Maybe Zane was overthinking? 9 months had passed and he hadn't told anyone what he heard Kora and Xander saying. Were they conspiring against Mia? Could it be that they were actually evil? This Xander guy was so mysterious, and no one could read his thoughts. But Mia trusted him, it was not easy for Mia to trust people. Zane was worried, as his mind tried to figure out what they actually said that day. He wanted to tell someone but who? Liam was not the best choice, he would easily jump into conclusions and do something crazy. 'That boy is in love with my best friend', he thought. Definitely not Raquel, but what about Mia? She trusts him and that was why she came back.
Thinking of the devil.... "Hi Zane," Mia ruffled his hair playfully, "I've been watching you outside here from my room. I wonder what bothers you mate. A penny for your thoughts?" she smiled broadly. Her cuteness making him smile too.
"Nothing really, I just miss home," he said and she hugged him tight. "Don't worry, all this will end soon... All that has a begining has an end." He felt better, what would he be without her? She was like a valve that continuously supplied air in his life.
********
That night, she heard a knock at her door. Kora had summoned her and she was whispering so as to not wake the rest. They reached at the door and Mia wondered where she was taking her.
"Wear these heavy clothes, Xander is waiting for us at the gate," she wore some clothes over her pajamas, so she looked rather plump.
They boarded a carriage and their journey was quiet and strange. Both Kora and Xander had cloaks on, so it was hard to make out their faces.
"Where are we going," she had to ask, but was met by a long silence instead.
"Listen hunny, let's talk after we alight," Kora said and they alighted in a town, a busy one with lights and bustling beings. In fact a familiar town.
"We are going to Dracula's palace, please Mayana, cooperate with us. Everything will be fine, just play along," she said.
Before she could ask anymore questions, Kora was dragging her by the arm with quick strides, while Xander was ahead of them. Mia didn't know how to act, she didn't want to struggle. The situation was serious as she was used to Kora calling her Maya instead of Mayana. On the other hand, Xander wasn't speaking at all.
In a short time, they reached in front of the castle and found many soldiers lined up.
Trumpets were blown and they gave way for dracula! Xander suddenly held Mia by the neck with his dagger almost piercing her.
"Hold on there, if you hurt my woman this deal is over, and I shall not think twice about killing you," dracula said with his usual smirk playing on his lips.
"Listen, mission is to make dracula marry you," Mia widened her eyes and shaked her head vigorously. What did she get herself into by trusting them? "You'll go into his room and look for clues, he'll trust you with everything. It's the easiest way." he added.
"Hand her over to me and get your gold," dracula said. Mia started struggling with his soldiers, as tears welled down her cheeks. Were they hearing themselves? Marry dracula? Cooperate so that they could sell her? They didn't even discuss with her their plans yet she was the victim. She thought this dracula thing was over. She could understand Xander being inconsiderate, the guy probably had no emotions, but Kora? Of all people? And she blindly trusted them.
She stopped struggling with Dracula's men, accepting her fate. 'Married to a vamp at 18' she thought as she was turning a year older in a week's time. Anyway, she did not have to blame Kora or Xander for this. Reflecting on her orphanage years, not able to talk or express herself to anyone, always hiding under an oversized hoodie, it was better this way. As a destined saki or whoever, this should be like a adventure, taking risks and eventually, she would die. She chuckled at her fate.
'Its time for a change', she thought as Kora received a bag of gold coins. She wiped her tears dry
She looked away as they led her through the gates of the castle. Here she was once again, brought by the person who saved her from here.
"My baby, you have no idea how I missed you," he whispered from behind her.
"I know," she simply said, and this did not surprise dracula, as he was used to that attitude of hers. This attitude that made him fall in love with her, and not to forget, her constant rebellion and rejection, like a fierce cat.
Along the way, all workers of the palace had lined up on either side of the path, bowing as dracula and Mia walked. She had to admit, she hated this kind of attention and being treated superior than other beings, but had to act along.
Before they entered inside the magnificent Palace, she saw Livia and some other maids bowing at the doorstep.
"Livia, take Mayana to her room," he said in a rather serious tone Mia had never heard him use before.
"Yes, my Lord," she bowed and Mia followed her. She neither made eye contact with her nor greet her.
Her room was on the second floor, next to Dracula's. "Hi Livia, you seem quiet today."
"Hello malady, this is your room, if you need anything, just ring this bell on your wall and I'll be at your service," she bowed and Mia frowned. Before she could go, Mia caught her arm and shut the door.
Livia looked troubled. "Is this how you treat a long lost friend?" she asked and she stared at the floor.
"Am sorry Mayana, but you'll land me in hot water if I address you the way I want. Please tolerate me, am really happy to see you again. Allow me to take my leave," she went after Mia had nodded.
She opened the closet and found a new set of clothes, everything black in colour.
'Before I reach my demise, I will have to cherish life first, attempt new things, whether risky or not. She threw herself onto the bed clumsily and smiled to herself. 'If I waste my time crying, carrying out null missions, being homesick and all that, then when will I say I lived to my fullest when the time for me to die comes?' she thought. She looked through the window in hazy darkness, 'Xander... now that you've sold me here, what's your plan with queen mother because I have no intentions of helping you out. Am out of this game, I can't anymore, everything has proved worthless. You are too young, I can tell, but you take life too serious, focussing only on your mission, why don't you enjoy life just once.' there was a knock at the door, disrupting her trail of thoughts.
It was Livia, "Lord dracula wants to see you now in his room," She opened for her the dimly lit room, then shut it behind her. Mia took in silent deep breaths and walked to his table, where he was seated.
"Have a seat," he told her, but she didn't.
"What do you want," she gathered up the courage to ask.
He chuckled and sipped a light red liquid.
"Is this the same girl who was running away from me the last time she was here?"
"Whatever you have to say make it quick, I don't have all night," He put the glass on the table and his face changed to a serious one.
"I have some questions only you can answer... who saved you from me?" he looked at her expectantly.
"How should I know that," he gave her a sharp gaze and she felt a little scared, but didn't show it.
"Shockingly, I can't recollect any of my memories, I remember last seeing you, then sudden sharp pains all over my body. When I woke up, I saw the witch queen instead of you, she had revived me. As powerful as she is, she couldn't read my previous memories." he held her palm, caressing it, "so baby, tell me, who was your savior, don't be mean now."
She pulled her hand away, "If I say, can I get the hell outa here?" he nodded and she sighed.
"It was a woman with purple hair, but with a mask on, a vamp."