THE ALPHA’S ADDICTION

Queen Zipfarah, still floored over the knowledge that Emma hadn’t done anything to speed up or initiate her recovery, called out for Pintel, and when he arrived, she asked that he bring some tea for her guests. The latter bowed and hurried away.

“It is not really necessary. I am not in the mood for tea.” Emma rattled on, her cheeks coloring the next second when Zipfarah and Prescott burst into a fit of laughter.

‘Please don’t tell me that I had been so obvious.’ She thought, darting her eyes between the queen and the squirrel.

“Don’t worry Emma, the poison hadn’t affected our tea stock. And our chefs hadn’t been behind it. So, don’t worry. The tea is hundred percent safe. I will take a sip from it, to convince you, if you still think otherwise.” Zipfarah stated, smiling widely at Emma. The latter looked so embarrassed. But she didn’t blame her though, any responsible human would take that approach after watching a queen being poisoned by tea.

Prescott didn’t think it necessary to encourage Emma or lessen her embarrassment, but he thought it necessary to laugh some more. And he did, knowing how much it would piss her off.

A long glare from her afterwards only served to increase his bouts of laughter. Until, the queen called him to a halt with her next statement.

“Prescott, you can wait outside if you feel like laughing some more. I don’t think i called this meeting for clowns.” Zipfarah said, delivering a low blow which endeared Emma to her. The latter’s smile was so wide when Prescott’s mouth hung open that she had begun to wonder if she was doing the right thing by sending them together. Wouldn’t the two be fighting always? She already knew that the squirrel was so mischievous. Perhaps, Damon would be a better option. She thought, but canceled the idea immediately, remembering Daniel.

The latter liked Emma, and even though she knew it was a fruitless yearning, she didn’t want him to be at loggerheads with his twin; she wouldn’t want a repeat of history. She couldn’t send Lily; her brother had forbidden it, and she didn’t want to be at crossroads with Damon-he would never forgive her if anything should happen to the little girl. Leila was out of the option. Daniel too. She didn’t think he would stand watching the human get cozy with the wolf boy, because they surely will. So, who else could go? She couldn’t think of anyone else she could trust with the assignment, except the squirrel.

They would have to get along then. She would speak with him later, and convey the importance of the assignment. This continual bickering wouldn’t do.

“I’m sorry, my Queen.” Prescott replied with a bow. He hadn’t been expecting Zipfara’s rebuke. He had thought that they were in it together. So much for thinking. He mused, even as he heard Emma yab at him the more in his mind.

Lucky girl. He concluded.

“It wouldn’t happen again.”

“It better not. This mission is important. I don’t need you both bickering and fighting every second. If you keep doing so, you might lose your focus, might get caught unawares by the enemies. You have to get a rein on your mischievous belt. Understood?” Zipfarah issued her command telepathically to the squirrel, and he nodded frantically, before walking closer to Emma, who stared at him with keen suspecting eyes, hoping for another trouble talk.

“Can I sit?” Prescott asked, pointing slowly at Emma’s lap.

Emma, surprised, nodded. She hadn’t expected that. His voice was more than mellow. The queen’s rebuke must have had a huge impact on him. With his eyes looking like that of a lost puppy, she couldn’t even turn down his request.

“Yeah, sure.” She finally replied, a short smile slithering through her lips as Prescott immediately jumped on her laps after her reply.

“Now, that’s what I am talking about.” Zipfarah muttered with a smile of hers, before getting on to the reason why she had called for them.

“You two would soon be leaving for the party, be careful. I have cause to fear for this return of yours, Emma, but since I can’t stop you, you have to promise to be careful and rapoor well with Prescott. You both should be unified and not divided. I don’t know, but I feel that the situation is worse than it seems. You both, promise me that you wouldn’t fight each other, and lose yourselves.” She requested.

“I promise.”

“I promise.”

Emma and Prescott stated respectively.

For Emma, she didn’t take the queen’s voice for granted. After all, she had seen her eyes turn white in the council room, and knew that she had seen a vision.

She was a bit scared too; and if not for the fact that the day was Derek’s birthday, she would have stayed back in the witches’ community, perhaps, till her birthday in two days time.

“Good, Emma…I have something for you.” Zipfarah stated, and got up and away from the bed. She strolled to her cupboard, aware even as her back faced the door, that Pintel had returned to the room with a tray of the healing tea and some cookies.

“Have some, Emma…receive strength…for the journey seems far.” She said, opening the cupboard, and picking out a necklace. She stared at the necklace for a long while, her eyes brimming with an unknown emotion, before shutting back the cupboard.

Emma nodded, agreeing with Zipfara’s request, accepting the tea from Pintel, though bewildered by the grave tone that surrounded the latter’s statement. For some reason, her guts believed that the statement had nothing to do with distance; after all, the squirrel can appear and disappear at will. The statement was for something else, and it dropped in another round of fear. She was already feeling weary of going back. But she had to. For Derek. Whatever would happen, should happen. She wouldn’t be alone after all. Prescott was with her.