Chapter 6 An Opium Poppy

Ariana’s POV

Usually, when another entity was close by especially enshrouded with such a demanding aura, I’d notice.

Anyone should notice. Heck I was an exceptionally trained warrior who had willingly undergone one of the most torturous trainings. My senses were always on alert.

Yet, I didn’t notice him until he spoke, until he wanted us to be aware of his physical presence and that startled me—no, it terrified me because in a different situation I’d be dead without a doubt.

This incident led me to another pressing question; who exactly was this man?

With how much aura he was currently possessing, it forced me to focus solely on him. It felt like a tornado, determined to pull everything and everyone to it.

He was closer now and Jasper seemed to have withdrawn farther away from me.

“Hello, princess.” He said, taking a few steps closer, an amused smile dancing on his lips.

I’d always hated being called princess because it signified the odds against me I’d been fighting since birth but not this time. I didn’t hate it.

His eyes were a rare form of ruby that rarely existed. Eyes that contained power only seen in stars, power you couldn’t survive from.

Somehow I wondered how I’d ignored his features last night. Choosing not to be in the least bit attracted to him.

He was tall, but with purpose of intrigue and elegance, his blonde hair packed into a ponytail that I noticed was his signature look. I wanted to see him without it.

He reminded me of something. All warriors began their training in botanies, it was imperative. There was this one plant I was so intrigued by, especially since finding it took a few years, it was deathly poisonous.

I knew about it but it was so beautiful they I touched it, and I remembered getting half poisoned instantly. This felt like that moment when I chose the plant over my own life.

No, it was exactly the same thing. He was an Opium Poppy. A very very dangerous one.

“Why do I smell Lorna’s scent on you?” Jasper glared angrily at him.

“What are you saying?” I asked.

“He,” He pointed at Damon, “He has her scent all over him. What did you do to her you bastard?”

He was causing a scene and I didn’t want any patrol guards to catch a hold of this. “Jasper, calm down before you make any accusations. Let’s get to the bottom of this first.”

“I understand your sentiment, Ariana, but I just lost my child.”

“Truly it was a tragic thing that happened but we shouldn’t make baseless accusations.” I walked up to him, placed my hands on his shoulders and gave the most affirming smile I could. “Let me handle this. Okay?”

He held my hand again, returning the smile with romantic affection. “Okay.”

A piercing chilliness consumed the air and I paused. I took my hands off Jasper and faced the person causing this. The two-faced merchant. He was no longer smiling and his rubies were now illuminating a darker, dangerous shade.

It made me wonder. Did he know his graphic effect on everyone and how easily he could manipulate the situation just by a single change of mood?

I walked closer towards him, not stopping till I was right in front of him, my hand clasped behind my back and an impermeable look in my eyes.

“Damon, right here in this forest you are under trial by my jurisdiction as the princess of the Kingdom of Warwick for the disappearance and hopefully not the murder of Lorna and her unborn child. You are hereby ordered to give account of what transpired or you will be thrown in prison and be given a sentence by the next full moon.”

Leaning his head to meet my gaze, he seemed amused again, the corner of lip stretched in a conniving smirk.

“The question has been asked. Tell me, Jasper, what befitting response should I give the princess?”

“What?” I turned my head to Jasper who was now sweating profusely. His head was hung low to keep me from seeing him but I could tell. He was panicking. But why?

“Jasper, what is he talking about?” I demanded.

He said nothing.

“Princess.” Damon whispered in my ear.

I jumped at the surprise contact and closeness. Also because my ear felt…hot. I fiddled with my ear unconsciously my thoughts thinking back to how divinely husky his voice sounded. Sometimes he resembled a being who had surpassed death.

I cleared my throat. “Before I and Jasper came here, there had been people who had began rumors of me killing Lorna and their unborn child. I’m hereby pleading with you to bring whatever information you have on her disappearance to light. This is for the sake of my honor.”

For some reason I decided to be honest and left my cards wide open. The fear of judgement meant nothing to him so I chose vulnerability. Now it depended on the very core of his values to decide if it worked.

“I would’ve still responded either way but now that you’ve put me in the position of choice I have a request, princess Ariana of Warwick.” I liked the way he said my name with respect. With pride.

“I’ll fulfil whatever request you have.”

“You haven’t fulfilled your order by showing me around the kingdom and palace while I reside here for the mean time. I’m still very much interested and this time, you’ll be hospitable.”

I couldn’t help it, I laughed. “You’re strange but I accept all your terms.”

He smiled, though curtly. He took a quick glance at Jasper before meeting my eyes again.

“I witnessed a black bear taking the pregnant omega, that is after you left and Jasper ran after you.”

“Was she alive?” I inquired nervously.

“There didn’t seem to be a sign of struggle as the bear dragged her along so that doesn’t seem possible.”

I placed my hands on my forehead, massaging it. A wave of grief and guilt overcame me. Grief for the two lives that was lost and guilt because I was relieved that my honor would be still intact.

I turned to face Jasper. “I am sincerely sorry for your loss…” I wrinkled my face in shock seeing that Jasper did not seem in mourning. He seemed… relieved. Too relieved in fact. What the hell?