3. To My Bed

AMANISA'S POV

The fun left with him.

I was enjoying this night better than I thought and better than any other night I had spent doing this job but he had to take the fun out of it when he detached his eyes from my body and walked out with the fun in his pocket.

He just broke a record.

He didn't know that but everyone in the room knew that even though they were too immersed in my body movement and dance steps to care about the man that left the room. For some weird reason, I wanted him.

Did I say I was going to have fun with some human boy? 

Well, I had taken that back because why have fun with a human boy that would become emotionally attached to me when I could do that with a man that had the same origin as me? Even though I wasn't certain about the man’s identity, I could perceive that he was either a strong werewolf or a lycan. 

I didn't care which one he was. 

All I cared about at that moment was catching up with him because he seemed to be my key to the Wereland. I still had my father’s key. The key of the Royals but if this man could leave the Wereland without having that key, then I needed him. 

I needed to get him, seduce him and have him take me to the Wereland. That was the only way I would be able to avoid the challenges that would come with using the Key of the Royals. As I performed my last routine, I considered the fact that the man that made me burn with his gaze could be a rogue just like me but either way, my goal made trying to get him worthy.

“Be mine, Royal Darkness!...” … “can I hire you for a private session?”... “be my mistress, Royal darkness.”...

The crowd cheered and said many of those statements to me. If my father was watching me, he would be disheartened but it was a good thing that he wasn't, even if he was, this was what he got for sending me off alone with his trusted man. 

What I had become was what he and my mom get for staying behind like fools when they could have escaped with me. 

I would be going back. 

But they wouldn't be there waiting for me. They wouldn't be there to welcome me, Princess Isidora Amanisa, home. For the past twelve years, I have never been happy on this day. Yes, it was my birthday. It was the day I became twenty-two years old but today was also the twelfth death anniversary of my parents. 

No one celebrated that. 

As a matter of fact, my parents and I would have been forgotten by those vile creatures that called themselves Lycans. I was one too but that part of me have been sealed away by my father before he was brutally killed by our family.

The smile on my face dropped as I failed to keep the memories bottled up. I failed miserably. 

Yet I didn't let any emotion reflect on my face as I turned away from the gaze of men that desired me… they didn't know tonight would be the last night they would see and be able to watch the royal darkness dance. 

I was done with this life.

It was time to make my way into the source of the darkness I had created within myself.

“You are leaving? Don't you want to have some fun for once-” 

“You can keep your fun and today’s pay to yourself today, Malcolm. I have a better one to catch and goodbye.” 

I murmured to the owner of Hallow fun house. I wasn't surprised he was making advances toward me because tonight wasn't his first time. He was just like every other man that I had tortured and enchanted with my body. 

“Will you ever drop your cold countenance? Have some fun, baby girl-” 

“Don't you dare touch me if you aren't ready to die untimely, Malcolm!” 

I gritted at the arrogant owner of where I had been making my daily bread. I might be an erotic dancer but none of the male employees or customers could boast of ever touching me. They had never come close and none of them would ever be able to tell that I was a virgin.

My father might be proud of that. 

And despite being the only one I said “goodbye” to, Malcolm didn't fathom the real purpose of that word. He thought it was just the regular goodbyes. Why tell him though? He should find out himself when I don't show up at work tomorrow. 

He would be devastated and his customers might kill him. His business might even go under but I didn't care as I walk out of the club through the back down with my coat on… and mask off.

“Where could he be?” 

I murmured to myself and cursed Malcolm for delaying me inside the club. He might be the reason I would miss the man that had become my key to the Wereland. Normally, I would have taken a different and secret route back home since I wasn't taking a cab but my search for the so-called key made me reveal myself to areas that could lead to being stalked by my fans- the men I had left inside the club.

Being stalked wasn't new to me and for that reason, Malcolm had been nice enough to make a secret exit for me.

“You can’t be asking me, can you?” 

Arla snorted. She didn't hide her annoyance which started with me blocking her out. Plus she had always been like this. Each time I dance on that stage, my Lycan Spirit will be mad at me for some hours but today was different. 

She did say she wouldn't forgive me this time.

“Arla. you know we might get to the Wereland faster with him and I wouldn't have to hide like a rat if he takes me. Will you-” 

“I won't help you sniff him out, Ama. You can do that yourself.” 

Arla might be sweet but she was just as stubborn as me. Since she had said she wouldn't help, I had to search for the stranger, risking being sighted by other men that would immediately recognize me.

After some minutes, I gave up after my failed attempts to sense, feel or see the man that had made my blood boil in a good way. I huffed in disappointment and started making my way to my home. Arla stirred within me but she didn't offer any words of consolation.

It was a miracle that she could stay stuck inside of me after twelve years. Lycans weren't like werewolves that could only shift during the full moon. I should have been shifting just like how I had been eating but I couldn't. 

My late father made sure of that.

“Don't blame him for what he did that night. He did it for you and me. We should be grateful.” 

Arla whispered to me.

“Happy birthday, Isidora.” 

My Lycan Spirit finally said those words I dreaded to me, making me let my guard down. At least she was talking to me again.

Birthday? 

Yes. After all, I was born on this day, twenty-two years ago but there was nothing happy about my birthday… not since I had to hear my parents scream and perceived the scent of death around them on this same day.

It has never been the same. It will never be the same again.

“You are being followed, Ama.” 

Arla called my attention to the stalker that I had failed to notice due to the thoughts of my parents and the memories of the day they died. Rather than panic, I remained calm and dipped my hand into the pocket of my coat, reaching for the pepper spray that had always been the way I take down the stalkers. 

I couldn't use violence because that might change the story and I might become a murderer if I tried to lay a hand on the breakable humans. My father might have sealed my strength but I was still stronger than humans.

“Do you think it’s one of those that we have encountered before?” 

I questioned my Lycan Spirit, hoping that she would be able to get the scent of the stalker. I didn't like the feeling that settled within me after Arla informed me of the stalker's presence. I wasn't scared but I didn't like the situation because I was close to my apartment whose location was supposed to remain a secret. 

My Lycan Spirit couldn't pick up a scent.

“Fuck! I have a lot on my plate but it wouldn't be bad if I killed a human now. I am leaving tomorrow any-” 

“What if you are unable to unlock the portal with the key.” 

Arla reminded me. I hissed.

“We wouldn't be discussing that if you had helped me find that man, Arla. He could have taken us-” 

“Watch out, Amanisa…” 

my Lycan screamed within me but it was too late. My body was pushed into a corner with a force that couldn't belong to a human. Or was I becoming weaker? Perhaps it was because I wasn't prepared for the collusion that took me off the street into a dark corner. My attacker was a male as expected.

I had to rely on my Lycan sight as I pulled out the pepper spray in my pocket. The moment my back hit the wall, I used force to kick the stalker off me. He didn't bulge at first but I headbutted him and made use of the spray without hesitation as his hands left my body. 

But that lasted for a moment. 

Before I could have a look at the stalker or catch my breath, I was pushed back against the wall. This time, the hold was even stronger and I was unable to fight it.

Who the hell was he?

“How dare you!” 

The venomous and authoritative voice shocked and shook me. I felt the vibration of his voice all over me before I sighted the agitated face of the man I had noticed in the club earlier. It was the same man that I had assumed was my Key to the Wereland. 

Only he wasn't just a key to the domain of the werewolves. He might also be my key to the Royal Hills; home of the Lycans and the rulers of werewolves because he was also a Lycan. He was just like me but he was also one of the killers of my family.

I had to swallow the darkness that threatened to resurface. I had to resist the urge to let out all the pain I had bottled up all this while and it was easier than I thought it would be because the Lycan’s touch made my toes curl. His unwanted touch melted me like jelly. 

Even his hard glare made my knee weaker. 

“Yo-you….” 

“Who are you to attack me right after you tortured me back there?” 

The fierce Lycan growled at me but rather than feel angry, I melted, even more, wanting more of his touch and more of his voice.

“Do you know that I can punish you by ending your life?” 

He added. The effect of his words dies when he mentioned ending my life. I was reminded of my identity and my parents. His choice of words jolted me back to my senses. Although I couldn't push off the Lycan, I thought this was the right time to make him my key. 

This was the right opportunity to utilize. 

The plan was to seduce him and I believed that would have gone well since he desired me but the Lycan made the process easier for me as he pressed me into the wall before pressing his lips against mine. 

That wasn't the plan but the new development could be fun and didn't I want fun? 

“Who are you to make me want you?” 

He barely took his lips off mine just to ask that question. My breath hitched in response and I pulled his face even closer, taking us further to the land of dark pleasure.

“I’m princess Isidora Amanisa.” 

I wanted to let him know so badly but at that moment, I let my needy body take the lead. Somehow, it led us to my apartment… and to my bed.