73 Chapter 73: The proposal

"Woah they sure do look at you differently now." Irina said, looking around in wonder.

The cafeteria was filled with werewolves of all ages. They were all sitting around different tables in groups. There were children running between the crowded area, squealing and laughing while pranking their elders. Some teenagers were throwing things at each other, ducking and reappearing in places in lighting speed. A bunch of old people sat on one corner, waving at Elize with wide smiles plastered on their faces. There were no more hostile stares and the conversations didn't die down with her presence. Elize smiled at the warmth and normalcy of the place. It was truly becoming home. Somewhere she belonged. 

"Yeah. I'm glad I'm settling in." She said, waving back at the old women. 

They giggled shyly and started talking excitedly between themselves as a reaction. She was content. After what happened a few minutes ago, she needed this badly- to know that the pack had accepted her as their Luna already, even though there was still time for the official ceremony. It would probably take place after she turns, Elize thought dreamily.

Irina cleared her throat, calling for her attention. Elize turned towards her friend who was playing around with the food on her plate. By the awkward expression on her face, she knew that Irina was going to ask her something that she probably wouldn't feel like answering.

"So where were you guys hiding?" Irina asked.

"Somewhere that I can't tell you about." Elize replied, stuffing food into her mouth. 

She kept her eyes down on the food, hoping that her friend wouldn't probe further. She wasn't sure if she could disclose the location of the mystical stone to anyone. Until she was sure that it would be harmless, she was going to take the secret of the stones to her grave. Only two people knew about it till now- her and Zack. And it wold have to stay that way for some time, Elize thought twirling her fork around in her plate.

Irina sighed. "Fine, don't tell." She said, leaning forward, "But tell me something else. Agatha filled me in on most things, but I'd like to hear it from you. What happened with the Tohar Sehlah?"

"Oh that?No clue." Elize lied. "But then as you can see, but ever since I woke up after the freeing ritual, I have been powerless." She said with a shrug.

"Oh? Is that so?" Irina laughed.

Elize bit her lips nervously. Irina looked as if she understood that she was lying. There was a hint of sarcasm to her question which Elize didn't miss. She took a side way glance at her friend. She seemed to know something, Should she just tell her the truth? She thought hard. After thinking for a while, she decided to postpone spilling out her heart. That was probably for the best until she figured things out. 

"Hey, umm what was that spell that you used earlier with the former Luna?" Elize asked casually. 

"It's a simple shield spell." Irina dismissed the question and leaned back against her seat. She continued eating her pasta like she was not really interested in the topic.

Elize looked towards both her sides. Making sure that no one was sitting close to them, she leaned in closer and whispered excitedly, "But the shields that I had conjured never had such effects. A mere touch of it burned half her hand!"

She hadn't originally intended to sound like a little kid, but she was awed by what irina had done earlier. Her reflexes were faster than a werewolf's and her magic was stronger than the average witch. Surely, Irina was no ordinary witch. 

"That's because the spell that I use is different. Did you like it?" Irina asked with a sly smile.

"Heh?" Elize cocked her head to the side curiously.

Was that some kind of trick question? 

Irina laughed seeing her confused expression. Leaning in, she asked with a wide smile, "Would you like to learn?" 

Elize was taken aback. What did she mean by 'would you like to learn'? That was out of the question right now. She was not in a state to receive instructions on performing spells. All her magic was drained out. She was not a witch anymore. What did she intend by asking the question? Was that another trick question? 

"Well I have no access to magic now…" Elize said, awkwardly squirming in her seat.

She felt like she was sitting in the interview for a job application. 

"Why don't you consider old man Li's proposal?" Irina asked, changing the subject.

"I don't think I can." Elize said quickly.

She cried inside. Why was she asking all sorts of impossible questions today? That man was a psycho for all she knew. She had confirmed that on the night the incident with the Dam Sehlah had taken place. The way that the man had looked Irina up and down in Zack's office a while ago was the cherry on top of the theory. Why would she in her right mind accept anything that the man proposed? Who knew what was on in his sick mind?

The memory brought another nagging thought to her mind. Why was Irina trying to gain his attention so much today? Was there something going on between them maybe? Elize shook her head, quickly dismissing the thought.

"Why so?" Irina asked pouting her lips.

"Well….there's Zack.." Elize replied, trying to make up excuses as fast as she could. 

The witch waved her hand, dismissing the reasoning. Getting up from her seat she said, "Zack will be joining us soon afterwards. So that's not an issue."

She took her plate and walked towards the garbage disposal. Elize quickly got up and followed behind.

"Oh.. but I'm technically as good as a human right now. I don't know if I would fit in there." She blabbered on senselessly. She waited for her friend to dispose of the cutlery. After doing the same, Elize turned to Irina. "Besides I don't trust that man…..Do you?" She asked, her eyes glued to the witch's face looking for any sign of shock. 

There was none. Instead, Irina rolled her eyes at the question. Elize sighed in relief. She followed her friend as she started walking towards the entrance of the mansion. As they passed the people started bowing to her in respect. Elize bowed back awkwardly, flustered by the attention. They shortly reached the huge doubled paneled wooden door which was the only way into the huge four storeyed building. Irina stopped suddenly and turned to face her. Elize raised her eyebrows in confusion.

"Look Elize," The witch said sighing, "even if you touched all the magical objects in the whole wide world, you wouldn't become human even for a moment's time. You were born more special than a mere wolf or a witch. Your powers will eventually return. Didn't Aileen tell you that?"

"Well yeah I guess." Elize said with a shrug.

She had heard that many times. But she wasn't willing to believe it. She wanted her powers to return so badly that she had spent every moment after waking up wishing for it to come back. When she fell into the stream with Zack, she had cursed the universe for being so cruel to her. Waking up inside the cave was like a second shot at life for her. She was trying her best to forget that she had lost a huge part of her, a part of her that she was so tired of waiting to return.

"What he offered is not a bad option." Irina remarked, dragging her out of her thoughts.

Elize looked at her friend with sad eyes, "But-"

"Besides," Irina said cutting her off, "I'll be able to keep an eye on you. I'd feel better if I know that you're safe. I can't let you stay here in the pack house as long as that man or his daughter is here." She paused, laying an empathetic hand on her shoulder. She continued, "You've heard the witches too, they don't want you on their side of the Island as well. If you stay here, there is no guarantee that that old man won't find another excuse to start a war in your name. At that time, no one will be there to help you and the people who'd try, would only die trying."

Elize knew that what her friend was telling was right. Right now, she was more or less homeless. She sighed, lowering her head. "I-"

"Trust me," Irina said, putting a finger under her chin to raise her head. "It's the best option right now. Come back to the academy with me."