I can hear murmurs around us as Alpha held my hand as we are on our way to the dungeons. The palace is quite humongous the last time I remembered seeing it.
Of course I can't see it now as the veil that was covering my head and face is quite thick and had to rely on Alpha on guiding me in where to go.
I can feel the creatures approaching us as Alpha's grip on my hand seems to tighten.
With a huge sigh, he carried me in his arms as he continued walking, ignoring the curiousity of the creatures surrounding him.
Though I can't understand what they are saying, it seems that they are curious about my appearance as they tried to touch me.
Alpha let out a growl in which I can hear them scampering away.
Hearing him being protective towards me put a smile on my face in which I snuggled towards him.
He kissed me on my forehead as he continued walking.
....
Alpha left me inside a room as he told me that he is going to check the situation as we are near the dungeons.
Before he left, he kissed me softly in which he told me that he will return as soon as he can.
Now that I'm alone, I have to think of a plan in which we can go inside the dungeons.
It would be weird that I would walk beside him even if he made some sort of excuse as what kind of creature would want to explore a dungeon, especially if there is a beast who is insane?
Unless they love that kind of show.
My Lion, just wait. I'm coming.
With a grin, I took out several bottles of liquid that will make everyone unconscious.
It seems they haven't met a woman who is insane and thirsty for revenge.
Say hello to my bottles of chloroform.
....
I can't wait for Alpha any longer.
I also cannot rely on anyone as it is only me who knows the real deal on what's happening in the territory.
Anger filled my heart as I clenched my teeth, eager for revenge.
Good thing that I found an abandoned magic user's cloak inside the room in which I took off my veil and the dress as it is hard to move around.
On a second thought, in case someone might find out, I hurriedly stuffed the veil and dress inside my bag.
It's a good thing that I also brought my combat uniform from one of the countries I visited before in which I decided to wear as I can easily move around when wearing it. For security measures, I placed a bandana around my nose and mouth as I used the hood to cover my head.
I may not be strong like them or not having a magic ability but I can rely on my brains as I will put to use everything I trained and learned during the last 30 years I spent on earth.
Say hello to Iris who is insane.
....
I wished I had brought more chloroform as I watched with glee seeing the creatures guarding the entrance of the dungeon faint.
I'm not stupid enough to make a grand entrance as I know my limits. I moved silently, breaking the bottles one by one secretly as I poured the contents of the bottle on the floor as I hurriedly moved away before they can see me.
I loved the adrenaline rush in which I began to act like many of the instructors who trained me. I imagined myself as a Leopard that uses camouflage and stealth to kill its prey.
But I'm not killing anyone. Yet.
Finally, I reached the dungeon. I can hear Alpha's voice arguing with another creature.
I took a peek in which I counted the number of creatures guarding Lion. I can hear Lion roaring with pain as sounds of sparks seems to hurt him.
I clenched my teeth as I began to think of a way on how to get near enough to attack them.
It's quite interesting that the magic users didn't hear my footsteps in which I concluded that they are used to hearing loud footsteps as most of the combative creatures they have faced are aggressive in their movements and majority used physical strength to intimidate their opponents.
Oh wait.
Smoke bombs.
Smoke bombs plus more chloroform plus angry Iris.
Don't ask me why I collected them as I was traumatized with what Rahab did to me.
I don't want to be weak anymore.
But I should be careful and not be overconfident or else I will fail in my revenge.
I'm sorry Alpha but I have to do this.
....
Several sizzling and popping sounds sounded at the same time as the warriors, magic users and Alpha began to cough because of the thick smoke.
I closed my eyes, listening to the sounds as I moved silently, pouring out the chloroform on the floor, in which I began to hear shouts and angry voices that helped me navigate around them.
Heh.
Soon, they began fainting as I poured too much chloroform in which the magic users didn't have time to perform any magic as they too fainted immediately.
One by one, I can hear several thuds on the floor as I tried to silently move towards Lion's cell when I heard Alpha mumbling my name.
I froze as I tried to squint my eyes, checking if there's still a creature who is still alert.
I tried holding my breath despite me wearing a bandana covering my nose and mouth as I tried listening to sounds of any movement or panting.
I finally hear a thunderous thud on the floor in which I assumed is Lion.
The smoke began to die down as I glanced around to check for any signs of movement.
The dungeon is silent and there's no sounds of movement except for soft sounds of breathing from the creatures.
It will take several hours for them to wake up since I used several bottles of chloroform.
Making sure that I leave no evidence behind, I hurriedly picked up my trash and placed it inside my bag.
Finally, I went towards the cell of Lion.
....
Oh Lion! What have they done to you?!
I silently sobbed as I saw the sorry state of Lion.
His eyes are half closed as his breathing somewhat began to slow down.
I'm not sure if he is still conscious but it seems that he can't move for now because of the chloroform's effect on him.
I took the key that is hanging on the belt from one of the warriors in which I prayed all kinds of prayers, hoping that they didn't enchant the door of his cell or worse, placed a magic circle that will absorb my life force.
To my delight, it opened without any problem.
Hmmm.
It seems they are relying on magic and strength way too much.
Oh well.
That works for me.
I slowly walked towards Lion in his ultimate form in which I remembered the time when I first saw him transform to his ultimate form.
I was so afraid back then I nearly lost my sanity.
But now?
I didn't see any terrible monster in front of me.
I only see the creature who I loved with all my life and soul.
Silently, I walked towards him and knelt near his face.
He begin to growl silently in which I smiled as I took off my bandana and hood.
I'm not sure if he can still recognize me but I hugged his massive face in which my tears fell down on his face.
I wept silently as I felt his pain and sorrow, stroking his face as I spoke words of comfort towards him, telling him that I'm here.
He kept on growling while I continued to whisper towards his ear, telling him how much I missed him, how much I yearned for him and how I always prayed that we will be together again.
He growled while I cried, in which I placed my forehead on his cheek as I sang a song for him.
No it's not a sad song this time but a song about how a maiden told her lover how much she loves him to the point that she would give her life for him.
Nobody died this time as the song ended with them being turned into immortal beings, being with each other for eternity.
Good thing that I got some voice lessons back on earth as my voice sounds quite good this time.
After I sang, I noticed that he didn't growl anymore. He seemed subdued in which I thought that he must have fallen asleep.
I continued to stroke his face as I'm thinking what to do next as I should get out of this palace before they discover me.
I decided to find my way to Lion's castle, hoping that they didn't destroy it as maybe the rest of the pack are there.
Alpha didn't mention anything where the rest of the pack are staying but I assumed they must have stayed in the castle.
Except, I seemed to recall Alpha telling me that Orm is under house arrest.
Oh dear.
So it's Sly and Ghost.
Okay.
I just have to go to them and I will think of a way on how to rescue Orm and Alpha.
And of course, Lion.
I leave Lion for last as getting him out is too complicated for now. I need back up.
It is hard to leave him but I have no choice or else I might be in danger if they discover me here.
I prayed a little prayer in my heart that hopefully I comforted him enough that will lessen his pain and somehow prevented him from turning completely into a beast.
Slowly, I kissed his eyelids and cheeks and nuzzled his forehead in which I noticed his eyes began to twitch.
No! I've got to hurry!
I whispered into his ear, telling him how much I loved him as my hands rummaged around my bag in which I found a pair of scissors that I brought from earth.
Snipping a strand of my hair in which I left near Lion's head, assuring him that I was here for real, not a figment of his imagination.
With great reluctance, I stood up and covered my nose and mouth with my bandana, covered my head with the hood of my cloak and left quietly.
I bit my lip to keep myself from crying, walking silently as I tried to find my way out of the palace.
Suddenly, I heard an earth shaking roar in which I presumed that Lion found my strand of hair.
His roars are persistent and sounded desperate in which several warriors are running towards the dungeon.
Curses.
I must hurry or they might discover me.
Several magic users are flying towards the dungeon in which I nonchalantly tried to change direction as if I'm on my way to a more important work.
A lie as their priority right now is to prevent Lion from escaping.
More footsteps are approaching in which I went inside the nearest room without checking if there's a creature inside.
It turns out that the room I'm in is filled with all sorts of magical jewelry as some are glowing with magical runes.
Maybe I should take some of them.
I don't know how to read the runes so I just randomly grabbed whatever I can find and placed it inside my bag.
Now I'm becoming a thief.
There's a huge open container in which it is filled with all sorts of scrolls that without mercy, I took all of them.
I'm looting!
With glee, I took almost everything that is inside the room.
Satisfied, I left the room quietly, glancing around to check if the coast is clear.
It seems that everyone has gone down to the dungeons as I can hear Lion's earth shaking roar.
His roars do not sound wild anymore but more on anger and yearning in which I'm assured that his mind somehow began to return to normal.
Just wait, my Lion.