Vivi combed my hair behind me; the golden hues of it shone brightly under the new coconut oil ointment she had prepared for my hair.
My mind drifted to last night with Adriel, he respected my terms and slept in a guest room, but the way he stared…like he didn't want to be away.Like he needed me too.At this point I don't know if the distance thing was the right thing to do.He respected it though, he respected my choices.
I absently smiled to myself.
"Someone is cheerful this morning." Vivi sing-songed.
"Of course she is; her fiance is home," the lady in charge of my footwear said before I could get a chance to speak.
"My, you ladies are daring with your words." I noticed.
My eyes caught Vivi's glare at the lady with the aid of a mirror..
"I apologize for Betty's behavior, my lady. We all try to tame her loose mouth. It seems we have failed and will have to try other methods on her."
Betty bowed in apology, looking more frightened of Vivi than of me. It was obvious these other "methods" were unpleasant.
I couldn't help but giggle at the interaction.
"Don't crucify her, Vivi; I don't mind some mild chatter as I get dressed. In fact, I crave it."
Vivi smiled at me and continued to do my hair.
"Describe Adriel in one word." I said, hoping to start the conversation again. What better way to learn about the great Adriel than through gossip?
"A natural-born leader." Vivi beamed.
"Those are three words." I sounded, looking at her reflection again.
She shrugged her tiny shoulders casually.
"It's impossible to describe a man that great with one word," she said in her defense.
I was nodding in agreement when Betty blurted out a single word.
"Sexy."
Now, this one has affected me. I was, might I say, offended. How dare she— state the obvious? He was all that, but still. I shifted uneasily in the chair. This girl really had a loose mouth.
"Betty." Vivi called in an ugly tone.
"Yes?" She said, looking up innocently, her pigtails bouncing as she moved.
"Get out." Vivi ordered.
Betty pouted and threw me a sad look; I avoided it. She had offended me too. Seeing there was no way out, she got off her knees and left.
The door closed behind her, and we wallowed in awkward silence for a bit.
I was about to initiate another conversation but was interrupted by the swing of the door inside.
"Betty,you had your chance–"
Vivi literally froze when she saw Carlotta appear from behind the door; their eyes met like two mortal enemies at a duel.
"Oh dear, it's even worse." Vivi murmured to herself.
Carlotta ignored her and glanced at me, giving me a look that meant "privacy."
I sighed sadly.
"Vivi..I-"
"I will leave you two to talk." Vivi cut in,politely walking outside.
She and Carlotta exchanged ugly looks before she walked out.
Carlotta shook her head in an I-hate-that-lady way.
"You two will have to get along someday."
She then turned to me with a wrinkle in her nose.
"No, we do not 'have' to get along." She contradicted,walking towards me. She pulled out a small note from her sleeve and gave it to me.
I held the note and eyed her before examining it. It was about the size of my palm and smelled like powder.
It read.
'Meet me at the garden' I turned it over on the paper, but nothing was written behind it.
"It's from Shadrach." Carlotta explained.
I knew who it was from; I knew his handwriting, but I was a bit confused. Why did he want to meet me? Why now?
I was finally getting somewhere with Adriel, and now he appears. Like a gentle reminder of all the warnings of home, of the rules I should follow, and of the fact that my dad could storm here at any given moment.
And the greatest reminder of all,that he, my Shadrach,existed too.
I folded the paper and stared up at Carlotta, who was invested in closely analyzing a jar of coconut hair oil on the table.
"Do you know why he wants to see me?" I questioned.
"Well, I told him of your assault and–"
"What? Why? Everything I said to you was confidential." I frowned.
"I left some details, like the name and some stuff."
My frown didn't go away; it was for matters like this that Shadrach had brought vampire poisons with him. He could literally assassinate someone on my behalf if need be.
Yup, that's the story of the men in my life.
What was worse was that Carlotta knew this and told him anyway.
"He also said he had some information," she added solemnly.
I got up from my seat and took a deep sigh. I had to go meet him. At least to ensure that he didn't get the wrong idea and that I was okay.
***
I asked for a few directions on the way and finally stumbled upon the huge garden. I smile at its vastness; it could be eligible to be a direct competitor of the Whitman Garden. The best garden I've seen outside of home was definitely this one.
I inhaled a burst of fragrance from the flowers, and just as I was about to get too invested, a voice that reminded me of childhood called behind me.
"Kiara." Shadrach smiled as I veered around.My hair slapping my face with the hasty movement.
My heart melted as a soft warmth touched its surface.
I extended my hands for a hug.
He happily ran,picked me up, and spun me around in a tight hug, forcing a childish giggle out of me.
"How are you?" he asked, settling me back on my feet.
"Great, how are you?" I laughed, catching my breath.
"Missing you, worrying about you..."
I cupped his face in my hands.
"But I'm fine. I really am." I assured him.
His brown eyes searched into mine as his hands gently pulled my hands down.
"Not for long, Kiara."
My eyebrows knotted a bit. "I know Carlotta said some things, but they are all handled now."
"No, not just that. I have been doing a bit of snooping, and I learned some things."
"You were spying?" I whispered in fright. "On the Valerians too, do you have a death wish?"
Shadrach's eyes turned frigid.
"Anything to keep you safe. What I found out is unsettling."
I braced myself for the worst.
"This garden is only for scenery; it's impeccably preserved to give out glamour and art. Left in the open for public admiration. On first glance, you may even think this is their only garden."
I wanted to ask what the point was, but Shadrach knew not to toy with information. He would get there.
"There is another garden, though, at the back,around where we stay in the guest chambers. They call that one "The Green House." It has a big fence around it and a whole lot of security. Too much for a normal garden. So I broke in."
I swallowed as my eyes widened. "You broke—"
"Please let me finish,"he begged.
I obliged.
"And you won't believe what I saw—every single werewolf poison in existence, every single bit of drug we found in your body is in that garden. Some were even freshly harvested."
I blink hard. I felt dizzy in my head. In my chest too.
"What do you want me to do with this information?"I whispered.
He held my shoulder and pressed his strength into his fingers.
"Wake up," he whispered back. "And quickly, or you will die in your sleep."
*Adriel's POV*
Perhaps it was the insomnia or the early morning mist that caught my nose with every breath I took.
Or a better guess would be the scene of Kiara and the wizard in the garden.
I kept my hands in my pocket as I waited for her at the entrance. I didn't know what I would do; I was just waiting like a dumb fool without any plans, with no emotion whatsoever.
It was better this way; I couldn't bear to watch them from up the stairs.
She came out eventually, halting to a stop when her eyes met mine. Her white dress clung to her form so effortlessly. It hurt to imagine that he tossed her around in that.
"Good morning," she said, her lips forming sweet melodies.
"Good morning," I answered. It came out dry.
She sensed it and said nothing. She just watched me drown in my own tunnel to hell.
I have never been so calmly angry in my life; it sizzled in my bones but didn't quite make it out of my skin.
She made me like this.And it ached.
"Morning stroll in the garden?" I asked.
"Yes."
She didn't think twice. She didn't hesitate; the answer came fast. She lied again. For him, again.
I nodded.
She sensed my doubt too; I knew she did, but she said nothing.She was stiff and suddenly private.
"Let's go have breakfast,"she suggested walking past me.
Her scent hit me like a nice brush over my nerves.
I stood rooted to my spot, staring into the garden. He must still be there. I could go teach him a lesson right now.A grave lesson he would never forget.
"Are you coming?" she asked, stopping in her step.
She wanted me to ignore it, to be blind to it all. To not hurt him.Her darling little wizard.
I was too exhausted with this emotional bullshit anyway. I neutralized my mind—from the wizard, from her, especially from her.
I nodded and walked silently behind her till we made it to the breakfast parlor.
"There they are,"my mother exclaimed as we entered the breakfast room.
"Everyone's favourite couple,The yin to his yang. Are they just cute?" She asked Hendrix, raising her china cup to her lips.
Hendrix stared at us and shoved another pasty into his mouth.
Kiara laughed politely and found her seat across from Hendrix.
I couldn't sit beside her, not with the rumbling volcano within me. It was best this way.Safer this way too.
Hendrix's eyes caught me as I sat at his side. I glared at him, so he could look away.But he was my brother; he was used to my glares, so he took his precious time to drag his eyes of me.
I noticed my mother's unhappy face at my choice of seating. Her eyes bore into mine from time to time, but I ignored them.
Kiara didn't look my way, though, and I was thankful. I don't think I will be able to ignore those.I would snap.
"Hello, Valerian Family."
I looked up and smiled at the familiar voice—finally,one of the few faces I could trust.
"Erica."my mother said , her voice hard and unwelcoming.
"Erica, have breakfast with us."I said, pulling a seat beside me.
"Of course,"Erica beamed. "It would be a pleasure."