Chapter 555 : THE SECRET BOOK
Jasmine swallowed heavily.
“Her name is… Mari… Marie.” She finally managed.
Otto just stared at her, which further made her nervous.
She was terrified of this man.
He looked like he was ready to throw a tantrum any minute.
“Marie?” He rose a brow. “A witch?”
Jasmine nodded in delight as his eyes lit with a faint of recognition.
“Yes her.” Jasmine said breathing a sigh of relief.
“The same one who had a sister who was a different variant of a witch?” He asked.
Jasmine nodded. “Yes Eleanor. The exact same one. She is the one.”
“Well that’s a bit too bad for you.” He said.
Jasmine frowned.
“You know why?” He requested with a mean grin on his face.
Jasmine shook her head.
She was now very much confused.
“Because the stupid bitch stole from ME! And she owes me a goddamn amount of money!” He explodes.
Jasmine was taken aback so much she flinched.
“If she sent you here, then she set you up. I don’t ever want to see that fucking cunt! And you either better fucking pay for it or get the hell out!!!” He roared.
Jasmine was shocked.
This was a new revelation to her.
But Marie had said it.
He was going to be difficult.
But she hasn’t expected him to be this difficult.
She cleared her throat as she began to make an attempt to clear the air. “I am so sorry. Please accept my apologies for whatever she may have done to you. If I had the money I would have paid. But I have no knowledge of this and-
“I said GET OUT!” He screamed as he swung a porcelain bowl against the wall.
Jasmine screamed and jumped in fright.
“Otto calm down!” Hildegard said in alarm as she wisely retracted her steps away from him.
Jasmine was now absolutely terrified.
This was her only chance to find out about her mother.
Her only lead.
She couldn’t just give up.
“The scroll in your hands I’ve seen the language before!”
He came to abrupt stop and the stick that he had picked remained hanging mid air.
Jasmine knew she had gotten his attention again.
She quickly took advantage of it and hoped that it don’t backfire on her the same way the first time had.
She rose her hand up in defense as she busied her free hand through the old bag that had been hanging on her shoulder.
“Please wait.” She said as she fervently searched through.
She was scared to take her eyes off him before her flung something else at her.
“Where is it?” She whispered to herself.
She kept on fishing through the bag while her eyes frequently flashed from his face down to view the contents of the bag.
“If you have something show it to him now.” Hildegard whispered to her an uneasy smile on her face.
Finally she found it!
“Yes!” She said and then she held the secret book she had found in Xaden’s mother’s astronomy room.
She very slowly walked up to him.
He set his hand down and the stick he had been holding came tumbling down to the ground.
Once she was a few inches away from him, she handed him the book.
He seemed uncertain at first, before snatching it.
Jasmine retracted her steps as she watched him unbind the rope around the book.
He finally opened it and his eyes gazed through it.
Then she saw him quickly flip pages one after the other.
“Where did you get this?” He asked.
“Somewhere private. I won’t tell you until you agree to help me.” Jasmine said boldly.
He eyed her cautiously.
“You should he scared of me. Do you know what I am?” He asked.
What did he mean by did she know what he was?
“I don’t.” Jasmine replied in all honesty. “But I am scared of you. Yet that doesn’t mean I won’t make a deal with you.”
She had no idea where this boldness was coming from.
The ability to face a man she has her insides trembling in fear.
“I can kick you out of here and still keep the book.” He said point blank.
“And I would report to the Queen.” Jasmine said cunningly. “Lady Hildegard here is proof on how much the Queen likes me.”
Jasmine had absolutely NO idea where this strain of confidence was coming from.
But she had to keep it coming.
Hildegard quickly jumped to her defense. “She is right.”
Otto looked at Jasmine and she refused to break contact.
She held his gaze until he let go.
“What do you want?” He demanded.
Jasmine knew that she had won then and there.
“I want you to help me with any information you have on this language. Interpreting it, and on the wolf world beyond.” Jasmine said her head held up high.
“What makes you think that this book would be of any importance to me?” He asked.
“Because I’ve searched for numerous books on astronomy and only that book has that language. I believe it’s not common.” Jasmine said wisely.
“And what do I get in return for agreeing to help you?” He asked.
“You can have the book.” Jasmine offered.
“The goddess definitely made you crazy.” He mocked her. “Must be the red hair you have.”
“Then I’ll go with my book.” Jasmine said as she found herself marching to where he was and about to snatch the book.
He pulled his hand away from her grip.
“Wait.” He said.
He seemed caught in a mouse trap.
As though there was no where for him to run.
After a short while, he sighed and said. “Fine.”
“Swear on your wolf.” She ordered.
She wasn’t a wolf but she knew enough to know that swearing on your wolf meant you were bound to the path.
Otto looked very annoyed, but eventually he swore.
Jasmine smiled pleased with herself.
“But you will tell me everything. Including where you got it. Do you understand me?” He demanded harshly.
She nodded in pleasure.
She didn’t care how mean he was anymore.
As far as she now found a way to know about her mother.
~~~~~
Otto grumbled and stalked off towards where the tables were.
When Jasmine was sure that he was out of ears shot, she turned to Hildegard.
But Hildegard was already speaking up.
“It seems you two already have it figured out.” Hildegard announced. “We have to be on my way now.”
Hildegard headed down towards the door and Jasmine was pulled right after her.
“I want to speak to him.” Jasmine said once they got to the door.
Hildegard blinked in disbelief. “Jasmine it’s late and to be frank not so safe.”
Jasmine nodded. “I know and I understand that. But this is urgent.”
“You don’t know anything about him. I can’t leave him alone with you.” Hildegard said. “And you’ve had a tiresome journey. The Queen would be expecting you down for dinner. Would you want to disappoint her?”
Of course not.
She couldn’t.
Especially after all the Queen had done for her.
Jasmine dreaded the idea of dinner.
“No I wouldn’t.” She replied softly.
“Good.” Hildegard nodded as she headed towards the door.
“Wait I need to ask you something.” Jasmine whispered. Then she looked around as if to be sure Otto was nowhere in sight.
“You said something about how hard it is forcing his wolf down.” Jasmine asked.
Those words were stuck to her like glue.
Hildegard took in a deep breath.
She seemed uncertain to tell Jasmine.
“Well, you see.” Hildegard began and then paused.
She looked behind Jasmine to see if Otto was arriving before she continued.
And when she did, in a whisper.
“You see. Otto is a Feral wolf.” Hildegard explained.
Jasmine simply blinked.
“Have you heard of them?” Hildegard asked.
Jasmine gasped softly.
“Only a little.” Jasmine said.
Feral wolves were wolves who had been born and eventually shifted just like anyone else.
Well anyone except for her.
But along the line, their wolf had begun to run mad.
Become rabid wolves.
Like mad dogs.
“Somethings happened to him and he has never been the same ever since.” Hildegard explained. “It took away the essence of who he was. And made his wolf go insane. It’s better now. But you have to be gentle with him.”
Hildegard’s eyes looked left, right, up and down before continuing her speech and even going lower. “One bite from him can turn you into a rabid wolf like him. That’s why he stays up here alone.”
“I’m not a wolf.” Jasmine said as it occurred to her. “I’m unshifted. If he bites me, would the same thing happen to me? I mean I don’t have a wolf.”
Hildegard blinked and seemed to think for a second.
“I never quite thought of it that way before.” Hildegard replied honestly. “But either ways you need to be careful. His wolf is more stable now. Just don’t try to upset him as much. Do you understand?”
Jasmine nodded. “Yes I do.”
Hildegard looked up and cleared her throat. “Otto we would be on our way right now. Thank you for having us.”
“I’ll return tomorrow morning is that alright?” Jasmine asked in a gentle voice now that she knew what he was going through.
“Fine.” He grumbled.
“Come dear.” Hildegard said as she gently pulled her towards the door way and shut it.