Chapter 21
Ariel
My brain was taking another vacation and my body was acting on its own accord, disobeying what my mind had decided. I was supposed to dislike the monster standing in front of me but why my body was having an instant craving for him was what I didn’t understand.
“If you don’t move away, I’m going to take off your mask,” The words rushed out of my mouth and he jolted away from me while I let out a deep breath.
He plopped down lazily on his armchair while I fiddled with my fingers. “Alright, I’ve moved away so tell me why you barged into my room a few hours after you said that you told me not to come six meters close to you,”
“It’s because there’s something I want you to do for me and you have to do it,”
A deep chuckle hummed in his throat which transcended into a brief derisive laughter. “What makes you think I’m going to do your bidden, doll? The reverse is supposed to be the case, remember?”
He knew how to rile me up but I wasn’t here for his games. My best friend needed my help urgently, otherwise, I wouldn’t be here.
My fingers trailed along the band-aid that was used to cover the deep cut that hurt each time I turned. “I made a video of what you did to my neck and even explained to my father why you had to do it. Are you sure the relationship between you and my father won’t turn sour if he sees it?” I smirked.
“Witch!” He muttered through gritted teeth.
“What did you say?”
He looked away. “What do you want me to do for you?”
I wanted to infuriate him more so I sat down beside him and crossed my leg over the other.
“It’s very simple. I want you to tell my father that I want my girlfriend to come over,”
He glanced at me, his eyes blazing with disbelief as if I was out of my mind. “The one who helped you to abscond?” He asked rhetorically and shook his head. “There’s no way I’d do that. I’ve not even forgiven her for the betrayal,”
I clicked my tongue and shrugged. “It’s not in your place to forgive her because her loyalty lies with me,” My temper was beginning to rise and it wasn’t good since I was here for a negotiation. “If her damned father hadn’t killed Raphael, she wouldn’t be depressed,” I lowered my voice.
“Still, I don’t trust her with you. She’s a bad influence and I don’t want you to be around such people,”
“You don’t tell me who to be with, Dmitri. She’s a friend who would sacrifice her life for me and now that she needs my help, I’m not going to allow you to get in the way. I’m sick of you being bossy when you don’t even care about my existence. This big house is like a shit hole that I feel caged in and I’m barely surviving. You go out there every day and live your life as you want then keep me locked in here with a pissy watching my every move, if you were in my shoes, how would you feel?” I yelled, panting heavily.
“You’re asking the wrong person because I’d never have to live your kind of life, Ariel. Your parents should have prepared you for this kind of world that you were about to enter before dropping the news on marriage on you…”
“Exactly!” I clapped and jumped to my feet. “But they didn’t do that because they thought I was a robot without emotions. I’m not you, Dmitri. I have a heart and I feel the pains of others which makes me ten times better than you. You all go about murdering people, even innocent ones because you think you have some power over their lives, but that is very wrong,”
He stood up as well and lowered his head so that our eyes could meet. “You should know by now that in our world, there’s no wrong or right, just power,”
His obstinate position was frustrating and my lips trembled in anger. I couldn’t let him see that he was getting to me so I forced out a smile.
I huffed my shoulders and strode to the door. “Alright then. I’ll just show him the video since you aren’t going to help me,” I said in a flippant tone.
My fingers had barely twisted the door knob when his strong arm circled my waist, twirled me around, pulling me close to him until there was no gap between us.
I felt a pleasant twist in my gut and an unexpected warmth which made me wonder if he felt the same. Worst still, his arms felt safe like it was the right place to be.
Our eyes were locked as time passed between us. No words were said and I liked it that way because there was nothing to be said.
However, my senses returned and so did reality. Spontaneously, he retracted his hand and let it drop to his side while I took a step back.
Tension reigned in the air and we remained awkwardly silent so I cleared my throat, ignoring the upbeat rhythm of my heart.
“Did you change your mind?” My voice came out hoarse.
“I’ll think about it,” He replied curtly and my chest tightened in disappointment.
He didn’t feel the same way.
What was I thinking? Why was I expecting that he’d suddenly take off his mask and kiss me? I shouldn’t even want him to kiss me.
“Arghh!” I screamed and punched my head incessantly.
My eyes caught his gaze and he stared at me like I’d lost my mind. I had to talk to someone about these stupid feelings and expectations I was having that was why I wanted Guilia to come over.
I missed emptying myself before her.
“You have no time to think about it, Dmitri. I want her here tomorrow so you have just this night to convince my father to allow her to come over. I’ll be waiting for your response,” I concluded and dashed out of his room with my tail between my legs.