"I was waiting for you." Isadora looked at the man confused. What did he mean he was waiting for her? Wait! Did that mean he had the answer to the question she had? Her face lit up at that thought. She stood up and dusted her pants, all the while, her gaze never leaving the man’s. The white-haired guy was just patting the owl that had scared the life out of Isadora.

"Is that... your pet?" Isadora asked pointing at the owl. The owl looked at her as if it heard what she had asked and this sent shivers down Isadora’s spine.

"Yes," the white-haired man replied and patted the owl’s back softly. "His name is Phoenix," he added before he shifted his gaze back at Isadora.

"And you are Isadora, right?" Isadora’s face grew a few shades darker. How did the man know her name? She eyed him curiously, and now that his face was visible in the dimly lit cave, she could make his face out. His features were sharp and he looked young, way younger than Isadora had thought. He was probably in his mid-twenties, probably even close to her age. His silvery eyes held years of wisdom, a big contrast to his age, as Isadora thought. His skin was flawless, as smooth as silk, that Isadora itched for a touch. How would it feel to run her fingers on that face? The owl let out a sound reminding Isadora that he had asked her a question.

"Yes. And you are?" She asked eyeing him suspiciously. He smiled at her displaying his perfect pearls. That smile, it would spellbind any woman in the world. Why was Isadora always meeting these tempting beings? They were too good to be true. Maybe they were gods in human form, Alexander included.

However, he turned around and started walking towards the darker side of the cave, and as he walked, the torches on the wall lit the place. Isadora frowned at this. She had asked him a question and he just walked out of her sight.

"Hey?" She called. The guy halted and looked at her before he said,

"You want to get answers to your question? Follow me," and he started walking again. Isadora clenched her fists tightly. This was unfair. The guy knew her but he refused to tell her his name when she enquired. But all in all, she needed the answers to her question. And come to think of it, how had he known she was looking for answers? Well, he said he had been waiting for her so she presumed he also knew the reason why she came here. It was only logical.

"Wait for me," Isadora said but the guy could not stop. She bit her lower lip before she trotted towards where he was. More torches lit on the way as they made their way deeper into the cave. Isadora felt her mother’s knife in her pants. She could not just trust this man easily. Not when someone she had loved and trusted broke her trust.

"I guess you know who I am and that’s why you came looking for me," the white-haired guy said as they continued deeper into the cave. Isadora nodded simply. She had come to seek the help of the seer who lived in the ghost mountains located west of the Crescian palace. Only he would have the answers to her questions since he knew almost everything about Crescia. He was the one who interceded between the Crescians and the gods. But that was not what she had asked. She wanted to know his name.

"What’s your name?" The white-haired guy halted in his tracks and turned around to face Isadora. He let his gaze travel her length making Isadora swallow nervously. But there was no ill intentions in his gaze, only a plain look. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"I have many names. Some call me the white-haired ghost and others call me the cave dweller. But those are all but nicknames. I’ve had so many names since the beginning of time. But for your interest, you can call me, Zed," he said in what could be termed as a whisper. The name invoked a feeling in Isadora and a strange sensation coursed through her body.

Zed simply smiled at her reaction and continued on his tracks, a knowing smile plastered on his face. The cave way finally opened into an open space that was perfectly lit. The interior looked similar to her house. In fact, it was more of a house. Castle was the word to fit it. Isadora’s eyes widened in surprise. Never in her wildest dreams had she ever imagined such a magnificent house existed inside a damn cave.

A hole was located up the rocky ceiling allowing light to enter in the place. A separate parlor was well arranged at the center and a jug of wine sat on the table waiting for someone to do it some justice. The seats.

On the left was a library, with several shelves; the only place that piqued Isadora’s interest. The books were neatly arranged in the shelves, their different colors forming a welcoming pattern. Isadora instinctively took a few steps towards the library, her gaze fixated on a particular book. Its cover was golden in color and it was sealed with what looked like a belt buckle around it. It was standing alone on this particular shelf.

Zed just watched silently as Isadora walked towards the shelf. He ,better than anyone else, knew what that book meant, and what it was capable of. It was like a siren call was pulling Isadora towards the book, and before she knew it, she was already standing right in front of the shelf. Why did it feel so right to read this book that instant?

Curiosity got the better of her and after taking a deep breath, she picked the book nervously. She unbuckled the book as her heart raced in anticipation. Zed’s eyes grew wide when Isadora unbuckled the book. So the wait was worth it. He had expected a disappointment but a surprise was what he got.

Isadora opened the book slowly as her heart beat wildly in her chest. The fear of the unknown filled her being but the part of her, the curious part wanted to know what was in the book. Time seemed to come to a halt as she slowly lifted the cover over. Zed was also watching with bated breath for what would happen next when a frown settled on Isadora’s face. Zed knitted his brows together at that. Isadora perused more pages of the book in disbelief.

"What’s in the book?" Zed asked walking closer to where Isadora was.

"Nothing! Nothing is written on it!" Isadora said with a frown.