BETRAYAL.

VESPERA.

My mouth still hung open as I couldn't believe he could say such. Did he see me kill the coyote? 

I thought I could save it, not harm it. I was about to talk, when Kieran barged over to me, and grabbed me by my hair, making me let out a loud shriek.

"Arrgh". I tried reaching over to my hair to remove his hand, because he was gripping it tightly, and it felt like it was about to be torn off my scalp. 

He used his other hand, to slap mine away, harshly causing me a sting.

"You whore!" He cursed, his words sending more tears to the brim of my eyelids as he flung me away to the ground, not caring if I was bruised before charging over to me and raising his hand up, like he wanted to slap me.

I closed my eyes sharply, awaiting the impact but felt none and after a few seconds passed, flicked my eyes back open again to see Kalisto, grabbing Kieran's hands and stopping him from hitting me.

His eyes were blood shot red, as he balled his fists and without warning, used his elbow to hit Kalisto in the face, leading Kalisto to let out a painful groan, releasing him in the process and falling to his knees on the floor.

I bit back a cry as my eyes widened at what he just did to his brother but that should be the least of my worries at the moment, because he was taking slow, intimidating steps closer to me.

Out of instinct or should I say fear? I cowered backwards, continuously moving back as he stepped forward till my back hit the wall and I realized there was no escape. 

Veins were bulging out of his forehead and he looked like he just wanted to grab me by my neck and strangle me to Death.

"L-Lord K-Kieran" I tried calling, trembling and not recognizing him any more, because the Lord Kieran I knew, always curved the side of his lips into an evil grin, but right now, he looked like death, beckoning me, it was my time.

'What was I going to do?' I wondered, knowing I was so going to die for a crime I didn't commit. I didn't even get the chance to explain myself before Lord Kalisto accused me.

Lord Kalisto, right now was just on his knees to the floor, blood gushing out from his nose where Lord Kieran had hit him. 

He just knelt there, silently, shaking his head sideways like he was feeling sorry for me.

His hot breath was the next thing I felt on my face, making me flinch, fear crawling into me, before his hand reached forward and grabbed me by my neck, raising me up effortlessly like I weighed nothing, and tightening his grip on my neck, choking me.

I struggled to breathe, while also tapping his hand, trying to get him to loosen his hold, but instead he tightened it more, making me cough out.

I tried saying his name but unfortunately couldn't, for he had blocked my vocal cord. 

It felt like, life was being sneezed out of me and more tears rolled down my cheeks.

'Was this how I was going to end?'.

"Kieran, if you don't get a hold of yourself and stop now, you will kill her and I am sure you don't want that". Lord Kalisto screamed, but Lord Kieran refused to listen and kept on choking me.

Slowly, I gave up, my hands dropping from his and my eyes about to close when a tear dropped from my cheek to his hands, and I noticed, through my blurry vision, his irises softening before he suddenly released his hold on me, dropping me to the floor with a loud thud.

I breathed a sigh of relief, letting out a huge gasp before coughing my lungs out, choking in the process and holding my neck. 

"Fuck". He screamed before punching the wall with anger, making me almost jump out of my skin.

I could feel his hot gaze lingering on me, filled with furiousity, before he stormed off, leaving me all alone behind with lord Kalisto.

"You should be thanking the moon goddess for saving your ass and taming Kieran, otherwise you would be dead meat by now ". Lord Kalisto informed me but I didn't say anything but just sat still on the floor, still coughing but shivering.

'What was that side of Lord Kieran I saw today?'. I wondered. It was just like I was face to face with a monster. 

I started to hear sounds and the echoes of his footsteps, sent shivers running down my spine.

My breath getting caught in my throat as his footsteps got louder, closer. I wanted to run, to hide but my body remained stoic, unable to move. Just as he came Infront of me again, she arrived.

"Kalisto, Kieran, what ar.......?" She suddenly stopped and let out the highest, loud -pitched wail I have ever heard in my entire life, almost damaging my eardrum.

"Who hurt Eve, who could be so cruel?". She demanded as she charged over to us, stopping only when she got into the middle of the twins and was looking down at me too.

She let out a gasp, taking her hands to cover her mouth.

"Don't tell me, your breeder did this?". 

"Whoelse is here with a blood stain on them?". Kieran asked, turning to snarl at her and she reared backwards into Kalisto's embrace.

"Still doesn't mean. Could be a misunderstanding. Let's ask her". She said and turned to face me.

"What happened?". At first, I was stunned, unable to say anything because I couldn't believe she was speaking up for me.

But I was also having this sense of dread go over me.

"Will you speak?" Kieran growled at me, and panic set in, as worst cases scenario ran through my mind again. 

What if he reached out to grab my neck again, just like the other time?

"I was in the kitchen with Madam Gracia when a maid of lady Lily cam....." I began but then Lady Lily, cut me off immediately.

"Hold it right there. A maid of mine?" She repeated, scoffing in the process and I nodded.

"That's impossible girl. My maid was with me throughout today and I even just sent her on an errand so how could she have even came up to you?". Lady Lily inquired, making me gulp down the saliva gathering in my mouth, my heart racing.

What was she saying? Her maid clearly came to me.

"What did this maid say and what does she have to do with all of these?" Lord Kieran asked calmly, not looking at me though, making me take my eyes downward, my heart feeling like it was being ripped apart.

"She said you were requesting my presence at the courtyard". I replied and he arched his eyebrows at me.

"Okay. I never told her anything like that. I don't even know this maid of hers morso of sending her an errand". He pointed out and a chill went through me.

'He never told her anything like that?'. His last statement repeated in my head as I remembered madam Gracia tried warning me.

'Oh moon goddess! What was going on?'.

"Also, Lily said she sent her maid on an errand so what could this girl be talking about?". Lord Kalisto asked, tilting his head to one side while folding his arms around his chest.

"M-m-maybe a another maid of hers?" I suggested, feeling a huge lump of the back of my throat.

"I have just a maid miss. A personal one so try coming up with a better lie next time ". Kieran's eyes darkened at her words and I hurriedly spoke up.

"N-no, n-n no, I am not lying. M-Madame Gracia was there " I stuttered.

"Then she should be called and asked what all these is about ". Lady Lily commented, before ordering one of the guards nearby to go fetch Madam Gracia.

I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing I would soon be vindicated. 

A few minutes later, Madam Gracia was brought to us but I noticed something amiss, her usual cheerfulness at seeing me was gone, instead, it was filled with deep sadness towards me.

My heart started pounding so loudly, I could hear it in my ears.

"Madam Gracia, we are so sorry for summoning you so quickly. It's just that we needed your answer on something". Lord Kieran began and Madam Gracia nodded, avoiding my gaze.

"Did Lily's maid, truly come to call Vespera with news that I summoned her or so?". I expected Madam Gracia to say the truth, to vindicate me but instead,

"Ofcourse not my lord. It is known lady Lily's maid only obeys her mistress's commands and no one else".

It was just like my world shattered, turning their backs against me.

"So the breeder lied?" Kalisto enquired and I could feel the silence, how thick it was, that a knife could almost cut through.

" Yes".