The Animal I am

CHAPTER TEN

DIANA'S POV

My nose picked up an oddly pleasant yet thick scent and a rush of air gushed into my throat making me almost choke on it if not that I quickly opened my mouth and let it out. 

I jerked off for a while before my eyes slowly opened on their own. I noticed I was the only one in the room and I crawled on all four, my nose leading me to the scent I perceived. 

"There it is," I whispered with so much delight as I rushed towards a bowl filled with a red thick drink just beside the bathtub

It was only after I gulped down the whole thing that I noticed my fingers had turned into long, sharp claws and my teeth, into fangs and when I saw my reflection In the water inside the bathtub, my eyes were no longer an ocean blue again but light honey.

"Help…" I screamed at the top of my voice before I noticed Louis standing by the door. 

"L...Louis, W-what's...h-happening to me? What have you done to me?" I asked with trembling lips.

Louis walked closer and bent down to my height, "You just transformed into the animal you are." He whispered and a rush of fear washed over me. 

I began to feel dizzy and I tried to stand up but I was losing my balance so Louis carried me and took me to his bedroom and laid me to rest on his bed while seating beside me.

"What the hell I'm I?" I whimpered as my mouth went dry like a talcum powder.

"I'm sure you're are not dumb to that extent. I just wonder how your dad managed to hide this." He reprimanded before standing up and walking towards his drawer. He was no longer on a towel now. He was on his black blue denim suit which was his work outfit. 

He opened the lower part of his wardrobe and brought out a pair of white sneakers which was also part of his uniform and then he bent down to put them on and tie the straps. 

"Leave my room as soon as you have transformed..." His voice trailed off when his phone buzzed in his pocket and he ignored me to check his message. 

I was still checking out my new self which has already started withering away when I heard a slight gasp from him and I noticed he stared into his phone with wide eyes. 

"What's wrong?" I asked as I noticed the nervousness in him and he seem to be suddenly reminded that I was still here. 

"You heard me. Leave as soon as you're ok." He reminded me before stomping out of the room in a hurry while dialing a number on his phone.

As soon as he left, I noticed fingers returned and the fangs also disappeared and even though I couldn't see my eyes, I felt they were normal now, and overwhelmed by my discovery, I stood up from his bed and hurried out of his room.

"Why I'm I like this?" I wondered as I continued to check myself out on my way back to my room.

I know for sure that my Dad whom I look nothing like is human but I've never met my mom because she died during my birth and my dad has never for once showed me her pictures. 

I dropped my head down and dragged my feet on the ground on my way home when I felt something wet on my lips. I casually used my tongue to wipe it out and it felt unexplainably good to me and just then my mind went to the thick red fluid I drank back at Louis's house. 

"B-blood?" I gasped as I raised my head up and I saw the daredevil staring back at me. 

"Where are you coming from, Princess?" Samantha inquired, fidgeting her long blonde hair with a mischievous grin on her lips. 

I wouldn't want her to know where I'm coming from but what I wouldn't want her to know more about is the animal I am, so I quickly wiped my lips with my tongue again to be sure nothing was there anymore.  

Because of my overly fair skin, Samantha has always been of the idea that I wasn't human and today, I finally confirmed it. 

"I-I...uhmm...why should I tell you about my movement?" I inquired, raising my chin to show how unscathed I was. 

"You don't need to tell me because I already know the answer and I believe The King would be glad to know the answer." She snarled as she walked past me, her direction was towards the palace and this scared me even more. 

What does she know? And just how much does she know? 

"Where do you think I am coming from?" I asked, hoping she'd get it wrong but then, she pointed towards Louis who was returning to his apartment in a hurry

"That mam will be dead by the end of today." She announced and I almost lost my balance if not that she quickly grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to herself, her cheeks smooching mine. 

"I knew you were dumb but I never imagined you'd be so loose. How many times has he fucked you now? Two times? Three times?" She whispered, her words causing an electric shock all over my intestine and causing me to stand still even when she had let go of me. 

"You know how much my father begged before the King finally allowed you to go to school? You're never going to see the walls of the classroom now. You will receive lectures from your room now because you're going to be on a house arrest till God knows when." She chuckled devilishly as she jumped excitedly to Dad's chambers.

Samantha was Aiden's elder sister but somehow, their attitude was nothing alike. Samantha has always hated me since we were kids and she never misses an opportunity to show me just how much she hates me and the worst part is that I just couldn't tell why.  

I fell on my knees right at the spot where she had left me, forcing her to stop walking briefly, "Please, Samantha! You can't do this." I pleaded, rubbing my palms against each other rigorously.

The maids and guards began to whisper and soon Stella joined me. She tried to make me stand up but as I didn't yield, she joined me on the ground.

"I already did, Diana. The moment you waged your little place romance in front of me, I made that decision so don't bother to beg because it will all fall on deaf ears." She reassured before continuing to walk towards the palace. 

I couldn't just let her talk without putting up a good fight because Louis' life was on the line now so I stood up and ran towards her pulling her back but she pushed me away and I almost landed on the ground if not for Stella who caught me and prevented me from falling. 

"My lady! You're being too harsh on the Prin…" Samatha didn't let Stella finish her statement before she sent a slap through her cheek. 

"Samantha!" I gasped but she scowled at me and bounced towards Dad's Chamber once again. 

I looked pitifully at Stella whose hand was still on her right cheek and I tried to soothe her. 

"I'm so sorry about this Stella. I…"

"Stop her at all cost. You can't go back to being confined within your chambers again." She advised and immediately, I ran after Samantha who was now in Dad's chamber and on her way to his room. 

"Samantha, please. You can't do this. If Dad kills him, his blood would be on your hands. I'm sure you wouldn't want that." I breathed heavily as I was running out of air from running all the way there. 

I thought I finally got her now as she stopped walking and her shoulder slumped with her face buried in her hands until her next statement hit my ears. 

"Is there a legal way I could get your blood in my hands as well?" She asked with so much curiosity. 

I felt my heart sink into my stomach and a hot tear flew down my cheek. 

Ever since we were small, she stopped at nothing to embarrass and insult me anywhere and anytime. Even though my rank was higher than hers at the palace since I was the only one recognized as the Crown Princess and future queen, I've always tried to be nice and respectful to her since she was older than me and because she was family but she has never for once considered me as family. She's always considered me a rival whom she has to defeat in everything.

"What have I done so wrong, Sam? Back at school, Elena Alexander hated me because I was too dumb to be royal and I'm not on good terms with my classmates because I always go around with bouncers. These people had a reason for hating me but what have I done wrong to you? Why do you hate me so much?" I asked, wiping out my tears with my palms. 

She walked back to where I was standing and then she brought her lips closer to my ears,

"Because you are YOU, Diana! Ever since the king gave birth to you, my rights and privileges in this palace decreased. I am now being regarded as 'My Lady' while a dumbass like you as the Princess. This is definitely more than enough reason to wish you death." She whispered and more tears flew through my eyes uncontrollably. 

"What's going on here?" Dad's voice echoed in my ears and Samantha quickly stood erect and looked father's way. 

"Your Highness. I was on my way to your room!" She declared and Dad's eyes widened to the seriousness in her voice. 

"My room? When seems like you both have something to settle. Let's go inside." He instructed considering the seriousness of the matter. 

Dad has always tried to make peace between us and he must have assumed today would be that day.

Even though I didn't want to, I dragged my feet on the ground until we finally got into his room. 

Dad offered us a seat before urging Samantha to talk. 

"Samantha, please! I begged for the last time even though I know it will fall on deaf ears and this heightened Dad's curiosity. 

"WHAT IS GOING ON?" He asked anxiously and I felt my world crumbling before my eyes because they were no going back now. 

LOUIS, PLEASE BE SAFE.