Ariana’s POVI watched as Damon walked away, stricken by surprise but pushed it to the back of my mind, the thought of Bach’s disappearance plaguing me once again.Fear became the most pronounced emotion I was predisposed to and it was heavy, weighing me down like a blanket.The images of Victor came flooding in and I could feel dread rise up to my throat. So many thoughts and possibilities yet none of them were pleasant. I couldn’t lose another life.“I must apologize for just storming to your door unannounced. I didn’t intend on ruining your moment but when I found this note from Bach, I ran here immediately.”My cheeks flushed, “Shut up,” I muttered shyly, “You don’t need to apologize, you did the right thing. What note are you talking about?”He brought out a note from his pocket, handing it over to me.“Where did you get this?” I asked, unfolding it.“In his dorm room.” He replied.“Hello, friend. I’ll be gone for a while, not long—I hope. But I will be fine, don’t worry about me
(Leo/Damon)’s POV“First, you come to my office making demands about that frilly student and now, she comes.” I found the principal’s voice, even though level-headed to be annoying.“He’s her student.” I replied, hands in my pockets, standing beside his desk where he stared up at me.“I know her majesty has a fantasy with being the hero of every story—” My jaw ticked, “—but that’s not your thing. You’re an antagonist in every story and you’ve never bothered to be otherwise. You couldn’t—not even if you tried.”I turned my eyes to stare at him, “What causes you to be certain of your statement?”“Unlike her, our very protagonist, you are a man shrouded by your own pain that you chose selfishness, instead of selflessness; a choice she made even while stricken by familiar guilt. Your guilt drove you to oblivion, hers drove her to the sky, where the gods sleep.”My eyes focused on the door in which she had just been in and his words found a way just like an empty parasite to traverse throu
Ariana’s POVSomehow for some odd reason, I felt as though Damon been waiting for my entrance, as though he knew I’d be coming.But I couldn’t place my hands on exactly what I’d seen as it had moved away from my line of sight. I walked up to the desk, where he sat, watching me with tentative lens.“Why did you leave?” I asked.Usually, I’d push aside his several strange practices but the state I was in wouldn’t let me.“I had something to do.” He replied simply.I wanted to ask him what it was that made him leave my side especially after he was well aware about Bach but this wasn’t the time, I needed help, quickly.“Bach is missing,” I began.“I’m aware.”My teeth gritted together, “I went to his dorm and his roommate told me that Bach had been summoned by the principal in the morning, and hadn’t been seen since. I just met Principal Remus and he said he didn’t ask to see him so now, as you know he’s missing and I don’t know what to do or how to find him.”“There’s nothing you can do.
Ariana’s POV“Damon, what is wrong with you? Why does it seem like I’m speaking to a clone of yourself?”If I wasn’t mistaken there’d been the evident surprise in his eyes. But as soon as it came it was gone.“Am I not the one you want?”“Don’t be mistaken, you’re the one I want but I wouldn’t live under an illusion to satisfy myself. I crave the man you are at heart.”“You can be quite selfish, princess. What more of myself do you want to have all to yourself?”I pulled him down using his collar, ensuring that our eyes met, “I’ll take everything you are if you let me. So be warned, merchant.”He seemed a little shell shocked and remained vulnerable in our proximity, his ears red. I knew he was hiding things from me and I selfishly wanted to know everything, it didn’t matter.Then, softly, he smiled, his finger grazing my cheek.“I’ll take heed to your warning.” Now, he had taken advantage of our proximity, skillfully shifting the vulnerability to me, “Join me tomorrow.”My brow raise
Ariana’s POVI thought we had already been disqualified from the competition only to find out surprisingly that we could still participate.I thought it was weird, since there was supposed to be elimination but nothing happened.We were a total of ten couples and twenty contestants. When the game ended, he announced it was time for the next challenge and said that each contestant should move to a separate space prepared just for us.Other contestants did as followed while I stood until Damon held my hand, pulling us forward. I was hesitant and slightly tense but did nothing, surprised when we were allowed to pass.“Attention all contestants! I now welcome you all to the next game, which will be combative. It will test your coherence and your true understanding of your partner. The men will be the one who will be engaging in combat (blindfolded) while the women will be giving the directions. The last couple standing is the winner of this round. Now, everyone, get into position.”As I a
Ariana’s POV“Alright, contestants! We’re now at the final challenge. The winner of this game will be the winner of the entire challenge so make sure to do your best!”We were led to the lake side, where a ladder, made of emerald stood on a small hill.The announcer spoke again. “The male participants will carry their female partners in a bridal hold, standing on a soft ladder made of emerald. The couple who lasts the longest without falling into the water will be awarded the grand prize and winner of this tournament!”To be honest, I was wowed by how simple it looked. Even the academy students surrounding had a face filled with pleasant surprise. This was actually going to be easy.Pumped, I turned to Damon, “This is so easy. Come on,” I extended my hands out, “I’ll carry you.”He stared at me, with an amused expression before sweeping me off my feet, stepping on the ladder.“The knight is meant to carry the princess, not the other way around.”I smiled, “When did you become my knigh
Ariana’s POVAfter the first scream, more screaming followed quickly and soon students, horrified, began panicking, running about, causing dysfunction.They pushed against each other, struggling to make sense of what they’d just witnessed, their adrenaline kicking in, initiating a flight response.I stood, watching, my brain instantly thinking of how to solve this mess when my eyes caught the host, hand on his microphone, struggling to get people to listen to him. He stood at the edge of a cliff when a student accidentally pushed against his shoulder, causing him to lose his balance.Instantly, I rushed to him, grabbing his hands just in time and pulling him forward, ensuring that he was farther away from the edge.He stared at me, dumbstruck and I thought it was odd until I realized my wig had fallen off and my disguise had been revealed. But that wasn’t the important thing. I had to stop this from turning into a frightening stampede.Seeing as he was still in possession of his micro
(Leo/Damon)’s POVAs long as I managed to ensure that Ariana wasn’t the one captured I had no other concern. Still—this was nonsense.I knew Klaus liked to feed on reckless abandon but I never expected him to behave this… foolish and it enraged me but I decided not to act because I’d realized just through the air how much power he’d managed to accumulate.I realized we were still in the water but he had used his real form as a shield, hiding our presence from plain view.“Leo.” I ticked.He was behind me, lips barely away from my ears.“I see your trip to the Northern Lands was successful.”“Very.” He appeared in front of me. “While I consumed I couldn’t help but think of you and even in my narcissist, greedy, state I believed if you saw me you’d writhe in envy. And I enjoyed that thought.”“Of course you would.” I placed my hands in my pockets, “Why did you then kidnap me?”He shrugged, “I… missed you?”I couldn’t help it, I laughed, shaking my head, “Your first joke that’s actually