Hope
She was staring at me with a sly look in her eyes. This library was forbidden, I knew it. And now, she would tell Darius about it and I would be stopped from coming here.
What do I do? What I do? What do I do?
“I see you’re into books.” Annalise’s eyes slowly glanced at the book in my hand. I yelped and hid it behind me with a nervous smile plastered on my lips.
“Yes,” I answered, breathlessly.
Annalise smiled, taking two slow steps closer to me. “You haven’t been hearing any kind of chiming noise inside, have you?” she asked cautiously.
I shook my head immediately. “Of course, not.” I quickly dismissed it but she looked unconvinced.
“Are you sure? It’s an old library. Such things tend to happen.” She spoke in a tone that made me know that she knew everything about me.
“I- I’m- I-”
“Shhh,” she cut me off, placing her delicate hands over my shoulder. “It’s alright. There’s no need for you to get so scared. I understand you. You’re alone in this castle, no one talks to you, there’s nothing for you to do, I know. It’s good that you come here and mingle with the likes of such a creature.” Annalise spoke in an understanding voice, and I let out a breath.
She was trying to calm me down, not condemn me. But why? Why was she being so nice to me? On a regular day, she spoke politely to me but kissed my husband, that made me unsure of her intentions. Right now, she looked sincere. I didn’t know what to think.
“I uhh… thank you. If you can keep this a secret between the both of us, I will do well to appreciate it.” I told her in a strangled voice.
Her smile broadened and she nodded her head. “Of course, anything for my queen.” She said, letting go of my shoulders, then bowed a little bit. I smiled sincerely.
“Thank you, lady. Thank you.” I almost cried due to happiness but I composed myself.
“Now, run along. I’m sure you have things to do,” her eyes bounced from my eyes to my side as she referred to the book behind me that I still hid from her.
I nodded vigorously. “Of course, we shall continue with this conversation another time.” I curtsied. I didn’t wait for a reply before I took hastened steps out of the hallway, then ran to my chambers.
*****
I never had any love for my sister, but after she died, I realized that the absence of love I had for her had turned into hate.
I slammed the diary shut after I read the first sentence of it. This was India’s diary. Was she trying to say that she hated her sister? I grew curious as I opened the binds of the book once more to pick up from where I left off.
If she hadn’t died, none of these things would’ve happened. Father and Augustus have informed me that I will be the one getting married instead of her. I blame my sister, I blame the Lycan King, I blame my parents, I blame the Vitalis name.
I never wanted to get married. Never ever. I wanted to be a soldier, a warrior. I wanted to uphold the Vitalis name and bring back glory to it but now I will be forced into a marriage I do not want and live horribly for the rest of my life.
I felt a stab in my chest as I continued to read. It was because I related to India. Not entirely, but mostly. All her life she had wanted something and because of one incident, everything she planned came crashing down.
Before I got married to Darius, all I wanted was to live a happy life. I wanted to have a flower garden at the back of my kind husband’s house. I wanted two healthy children. I wanted a life without drama. But I wouldn’t be getting any of that now.
But there might still be a chance for me. Light. Light was the only small hope I had. If she would return, then I could live the life I’ve always wanted to. I would leave this place and return to my home.
I turned my attention to the book and kept on reading.
Mother told me that the sooner I would give birth to a child, the better everything would be for me. But I hated children. I have never wanted a child. And I know that the process of giving birth to a Lycan child would change me.
I heard a knock on my door and I immediately shut the binds of the book and hid it under my bed. As I walked to open the locked door, I put more thought into what India said.
What did she mean by giving birth to a Lycan child would change her?
I swung the door open to reveal the maids who came occasionally to prepare me for dinner with King Darius and Annalise. The leader cleared her throat before she spoke up.
“The king has invited you to a dinner with the lady Annalise, the Commander, and his right hand.” She said, then pushed past me and sauntered into my room like she owned the place.
With gritted teeth, I said, “Of course.”
They washed me and prepared me for dinner. I wore a long lilac tunic with a gold chain belt. My hair was braided and adorned with pins. My beauty was enhanced with paint. Once the maids were done, they left the room without a word.
They hated me so much that holding a conversation with me was revolting to them. But no matter, I shouldn’t cloud my head with such thoughts. All I was supposed to do was get through the dinner and return to read more about India.
I left my room and trotted to the dining room where I found the others already seated and conversing. I greeted them accordingly before I took a seat on the farthest chair from King Darius who sat at the head of the table.
“Hope, you look beautiful.” Annalise said after we started to eat.
I smiled warily before I replied. “As do you, my lady.”
I was still cautious of her intentions but I would reply to her advances. She was doing me a huge favor by keeping my secret.
The commander started to hum a song right then. Annalise picked up the dead conversation. “How was your day? What did you do?” Annalise asked me.
I frowned for a second. Why was she asking me that sort of question? Didn’t she already know the answer to it? Maybe she was just doing it for formalities. She frequently asked such questions. There was nothing else to it.
“It was alright. I spent the day in my room, tending to my things. Thank you for asking.” I said politely.
Annalise pouted her lips and cocked her head to one side. “Are you sure? What about the time I saw you coming out from the library close to the basement?” she asked coyly.
The sound of four different people dropping their forks on their plate echoed in the room. I gulped my saliva.
“I didn’t-”
“My lady, are you trying to deny the fact that you frequent the library every day and hold conversations with that abominable creature?” Annalise asked me.
My lips quivered as I realized what she was doing to me. I watched as a satisfied smirk played on her lips. She was toying with me. She promised me only so she could break her promise and do this sort of thing to do. A wave of hatred for Annalise fueled my bloodstream.
“Hope, you better have a good explanation for why you visit that witch.” Darius boomed as he stood up from his seat.
“I-”
“Are you plotting with her by any chance?” Orion asked with a firm tone.
I started to shake my head but before I was able to say something, Annalise spoke up.
“Perhaps. She seemed quite suspicious when I saw her.”
“I didn’t!” I cried out, standing up to my feet.
Everyone watched me with hawkish and suspicious eyes. My entire body trembled as I stood. I turned my attention to the only person that mattered in the room. He watched with murderous eyes.
“As I said, you better have a good explanation.”