“Surprised?” Abigor’s raspy voice made her look back at him with the same dazed expression.
“I thought it’d be a small family gathering by the way you said Arrangement” she explained as he looked ahead again with a small chuckle.
“It is small alright”
“Son” a soft voice pulled both of them out of their small talk as they turned to the side to see a gorgeous women, maybe in her mid 50s, walking graciously in a body hugging red dress with an younger women beside her.
“Mother” Abigor greeted the lady stiffly while going in for a formal hug “You look even more beautiful than the last time I saw you”
“Yeah” the women beside his mother agreed while sipping on her wine “Considering all the products she puts in”
“Anna!” the mother reprimanded as Abigor looked at Aria sideways, trying to maintain his stoic face.
“Of course I’m all natural” she said while playing with the auburn strand of her shoulder length hair as her gaze roamed around her son’s body “I see, you’ve got a new tattoo”
Aria rolled her eyes and looked away. She noticed the tattoo and not a person standing next to her son? She hated being ignored, especially when she was the one who was forced to come here.
“Yes mother” Abigor agreed as he pulled the cuff of his black shirt, so that his new tattoo was fully visible.
“What does it say” the mother asked.
“Death in Latin” he answered quickly as Aria squinted her eyes to find it in the midst of obsidian inks which had covered his wrist. Just noticing that he had got a new tattoo among these many with just a passing glance, was next to impossible.
It required concentration and excellent observation. The old woman was a smart one, Aria concluded.
“Why such useless tattoo? You know I don’t like people drawing on my beautiful boy” the lady said with furrowed brows as Aria bit her lower lip to control her laughter.
“No mother, it means that he is Death. Adding tattoos to your body makes you look more intimidating, doesn’t it little brother?” the lady beside the mother said as Aria’s eyes widened and she took in her appearance one more time.
Beautiful sharp hazel eyes which matched her brother’s, dark hair , fair skin and an unearthly stunner. She was a charmer, Aria could tell, who looked no more than 25.
But Abigor was around 30 and his older sister?
“Do not mock me Anna, I already have pressing matters to handle at the moment” Abigor snarled with gritted teeth, his sister could get on his nerves without even trying.
“Aw my baby boy, wanna go talk to daddy?” she mocked further with a small pout as Abigor took a threatening step towards her, his hands tightened up in a fist while his frown deepened.
“Stop it! The both of you!” their mother shouted as both of them immediately halted “It’s my day for God’s sakes, go fight somewhere else”
Aria looked around the massive hall, completely drowning out their bickering “Is the food here yet?” she wondered.
“Oh? Look what do we have here, a female companion?” Abigor’s mother’s comment made Aria snap her head back at them, to find all three of them already looking at her.
What now?
Aria pulled out a smile “How do you do? I’m A-”
“Aria Leighton. I know” his mother completed her sentence as her brows shot up in shock. She didn’t expect the old lady to know her.
“I have always been intrigued by classical music and beautiful melodies. How can I not know young prodigies like you Ms Leighton?” she completed with a plastered smile as Anna, Abigor’s sister, looked at her up and down with narrowed eyes.
Aria laughed humorously “Please Ms..”
“Layla” his mother completed while taking a sip from her wine.
“…Layla” Aria repeated “Just Aria is fine and you flatter me, I’m barely a musician”
“That’s not true mother” Abigor interjected, as his hands slipped through her waist “She was the biggest act in this year annual ball, I wish you had visited”
Layla’s brows shot up “Is that so?” she said, quite impressed as her grayish blue eyes bore through her form. Studying her calmly, something which the Hayes also loved to do.
“Is she your new plaything?” Anna said with disgust while looking at her dark manicured nails.
Abigor’s jaw tightened as his grip on Aria became harsher. Before he could open his mouth and curse like a sailor Aria beat him to it.
“I don’t know much about your world, Anna, but surely my morals would never allow me to become a filthy plaything” Aria said all this calmly with a soft smile maintained on her face as Anna glared at her.
“Found a one just like you?” his mother commented while chuckling “I like her”
Abigor’s chest tightened up in an unknown feeling of pride as his hands caressed her waist appreciatively, he didn’t miss the small shudder in Aria’s body as an almost unnoticeable smirk passed his features.
“I did, Mother” he commented but then their conversation crashed onto Aria.
“Found a one just like you?”
“I did, Mother”
For God’s sake, she wasn’t his girlfriend!
“I-”
“Audrey isn’t going to like it” Anna interrupted Aria in a sing song manner, clearly enjoying herself as Abigor’s demeanor visibly changed.
Audrey?
“Who is that?” a high pitched voice from behind them, suddenly called out as Abigor groaned in annoyance and ran his hand through his dark hair.
“Speak of the devil”
“Who is that?” a high pitched voice from behind them suddenly called out as Abigor groaned in annoyance and ran his hand through his dark hair.
“Speak of the devil”
They all turned to look at the source of the voice to find a tall brunette with curly hair reaching till her lower waist with sharp blue eyes and pink pouty lips. She wore a beautiful satin gown which embraced all her perfect curves.
She walked elegantly while swaying her hips. Aria’s eyes roamed beside her to see a tall bulky man with scary dark hazel eyes and tanned skin, wearing a dark blue three-piece suit.
His face had a permanent scowl with a few wrinkles beside his eyes and some on his forehead. He looked almost in his mid-late 50s.
Aria gulped fearfully, unconsciously backing up against Abigor’s chest. Out of all of them, Abigor was the least scary one to her right now.
A feeling of protectiveness incited inside Abigor as her soft body crashed into his. He wrapped his arms around her waist again and placed a kiss on the top of her head.
Surprising both himself and Aria.
Aria looked up at him in a start but words couldn’t be exchanged as that high pitched voice spoke up again “Darling, who is she?” her voice laced with anger and jealousy.
Something lit up in Abigor’s eyes as his gaze snapped back at the brunette “I’m not your fucking Darling” he snarled as the man took a step towards him and put his hand on Abigor’s shoulder.
“Son” his deep voice rumbled threateningly as his eyebrows furrowed “Is that a way to talk to your betrothed?”
Aria’s heart squeezed in her chest as her mood worsened hearing that. “If he already had a fiancee, why did he drag me along?” she thought, completely annoyed.