*Kiara's POV*
I heard Adriel bark my name as he marched down the stairs,his feet knocking loudly on the marble floor. The smell of evening tea and him had mixed in the air, and despite that being a beautiful smell,the visuals were a sharp contrast to anything beautiful.
My father is closely behind,raging insults at his very existence and giving him several 'last' warnings to get the hell out.
Uncle Hugo and some of the guards were trying their very best to hold my father back from pouncing on the six-foot-four vampire becaly, Aunt Lydia's reasonable advice was not working.
"God, this is a disaster."I lamented watching the scene from above.
"And it's all your fault."Carlotta said with a dirty sneer as she walked away.
I contemplated ignoring the entire scene and going back upstairs to enjoy the evening breeze. I cowered a bit more behind the pillar,afraid that he would see me, but I was also too worried to leave them fighting like that,I knew I had to do something. Fate had put it this way. The only question is,how exactly do I stop two grown men from having a blood bath? Adriel's enormous black cloak followed him like a shadow as he searched around frantically for me. Something about that excited me and terrified me at the same time.
Somehow during the tussle,a guard who was holding my father's left arm fell, and my father took the opportunity to break free and rush Adriel. Adriel avoided two swift punches by some miracle, but he locked eyes with me for a moment. The small split second where his gray eyes kept me frozen was enough for my father to knock a hit on his jaw.
I gasped quietly as my subconsciousness raised my hand as if to stop it. To stop something that has already been done. I cursed myself for feeling sympathy.
There was a cut on his lips. His blood oozing,he grew angry in a horrific flash.
He made a dark chuckle at the red liquid on the thumb, and without sparing me another glance,he formed his fist into a ball and-.
"Stop!!" I shrieked loudly..
Both their eyes set on me with intensity, and I quickly regretted my scream. I should have just allowed them to unalive each other and then rule as a lone queen.
"Go back to your room," my father commanded sternly.
I did a quick glance at Adriel's tight fist and decided not to.
"You were looking for me. Well, here I am." I announced as I scooped my dress and made my way down the stairs.
My father's frown deepened as I walked past him. I gasped as I felt him jerk my arm as he pulled me back.
"What the hell do you think you are doing? he fumed into my ear.
"Please just trust me." I whispered.
My father glared at him, and Uncle Hugo tightened his hold on him before another confrontation happened. He hushed some words into my father's ear, and after giving some thought to it, he agreed to let me go.
I walked a few delicate steps further and looked up at Adriel. "May we speak privately?"
"Of course, darling."He said,switching up with impeccable speed.
"I cannot watch this." My father lamented as he stormed out of the room. My heart twitched at the pain in his voice, which he unsuccessfully tried to disguise with anger.
I led Adriel to a balcony a few feet away. The sun was beginning to set, and its yellow hues had enveloped the balcony in a seemingly warm embrace. I stared at the far light setting over everything in its sight. I tried to let the view ease my heavy heart.
"I said I would write to you when I was ready." I started before turning to him to find his eyes already pinned on me.
He stood tall with his hands folded behind him as the sun did wonders for his features.
"Yes,but you never seemed to have the courage to actually do as you said,"he replied.
I noticed the cut on his lip was gone, and it was as if nothing had happened. I marvelled at how fast he healed and wondered how many terrific wounds were gone that way,or if he felt any pain at all.
"I also begged you not to come here." I complained. "Now it's going to be harder to convince my father of anything. Look at the mess you caused."
"You know,one thing I hate in this world is being forced to do something with the aid of threats. It seems pretty nice when I am the one giving someone a bad day, but the reversed effect is annoying."
He reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a crumbled piece of paper.
"Your father knows this fact very well, and yet he writes me,starting off by calling me a sick bastard and then trying to threaten me to break the engagement,cancel the marriage, and never go anywhere near you again. I found this pretty amusing and insulting at the same time. So I decided to do the very opposite."
He handed me the paper so I could get a look at this so-called letter. My eyes ran over it quickly. It was my father's handwriting, but it was a bit messier than usual. He must have been drunk when he wrote this. My father rarely drinks unless he starts to think of her. He only drinks when he falls into his random states of depression while mourning.While mourning my mother. No wonder he was losing his mind over the whole matter; I am the only memory of her he has.
"And to top it all off,he says it was written on your behalf." Adriel chuckled, placing his hand in his pocket.
"It is true." I lied. "I asked him to write this."
"Lying doesn't suit you." Adriel said he was cutting me off. "Pack up; we are leaving today."
"What?"
"I said pack up; we are leaving today."he repeated nonchalantly.
"I can't." I whispered absently,especially now that my father was losing his mind with grief.
"On the contrary, you can and you will."
"Perhaps next week,I promise." I begged desperately.
"You have two hours to get ready for the journey. The Valerian Castle is far away, so we will have to start early or we would have to make a stop." He answered, walking off the balcony.
"Adriel," I said, blocking his way before he could leave. "My father is grieving right now. This letter was only written out of fear and panic. Taking me from him now will crush him."
"I know,it was meant for effect. Now, I suggest you start getting ready; the clock is ticking, and I will still take you with me,with or without your preparation." he smiled.
I never knew a smile could send dark chills through my spine. It was the most sadistic smile I have ever seen.
"Adriel..." I started with another attempt. "I won't go,not today."
He held me back by my elbow before I could get the chance to leave .Forcefully pulling me back.The guards around us took a step towards but froze in their steps and returned to their posts when Adriel glared at them.His eyes directed themselves back to me.
"Maybe I have been a bit too soft with you." he snapped,his raspy voice managing to still sound smoothly seductive in the moment. "I have very little time on my hands. Now go get ready and say your goodbyes because you won't be seeing this place for a while."
My chest heaved in fear,it was like a huge blanket had been lifted from my face. I suddenly noticed the darkness in his eyes,the cynical look on his face,the aura of death he carried around like a demon in the wrong world. He had suddenly seemed...evil, and I could see it all so clearly now. What on earth have I gotten myself into?
I opened my mouth to protest, but nothing came out; instead, a small tear perched at the corner of my eye. It had become obvious that what I thought didn't really matter to him. This made the idea of marriage to him suddenly seem so terrifying.
"Do not grab me like that," I managed to get out as I wrenched out of his grasp."You are heartless."
"I know love,"he smirked lightly.
I walked as fast as I could from him and marched up the stairs with my head spinning.
"What is he still doing here?" Uncle Hugo asked,coming to my side.
"He's waiting for me to pack up so he can take me to his castle." I replied blatantly as I increased my pace.
"Okay, you know I am the number one supporter of this marriage, but the Alpha is not in a good position to have you go just yet, so if you could speak to him to postpone,"
"You were wrong, Uncle; he is not fond of me at all, and he won't listen."
"B-but,"Uncle Hugo stammered.
I sighed loudly and walked away from him. If this was the last memory I would have of him,I didn't want it to be one of those where he was annoying.
I slammed the door of my room behind me and rested my head, trying to calm the raging seas in my mind.
"Did you manage to send the devil away?" I heard Carlotta's soothing voice ask.
I groaned. "I have to start packing."
"You are leaving today?!" Carlotta asked,her voice becoming less soothing.
"Yes," I replied curtly."We are leaving."
"But you can't; your father won't survive the effect; he is mourning the late Luna again."
"I know he won't listen."
"Perhaps if you try…"
"There is nothing to try; that man is crazy; who knows what he will do if I refuse to obey? The least he can do is treat us like he did to the Forchescas, and my father is in no state of mind to resist any attack."
"But I thought he liked you,if you could..."
"I can't!!" I yelled in frustration. "You think I want to hurt my father? Especially now that he is at his lowest?? I'm not the heartless one here; Adriel is. He does not like me; he doesn't care. Just please get my other ladies-in-waiting so we can begin packing."
Carlotta nodded and quietly left the room. It was only after she left that I began to feel bad about yelling at her.
I sat at the edge of the bed and quietly sob for my father. I had barely poured it all out when I got interrupted by a knock. I wiped my face and sniffed.
"Come in."
"Are you okay?" I heard Shadrach ask as he stepped in.
I stared at him with mixed feelings and then finally decided to hug him. He rocked me sideways and patted my hair in an effort to comfort me.
"It's going to be alright,"he said, lying in the name of assurance.
"I am getting married." I blurted out. "And it's to the elder Valerian brother."The history between us couldn't allow me to get comfortable and call Adriel's name.
He sighed disappointedly. "I heard," he replied, as I pulled away. "It's going to be okay."
"No,you don't know that. In fact, no one knows anything at this point; it seems he could do anything he wants, and—can you imagine I actually thought he was misjudged?"
"Kiara--"
"You have to go with me," I said, cutting him off. "As part of my escort or something.The full moon will be here soon and to protect me just in case he tries anything stupid." I muttered. "Please say yes; my father will want you to go."
"Of course,"he smiled assuredly. "You can count on me."
"Great,then you need to start packing. There is very little time."
"Okay then,just promise me one thing."
"What?"
"That you will try to stop sobbing; it's best if you remain calm."
I nodded sadly,sort of happy that he knew I was crying despite me wiping my face dry. It was good to know people knew you.
He smiled at me and kissed my forehead. There was another knock, and this time it was Aunt Lydia.
"How are you? "she asked, giving Shadrach a weird look. He bowed politely left to let us have our privacy.
"I am fine." I lied watching Shadrach leave.
Aunt Lydia closed the door slowly behind her and crept to me as if it were illegal for her to be in here.
"I sort of realized you leaving is inevitable, so I wanted to talk to you about a few things."
I sighed and turned to pack my books into boxes.
"I'm listening."
"Err.. You are a young lady in your prime and about to get married to a uhm...rather good-looking man,and I understand that you might want to experience life, and try certain things."
"You mean sex?" I asked blatantly,my eyes staring back at myself in the far mirror.
"Kiara, Don't be so vulgar. You are about to become a married woman,a queen,an important lady of society. You can't go around speaking like that."
"What do you mean, then? I asked innocently.
I heard Aunt Lydia do a hopeless sigh and come over to sit on my bed. "What I mean is,you should not let yourself get carried away by his charms. I know there might be allure in darkness, and he is known to be quite a womanizer, so he might make approaches, but do not go there. It's just easier and better this way. And the last thing we want is a child involved."
"So you do mean sex? I asked.
"Kiara!" Aunt Lydia exclaimed.
"How else am I going to have a child?"
"Well,you don't have to say it that way....."Aunt Lydia picked up one of my books from the shelf above my bed and leafed through it before putting it in the wrong box. I ignored it.
"Denzel will not let this go,"Aunt Lydia said thoughtfully. "He is pretty shaken right now, but I can assure you, he is already plotting revenge for the disrespect. I know that man way too well. That's why you shouldn't,by any means, get attached."
"I heard you." I answered by closing a box with a lid.
Aunt Lydia placed her hands over mine.
"Please be wise my dear, it's not only a matter of pride or honor , it's a matter of survival.The man out there has darkness in his soul…don't let it consume you."
"I wont." I said, removing my hand.
"We will miss you."
I cleared my throat discreetly, careful not to let my voice be plagued with emotions at this moment. It was one of those times that you had to pretend to be strong.
"Me too." I said,making sure I said as few words as possible.
Carlotta and the rest of my maids came in with more boxes and began packing.
I look at the scene around me in sorrow, This was it. I am really leaving home