The thought of running through that forest filled her mind. Her legs padding through the forest floor, her body brushing against the wind as she felt the relieve of all the castle’s burden from her shoulders lifted up.
All she could think of was that running away until it stopped and Cassius’s face flooded in her head. She frowned at the sudden worry she felt for Cassius instead which was odd when her life was on the stake.
Perhaps it was because of last night where she saw those whip marks on his back. It had made her wonder if this was how he should survive in the castle and perhaps... perhaps deep down he hand’t noticed it but due to how she had tried so hard to survive back then, he saw sothing of him in her.
"What are you looking at?"
A voice cut through her daze.
She then turned, finding the blonde haired vampire who bore just a fraction of Cassius’s image. They were cousin from the maternal side, which explain why Cassius’s eyes could be found in these new guests.
She didn’t know if she should respond and instead put her head down and stared at the ground, sneaking a glance at Cassius.
"The forest," she answered before she took too long and instead offend the vampire.
"Indeed, it’s pretty isn’t it?" Lucien answered her, smiling. His tone sounded pleasant but she knew that gaze of his was inhuman. He looked even crueler than Queen Morgana or Cassius. "This was where the late human King of Versailles had placed all the defanged vampires and hunt them."
Suddenly she felt a shiver down her spine.
The forest that was once appear like the beautiful haven turned frightening to her eyes, like a bloodied land. She then heard Lucien who had laughed upon her pallid expression, continuing his words, "The King said that vampires are no different than animals. Animals who feed from humans so they should be killed and hunt like any other animals. Therefore he defanged all the vampires, starve them from blood for weeks and ordered them to run through this forest for any vampire who managed to escape this forest would be allowed to leave the castle ground forever."
Sohow that promise didn’t feel genuine to Arabella and sure enough Lucien confird it by adding, "So then there was a vampire who managed to escape but the King was unhappy that he had succeeded so he had the vampire beheaded and wrapped it in a silk box. That silk box was sent to Cassius."
Arabella apprehensively looked into his red eyes that had turned to her in a chill study. Lucien continued, "That man who had died was once one of Cassius’s n you see. After that incident, what do you think my brother ever thought about humans?"
"Sothing to kill?" Arabella questioned and Lucien smiled wordlessly as if confirming it. Like how his n was once hunted, Cassius was going to hunt the rest of the humans, that was what this vampire was saying, a warning but that warning wasn’t sincere. He simply enjoy her expression that had turned dark and worriso.
"My cousin is the Crown Prince, he doesn’t do things simply for his own pleasure. He has been trained so that he wouldn’t even spare us a single rcy despite sharing the sa blood as him. So tell what do you do that you could even move such a cold heart like him?"
That’s what she wanted to know.
But Bella didn’t respond to him anymore as soone approached, cutting through the conversation, "May I borrow her, Lucien?"
Turning around, Arabella noticed it was Princess Marissa. The Princess dressed in lilac dress didn’t wait for Lucien’s words before tugging Arabella’s wrists, pulling her beside her shoulder in a natural movent.
Arabella could finally see that while speaking, Lucien had almost put his hand on her shoulder. In that realization, she shuddered and saw how Lucien who had licked his teeth, "My, my, what’s the hurry there? Are you so eager to talk with the pet, Marissa... or Did Cassius sent you here?"
Princess Marissa scoffed with her arms crossed, "Cease your pathetic act Lucien. Do you think no one have noticed that you are trying to provoke him?"
Lucien’s smile twitched, his eyes then narrowed, "And? If I try to provoke him, shouldn’t you be on my side instead, Marissa? We are engaged after all."
Arabella was stunned that her heart leaped which Princess Marissa could hear. She clutched to her gown and frowned to Lucien. "Even if we are married, Cassius is the Crown Prince and my heart will be loyal there."
"Even though Cassius spared no second thought before killing your human lover? He did helped get rid of that garbage, so I should have thanked him."
Marissa frowned and she snapped, "It’s none of your business!" Her crimson eyes turned bright and her nails that had been cut neatly suddenly grew in size and thickened. The edges sharpened like a claw and Arabella could see the way it glowed, ready to feast for blood.
"Touche," Lucien sang as he raised both his arms on the sky, "This is why people find you too boring Marissa. You can’t take a joke or appreciate one."
"I’ll laugh when your joke have beca worthy to laugh at. Scram," she demanded.
Lucien didn’t seem happy that Marissa had dismissed him so easily, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he offered a lazy, mocking bow, his golden hair catching the candlelight.
"As you wish, my dear fiancée," he murmured, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Then, as he turned, his red eyes flicked to Arabella once more, lingering.
It was only a mont, but it unsettled her.
Lucien’s smile was slow and knowing, as if he had peeled her open and seen sothing she herself had not yet discovered. Then, without another word, he strolled away, hands in his pockets, whistling an eerie tune.
Arabella let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
Marissa, still gripping her wrist, exhaled sharply. "You shouldn’t entertain him."
Arabella frowned. "I didn’t." She clearly knew if she didn’t answer, she would et a worse end.
The princess glanced at her, eyes sharp. "You let him talk to you. That’s already a mistake."
Arabella wanted to argue, but she held her tongue. It wasn’t as if she had much choice in the matter.
Marissa must have noticed her expression because her grip softened slightly. "Lucien enjoys playing with things he considers fragile. He doesn’t break them imdiately," she sighed, "No, he prefers to see how long they last before they shatter on their own."
Arabella swallowed. It was almost amusing. Cassius’s side was the safest but also caused her to be targeted by so many dangerous vampires. She wondered if it wasn’t because of Princess Marissa’s presence, would Lucien had bit her neck? The way he had looked so thirsty and on her nape caused a shiver down her spine, filling her with a sense of disgust.
Sensing the tension, Marissa sighed, pulling Arabella further down the forest, away from prying eyes.
"I don’t know what my cousin sees in you," she admitted, "but if you plan to survive in this court, you should stop thinking you have choices."
Arabella’s lips parted slightly at the blunt statent.
Marissa’s gaze was unwavering, serious. "Cassius has decided you are his. Whether that ans you’re his pet, his pawn, or sothing else entirely—" she paused, her tone calming, "—it’s no longer up to you."
Arabella felt her stomach tighten, but before she could respond, Marissa released her wrist. She then looked over to where Cassius was and wondered aloud to the Princess, "Was it true?"
Princess Marissa, with the grace befitting a princess, turned on her heel and looked at her, "What is?" she inquired.
"That Cassiu- I an, His Highness had sent you here."
Princess Marissa was a vampire and was adept in hiding her expression but the arms that she had crossed one upon another had flinched. She shook her head quietly, "Do you think he would even ask his enstranged sister for you?"
No. She’s right, he wouldn’t have.
Princess Marissa watched as she looked away, quiet but her lips that were pursed seed bitter. That was enough for the Princess to confirm that she had fooled the girl. But the unease in her heart hasn’t eased up. After all, Arabella had guessed it right. Indeed, Cassius was the one who had told his sister, the sister he had rarely asked for favor to keep an eye on his pet.
Will Cassius ever realize this was sothing he wouldn’t have done for others?
That there is a ripple in his heart that he refuses to acknowledge?
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