Chapter 52 - Theory Of The Portal(2)

(From Ella's Perspective)

Everything was confusing. How could that happen? I was just a human. And now they were saying that no human could get through the portal. 

"Something is definitely wrong with this theory of yours," I said. "How can that remain open for one day? The moment I stepped into the forest through the portal, the portal vanished. It's not like I've stepped into the portal the exact moment before it was going to be closed, right?"

"That's probably because you are not human or shifter, but something else," Anders said. 

"Don't make things confusing," I grumbled. "How can I not be a human? If I am not a human, then I could do things that others can't, right? I could be extra powerful. My knuckles would not bleed after I punched that tree looking git. Or my knee would not hit Linda's boyfriend's zipper when I kneed him. I'm sure I'm human."

Anders laughed, but stopped suddenly. I saw that Leandro gave him a death glare for some reason. I was glad about it. Why would he laugh anyway? I was not joking. I was just highlighting facts. 

"I'm right, Leandro, ain't I?" I asked, looking at him. 

"Yes, you're right," he said. 

Anders looked at me wide-eyed as if I had done something he had never expected someone to do. But I could not see what I had done. 

"There is only one thing that can explain the whole situation, my lord," Anders said. 

It felt a bit weird to hear people calling Leandro 'my lord'. I knew that he was a very important Royal member, but yet, he was just Leandro to me. The Leandro who was cold towards everyone yet showed a different part of himself_ only to me. 

"Don't stop in the middle," Leandro said coldly. 

"Apologies, my lord. I think Ella..."

"Call her my lady," Leandro cut him off. 

Anders seemed surprised. It was not just him who was surprised. I felt like my breath had been caught in my throat. I glanced up at him to see his reaction, but his face was as cold as always as he kept his gaze on Anders. 

"Yes, my lord. I think my lady has shifter blood running through her veins," Anders said. 

"Shifter blood? Are you kidding me? My mom is not a shifter, I swear. She is just a human, just like me. That's not possible. And my dad... he can't be a shifter, can he?" I said quickly. The thought of my dad caught me off guard. I had never seen him nor did I know what he looked like. I knew nothing about him. Could it be true...

"You've never seen your father, right?" Leandro asked.

"N-No," I mumbled. "Not even once in the seventeen years."

"You don't even know who your father is?" Leandro asked. 

"No. Mom doesn't talk about him at all."

"Then there is a chance that her father is a shifter," Anders said. "Who goes through the portal just to sleep with a human?"

"You talk more than necessary once again, I will rip your tongue out," Leandro said, too calmly, but I could sense the anger in his eyes. 

"Apologies, my lord," Anders said quickly. "There is one way to know if her father is a shifter. Well, it's... A shifter has to mark her."

"This is the finest idea you could come up with?" Leandro asked. 

"What does it mean?" I asked.

"There are no other ways to see, my lord. I had never seen anyone else with shifter blood, yet a human. In this world, shifters cannot produce children with humans. But perhaps, in her world, the thing is different," Anders said. 

"What do you mean, will you tell me clearly?" I asked. 

"My lady, a shifter can mark another shifter as theirs. But as you have shifter blood, at least if you truly have shifter blood, a shifter will be able to mark you," Anders explained.

"And what if I don't have shifter blood? What if I have come through the portal because of something else?" I asked.

"Then the mark will be gone within five minutes and for one hour, you will go through excruciating pain," Anders said. 

"Let's go, Ella. There is no need to know that," Leandro said. 

"No, wait. If a shifter marks me, then I'll be able to know what exactly happened," I said, holding his hand. 

"Is it necessary to know? Aren't you doing well without knowing it?" Leandro asked.

"If we find out if the theory is right or not, perhaps we will be able to find a way to open the portal again," I said. "I can go back then."

Leandro looked_ kind of down, but he quickly fixed his face. "Do you want to go back?" he asked. 

"I... I don't belong here, Leandro. It's not my place," I said. "I don't like feeling out of place." 

"If you want this, then go ahead," Leandro said, but there was some kind of determination in his voice. 

"My lord, my lady, perhaps I should find a shifter who can mark my lady. I have a list of shifters who will be eager to mark her," Anders said. 

"No," Leandro said firmly. 

"Why? What's wrong?" I asked. "Anders is helping. If he can find a shifter for me, we won't have to look for any."

"Do you want to be marked by a fat bald short shifter?" Leandro asked, looking straight into my eyes in a very dangerous way. 

"That's... But what's wrong with it? It's just a mark, right?" I said. 

"You don't know what a mark is," Leandro said. 

"Tell me then," I said.

"Just trust me. You said you trust me with your life, right?" Leandro said. 

"Yes," I mumbled.

"Then trust me," Leandro said. His voice was cold that would make anyone tremble with fear. But to me, it was hypnotic music that could capture me in the cage of his aura any time. 

I nodded. I knew Leandro would not let anything happen to me. He would save me no matter what. He cared, even if it was just a bit, he truly cared for me. 

"A half mark is all that's needed, right?" Leandro asked.

"To know if she has shifter blood? Yes. But if..."

"No. We only need to know if she has shifter blood to prove this theory," Leandro said cutting him off. "A half mark is all that's needed. At least, for now."

"Yes, my lord," Anders said. "You can choose the shifter who will mark my lady. I have plenty..."

"No need," Leandro said dismissively. "We will leave now."

"But my lord..."

"We don't have a shifter," I said. 

"We do," Leandro said and stood up. He did not say anything else as he made his way towards the door. I had to admit that the way he was walking was very captivating and seductive in a way. 

"Goodbye, Anders. See you again, I don't know when. But anyway, see you," I said, offering a smile.

"Yes, my lady. Can I ask something, my lady?" 

"Sure."

"Why is my lord letting you stay with him?"

"You better ask him that," I replied. I was sure that Leandro would not like me telling others about our little deal. And besides, the deal was private, between him and me only. I would not betray his trust no matter what. "I better go now. Leandro will get angry."

"My lord permits you to call him by his name," Anders muttered. "Are you two friends, my lady?"

"No," I replied, remembering the time when I asked if I could be friends with him, but he said that we could not be friends and he would tell me one day why. "We're complicated beings with thinking and doing problems with two completely different personalities, but yet we manage to get along. Weird answer, I know. But there is no other way to describe what we are."

"If you need any help, my lady, you can come by this place. It's a secret, but as my lord believes you, then we don't have any problem believing you," Anders said. 

"Sure," I said. But I knew perfectly that it would be a hell of a surprise if I ever managed to come here on my own. I was way too bad with directions, and in this forest, we had to take so many turns to be here that my head malfunctioned for a moment. 

Leandro was waiting for me outside. The wind was suddenly strong. Now that I looked at him from afar like this, I realized that he was something different. Strength, power, dominance, coldness was pouring out of his tall stature. He was looking at a tree in front of him that his side was facing me. His stare was blank, almost like he was looking but not seeing. His eyes were cold, like always, showing no emotion. 

Suddenly he looked at me. Wait! His eyes... They were still dark, still cold, but there was something more, almost like the gentle smell of flowers in a strong wind. Was it....