[Diana] “Do I look like a person who would enjoy visiting a vintage art gallery?” I asked Zephyr, entering the Xenon art gallery. “Sometimes we should trust the journey,” he said. “I am not a fan of quiet places,” I said. “Then you must be enjoying my company because I am never quiet.” “I like quiet people though,” I said and walked ahead of him. An indoor gothic water fountain welcomed us. There was a black marble statue of a beautiful mermaid, sitting on a huge rock, sensually curling her tail. Her fluttering hair covered her breasts. She was holding a book made from seashells in the middle of the fountain. Water magnificently sprayed out from the shell pages of that book. I looked around the art gallery. Its red walls were partially covered with paintings, portraits and pictures encased in intricately designed golden frames and some in glass box frames. There were statues carved in marbles, stones at intervals. The gallery was almost empty except for a few couples. I was
[Diana]He patiently listened to every confusion and senseless explanation of how I felt about not being able to feel anything. Honestly, at one point, I was just yammering words randomly. I just liked the feeling of sitting with him on the cold marble bench as the light from the bulbs replaced the natural light.I wanted to be heard even when all I said were random words thrown like a jigsaw puzzle. I wanted to talk without being judged or advised. I just wanted to speak my heart out.I found that hiraeth with Zephyr near that pond under the cherry blossoms.Zephyr wasn’t joking or trying to lighten the mood like he usually did. He was seriously listening to me as if I was reciting some classical philosophy that needed every ounce of his attention to be deciphered.He made me feel like it mattered, even the stupidest thing I said. Like I mattered.“Like you are trapped inside and there is no escape?” He asked.“Exactly. Maybe there’s something wrong with me,” I chuckled nervously.H
[Diana]‘A secret room? In luna’s chamber?’Vera nodded, sipping on the tea. I draped a shawl around her, rubbing her upper arms.‘It’s ok, calm down, first. It’s fine.’I tried to recall if there were any secret rooms in Xenon palace. I don’t think there were in the past. According to Vera’s account, Willa left father’s office at dawn. Vera, with Janus’ help, had successfully created a spare key for Willa’s room. So, when Willa entered her room, Vera was already there searching for the drug.Hearing Willa approach the room, she hid her presence and hid under her bed with the spare key. Willa unlocked the door and entered her room. She was enraged for some reason. She scattered the cosmetics on the dressing table. Threw and crashed the flower vases on the floor, grunting and roaring to vent out her rage.After tossing the room upside down, Willa broke into sobs. She cursed father and kept repeating, ‘I will kill you!’ She took out something from the drawer of the nightstand and hea
[Diana] ‘Do you think she suspects us?’ Vera asked. I nodded, ‘yes, she does. She was definitely constantly in contact with the head maid that is why she knew I was trying on the dresses for the prom.’ ‘What should we do now, princess?’ Vera asked. ‘You won’t do anything now.’ I walked to Vera and hugged her. ‘You have done more than enough for me. Now, I will handle this matter. Do not get involved from here on. It’s an order.’ Vera came out of the hug and looked at me with concerned eyes. ‘But princess, it can be dangerous. I don’t know why, but I don’t feel good about all this.’ ‘Because there is nothing good about anything that is about to happen. But one thing is confirmed, I am not going down without a fight this time. Not so easily. Stay alert, ok? And if you sense any danger, mind-link me or Janus immediately, ok?’ Vera nodded. ‘Take care, princess,’ Vera left. I flopped on the bed, licking my dry lips. What should I do? Should I speak with father? He must know abo
[Diana]“They are not sticks, princess. They are wands. So stop playing with them and return them to me, ok?” Archer said, cautiously getting closer to me.I ran round the table with his wand stand, which had over ten wands. All different from one another.“A wand? Like in magical academia?”“Of course not, princess. There’s nothing like magic in this world.” He chuckled nervously. “It’s just a collection of collectibles from my favorite magical novels. Please. Return. The. Wands. To me.”“For your novels?”As far as I know, I have never seen Willa with a novel in either of my lives. So I don’t think she has the same wand as a fan collectible.“Yes, princess. Please, keep them on the table gently. They are my most prized possessions,” Arched begged.“Fine. But you’ll have to give me one,” I said.“No, I won’t. Not to you, never,” he said.“Oh? Ok,” I pretended to toss them in the air.“NO! STOP! Stop! You want a wand. I’ll get you one. The most beautiful one, ok?” Archer chuckled.“I
[Diana]“There’s nothing left to talk about,” I said. “You have said enough and done more than enough. What more do you want? You should have mixed poison rather than the sedatives. At least I wouldn’t have to see your face after death.”I chuckled, turned, and looked into his eyes. The rage building in my stomach rose to my chest.“If you hate me so much…”“I don’t! That’s the fucking problem. I love you. I love you like a brother should love his sister. And I also love you like a brother shouldn’t love his sister. I want you like a brother would want his sister, and I also want you like a brother shouldn’t want his sister.” He stepped closer to me while I stepped back. Seeing me move back, he stopped.“I need you and that’s the problem because I can’t see you needing anyone else in your life. I am confused and I don’t see anyone but you, and I just can’t stop thinking about you. So… we need to talk, otherwise I’ll go insane.”The rage I felt in my chest was now mixed with so many s
[Diana] For a week, I had been sticking around with Willa in the palace. Reese was discharged from the hospital, so I encountered him now and then in the palace’s hallways. He bowed when he saw me, and I nodded. That was the only form of conversation we had. Willa, Reese, father and I were sitting around the dining table again. “The prom is close and so is the day Reese leaves for the championship with Janus,” Willa said. “I am leaving with them as well,” I said. “What? Honeybee, it’s too late to confirm your participation in the championship,” Willa said. “No, mother, I have already confirmed that. Father has approved already,” I said. She had a baffled look on her face. Many things had happened in her absence. “But alpha… how can she leave the pack? It’s against the pack rules for an unmarried woman to…” “I am married to my mate,” I said. Reese almost slammed the glass filled with water on the table. Father glanced at Reese and then concentrated on eating again. “When d
[Zephyr] “Where is Diana?” Janus asked. “In her room,” I said. “She rarely stays in one place nowadays.” “What brought you here?” “Alpha Urza mind-linked father. I don’t know what it is, but it was related to Willa. And whenever I think of Willa, the first person who comes to my mind is Diana. So, I just stopped by to check,” Janus said. “Why don’t you meet Diana? You can visit her, right?” “This late at night? Yeah, sure… if I have a death wish,” Janus said matter-of-factly. “She went to the hospital with Vera and then came back. She didn’t even ask me to come along. Sometimes I feel like I am trying too hard to protect her while she keeps running off on her own. Last time, I saw her with Reese in the lounge of your academy,” I sighed. “Getting tired already? Where did your would-gladly-wag-my-tail-for-her attitude go?” “You really want me to hit you, don’t you?” “You signed the contract. It’s your responsibility to protect her regardless if she wants to include you in her