Chapter 3: Old Love

Chapter 3: Old Love

Nothing in this world has ever piqued my interest to the point that I would go to extreme lengths to have it. Until I met Grimoire Azriel. I don't want to be a princess. I want neither a crown nor a castle; I only want him, but the universe doesn't even want to grant that one wish.

I was moving silently through dense, dark woods. Dry leaves and branches crunch beneath my lace up hunting boots. Midway through, the chilly air brushed off my face as I paused, only to be met by a rogue's ferocious gaze. I kept my composure as I watched it hurriedly attack me without expressing any emotion. However, I was quicker than it to disappear from my place and to switch directions faster; its eyes couldn't follow or predict where I would appear next. It's very wrong that this thing misjudged me.

I heard its annoyed growl as it tried to chase after me, but I could easily avoid it. I was like a shadow, and no one could ever touch a shadow. When I get bored playing with this stinky dog, I immediately jump higher than it as I quickly take out my sharp nails and swing my hand to attack the rogue right on its shoulder near its neck. It bled as I swung my other arm, and without difficulty, my sharp nails ran through it like a blade slicing its head off. His blood immediately splattered on the black drop seat bid I was wearing under a beige sleeveless shirt, that's why I could see his blood there, but I didn't bother to remove it because I knew it wouldn't go away.

But the sticky feeling of that dog's blood was all over my face, that's why I continued walking until I saw the house I wanted to go to. It was almost night, and I walked for several hours before reaching here. I pressed the doorbell button, and it made a disturbing sound. Soon the door opened with the sound of chimes. The freshly bathed creature who was not wearing a top surprised me, he was wiping a clean gray towel on his face and stopped when he saw me. It was wrinkled when he looked at me from head to toe.

"What happened to you?" I shrugged my shoulders and walked inside even though he hadn't said anything yet I went on. The manly scent and his wolf scent filled the house, which calmed my overwhelming feelings. I started to drop the strap of my seat bid, at the same time I heard him close the door. I took off my shirt, revealing my black lace bra. Not caring if he could see, I even glanced at him but he wasn't looking at me, he was looking somewhere as I saw how his jaw clenched.

"It was just a mere encounter with a rogue, not far from here." I admit even though I know he's not too worried and he doesn't have anything to worry about.

"That rogue was weak, though, he didn't even make me shed a single bead of sweat," he growled and glanced at me.

"Don't normalize fighting alone, not everyone is weaker than you... what if your opponent is strong?" he said that I grimaced and turned my back on him. I intended to take a shower so I went straight to his room.

"There's no one in this world who can be as powerful as me," I said full of confidence, which was meant as a joke.

I distracted myself in Azriel's bathroom here in his room. He is also used to my behavior like this whenever I'm here.

It's been almost three days since what happened in my room. We didn't see each other or he didn't come to the house for those three days until I thought of going to see him here. It was two days ago when I learned from the crow that Calum sent me with a letter tied on his feet, that my mother is finally here. To be honest, I've been feeling mixed emotions ever since I found out. That didn't go out of my mind so I also thought about coming here. I want to see what Grim was doing right now, and from what I can see it seems like they have never met before.

Even if I want to not let them meet, it's not possible. Part of the plan is for them to meet and be together and I guess that is something I have to endure.

I shut my eyes and let the cold water cascade down my bare body. But then all the sadness and apprehension I had been experiencing persisted. I shouldn't feel threatened, but throughout the years that I've hoped that Grim would change his view of me, I can't help but feel threatened. At these moments, I prefer to injure myself physically because I see my own mother as the menace that's grabbing Azriel's attention.

I was in that situation when I heard a knock from the door, I know it's Azriel, obviously. I must have taken too long in the shower.

"Finish bathing yourself, Lilianna. Let's eat." How soothing his voice is to calm my raging thoughts and untamed heart in an instant. I love him so much. I don't know how to get out of him. I don't think I would be able to love again, as strong as this love I have for him.

I finished the shower, I grabbed a towel to cover my naked body while I took another one for my hair. When I'm done, I open the door only to find Azriel, arms crossed against his chest, still topless, leaning against the wall, obviously waiting for me. I saw his eyes roam from my head to my body before he looked away, jaw clenching. We also straightened him up and even I felt a little lost in our situation. I wasn't trying to seduce him this time!

"Here, I know you never brought clothes." I looked back at him and I saw a pair of gray shirt and pants that I was sure was his. I quickly accepted that as he immediately left the room.

I hugged him in the clothes he lent me and the mood was lighter knowing I'll be wearing his clothes again, I don't care even if it's bigger than me. His scent is a mixture of an earthy and piney scent, like a forest with a dash of vanilla, just like how manly he smells. Even though he's a wolf, he doesn't give off a very specific canine odor. I am a vampire, but I do like his smell; it's kind of addicting.

I hurried to get dressed after getting tired of hugging and smelling his clothes. I was expecting his smell to hug my body, and that was fine. I don't care, and another thing is that I'm just here at his house. We didn't have anyone else with us, so no one could smell me. In fact, I'm even ready to shout to everyone that I love him and nothing can stop what I want and feel.

I found Azriel placing plates on the table, he glanced at me for a moment before returning his attention to what he was doing. I sat down and waited for him to finish, but in that state I couldn't help but think of asking him if he was going to dad's mansion to see my mom.

"Eat now, Lilianna. Stop staring." My lips protruded because of his remarks. That's my only happiness, he doesn't want to look at her anymore.

I was secretly glancing at him while silently eating. No one speaks to us. I don't know why he doesn't talk now, when he used to ask me a lot of questions every time we ate together. It's very unusual. I can even see that he's distracted, does he seem to be thinking deeply and expecting that he is thinking about my mother made me feel jealous and unmotivated. I immediately finished the food which I knew he noticed because I felt his eyes following me.

"I'm going to sleep," I said coldly and didn't wait for him to answer.

***

The next day, I woke up alone in Azriel's house. The curtain in the room where I slept was blowing because of the open window. Where did he go this time?

I clenched my fist and quickly showered and changed clothes, I used the black muscle shirt of Azriel. I had no underwear, so my chest was exposed. To hide them, I wear one of his fur coats and high-buckled boots. I also put my long white hair back before leaving the house, heading to the Crescent's town. The center of the town is a bit far from Azriel's house, but it is closer compared to the mansion. With the use of my immediate, it didn't take me long to arrive. As usual, this was more lively than the forest. Vendors are everywhere, noisy and chaotic.

I roamed my eyes around while looking at the merchandise in each shop one by one. Sometimes I pull to look, while one hand goes into the pocket of the coat I'm wearing. There are also occasional bumps on my shoulders and back, and I can't help but grit my teeth, stopping myself from hurting them and stifling my annoyed groan.

I grabbed the scorpion dagger that caught my eye. I was in their store today and it immediately caught my attention. It is a sculpted scorpion with hand-filed pincers and a tail. The tail section is ivory, separated by nickel-silver spacers. The pincers and stinger's colored titanium combines with the blade's blue hues to provide a highly cohesive appearance. This is truly a one-of-a-kind piece and has a spectacular fit and finish to match the ingenuity. I was tempted to buy it. It looks good and is good to use.

"That would be fifty coins for you, m'lady." the salesman said. Fifty. I repeated the price of it inside my mind as I lifted the dagger leveling to my face, I observed every detail of it before nodding and taking payment from him.

I was busy paying the salesman when I heard a familiar voice not far from where I was. It seemed like the noise I was hearing was the voice of a familiar person zooming in. I immediately looked at that voice direction and immediately pocketed the purchase. I can feel how my eyes turned red as I vanished when I was standing and appeared just one shop away from my target.

My eyes widened slightly as I felt like I wanted to writhe from this sensation and was unable to think of anything else, even pushing away thoughts of how to actually stop it. I couldn't name what it was, but I feel like dying right now. Is this pain? No. I've learned to suppress this shitty feeling. But the torturous feeling in my chest escalated from a faint throb to a burning and glaring sting. I felt like I wanted to clutch my chest or bury my hand in it to extract my heart and stop feeling anything.

I saw Azriel smiling so widely while talking to my mother and acting the way we planned. But the odd glint in his eyes is still discernible. I can see love, happiness, and longing—the emotions that I wanted to have from him—and he's giving them to his greatest love.

. . .