Dorian walked Nemia back to her room, well, his sisters room rather. Julia no where to be seen along the way. Though Nemia figured that Julia didn't have to come with them, but she at least needed to know what she would like from her place since along the way she asked Dorian about Julia staying as well. He obliged, though honestly she didn't give him room to say no. Basically telling him he has Nik, she wants Julia and there was no argument he could give to make her change his mind.
With a click of the door shutting behind Nemia. She breathed, finally. She was by herself again and able to think much more clearly. She knew she needed to call Milli, and she would. She just needed a minute for herself.
Moving around the bed, she walked in through the door of the bathroom connected to the room. Immediately turning on the faucet and splashed some cold water on her face before looking up at herself in the mirror. Her hair was most definitely a wild mess sitting on top of her head. She sighed, pushing around the mass and digging out the hair tie embedded within. Fingering though her hair afterwards to loosen some knots before forcing it back into a ball on her head.
All the while, her thoughts lingering on everything that's happened. It was more than just a lot. Her world has been completely flipped upside down. She was sick at the thought she'd been under Donovan's employment for ten years and he was the reason she was even there. He sent Malcolm, her own brother that wanted her dead because of a silly little mark, who would've never knew she existed if Donovan hadn't been such a greedy bastard.
Now, she has to not only watch her back for when and if Malcolm decides to move next, but also for an ancient dragon built to destroy was set loose. Yes, he didn't have his dragon form but sure the fragmented pieces called to him and she doubted it would take him very long to find all of them. Hell, she thought he was a myth though. Didn't ever think that Kyth was real. Not to mention, she now has to lead the bounty hunters. Had to play a leadership role she never asked for. Was mated to the damned king, which meant leading the bounty hunters was the least daunting task considering she was meant to lead the entirety of their people once she bared his mark.
Nemia's throat tightened and she dropped her hands to her side, clenching her fists. "Just breathe." She mumbled to herself, working down the anxiety threatening to block her airways. Staring at herself in the mirror, she spoke again. "I can do this." It was just barely a whisper and she repeated it, over and over until her steel resolve worked its way up into a shield. She wasn't going to back down.
Spinning on her heel, she marched out of the bathroom and plopped down onto the side of her bed. Reaching out for her phone, unplugging it from the cord that snaked out from behind the nightstand.
Another missed call from Milli showed up on the screen timed thirty minutes ago. She let out a breath of air then hit the callback button.
The line wasn't even through the second ring when Milli picked up. "Nemia? Nemia! Where the hell have you been? Do you not know how to answer the phone?" Panic and anger was laced into Milli's voice and it sounded as if she had been crying recently.
Nemia's shoulders slumped. "No, yes.. I've not been.. around my phone recently."
The phone crackled like Milli almost dropped it before her voice came through again. "Well that's obvious. Does it have anything to do with the disaster at that formal everyone went to? Everyone in the office has been talking about it. Said some God touched werewolf saved the day?"
Nemia snorted. "God touched werewolf? That's what they're calling me?"
There was a pause for a moment before Milli came through again. "You? They're talking about you? Jesus Nemia, what the hell is going on? And where the hell is Donovan, he's been missing just as long as you have. He there with you getting everything sorted out? Where ever there is, anyway..."
Nemia's face scrunched. She didn't want to tell Milli but knew she had to. "Yeah, I'm the one. Apparently the mark on my chest is the Mark of Solis, a sun god.." Rolling her eyes, she carried on. "But a lot has happened and Donovan... I'm sorry"
"No... No Nemia..." Milli's broken voice seeped through the phone and Nemia winced.
"I'm sorry, he's gone. He was.. treasonous. You know how I've been relentlessly searching for Malcolm, right?" There was a hesitation in Nemia's voice.
"Yeah? What of it?" Mille questioned, not understanding the connection quite yet.
Nemia sighed. "Well... For one. Malcolm is my brother, surprise!" She spit bitterly.
"What?! Fucking gross." Milli mumbled.
"Yeah, I agree. It's awful. But what's more awful is that Donovan was the one that set Malcolm loose on the Silverbacks all in a ploy to get me to come running to the council, knowing they would place me in his stead so he could get close to me and figure out a way to steal my powers!" Nemia was roaring by the end of it, her anger raging war in her blood.
"Oh my god..." Milli breathed on the other end, taking in what Nemia has told her of Donovan's transgressions. "Well then... Donovan was a piece of shit liar, got it... But I... Nevermind." She cut herself short.
"No, what is it Milli. You can tell me." Nemia pressed softly.
"It's just... Donovan has promised me that he'd change me after fifteen years of loyalty. My only wish was to become someone who truly belongs in the supernatural world. Now... Now I'll forever be a... For lack of better words, a roach in your world." Milli's voice broke and Nemia could almost hear the tears that was most definitely starting to stream down Milli's cheeks.
Nemia's heart broke, she didn't know of the arrangement that has been made. Without thinking, Nemia replied. "I can do it. I can change you. If you will stand with me. Dark days are coming and you'll need the strength of you plan to stay in this world. I'll do it."
There was an audible gasp before the rush of words flooded through the line. "Yes Nemia, yes. I will stand and follow you wherever you may go. I've always only been a phone call away for you, the best bounty hunter that we've ever had. Who knew you were meant to be a goddess though?" She laughed at the rhetorical question, still in obvious shock that Nemia was marked by a god but not given proper time to think it through. Much like Nemia hasn't had the proper time to think everything through.
The two spent roughly an hour on the phone after that, Nemia telling Milli of everything that has happened since the formal. Donovan, Dorian, Malcolm, the meeting. All of it. Milli listened with baited breaths and revelling in the details as Nemia went on.
Just as their conversation was ending and Nemia hit the red icon to end their call, a knock sounded on her door. Very soft and subtle. She walked over, opening the door to reveal Julia on the other side smiling up at her.
"Dorian thought you might still be in here." She mused, her eyes drifting to the state of her more tattered and ripped shirt. She takes and poked at the shirts collar. "What happened here, sure wasn't like that when you left breakfast?"
Nemia glanced down and let out a small laugh. "You can thank Dorian for that."
Julia rose a single brow and gave a teased smile. "Oh can I now?"
"God's Julia, not like that." Pushing playfully on Julia's shoulder. "He ripped it just enough to reveal the blasted mark. Had the whole board staring at me in awe." She rolled her eyes. "Hail Sol Invictus, it's the mark of Solis, oooo." She mimicked in a higher pitch than her normal tone with added sarcasm. Her lip curling disdainfully.
Julia rolled her eyes as well, though at Julia rather than with. "Your destined for far greater things than to mimick your fellow comrades. Get yourself together. Dorian said we would be taking a trip home, to get our stuff?" She eyed Nemia, wanting to hear it from her.
Nemia sighed and gave a small nod. "Yes, mom." She jeered, letting out a small laugh and slid her phone into her back pocket. "You'll be living here too now. But, if you want to stay here while Dorian and I go get our stuff, you can. Just let me know what you deem essential." Nemia paused for a moment. "I don't really know how safe it is, out there. No one ever messed with us before but with everything that's happened recently, there's no telling if it'll be safe for everyone. Milli said it's been chaotic at and around the office, so maybe you staying here would be best." Nemia stated softly in tone, but her eyes were firm.
"Just get my clothes and my books. Also, the plant hanging in the corner of my room. There is sentimental value in that. Do not damage it or I'll damage you." Julia looked at her pointedly before dissolving into laughter, not able to keep the seriousness in her face. "I'm serious though, the plant is special."
Nemia nodded. "Clothes, books, special hanging plant. Got it. I don't expect for us to be gone too long, just a couple of hours maybe. I'll need to swing by the office too, drop off something for Milli before we head back. Are you gonna be okay here in this lavish castle?"
Julia laughed and nodded her head. "I'll be just fine here. I'll probably go down to the kitchens and offer assistance, I know they don't need it but I want to do something around here."
With a small smile and a nod, Nemia stepped fully out of her room and shut the door behind her. "I'm sure they'll be happy to have an extra set of hands, just let me know if they don't. I'll make em see it the right way." Nemia held up a fist playfully and Julia pulled it down with a laugh. "But, do you know where Dorian is? You said he figured I was still in the room so I assume you came from where he was."
"He's in the lounge on the ground floor, having tea with Nik." Julia replied lazily.
Nemia's mind instantly pictured Dorian and Nik's large bodys sitting on dainty white furniture, while sipping on some hot tea. Pinching the handle between their pointer and thumb with their pinkys up. She bit her lips to stop from laughing loudly and just nodded her head. Julia glanced curiously but shrugged her shoulders and didn't ask. The two of them setting off to the ground floor and splitting at the bottom of the stairs, Nemia going to the left towards the sitting room while Julia went right to head into the kitchens.