Never Trust An Innocent Face

As they were going through the forest and decided to rest due to the wounds Marcus and Jay had. 

Zephyr also placed Azura down delicately.

"I will get some water, you stay here," He whispered tenderly.

Allowing her to rest and going to get some water from the nearby lake but was stopped by Janessa.

"It will take a week to reach the next town," She informed him sorrowfully.

"So what? Do you expect me to lose hope? I will sprint with all my power if I have to," 

Zephyr hissed in a low tone so Azura won't hear.

"Then you better start now because from my estimate and her condition, she could barely survive two days," 

"Tsk," 

Delvin went for a hunt and Janessa decided to get some logs so they could at least fill their stomachs.

Her words deeply affected Zephyr, he couldn't bear the death of another close one anymore.

But not allowing them to deluge him into low spirits, he continued playing his cool posture.

 As Zephyr was filling the bottle, from afar he sensed a presence along with a scream of pain.

Baffled to hear a call out in the wilderness, he rose hastily.

"What the-"

Blinking to perceive what he heard, his steps moved on their own, rushing to see what happened and to whom. 

"Is anyone there!?" 

Spriting, Zephyr found an open space from where an eighteen years old girl was lying, her long, black, curly hairs reaching her back, scattered on the grass.

"Hey-! Are you okay?!" 

He called, taking a step forward while turning the unconscious girl towards him, which froze his whole being because-

She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. 

He hesitated. 

Parting his fingers hastily from her skin while she laid unconscious with a few strands falling on her face.

Pink lips parted with long lashes that made Zephyr swallow hard and get away from the girl.

He felt so wrong to stand near her- 

In disbelief of how he could possibly find a stranger as a sculpture of perfection? 

'What the- was it a spell or something? Must be. I know myself. I am not that easy to impress,' 

With retreating steps, he turned and called, "Delvin! Janessa! Come here, you two!" 

He stayed away, narrowing his eyes out of ire. He did not like how he felt and decided to not glance. 

"Yeah- what is this?" 

Delvin came with Janessa, turning to the girl, not knowing what to do.

"I don't know. I heard a scream and saw her like this," 

"Is she alive?"

"I don't know. I didn't check. Why would I touch another girl?" Zephyr defended himself.

"Fine," 

Sighing, shaking his head, Delvin came and checked her pulse, inspecting to find any sign of injury but she was fine.

"I wonder what happened to her, she looks fine," He mumbled.

"Seems like she is from the wild. Maybe she fainted due to something." Janessa informed, inspecting her thin black dress, revealing her back and a clan mark there.

"Nope. Nothing. She is all fine. Maybe hunger or fear. Let's wake her up," Janessa said, splashing some water on her face.

Soon a cough came from the girl, curling like a ball, opening her rare shimmery, dark green eyes innocently.

"Huh- Ah!"

Startled, she crawled back in dread, holding the hem of her dress with an extreme exquisite posture. 

Zephyr swallowed hard, turning his head away while Delvin and Janessa were talking to each other. 

'How come they are not affected?'

"Hey, it's alright. We mean no harm. We saw you fainted and came to help. Is everything alright?" 

Delvin, using his charming tone, turned to her, gesturing to her be relaxed.

She was unsure but his grin had always melted hearts and made her lose her shoulders. Hugging her knees close to her chest, she kept her gaze lowered.

"I am Delvin. She is Janessa and he is Zephyr. What is your name, Miss?"

"El- Elvirita Rose," 

"What happened? Why did you pass out?"

"I.. I don't know,"

"Are you hungry?" Delvin asked again, causing her to nod softly, keeping her green siren eyes affixed on her ground.

"Mhm," 

"Come with us then,"

"I am going back to Azura," Zephyr muttered, not wanting to spend another second here, grabbing the bottles.

Shrugging his shoulders, Delvin didn't pay attention as when he had seen being nice to someone. 

Not caring, he took Elvirita along, taking her to where they were staying.

"Here we are. We are staying here,"

"We found her fainted. She was hungry too," Janessa informed.

She gasped at the two injured adults and a burned girl. Emitting pity, she inspected them sadly, afraid to touch them even.

"Oh Lord, what happened to your people?"

"Just a fight, leave it. Here, eat,"

Elvirita ate while glancing at Zephyr from the corner of her eyes. 

"There you go. Is it fine?" 

"Hmm,"

He helped Azura to sit, making her drink some water carefully then tying her thick hair in a braid so they wouldn't bother her.

She smiled faintly at his dedication towards his woman before turning to the other.

"Thank you so much for the meal,"

"If you know a doctor nearby or someone who could help then tell us, Elvirita," Zephyr asked calmly, not bothering to look at her, utterly focused on Azura.

They were taken aback because Zephyr who rarely used names unless he was sure of the person used hers in the first few minutes.

"My people live nearby, we might be able to find a cure and help you,"

"I see," 

"You can come with me," Elvirita offered sweetly.

"If your people are nearby then why were you hungry?"

She replied sheepishly, "I got into a fight with my father and in anger, I refused to eat,"

"Let's go." Zephyr called, picking Azura hastily.

"Right now?"

"Yes, I can't waste a second," 

She nodded, taking her along as they followed her. She seemed so powerless and innocent that none of them perceived she would do anything.

And proving them wrong, as soon as they reached their territory, she used dark magic, joining her fingers together to cast a spell before jumping out.

"Prison One- Cage," 

"What the-"

Before they could register, she caged them all in a prison of wood, giving a strict reminder to never trust an innocent face.