I was left having mixed feelings about the future. There was this haze in my brain along with a muddled mask of extreme skepticism. Cyrus had justified his statement, saying what I was feeling was just the fear of being around a being that I wasn't used to, then he proceeded to offer me a piggy back ride down the hill, which I respectfully declined.
But then there was that feeling that made my head spin, a puzzlement that my conscious brain couldn't comprehend. Up until today, my life didn't feel as if it was being controlled by last minute words and reasoning, moreover, I didn't know whose word I should listen to, the witch's prediction or Cyrus's reassurance?
I needed to gain a greater perspective, to take a step back and see the wider version. It was obvious there was a lot more to see but little time to wonder about the things I couldn't figure out, and that made me fretful.
The unstoppable marching of time was galloping towards me with a dramatically solemn countenance yet I knew by the time it closed in on me, I'd still be clueless like a lamb to a slaughter.
As I was walking to find Ares in the lobby of the same baronial building I saw him in the other day, I couldn't help but notice how dead empty the place was. There wasn't any miserable looking or eager stated slaves in sight, I had to ask myself if Cyrus brought me to the right place.
Immediately ahead of me was a biruficated stair leading up to another floor and I knew without a doubt if I was going to find Ares I would have to ascend those stairs, even so, the inert thrill in my veins suddenly worked itself up in a frenzy and repeated itself to the point where it felt as if I was struggling to breathe.
I felt a tap on my shoulder but I knew all too well it was just my anxiety acting up now that I knew I was in the same building with him, alone.
What would he say when I finally told him about my secret meeting with the witch?
Would he throw a fit at my disobedience? I had no idea but one thing was for certain, I was about to find out.
I was about to walk off when hands of an unknown persona suddenly gripped my shoulder and proceeded to spin me in their direction.
"Skyler what are you still doing here?" Millena questioned with a tone that was overly alert. I paused, blinking away the tension and fright that temporarily suspended my response.
How did I not hear her walk in or walk up behind me?
"Millena-"I said breathily as if I had just ran a marathon. "Wh- why are we the only ones here?" I asked looking behind her to see if anybody else was coming after her, but I looked in vain because no one else was in sight and neither did it seemed that she came from the entrance which left me to believe she was already in the building.
"Oh Sky- sometimes I'm convinced you're living under a rock" she confessed with a half-smile and I furrowed my eyebrows. "Today is a dead day. Everyone one except for the werewolves were ordered to stay inside"
My mouth formed an 'O' with a depth of understanding before I said.
"I wasn't aware"
It wouldn't take a genius to know that this decision was made so that slaves wouldn't have to interact with the vampires in any way whatsoever, and something told me that if that were to happen, then things would get rather chaotic.
"Yeah, so where were you headed? I couldn't help but notice you standing here as if you yourself were indecisive?
For some reason, whenever I was around Millena I always found myself in a position where I'd have to choose between lying and being tempted to say the truth. And I wasn't content with always lying.
"I was actually summoned here by Are-the alpha..." I said guardedly and my pulse dropped when I realized that her expression was falling into one of concern.
"...because I am to deliver a message to him" I quickly added. I knew these moments all too well, first comes the look of concern, then the assumptions that would finally land on that of judgement. And despite the fact that I didn't perceive Millena as a judgemental person, I wasn't going to take any chances.
"Well don't be long, he's supposed to converge with the vampires in a matter of minutes and things could get a bit uncomfortable if you end up staying here until they arrive"
"Trust me, I didn't intend on staying here for too long" I stated with a knowing smile but something told me I was going to stay here longer than I had calculated.
"Great..." she trailed off giving me an approving smile. "I guess I will leave now" she said and I nodded and watched as she left through the entrance I came.
And when she was finally out of my field of vision, the question of why she herself was here when everyone else was inside suddenly popped into my head and I made a mental note of asking her whenever I saw her again.
My legs seemed to have a mind and instincts of their own, since I was aimlessly walking down a tall corridor with glided cornices and marble statues. The walk felt endless with alternating doors and if I hadn't seen the corridor curved to the right ahead of me, I probably would have given up and turned back.
However, as I continued treading along, there was a lone mahogany door ahead that stared back at me, but definitely not in a way these dead statues had been devouring me with their eyes, rather, I felt a sort of energy that was consuming me the closer I got until I finally stood before it.
I slowly reached for the handle, but was disappointed to see that it was locked so I turned to walk away but in warp speed the door swung open and I was grabbed around the wrist and pulled into the room.
On impulse, I closed my eyes at the unexpected switch in equilibrium, all the same, when I reopened my lids, I had to brace myself for enchanting eyes of hellfire. He appeared in front of me like a silent breeze with my back pressed up against the door, his gaze silent and steady.
His warm breath was fanning the top of my head and I stiffened when I felt one of his arm that was laying loosely around my waist momentarily tightened. We were so close, I could literally feel the different textures of his sturdy body.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice so low it sunk into the Persian rug that carpeted the floor beneath us while surprise flickered its way across my chest.
I never thought I'd live to see this day!
The questioned had stunned me that my mouth just couldn't cooperate. It was like for the first time a timely rain was seeping into my dry heart and I just had to savor in this moment.
Was there some different kind of gas in the atmosphere? Because this question was so unlike Ares.
"I- I'm alright" I tried to steady my tone, yet the words clumsily slipped from my lips in the heat of the moment.
My eyes traveled to every angle of his impeccable face, watching how his pupil dilated as the nearness and heat fed into an undeniable force of attraction that went beyond just physical allurement but was of a rather soul calling nature.
My mind was walking on a tight rope in believing if this form of flattery was all an act or if it was sincere and I was fighting an internal battle with myself to not seem gullible and succumb to the latter.
He stood towering over me with his formidable height looking at me for a few seconds longer than usual but it was a look that I just couldn't decipher.
"Good" He finished off abruptly then walking away stiffly to sit behind his ornate mahogany desk, leaving the distance that was previously between us sizzling with longing.
Why does he always do that!
My heart was fuming with irritation. I didn't know what he hoped to achieve leading me on then brushing me off like that. I should have guessed this would have been the outcome yet I still got caught in his web, but I couldn't dwell on that right now, as there were bigger fish to fry.
Such as telling him about the witch.
"Ares" I called softly. He sat in a kind of bleak isolation, going off on a mountain of paperwork that sat on his desk before pausing momentarily and capturing me in his dark gaze once more.
"I have something to tell you..." I stopped as I was beginning to feel myself get cold feet all of a sudden, but I wasn't going to let this opportunity pass, who knows if I would be this lucky next time around.
"So the other day-
"Come closer, I can't hear you if you are standing so far away" he commanded and like a puppet pulled by its threads, I did as I was told. And now that I was further in the room, a sense of familiarity swarmed me.
I was in his office. It was the place the doctor took me to the first time I came here.
It was a mahogany paneled room with a dark wood bookshelf to my left filled with what looked to be original but rare books. An inglenook fireplace that looked as if has never been used considering that his office was cold, very cold.
There were many other things that I just mused over, but, in short, Ares' office was aesthetically pleasing, tastefully decorated, scrupulously clean and intentionally masculine.
I nervously twiddled my fingers while standing two steps away from his desk. I hadn't mentally prepare myself for this. He was behaving oddly strange, totally unlike his usual frank approach and for me that was a green light, one that I could ride on.
For a moment I stayed silent, and slowly as if I had assumed a burden I was to weary to bear, I resumed blurting out-
"I think those vampires are after me!"
"The other day-
"Stop" he cut in, preventing me from saying anything further. His features suddenly clouded and transitioned into a colder demeanor that bordered disappointment.
"Skyler" he sighed, running a hand through his silky black hair. "Do you realize how monumentally delusional you sounded just now?" he asked and I took a wobbly step back as I felt something inside of me shatter.
"But you didn't even let me finish what I-
I didn't get to finish what I had to say once more because he cut me off for a second time in less than five minutes.
"And what if I did let you finish? Would you provide me with some form of evidence to substantiate this accusation?" he stated, hitting the nail on the head.
I really hadn't thought this through and from my downcast eyes and lack of response I knew he had concluded this was an ill-conceived plan. And now I was regretting not staying to hear all of what the witch had told me without having to figure things out all on my own.
God why did I have to be so impulsive at times?
But I knew that if I relayed what she had told me he would be all ears, but he was just not giving me the chance.
"Ares just listen to me, I went-
"Enough Skyler!" He ordered, standing up from his seat. I could tell he was irritated and barely containing his anger from his clenched jaw and focused gazed almost as if he was dealing with a child throwing a tantrum.
"I don't know where you got that ridiculous abomination of an idea from, but this is not the time nor place"
Suddenly I didn't want to be in his presence anymore. I felt overwhelmingly helpless and defensive. So what if I didn't have any evidence, wasn't he the same one who insisted I told him any encounters I had with witch.
And as much as I hated to admit it, I didn't think the witch would lie to me about something so serious.
I mean, she wouldn't right?
And it would be quite stupid of me to ignore all the correlations.
I didn't understand how he could act so approachable towards me at times then hostile the next, he just kept reminding why I kept my encounter with Anna a secret in the first place. I was tired of living by what I was defined as, tired of being dismissed by him like some irrelevance and finally, tired of how when I tried my hardest to loathe him, my heart just would not comply.
"You are the most despicable, self-absorbed man I have ever met" I stated in a soft but steely tone and through slightly distended nostrils.
There was a burning sensation at the back of my eyes and the longer I stood there the more it grew like a malignant tumor, and what made me even more pissed, was him nonchalantly standing there with his hands folded absorbing all my wrath.
God! I have never wanted to punch someone so hard in my entire lifetime.
We stood in an absurd silence with me waiting for him to finally lash out at me but instead his face was smoothed out losing their cold and oppressive feeling, however, the serious expression that he wore never lost its arrogance.
"Didn't you hear what I said? I asked petulantly, adding a scoff to show my disbelief.
"Oh I heard you clear as day, I was just waiting on you to reflect and rectify on that very descriptive, over- elaborate claim, and..." he began to stalk towards me with an air of dangerous sophistication coupled with the intensity of storm clouds.
"you didn't"
"I swear to God Ares if you as much as touch me-" I started as panicked thoughts rushed through my head and my outstretched arm that I was using to put distance between us was suddenly snatched and I went colliding in his body.
Tiny electric butterflies fluttered against my skin at the contact, followed by a strange hunger which exploded within me. And I would have really savored in this moment if I wasn't upset with him.
I tried squirming out of his iron grip yet I was being pulled more and more into his body as if he were quicksand- until I just couldn't move.
"Do not test me Skyler- I will bend you over this table and explain just how despicable and self-absorbed of a man I am. And believe me when I say this, I won't be using my words"
His words struck deep, deeper than I had imagined. There was no doubt in my brain that he would do what he said and I was curious to find out. I glanced up at him slightly shocked filled and avid, while my eyes traveled from the tips of his brows to his eyes that were drawn with an irresistible enticement and allure far outreached.
"I do not care what you will do to me Ares" I replied morosely. "I just want you to listen to me-please" I continued, while my voice broke in desperation. I didn't know what had gotten into me, not to mention the feeling of urgency that was burning through my veins.
My head was leaning against his firm chest, and it was in that moment I realized how unintentionally intimate we were.
Oh how I wished I could I could stay like this forever.
I didn't know how far the depth of my feelings ran for this man, but one minute I want to slap him, and in the next, well, I wanted to melt in his arms.
One of his arms went loose, and for a second I thought he was going to push me away, however, I was surprised when his warm hand without calluses, palmed and slid down my face in a gentle caress, then finally cupping my chin.
"You should know by now that I won't hesitate to send any subnormal underling plummeting to a miserable death, if they as much as look at you too hard" The venom in his voice could not be missed however it produced a sure of euphoria that ran through me as I sagged against him.
And that was all I wanted to hear.
His reassuring words had engulfed my heart and the nearness and heat of his body had caused my body to warm from inside out, yet I couldn't help but to become wary when he succinctly tilted my head to the side to pause and stare at my neck with a dark and vacant look.
They seemed to glisten momentarily as if the mere sight of my neck had ignited a sort of fire within his soul and it was hard to tell where his mind had gone. I shifted a bit away from him as I was beginning to feel something terribly off about him, and that was enough for him to snap out of whatever trance like state he was in.
He looked away, taking a long cleansing breath then saying.
"With that said, it is not my intention to dwell on these deliberate 'attention seeking' episodes of yours"
I gaped at him as I was evicted from whatever deep-sated realm I was in and relocated right into the land of astonished. He had pushed almost all my vital signs in the red zone and this was the last straw.
I pushed at his chest hoping that I would push him away from me however he was as sturdy as a metal rod and I was the one who was pushed away.
"You know what, I am done with you Ares" I started angrily. "You talk the talk of a valiant protector but when push comes to shove I'm one my own...always on my own. And if you continue to treat me this way, then you might as well just send me off to the Werewolf Court"
His eyes instantly burned with a furious fire and his expression became sharp and deadly at the mention of the werewolf court.
"Then you have chosen to suffer" He cut in, while his voice changed from sounding bitter to taunting in spite of one word. I couldn't tell if what he said was the truth, but it had taken me by surprised, that for a second I was speechless.
"I told you already Skyler, not because the waters look shallow, means that you should even think of jumping in and things won't be I your favor if you utter that statement out of your mouth again. You belong to me and only me"
"And that is what I can't understand about you Ares, one minute you want me to yourself and in the next you don't even want me near you, sorry but you can't have both"
Before he could even say anything else, I turned my back and began for the door. I couldn't say I was content with all that I had said, but there was so much I could handle. This constant back and forth was getting to me and it was getting me nowhere.
I could hear his heavy footsteps following behind me but I was quick to open the door, however my quick reflexes prevented me from going through as I would have collided into him. Slow erections of hair rose as if magnet was passed over my neck as my eyes made four with his.
Those eyes...
The ones that reflected the heart they once had and could never again possess. Ares came up and placed an iron grip on my waist that instantly calmed me, but the feeling of death that he emanated made me feel nauseous.
I glanced up at Ares and I had to momentarily remind myself that Aleister was the one I should feel afraid of and not him, but he looked so menacing and the dark force that he radiated could not be deflected.
"I hope I didn't interrupt anything..." he smiled, looking straight at me.