Arabella’s point of view.
(Flashback)
I had just finished telling Wymond about the maid whom I saw earlier, and how I have a feeling that she’s Ingrid, I told him about investigating about the maid but he stopped and promised to handle it himself.
Then we decided to retire to bed, but we were disturbed by a loud thud and sprang up at once, our heads snapped towards the direction the sound came from -the window.
We heard someone whimpering and sniffling, Wymond hopped off the bed and walked towards the person, I followed quietly behind him thinking it’s… I didn’t even know what I was thinking then, but whatever it was, it was scaring me.
But my mouth dropped open when we got close and I saw who it was.
“Ingrid?” I called.
She raised her head, I was taken aback by her appearance. There were long red marks on her left cheek, there were also red marks on her neck as though she tried to commit suicide by hanging herself to death and her whole face was red as tears flooded every part of her face.
Even one of her wings was broken, how the hell did she fly up here with a broken wing? Because we’re currently at the sixth floor, it’s not somewhere she can climb over.
“Who did this to you?” I asked.
“He.. he… he….”
“Hold on, hold on and take a deep breath”
I helped her sit up and rested her back against the wall, then let her take a few breaths before asking.
“He what?”
“He’s coming for you” she breathe out.
“He’s coming for me?”
“Yes” she paused and inhaled deeply. “I don’t know much of his plans, but I do know for sure that he’s gonna send someone to bring you poisoned drinks tomorrow… he wanted me to do it but I refused and that’s how I got so badly injured”
“Who’s he?” I asked.
“His name is Oak”
“Oak?”
“Yes, I barely slipped away from him and made it here alive” she said.
Wymond and I exchanged looks, I guess we’re both wondering the same thing, like, why would Ingrid who’s been against me since preschool suddenly wanna help me? Or could this be one of Oak’s plan?
Then I recalled I can actually read thoughts now. I didn’t know how to read thoughts because I haven’t done it before, so, I simply stared directly in Ingrid’s eyes, then I heard it.
*What if they don’t believe me? Am I really gonna lose my entire clan and family?*
“He’s threatening you?” I gasped out.
She nodded weakly.
“I know I’ve been very mean towards you and I know you’re not gonna believe whatever I say right now, but trust me just this one time, you’re the only one who can rescue my family and clansmen from this messy I’ve made” she said pleadingly, she sounded so helpless and desperate.
I’m feeling conflicted at the moment, I don’t know if I should believe her or not, but I can’t stand back and watch her clan getting wiped off.
I stared at Wymond.
“Baby, no, we can’t trust her” he said as though he already knew what I wanted to say.
“Wymond, just listen to me, ok?” I paused. “You can decide not to go by my suggestion, but at least hear me out”
He knitted his eyebrows, set his lips on thin lines and nodded stiffly.
“First, I wanna ask you a question, can your blood really detoxify every poison?”
He nodded.
“Then I guess I know how to end this all without bloodshed” he stared at me expectantly “just give me some of your blood, because I’ll drink the poison tomorrow and fall into Oak’s hand…”
“What?! No!” he growled.
I sighed. I’ve had enough blood and innocent people dying at the cave outside evergreen pack… I don’t want more bloods.
“Calm down” he frowned deeply. “I saw a sketch in your office few days ago, you’re forging a knife that can kill Oak in one blow, right?”
He narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded again.
“Is it completed yet?”
“Hm” he hummed.
“Good, I’ll take the knife with me and I’ll find ways to stab him in a very fatal spot that would weaken him and you can take it from there”
“No, you can’t stab him because you don’t stand a chance against him” he said.
“Of course I stand a chance, because I’ll be his bait, hence I’ll be standing the closest to him and that’s gonna be my advantage” I explained.
Wymond thought about it and nodded in agreement, but sent a harsh glare at Ingrid.
“Let me change her look to yours and make her be the bait”
“No, Oak’s not a fool and besides she can’t pull off this act like I can”
“But…”
I placed a finger on his lips.
“Let me do this, please, I wanna play the hero”
He wanted to argue more, but I pouted my lips and gave him my best puppy eyes, he clenched his jaw and turned away.
“Fine!” he finally agreed. “But don’t try anything funny until I come get you”
“Yes, sir” I nodded readily.
Then a very important thought crossed my mind.
“Wait, Oak might have spies in this palace, we must put on an act tomorrow to fool them”
“An act?”
“Yes, and I have a perfect play on my mind..” he raised his brows. “… the lovers fight!” I smirked.
He stared at me for a moment, then shook his head and sighed.
“I don’t wanna know what’s playing in that little head of yours right now, just stay safe until I come get you tomorrow”
“Yeah, just play along with me until I get kidnapped… oh, and make sure to tell Edward to lead the guards away”
“What?”
“Yeah, they can’t be there when I’m getting kidnapped” I kissed his cheek and walked towards the bed.
“Hold on, what should we do with her?” he nodded at Ingrid.
“Lock her up for now, she’ll play a very important role tomorrow” I replied, wow, I love this bossiness of mine tonight.
(End of flashback)
★★★★★
“.. and that’s how it all happened” I concluded.
“Yo-you fooled me” he grunted out.
I winked at him, then turned to Wymond, he kissed my forehead and smiled proudly at me.
“You’re such a risk taker, I’m so proud of you, baby” he gave me another kiss again.
“You.. you… you… ” Oak spluttered but couldn’t say anything.
“Oh, I have almost forgot something very important” Wymond said and unwrapped his arms from my waist.
He walked towards Oak, he dipped his hand in his pocket and pulled out a small bottle, then waved it in front of Oak’s eyes.
“You wanted to poison my queen with this, right?” he asked rhetorically, then smirked. “Well, let’s find out what this can actually do to someone”
Oak’s eyes widened in great fear, he started shaking his head resistance and tried getting away from Wymond, but unfortunately for him, his whole body was paralyzed and he can’t move an inch.
Wymond grabbed Oak’s jaw and forced his mouth open, then poured whatever that was inside the bottle in Oak’s mouth, he forced Oak to swallow it.
“We must end your life today or there won’t be any peace in the supernatural world” Wymond said and I nodded in agreement.
Oak started rolling and folding himself like an earthworm that fell into a jar of salt, soon his skin started tearing up as he was swelling and then we heard an explosion.. his stomach burst and everything splashed everywhere.
Fuçk, is this what would have happened to me?
I don’t know if it’s the thought of me being in Oak’s current state, or if it’s just me being disgusted, but I passed out.
But before passing out, I heard Wymond say..
“It’s over, let’s go make arrangements for my queen’s coronation”