"Yolanda!" Jasyn scolded with an exasperated sigh. "How can you say such ambiguous words about the governor?!"
Yolanda stuttered. "I... I didn't mean it that way. I didn't mean to say it, it just came out."
"Words like that don't just come out, Yolanda," Jasyn argued. "Do you think you are above punishment? Or do you think I allow you to come close to me just because I'm stupid?!
Huh?!"
"No.. no, I never said that Jasyn-"
"Call me commander!" Jasyn bellowed. "Imagine that someone else had heard of it!"
Yolanda shuddered. She wanted to jump out of the car or crawl into a hole. But most especially, she wanted to curse Diana or strangle her to death. And she was going to do that, right after she had found a way to appease Jasyn.
"You are going to confess to Eugene and apologize," Jason ordered. After speaking, he turned to face the other window, a silent signal that his words were final and there was no going back. Yolanda was more than embarrassed.
"To Eugene?" Diana inquired. "I doubt he's the one who requires the apology because she said it behind him."
"That's slander and defamation." Jasyn deadpanned.
"Then what about me?" Diana asked. "She indirectly called me a slut."
Yolanda gasped silently. Diana was such a witch and how come she never saw it? She thought that the woman was an emotional fool who was easily riled up and manipulated. How she never expected Diana to be so smart and corny with words.
"True," Jasyn said, turning to Yolanda. "You owe her an apology. And if you apologize to her, I will reconsider my earlier order."
Yolanda swallowed all her pride and anger and bitterness and managed to still put on a somber expression on her face.
"I am truly sorry, Diana." She said softly. "I never meant to get you angry or feel less of yourself. Forgive me."
Diana smirked. "Thank you, Yolanda. I do hope we can put the past behind us and work together for the good of this great country."
Yolanda nodded twice. Diana smiled and turned to face out her window. Petyr found the entire event amusing, yet he kept it to himself.
"We're here sir." He announced, parking the car in Eugene's garage. He came out and opened the door for Jasyn.
"Open Diana's door," Jasyn ordered quickly. Petyr ran to help Diana open her door and the lady came out carefully. She had left her son with the nurses assigned to her.
Yolanda sat in her seat, waiting for Petyr to come and open her door as well.
"Yolanda, didn't you wish to see the governor with me? Or do you want to wait for us in the car? That's fine too." Jasyn said. Yolanda gritted her teeth in angst against Diana. It was all her fault for showing up.
She needed to do some digging on the woman. She had to know where she had come from. What hole she had crawled out from.
"Yolanda, if you keep up with that expression, I'm afraid Eugene will think you were forcefully brought." Jasyn deadpanned. "Arrange your looks."
Yolanda quickly adjusted her expression to a calm and straight one. She wouldn't want to pass off as incompetent before Eugene. This would be her third time meeting the governor face to face and yet she had never had the guts to strip like a conversation with him.
Truthfully, the only reason she still agreed to come after Diana showed interest was because she wanted to know what Diana had to discuss with Eugene. Perhaps her earl on claims which she had painfully apologized for was true, and she might just be able to prove it. That would make both Eugene and Diana subject to her because they will be afraid of her telling on them. She smiled brightly at her brilliant plan.
"Commander Dimitri!" Eugene called sharply, jolting Yolanda out of her thoughts. The woman immediately saluted and bowed to Eugene. Eugene waved his hand at her. "Come, come."
Yolanda smirked. Eugene had not taken any notice of Diana and that made her happy.
"Guessing Eugene might not even know you," Yolanda whispered to her.
Jasyn tapped Eugene. "Diana, the lady you suggested to us, she's here as well."
Eugene turned so fast and his eyes caught Diana's unperturbed self, leaning on the wall in his corridor.
"Diana! My, I didn't know you came. Pardon me, pardon me! I'm a busy man, you know. Hehe." He scratched his slightly bulging belly.
Diana sent a victorious smirk to Yolanda. "It's alright governor."
"Just call me Eugene." He said, waving the protocol aside. "So I hear you came along. Do you want to see me?"
Diana nodded once. Eugene scratched his head. "Can you allow me to discuss this with Dimitri for a few minutes first? Is it urgent?"
"Go ahead, it can wait," Diana said. Eugene nodded and pulled Jasyn into his office.
Yolanda exhaled sharply. Something was off about Diana and Eugene. It was like she had dirt on him or something.
"How come the governor is so respectful towards you?" Yolanda asked. She couldn't help her curiosity.
Diana shrugged. "He recognizes talent, raw and rare talent."
Yolanda scoffed. "As if." She whispered inaudibly.
"As if what?" Diana asked, smiling at her.
"You heard me?" Yolanda asked in surprise. "How can you hear something I just mouthed?"
"Because I have the grace to," Diana replied. "I told you, I have talent. A raw and rare talent."
Yolanda frowned. She turned away from Diana's prideful figure and leaned on the railing opposite where Diana stood, staring down.
"Eugene respects no one at all. So pardon me if I find it absurd that he listens to you." Yolanda said. "You are new in town and I can tell that you don't belong here."
"I can send you away from town if I want to." Diana bragged. "I don't have to belong here to do it."
Yolanda scoffed. "Like hell, you can. Do you know who I am? My family, the Edgars, are one of the founding families of Fraco. You can't send me away even if you were a god."
"I love a challenge like this," Diana said. "Let's begin with your position in the army."
Diana walked over to her and stood beside her. She stared at her deep in the eye and her eyes began to glow green. Yolanda was confused. She was lost in Diana's eyes, she didn't see her tagalongs protrude, and neither did she see Diana scratch herself in the face.
She only heard her scream and before she could realize herself, her hand was right on Diana's face and had a blood stain on it.
Jasyn and Eugene were out in an instant. The scene they met was one where Yolanda held Diana's wrist with her fingers stained with blood and Diana's bleeding face.
"Yolanda!" Jasyn yelled. "What have you done?!"
"I did nothing, she did this!" Yolanda defended.
"I didn't do anything, I swear."
"You know very well that attacking your fellow soldier is prohibited and requires due punishment," Jasyn stated. "Being a commander, I shall not punish you, but you will be suspended from your duties for the rest of the week. Go to the car, now."
Yolanda stuttered for a few seconds. How did her life just take a drastic turn because of this woman's interference? Diana was still looking smugly at her, not even flinching at the pain. Yolanda glared evilly at her. She could see Diana's mockery and the dare for her to do anything she could, and she hated that she couldn't do anything.
"Does it hurt?" Jasyn asked, inching closer to her. "Let me wipe it."
"It's alright, it will heal pretty quickly." She said, "You can continue your meeting with Eugene, I will take care of it. Uh, I have a lotion we use in my hometown to treat bruises like this, it works like magic. By tomorrow, not even a scar will be there."
"Oh, that's wonderful. Perhaps we can adapt that in the army." Jasyn suggested, turning to gain Eugene's approval.
"Oh no no no! See, since I've been gone for over a year I can no longer have access to these things until I return and perform the rituals to be accepted again." Diana lied. What potion? She was a werewolf and the reason she took the cloth from him was that she knew the wound had already closed up. All that would be there would just be her blood, dried perhaps.
"That's fine. It's good you're with us anyway. I think Eugene and I have finished our discussion, you can speak to him now." Jasyn said.
Diana nodded. She followed Eugene back into his office while Jasyn remained in the corridor.
"Seat Diana," Eugene said, putting aside all his calmness and softness. "What's the matter?"
"Why do you need me in the army?"
"Why did you join?" Eugene asked in return. "You should have figured out why I wanted you to join before joining. So for you to join means that you also have a reason, which I do hope is not ulterior by the way, for joining."
Diana stared at him. He was smart. She narrowed her eyes for a few seconds, then brightened them up again as if she didn't narrow them before.
"Eugene, you have to understand that I hail from a different background." She said, "These people will never accept me here."
"Are you accepting and admitting that you are a werewolf?" Eugene asked, cocking his brow up. Diana stared fixedly at him. She couldn't be lured into his trap.
"I'm not a wolf, Eugene. I know one when I see it." Diana answered. "I was merely talking about my tribe."
Eugene stood up and walked around his desk slowly, moving to her back. Diana could sense his movements even without seeing him. She knew what he was about to do and when he stretched his hand to grab the towel which she clutched to her face, she dodged.
"How did you know what I was about to do?" Eugene asked. "That's the quality of werewolves. Also, allow me to see if the wound has closed up."
"There's nothing to see here, sir. You don't wish to answer my question." Diana said, getting up as well. "I will take my leave now."
"Let's trade, Diana," Eugene said. He walked closer to her and stood before her, face to face. "I can smell your pack all over you. If you will admit to me what you are, I will allow you into the secrets of Fraco."
Diana stood still. It was a tempting offer and just for a little yes to a question. But what happens after she learns of the secrets? Will he allow her to live?
"I can sense your distrust," Eugene said, chuckling. "I also know that you wounded yourself, Diana. Yolanda is pretty, smart, strong, and brave, but she is very clueless."
"Must be a great match for you." Diana sneered at him. "Considering that you are quite the opposite of everything."
"So you do know that I do have a clue of what you are," Eugene stated. "Very nice indeed."
Diana scoffed. "Whatever clues or ideas you have were conjured up in your head and that's all they can ever be, ideas! It's untrue and I'm not going to bother with answering your ridiculous claims."
"Deny it all you want, Diana!" Eugene whispered. "I know what you are, and you know that I know what you are."
Before Diana could refute, he pulled the cloth away from her hand and her clear skin came into view. The only thing which wasn't clear was the trails of dried blood.
"If you dare to say anything else, I will-"
Eugene's evil cackle interrupted her speech. "You should have allowed it to be a deal, Diana. Now I found out my truth and you got nothing."
"I will get what I want," Diana whispered. The door flew open and Jasyn stood there. He was wondering what was happening since he didn't hear anything. When they had begun their discussion, he could hear their conversation since he was a werewolf.
But after a while, the place went dead silent and Yolanda's words replayed in his head. Before he could stop himself, he threw the door open and what he saw was Eugene standing very close to Diana. If he leaned an inch, their bodies would be touching. He was lured terribly.