Four: Decoding the king's words

As the Beta left the room everyone in the room immediately stood up and bowed their heads down when the Beta is leaving while I am left scared because of what he did, I touched both of my cheeks because of the pain I received from him.

The Beta is scary and he hates humans because of the Cardinal who happened to be his lover, how illogical could he be to hate all humans when the issue is just between him and the Cardinal!

“Just who does she think she is?”I heard someone from behind me said.

“I heard she’s the Delta’s friend, maybe that’s the reason why she acts almighty that she get to annoy the Beta”Wow, I thought only humans gossip but Human wolves also do gossip? Great!

“Wow, she’s not even a part of the hierarchy and then she’s acting almighty?”The other one said.

“I know right. One wrong move and the Beta will definitely kill her and the Delta can’t do anything about it. The Beta is higher than the Delta anyway”I rolled my eyes listening to their conversation, even hybrids do love to gossip and its entertaining for them as long as the topic is not them, rotting gossipers.

Our class ended and I have a four hour break before my class starts, I sighed, of all my schedules, this is the worst one.

I don’t even have someone to hang out with since Lara has a class and Yvan have an on-going meeting with the Zetas.

I suddenly remembered the book. I think I should go back to that book store and meet with Serafin. I should know the reason why of all humans, why did he chose to give me the book.

I immediately walked out of the University and got a taxi for me “To Luna CanidaeSupermart sir” I said.

The driver nodded and started driving. I sighed and got the book from my bag, I stared at it and the book cover is actually good.

The cover is a man inside a wolf’s shadow, simple yet satisfying, satisfying enough to portray the story.

Minutes have passed until the taxi reaches the mall. I got out of the taxi and paid the driver. I entered the mall and as I was walking towards the bookstore, I noticed a very small note written using a pen at very last page of the book.

I stopped and read the note “There’s light in every chapter’s lighted beginning” My eyes narrowed, the note written at the very last page has the same hand writing as the note written at the very first page of the book.

It’s obvious that Serafin was the one who wrote this. Is this a secret message that I have to figure out?

Instead of going at the bookstore, I walked towards the nearest coffee shop and ordered a coffee for me. I sat down in an empty seat beside the glass wall and I’m facing the main road.

“Just what is the meaning of this?” I said and read the note again “There’s light in every chapter’s lighted beginning?” I murmured.

“Light” I said and knocked the table thrice using my finger, I thought of other elements related to light and three thoughts came in to my mind.

“Just what does light mean? Literal light?Mother?Knowledge?” I murmured and I think the latter one is the answer “Then does the word light in this note means knowledge?” I asked myself.

“There is knowledge in every chapter’s lighted beginning” I repeated and looked at the beginning paragraphs of every chapter. I tried to connect every paragraph of every chapter but it does not even make sense.

“Chapter’s lighted beginning?” I murmured and looked at the beginning words. I noticed that there are highlighted letters in the beginning words of every chapter.

“If” I murmured and jumped to the next chapter and read the first highlighted letters of the second chapter “You” I murmured and jumped at next chapter “Want” I murmured.

I raised my right eye browas I murmur the words, it actually made sense. I think it’s not the first paragraph of each chapter but it’s the first highlighted letters of each chapter.

“If you want to meet me, notice what is missing and gather all that is left” I read as I put through the first highlighted words.

“Notice what’s missing and gather all that is left?” I repeated.

“Missing?” I murmured, I flipped every page of the novel but I noticed nothing. There are no blank pages and there are no missing numbers.

I sighed and turned my gaze to the page number, I flipped the page and my right eye brow rose for the second time. I flipped the pages and noticed that some page numbers are missing.

The numbers doesn’t even rhyme well with the page. The page of the first chapter is labelled 22 when it’s only the third page of the book.

I immediately got a pen and a piece of paper and then I listed all the page numbers that are left in the novel.

“22,11,42,14,15,33,13,11,21,15” I murmured, just what do these numbers mean?

I am a person who loves decoding codes but I really am not good at decoding one but one thing is for certain, every number is equal to a letter.

This is obviously not Latin Code because there are only 26 letters in the English alphabet while the numbers listed here are more than 26.

Then what type of decoding device should I use here?

“Polybius square?” I murmured while trying to think of other decoding devices, I smirked, I think the decode device for this is the Polybius square.

In cryptography, one of my favorite topics, Polybius square is a device invented by ancient Greeks to make plain texts represented by other symbols and bingo! What is used here is the Polybius Square.

In another piece of paper, I made a copy of the Polybius Square and tried to decode the numbers using the square. I smiled after getting the letters that I need.

It really is Polybius Square. It’s a very good thing that I get to learn the square when I was still in the city.

“Garden Cafe” I whispered, that is the hidden words behind the numbers and that is the setting set by Serafin.

“Impressive” Says a familiar voice from behind me. I turned around only to see Serafin smiling at me.

“Serafin?” I said, he smiled and sat down beside me.

“Not bad” He said while looking at the notes I made “And you unconsciously came in to our meeting place” He said that made my eyes narrow.

“What do you mean?” I asked. He smirked and read the name of the café printed at the glass wall that we are facing.

“Garden Café” He said, I raised my eye brows and looked at the printed words on the wall. I really am at our meeting place which is Garden Café.

He sat down and looked me.

“Looking at you trying to solve the riddle that I made for you, that means that you want to see me again?” He asked, and now that I think about it, I suddenly felt terrified knowing the identity of the person infront of me.

“Uhh yeah, uhm I came here to ask you some things” I said. He stared at me making me really conscious. Maybe he sensed that I’m feeling terrified right now.

He smiled and called for the waitress. “Get me the usual serving that I always order, that’s for two” Serafin said.

After ordering, he stared at me. “I know that you already know who I am” He said making my eyes grew wide. At that very moment, when he told me that, I know that I’m already a subject for the king’s food.

I tried to be braver trying to convince myself that I won’t be his dinner for tonight.

“Y-yeah, I-I actually came here to ask you something” I said while trying to be braver in front of the king. He chuckled “What’s with the sudden stutter?” He asked.

How can I not stutter in front of the most dangerous hybrid?! He is the Rebel’s king who eats humans, so tell me, how can I not stutter?!

I sighed and cleared my throat trying to compose myself “Yes, as you said I already know who you are” I said trying to look at his eyes but there’s something about his eyes that I can’t bring my eyes to look at him.

“I already know that you are the Rebel’s king, the most dangerous hybrid who eats humans and I think that you also know that I am a human” I said.

“And?” He asked.

“I just don’t know your reason why of every human in this island and in that book store, why did you choose to approach me and why did you bought this book for me?” I asked.

I tried to look at him waiting for an answer to my question “So you came all the way here and solved the riddle that I prepared for you just to ask that question?” Serafin asked amused.

“Y-yeah” I said, he laughed “Then did you also ask your friend who is the Delta the reason why a king approaches humans?” Serafin asked.

I slowly nodded “Y-yes, it’s either the human is a food or a mate” I said as he give me a chilling grin. “Then what do you think is my reason why I approached you?” He asked and leaned closer to me locking his gaze to my eyes.

I immediately avoided his gaze and suddenly thought of what he said earlier, how did he know that the Delta is my friend? Wait is he stalking me?!

“I-I don’t know” I said, I waited for his response but seconds have passed and he’s still gazing at me. It’s too awkward that I want to leave the place and run away from him, who knows, he might suddenly jump unto me and gobble me up. Geez, just thinking about the scenario gives me chills.

And because the heaven is so kind, the waitress came to deliver Serafin’s order. “Enjoy” The waitress said as she stares at me. I looked at her but I stopped when I saw her weird gaze to me, wow, here’s another weird one.

“Lucy, don’t intimidate her” Serafin said, the waitress gave out a sweet smile “Enjoy Cassandra” She said and left. Ok first, what’s wrong with her? Second, do they know each other? And third, how the hell does she know my name?

Serafin chuckled “Yes we know each other and she knows your name because of your book” Serafin said as wrinkles forms in my forehead. “You can read my mind?” I asked.

“No, I can read your face” Serafin answered, that response is a little familiar.

I looked at my book only to see my name written in the bottom right side of my book. I sighed, is it just me or what? I really think that that waitress is a little weird. She stared at me like as if she’s digging deeper beyond my eyes.

Serafin chuckled as he hand me the mug of coffee that the waitress gave.

“Drink up, this is my favorite coffee in this café” Serafin said as he offer me the coffee “Thanks” I said and grabbed the coffee. I smelled the coffee, one thing that I love the most in coffees are its strong caffeine smell and this coffee gives an addicting smell.

“You’ll love it” Serafin said and drank his coffee, I smiled and drank the coffee he offered me and he’s right, the taste is addicting.

As I place the mug back to the table, I suddenly felt dizzy that I almost fell from the chair. Weird, why am I suddenly feeling dizzy right now?

“How naïve” Serafin said showing me a scary side of him, his grin is making me terrified.

“W-what did you do?” I asked him as I try to hold my head trying not to collapse “W-what did you put in my coffee?” I asked and tried to stand up to get away from him.

Serafin laughed, a terrifying one and then he also stood up and moved closer to me “How could a human be so naïve in front of the king?” Serafin said as he continues to walk towards me while I try to walk backwards trying to get away from him.

The wall of the café is made in glass but Serafin pressed a button in his watch that made the walls of the café covered from the public. “Now it’s only you and me Cassandra. Do you know what’s funny, Cass? It’s you being so naïve, how can a human trust the king who mercilessly eats humans?” Serafin said.

I walked backwards to stay away from him but I was already dragged in to the very side and that I don’t have anywhere to run to and he’s already a meter away from me.

“P-please, d-don’t eat me” I pleaded but instead of showing mercy to me, he showed me his scary grin again.

“So what do you think is the reason why I chose to approach you, to be my mate or to be my food?” He asked cornering me in the wall using his arms. I tried to calm down and breathe because I am too dizzy to stand properly and answer him.

He leaned forward decreasing the distance between me and him and the next thing he did was the thing that I don’t and never expected. He ripped off the right sleeve of my blouse exposing my right shoulder.

“S-serafin, what are you doing? P-please stop” I pleaded but he responded with an evil grin, he leaned forward giving no space between us and then he slowly kissed my neck going down to my right shoulder where he ripped my sleeve.

I tried to push him away to protect myself but he’s too strong and I’m so dizzy right now that’s why I can’t do anything to get him away from me.

He sucked my right shoulder like as if he’s giving me a certain mark in my shoulder. I tried to push him harder and pleaded but he didn’t listen and instead he continued doing what he’s doing.

“Please stop” I pleaded. Seconds have passed when he stopped and looked at me. He flashed a grin in his face as he caresses my hair.

“W-what did you just do” I asked him trying to compose myself and to not show him that I’m too scared.

“From now on, all of your moves and where you go will be monitored by the king and by other Rebels. You’re mine now Cassandra” He whispered giving me chills and making me terrified of the thought that what he did to me earlier is imprinting his symbol to my body.

He moved backwards to provide space between us “What did you to me?!” I asked angrily.

He shrugged as he hides his left hand in his pocket. He pointed at my right shoulder “Cover my symbol and continue being the Cassandra that you are. If anyone from the Hybrid Empire sees that symbol, you will be in danger because that mark is the symbol of the Rebel’s queen” Serafin said.

I almost collapse from my feet because of what he said, the rebel’s queen?

“What did you do to me?!” I asked angrily.

He moved closer to me “You’re the Rebel’s queen now Cassandra, you’re mine now” He said.

………………..

I’m facing the mirror as I stareat the mark that Serafin gave me, the mark of the Rebel’s Queen, the mark of the King’s mate. Of all creatures in this island, why did he choose me to be his mate when he obviously knew that I am a human and I am friends with one of the most powerful hybrid?

Of all people, why did he have to choose me? Why do I need to become his mate? I sighed and fixed my blouse. Before Serafin spared me, he gave me a new blouse to use since he ripped off my blouse. I don’t have a choice but to wear the blouse that he gave me since I can’t show them the mark of the Rebel’s Queen.

Granny is right. I should have listened to her. I should have ran away while I still can but now I think I can’t do it anymore since the whole empire of Rebels are watching me. My life in Luna Canidae is getting complicated.

I sighed and fixed myself, I just got back here in the University since my next class is about to begin in ten minutes. I don’t even have the strength to attend my next class.

I was about to leave the comfort room where I fixed myself when my phone suddenly rang, its Lara.

“Cass where are you?” Lara asked.

“I’m at the comfort room, why?” I asked. “What’s wrong? You don’t sound well?” She asked.

I sighed “Nah, I’m okay. Are you at the lecture room already?” I asked “Yes and I bought a chocolate shake for us” Lara said.

“Ok then, I’m coming” I said and hanged up the call and walked out of the comfort room, I am about to meet two girls who are about to enter the comfort room but they stopped and silently bowed down to me. I was startled because of what they did but what I saw in their eyes answered my question.

I saw a spark of red in their eyes which means that they are members of the Rebellion Empire. I nodded and rushed to go to the lecture room, it is too awkward in my part when someone bows to me especially when knowing the reason why they are bowing to me, because they think that I am their queen when in fact I don’t and never want to be their queen.

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