would pull through.