Chereads / The Midnight Flower Series: Ari Constantine / Chapter 7 - The only way out is through

Chapter 7 - The only way out is through

Midnight woke up shortly after me and Fang made it to the throne room.

She looked between me and my brother with confusion as he held her at his chest with a steady grip.

The nightgown she was wearing slowly transformed into a cute, ruffly red, dress that was proofed out accentuating her royalty. And ever so slowly, a thin obsidian tiara with opal stones formed on her small head, barely visible against her raven black hair.

The intricate designes of flowers adorned the tiara; the opal stones creating the middle pieces. The tiara created the shape of a triangle.

I watched in awe how her beauty grew more.

Her pale milky white skin and her extremely black hair with a splash of red.

"Ari!" Midnight squeals in delight; wriggling herself out of Fangs grasp.

A faint hiss comes from his lips and she instantly stops running towards the small demon boy with wings like hers but black.

Straight defiance flashes in her eyes and her cheeks redden with anger.

Before Fang can make any remarks to her behavior, my dad faintly chuckles.

"Child, I like your spirit." My dad, King of Vampires; Vicctor Von James says booming out with his deep yet silky voice.

Midnight stiffens for a moment and then composes herself before facing him.

"Pleasure to meet you, your highness." Midnight humbly says with a curtsy.

"I have here your friend who's come to take you home." He says with a small gesture of his hand.

"I do hope you enjoyed your stay." My father says with the unspoken sentence that says: but now you must go.

She smiles gracefully at him and then raises her chin with an arrogant tilt.

"I appreciate your hospitality but I'm not sure if I'm ready to leave my mate yet." She says gently calling out the unspoken meaning father was insinuating.

Amusement flashed in his eyes as she walks confidently to my side and reaches her hand up while facing back to my dad.

Confusion muddles my brain, that is until she slaps at my side and reaches back up again with a grabby fingers; I cautiously grab her hand.

"I would like to know the homeland of my mates King Vicctor." She says loud but gracefully.

My eyes widen at her bravery and knowing my father, I flinch for just a moment.

A small chuckle escapes his lips once more and finally he nods.

"Luna, you can't stay. I have been assigned to take you home and as your protector you must come with me." Ari says his turquoise hair falling across his obsidian eyes.

Midnight tightly squeezed my hand before reluctantly letting go.

"I understand." She finally squeaks out with disappointment.

Ari's eyes soften and he pats her head gently when she makes it to his side.

"Let's go home Luna. Your father and mother needs to have a word with you." He says opening a portal.

Fang lets a low growl out at Ari's touch to Midnights lower back but he simply stays where he is and lets them leave.

Once they're gone, I round on my twin and I throw a punch to his eye and then his stomach.

"What the fuck is wrong with you!?" I yell out as I yank him up by his hair before his knees even hit the ground.

"ENOUGH!" My father booms out.

"I'm well aware of the situation but I will not have that faerie princess divide this kingdom! Do I make myself clear?" He authoritatively bellows out.

We both mumble our agreement and he sends us on our way to scout the kingdom.

A few hours pass by and I decide to go find my brother.

.

.

.

Looking down at my handiwork with a triumphant grin, I slam my secret cellar door shut with a pissed off writhing vampire named Fang who I gagged and tied up thoroughly.

None of his magic will be able to undo this.

I smirk down and flip him off through the floor; I open a portal to Slymethius and walk through.

I have to find her...my lovely flower... my angel.

I walk towards the portal and walk forward.

I hope this works...

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.

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MIDNIGHTS POV

My father and mother keep me by their side for the next few weeks as royal events take place. Inside, I sulk about having to leave the realm of vampires but outside, I exude a proper well behaved royal child.

Ari also stays close by but he's been acting distant since my parents forced me to tell them about what happened while I was gone.

Naturally, they were and still are disappointed; furious with Fang and Shadow for "taking advantage of my pure innocent child" as my father put it with a look that could murder a whole army.

I steal a glance at Ari and smile softly at him.

Ari turns, his jaw clenches in anger but I can't do anything. I tried to tell him it was that stupid mate bond that caused all of that to transpire but I'm sure that excuse holds little value in his eyes anymore. Yes, he's understanding of the situation but what can he do.

Fang has also been missing since then and it's weird cause he's always there.

The thought infuriates me of him doing what he's done and then ditching me like yesterday's leftovers!

I inhale sharply and sigh out in frustration.

"Compose yourself Midnight." I mumble to myself with a mental kick.

"Daddy?" I quietly mew out to my dad who's deep in a conversation with one of the lords of Slymethius.

He promptly ignores me and continues on as if I wasn't standing right next to him.

Ari storms over and excuses the both of us with grace and my dad's eyes cut over to Ari with a look of warning to behave.

"Calm down. Your hair turned red." He harshly whispered to me while dragging me through the ballroom.

I cut a glare at him and hmph looking away from him with my nose turned up the best I can while being dragged.

We reach the oversized glass barn doors and the gentlemen at the door pushed them open. Not once did Ari break his stride while dragging me out to the royal garden maze.

This place terrifies me.

"Ari!" I say panicked and trying to yank my hand out of his grasp.

He keeps dragging me so I slap him real hard with my left wing.

He stumbles and shoots a glare at me and finally he releases his hold on me.

I throw a slap to his face and he just stands there looking at me.

"I hate you!" I scream at him.

Tears start to coat my eyes and I take off running.

"Luna!" I hear him shout after me.

I run the through the maze entrance and don't look back.

I keep running until I finally trip over my too long and gangly wings.

I cry out and cover my face as I hit the ground; mud splatters at my cheeks and I look down in horror.

No, no, no, no, no.

My dress!

It's ruined!

"Pssst!"

My head snaps up and my lower lip quivers; tears overtake my vision.

"Princess! Over here!" I hear a loud whispering hiss from the shadows.

My pulse quickens as I continue to lay sprawled out on the muddy grass.

"Who's there!" I pipe up with fear crawling its way through my veins.

Laughter breaks out and I get up and run back the way I came.

I stop short when I realize that it's a dead end now.

I stare in disbelief at the tangled mess of thorny vines thicker than my body slither around creating what I assume a more stable wall.

My breath comes out in shudders and I gulp.

I look up contemplating on how high I'd have to fly to get out of here.

That thought was quickly snuffed out as I see those same vines creating a net across the top of the maze.

The only way out is through.