*Kiara's POV*
I don't know exactly what I expected to see.
Panicked guests as terror raged through the crowd? Or perhaps no guests at all.
What I saw was none of those. My disappointed eyes found dancing, merry vampires who looked quite entertained.
This Zalem man doesn't seem so scary after all.
'Stay in here' I remembered the hardness of the tone and the gentle shudder when the messenger said the name. But why so much fuss over nothing?
"Are you okay?"a candy voice asked behind me.
I jerked, realising how close the voice was. I felt a brush of air on my neck as the person spoke. It was as though it was directly whispered into my ear.
I sighed in relief when I saw the petite redhead behind me. It was just Erica.
"Are you okay?" she repeated in the sand tone,There was something sinister about the sweetness in her voice.
I discreetly took a step back out of precaution.
"Is there a reason I shouldn't be?"
The blue orbs in Erica's eyes focused on the people downstairs as she spoke.
"You should have stayed in the room."
I narrowed my eyes at her; she looked the same. That wasn't weird, no, but I felt something different about her.Sometimes eyes were useless when instincts saw.
I approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder. A repelling heat shocked my hand, and I pulled away quickly.
Erica looked at me through the whole ordeal. As if she knew it would happen.
"Are you okay?" I asked this time.
"Headache," she said softly.Her chest heaving slowly.
I took another precautious step back. Her eyes darted to my feet and back to my face. She had noticed me move back, and something about that made me uneasy.
"You are burning up…"I said, rubbing my still-sore hands.
She chuckled. "Yes, I think I need to go home now."
I nodded, and she gave me another deadly scan with her striking eyes.
"Good night, Kiara," she mumbled and walked away.
"Good night." I muttered back.
My hair stood on my neck as she walked past me. Something was wrong. I decided to embark on that mission instead, to find out why my friend was behaving that way.
I subtly followed her down the stairs; she never turned to check if she was being followed. She didn't look sideways, either. It was as though she was in a trance, and her eyes were fixated only on the door. I needled my way through the oblivious crowd, following closely behind my target
I was so focused on the momentum of the chase that I bumped into someone. I was about to apologise, but I stopped when I saw the face.
Gregg.
"Hello again, pretty lady. Would you do me the honor of dancing with me?"
*Adriel's POV*
"The orb was glowing just a minute ago."Timothy defended. "We are sure he was here."
I glared at the ball as he spoke. It was dim, like it hadn't received a signal from an extraterrestrial creature in years. I knew better than to let it fool me though.
What if it wasn't Zalem? What if it was another demon or, on a happier note, an angel?
I doubted my own thoughts. Zalem was out for blood. Her blood.
If I break the chains from hell, my authority goes to him. That wasn't the problem; the problem was that he wanted this done quickly. That meant Kiara's death would be done quickly. I couldn't allow that. I couldn't change his mind either, so I had fought him and tried to subdue him, he escaped my grasp by a slight chance.He left with deadly injuries but survived.Strong enough to follow me now too.Goddamit, I let him right to her.I should have stayed away more.
I drew in my apprehension and released it with a long breath.I removed my eyes from the mystic ball, it was too depressing to watch.
"He couldn't have just evaporated; if the sphere glowed, it was because he was here. Or at least nearby. We need to find him. He might have made himself invisible or possessed someone for the time being but.."
I couldn't help but notice Timothy's stare at his comrades. Fear was written in bold letters over his features.
I hit my knuckles on the table, and their attention came back to me in a wink.
"Is anything the matter?" I demanded firmly.
"Your highness, if I may," Timothy started with a trembling mustache. "Zalem is an archdemon; even if we spot him, we have no chance.Its an impossible mission, he could kill an immortal."
"Would you rather go against me, then?" I asked, cutting him off.
I heard Timothy rapidly draw in his breath. "No."
"Good," I pressed on the word. "As I was saying. His energy will still be present, no matter what form of disguise he takes. Carry the orb around discreetly. Make sure you check everyone,when you find him, sprinkle salt on him. That would weaken him for a while."
"Salt?" one of the men echoed.
I pondered if it was the right thing to tell them. It was getting clearer with every altercation I had with someone from the dark world that I was a part of them. That I too was a prince of hell. Telling them something as simple as a grain salt was a demon's weakness would be a shot in the leg.
"Yes, a few sprinkles will do." I said it absently. "Then capture him and throw him in a dungeon circled with the same salt. I will deal with him personally ; I want the honour of finishing him off myself."
***
I grabbed a wine glass from a waiter by the door and drowned it all in one drink. It wasn't enough. I returned for another glass and drank that glass till it bottomed up too.
I saw a blonde-haired beauty in a black ball gown dancing with the unsightly brown-haired man through the bottom of the glass. I dropped my hands and watched the scene more clearly.
She was dancing with him.
She, my wife-to-be, was dancing with a type-three hideous-looking Gregg freaking Itello.
A puke threatened to hurl out of my throat but I controlled myself.What was she doing down here anyway?
I made my way towards the happy dancing gypsy couple, and she noticed me a few steps away. She always had a way to catch me with those hazel eyes before I approached. It sent a rush of liquid heat down my veins; it scared me to feel that much.
It made me not react as impulsively as my anger has led me.
"I thought I told you to stay in the room." I still had a rude snap in my voice though. I regretted it; the way my voice sounded was ugly, but I couldn't bite it back.
She dropped her hands off Gregg's shoulders.
"I wanted to know what's going on,"she said calmly and honestly. No beating around the bush; I wish I Could do so effortlessly too.
"And you are finding information by nestling in the arms of this man?"
That wasn't me speaking, I swear. It was a strange type of anger I never felt. I was helpless towards it. Some might call it jealousy, but I didn't want to name it that, at least not yet.
Kiara gave me a disappointed look but said nothing. I almost felt ashamed.
There were a few stares now; I had been too loud.
Gregg pulled her back into the dance program.
"Don't ruin the fun, Valerian; let the woman dance."
All the remorse I previously felt was gone. I lost it.
I grabbed him by the throat and threw him towards a champagne tower. I heard women scream and men grunt. Even the band stopped playing awkwardly. What I heard the loudest was Kiara's terrorized gasp.
I dance routine stopped and everyone stood to watch me like I was the bad guy.
I watched him bleed from the shattered glass he fell on, but the damn deadbeat still moved. That was enough to make me more angry . The last of my resistance flew from me. I wanted to end him completely and beat him up until his name became taboo on the lips of children.
Kiara's hand held me back after a step.Why did she feel the need to protect him? She cared too much for the fools. First it was Lohan Forchesca; now it is Gregg Itello.
"Please stop this,"she begged.
"Wait for me outside."
"Adriel-"
"I said, Wait for me outside, woman!!" I yelled at her.
"You will not speak to me in that tone!"she yelled back.
And In front of everybody, more gasps echoed in the air. That was considered insubordination and could equal an execution only a few years before. There we're councilmen watching; they could twist back the laws just to have her head. The Valerian family vote won't count if everyone else votes for her death. She was pushing herself into danger without knowing it.
I came closer to her so only both of us could hear each other.
"Wait for me outside."
"And let you hurt Gregg even more with your stupidity? No."
She called me stupid. I wasn't even mad at this pointI was just stunned. I didn't know how to react. She slipped her hand into mine.
"You need to calm down."she whispered
"It's not just the damned dance,"I explained through gritted teeth"I saw him grab you earlier."
"I forgave him"she raised her hand to my cheek. Caressing it"It's far less chaotic than beating someone up."
I chuckled lightly.
She had a shy, proud smile pressed on her face. She was beautiful. I know I say it a lot, but she really was. It was mind-blowing. Each time I stared at her, I discovered something new—a strand of brown in her hair, the way her eyebrows stood when she smiled. The improper curl at the end of her left eyelash. Perfection existed. It was her.
And I was supposed to let Zalem get rid of this gem. Over my dead body, I was beginning to slowly realize that my top priority now was her now; I wouldn't let anyone harm her.
"Shall we go now?" I asked glancing at Gregg being helped to his feet, that was enough, for now at least.
"Of course," she smiled.
I stared at her sadly ,while I was busy protecting her from the world, who would not protect her from me?I feared myself at times, my goal soared against all conscience , all morality.I wouldn't lie to you or myself and say that I will change that.I hoped someone saved her from me.And in time too
I looked at her as she walked, her hair bouncing with every step.I shouldn't get distracted now.I sent my gaze around the tall dark trees, he could be anywhere, lying in patient wait to pounce on her.
My hands tightened around hers.
I had to find Zalem, and fast.