Without opening my eyes, I already knew they were puffy from crying last night. I squinted my eyes open to see that I was still hugged up to Zeus. His head was leaning on top of mine while his chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm.
I didn't move, I just laid there, not wanting to leave the warmth of the bed...or maybe I just didn't want to leave Zeus's side.
I felt him move under me as he began to wake up. His eyes opened and blinked a couple of times before focusing on his surroundings. I've never seen him look so relaxed before. He didn't look hard or emotionless. As weird as it sounds...he just looked like a regular guy waking up, a regular guy with god like features, but still... I liked it.
He looks down at me, I felt his fingers run through my hair as he asked, "You okay?" I felt my heart sky rocket when I heard his voice. Oh no...he's got that sexy, raspy, 'I just got up' voice.
He runs his own fingers through his own hair and my heart only kept racing as I looked upon his beautiful and sexy bed hair where it's so messy and unorganised...and freaking perfect. It was so different to the picture in the locket I still had around my neck. He was so stiff and serious in that photo, but seeing him here, he looked so different!
Memories of Leah, invaded my mind. I shook my head, "No, I'm not okay."
He turns over so than he was fully facing me, "It's okay to not be okay."
I looked down between us and I saw our hands interlaced, "I just feel so responsible."
Zeus sighs, "If you're responsible, then I am as well. Nikolai is doing this to you because he knows that you're my-" He suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
I raised my gaze, "I'm your what?"
He looked at me intensely with his glowing green eyes. His eyes left mine and was instead set upon our connected hands. He ran his thumb over my hand and said quietly, "Because he knows that you're my weakness."
I gulped, not knowing how to process such a thing, I rolled my eyes, "You mean because I'm your curse-"
He interrupted me firmly, "No. It has nothing to do with the fact that you can break my curse...you're so much more than that to me."
"I am?"
He stared at me like I was stupid. He shook his head and snickered while exhaling a small breath, "Yes, Lily, you are. I know that I'm an asshole but-"
"You are," I agreed.
I smirked when he gave me a pointed look before continuing, "I know I'm an asshole but with you just being who you are...you've somehow broken down my guard...and I didn't even know it."
I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how I was supposed to react. I've never been in such a situation where Zeus looked kinda vulnerable...willingly.
But I was scared. Was he tricking me? I could never know with Zeus, he was hot and cold all the time I couldn't keep.
I sat up and stood from the bed. Zeus straight away follows my action. I shook my head, "I can't do this."
Zeus stands from the bed without breaking eye contact. I took a step back and said, "I don't know if this is your plan or not. But I'm not going to fall for it. I'm not going to be fooled that easily."
I watched closely to Zeus as he slowly made his way around the bed, "You've tried to beat me down. You've reduced my value to nothing. I'm not anything significant to you. YOU are the one that made that clear to ME."
Zeus continued to take steps toward and with each step it became harder to breath, "I'm not going to be fooled, Zeus. This is all a part of your plan, I get it, okay? Just please stop playing with my emotions. I get confused."
"I did have a plan," Zeus said, "But it was already doomed to fail as soon as my eye laid on you. I didn't want to admit it, but it was,"
My breath comes out shallow as Zeus stops right in front of me. He looks down from his hulking height. He brings his hand up and cups my cheek, stroking with his thumb, he mumbles under his breath, "I should've known."
I ran my hands up his chest and whispered, "Known what?"
He pulls me close to him until there was no space between us as all. He cups the back of my neck firmly and said as he stared at my lips, "That you are my undoing."
Zeus's lips touches mine in such a gentle and savouring action. I automatically wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. Our lips move in sync as if they were made for this very purpose. I've never felt so much emotion held in one simple action. I felt completely alive with him. I couldn't get enough.
There was a small opening of clarity as we were both lost in this sexual haze. What are you doing, LILY! I guess there was definitely some sexual tension between us for a while. I think we both just kinda let loose now that we had the chance.
A knock sounded at the door, Zeus growls in anger and separates our lips. He rests his forehead against my own.
"Who is it?" Zeus shouts.
"Zeus, we need you to look at something." Sozin said from the other side of the door.
Zeus groans in annoyance. He stands back and he stares at me, taking in every detail of my face. It felt like he was standing there for hours, staring when he finally looked away.
"I'll be there soon." He shouts without breaking our eye contact, "I'm gonna go have a cold shower now." My eyes automatically zoomed at his crotch and they were in shock as I saw a very big reaction from him. Holy Mother of Pearl!
He turns around and casually strides to the shower without saying a word. As soon as he shut the door. I had my own silent freak out. I sank to the ground in shock. I couldn't believe what just happened. Zeus kissed me. What does this mean for us? Does it mean as much to him as it does for me?
My head was on a high from feeling his lips against mine. It felt primal and instinctual. It felt so dominating...is it bad that I kinda liked it? But then thoughts invaded my mind, thoughts of what this all means. I didn't know where this left us. I was more confused as ever, but then I'm not at the same time. I don't know how that is possible but it is. I sighed and closed my eyes. I just hope that everything that was said was real and that I'm not the fool of the story.
I shook my head, I can't of that right now. Right now, I just need to get through this day without breaking down. Leah entered my mind and I felt all ounce of happiness leave me as I was only reminded of the predicament I found myself in.
A knock sounded at the door. I got off the bed and walked casually to the door and opened it, but no one was there. However, a reeking stench had immediately slammed into my senses. My face scrunches in disgust as I looked down at the source of smell. I felt myself become pale.
There was a giant bouquet of white lilys...drenched in blood. I took a step forward to quickly look down the hallway. I gasped in fright as I saw one of guards lying on the floor dead. His head was half severed off, blood was leaking out over the hall floor. I looked closer and gasped when I saw it was Jeremiah. NO no no no no no!
"Zeus!" I shouted out.
I heard the door to the bathroom burst open, "Lily?!" Zeus shouts I hear him running out of the room and he almost crashes into me, but stopped in time. I couldn't move, I couldn't stop looking at his face. He was dead because of me. Because I couldn't handle being a vampire. I should've just transitioned! Then all of these good people would still be alive!
Zeus looks down at the body then back up at me. He was shirtless, but wore some loose pants. He cups my face, "Don't look at him, Lil."
But it was like my eyes were a magnet to the dead body. Because I was the cause. Zeus forces my gaze to look up at him, "Don't look, Lily. You'll only fee worse."
I just silently nodded my head. Zeus steps back around the body and growls, "Fuck!" I heard Zeus shout in anger. He grabs the bloody flowers and throws them away, the blood whipping off and splattering on the walls. Red. So red.
"Stop." I said quietly.
Zeus couldn't hear me. He was pacing and swearing as he was picking up the flowers and ripping them to pieces. His hands getting stained with Jeremiah's blood. Innocent blood.
"Stop it!" I yell.
Zeus snaps out of his haze and looks at me. He looks at my face and his own angry expression falls. He comes to me, but I took a step back, not being able to stop staring at his red hands.
Zeus looks down at himself and sighs, "Go back to the room, Lily. I'll get people to come and clean this up as well as myself."
"Jeremiah is not just something to clean up, Zeus! He was a good person!" I shouted.
Zeus raises his hands in surrender and spoke softly, "You're right. He was a good person. He was a good person. He was a good mate and father,-" But Zeus stops himself when he released unknown information.
I physically winced. He had a family. And now he's dead. His child will grow up without a father and his mate could kill herself.
I cupped my hand over my mouth and said, "I think I'm gonna be sick."
I sprinted to the bathroom and released all of the content in my stomach. I felt weak, weak with guilt and responsibility. I took a deep breath to try and calm my heart. I couldn't believe that this was happening.
Zeus comes into the bathroom. He steps forward, attempting to help me but I held my hand up to stop him, "Just leave me, please. I need to be alone. I need to think."
Zeus stood there with worry in his eyes. He nods his head and said, "I'll check up on you later. If you need anything, I'll be in my office." I heard him leave.
I shook my head. I've never experienced such gore in my life. Seeing a man's head nearly cut off. It was horrific. The image was stained in my memory. Nikolai knew that I would feel responsible for all of their deaths. He's trying to make me crack. Trying to make me weak. He knows I am naive and innocent because of lack of sight through my years. I looked up at the sky and saw the moon. It was shining bright.
She was on my side. The moon goddess was helping me. I growled lowly, he will not break me down. I stood up on shaky legs and held my shoulders back. I'm not going to let him win. I gulped and walked out of the bathroom and back out of the hall. I was relieved to see that Jeremiah's body was covered with a white sheet, but it still was stained with crimson.
I marched down the stairs and into the library to do some research. I'm going to find the flower of Esme.
I was looking at the computer in the library. I sighed and rubbed my eyes. I haven't found anything on the internet about the flower or any legend that could be associated to it. It's as if it never existed.
I groan and lean back in my chair. My back was aching from leaning forward for so long. I looked to my side and saw Ozai reading.
"Is that all you do? Is read?" I asked him.
He bend his head down slightly and looks at me through the top opening of his glasses, "Yes that's all I do. I don't like computers much."
"Yeah well neither do I! The stupid thing isn't helping me research."
Ozai takes his glasses off, "Well what are you trying to research exactly?"
"Oh umm," I said nervously, "I just wanted to research more about the legends of Arcanus. And you know, look into the curse and all."
Ozai nods his head as if he were a therapist and me, the mental patient, "Well if it were me, I wouldn't go on the computer to find such information."
"Why not?"
"Because we are not supposed to exist. Arcanus isn't supposed exist. Humans made the computers, they made the internet, they provide the information. If you want to find real solid info, books are the way to go."
I giggled, "That kind of rhymed 'if you want to find some real solid INFO, books are the way to GO!'"
I look at Ozai and see he wasn't laughing. I cough awkwardly in my hand and nodded my head professionally, "Of course, yes. Books. Sounds good! Thanks!"
I get up from my chair and started to look around for some books. I picked up books of Wolfish mythology. Mythology on the Moon Goddess and the stars. Books about the lives of stars. Legends surrounding the Hellhounds and such.
I didn't go to Zeus's room, instead I went to my own. I need to focus and being surrounded by Zeus's scent was not going to help me whats so ever.
I sat on the bed and laid the books out. I sighed. I have a lot of study to do. This is high school all over again. NO! But this is for me, for the curse, for the truth! I need to find that flower before the war begins...well I guess before the war gets any worse.
I picked up the book and began to read.
***
It's been hours and all I've read was useless information that didn't mean anything! I reread the story of Esme and Kyro. There were tens of hundreds of different versions of the story. How am I to know which one is true? So many different Arcanian historians have published their own interpretations of it, and it was so hard to know which one sounded the most accurate.
I flopped on the bed.
If I can't find anything in books. Maybe there was someone that could tell me about it?
I released a defeated sigh. But who? I need like a Arcanua Historian, and I don't know if there was such a thing.
My mind pondered on who could possibly give me the most accurate interpretation of this story between Esme and Kyro?
Then a thought came to me. I met someone who seemed very in tuned with the deeds of the gods above. Someone very ancient it seems. Someone who had already sensed the disruption in heavens before anyone else did.
Uncle Noah's grandmother.
I needed to go to her and ask her some questions. But she lived all the way in the village. Nikolai is out for me. How could I get there safely?
I didn't want to get in trouble again with Zeus. We're both going through enough with all this Nikolai drama.
I'll go ask him if I could go see Noah's grandmother with some guards. I got up and walked down the hall.
I stopped when I realised I didn't know where Zeus's office was. I saw one of the guards posted in the hall. I ask him where Zeus's office and he gave me quick directions. After thanking him I was on my way.
I turned a corner and saw big double doors with gold designs swirling over it. Two guards were posted there. As I was about to walk in, they both stepped in front of me.
I frowned, "What's the problem? I need to talk to Zeus."
"Zeus is a busy man. You need to make an appointment to go in there."
I crossed my arms and arched my brow, "Even me? His mate?"
The guard frowns. He leans in a in and sniffs me, "He hasn't mated with you. You do not smell of his mate."
My eyes widen and me cheeks flamed into a bright red, "That doesn't matter! Ever heard of taking it slow? Let me in right now!"
"There's no point," the other guard said, "He's not in there. He left his office around an hour ago."
"Fine!" I growled. I made sure I glared at them before leaving.
I went to the library to see Ozai, but I frowned when he wasn't in here either. Where is everyone? I went to Donny's room and knocked on the door. No one answered. I opened it and saw it was also empty. Okay, something is definitely going on here.
I went down the giant staircase to the ground level. I saw another guard in the dining area. He looked pretty young, maybe seventeen?
I approached him and gave my best smile. He saw me and his eyes widen and his cheek became very red. He's so adorable!
"Hi what's your name?" I asked.
He visibly gulped, "My name is David, Miss."
"Nice to meet you david, my name is Lily. I am Zeus's mate,"
He went pale and instantly began to bow, "You're Zeus's mate! It's an honour to meet you!"
"Oh please don't bow!" I quickly said.
David straightened back up and gave a small polite smile.
"I was just wondering if you've seen my mate anywhere."
"Last I saw, he was heading toward the dungeons."
I frowned, why would he be there? I smiled at David gratefully, "Thank you."
Is that where all of them are? What would they all be doing there? Weird. I went down the stairs, walking toward the dungeons. I wondered on what kinds of questions I should as Noah's grandmother. I really hope she can help. If I found that flower, imagine if Kyro and her were to reunite? And as a sign of gratitude, imagine if Kyro fought with us? We could beat the vampires easily. And then Zeus could break his curse in peace. And then what? What would happen to me at the end?
I came to the doors of the dungeons. I opened and was immediately on guard. This place was creepy. All of those creepy dark dungeons with chains hanging on the wall you see in those movies was exactly what I was walking into. I slowly walk in and saw another door. Feeling like something not good was going to appear, I was cautious. I opened the door and was stunned to see Donny, sitting in front of another door looking at videos on his phone of cats.
He giggled at one, "That was a funny one. Silly cat, it's just a cucumber."
"Donny?"
He yelps in such a fright that he falls off his chair. He gets back up wide eyed, "LILY! What're you doing here? You shouldn't be here!"
I frowned, noticing he was sitting in front of the door as if he was guarding it, "What's going on? Where the others?"
He gulps nervously, "They're just...doing some stuff."
I crossed my arms and popped my brow, "Like what?"
He tucks his shaking hands in his pockets, "They're doing some stuff for the war with Nikolai."
"Step away from the door, Donny."
He shook his head, "I can't do that, Lil. I'm sorry, but you just won't understand. Go back up there, and we'll all meet you in an hour or so."
"The war concerns me, which means that whatever they're doing behind those doors, concerns me too."
Donny shook his head, "Don't Lily. Don't push it. You're already confused enough about what we are and what we do. And besides, it'll only make things between you and Zeus worse."
"There's nothing going on between me and Zeus so it doesn't matter."
Donny gives me a pointed look.
I rolled my eyes, "Whatever, just move aside Donny."
Donny crosses his arms seriously, "No."
I went to walk to the door, but Donny gabs my shoulders. He looks down at me and shake his head. "Just let me through!" I shouted. I pushed onto Donny, but he didn't budge.
I stomped my feet in frustration. I turned around and walked a couple meters ahead.
"Good girl, Lily, you're actually doing what you're told." Donny said with amusement in his voice.
I turned around and glared. I sprinted head on to Donny. His eyes actually reflect alarm and fear as he saw my charge him. I leapt onto Donny. He yells in fright as we both fell over, making the door open up.
Donny groans, "You psycho woman!"
I grinned in victory. I groaned in annoyance when I saw another door. But what scared me was the sounds coming from behind it.
There was a man screaming inside, screaming in pain and terror. I knew at that point I should probably be leaving, but it was like I was on autopilot, I shakily opened the door.
"No, Lily, wait!" I hear Donny shout, but it was too late. What I saw could never be unseen.
I stood there frozen in shock and disgust. Zeus, Sozin and Ozai stood there, blood soaking them to the bone.
Bodies, so many dead bodies were laying around. Their arms torn off. Their gut ripped open. Some of them looking as young as sixteen year old boys. Blood was everywhere. It coupled together in puddles everywhere, creating this lake of red.
Zeus was whipping a bloodied and beaten, "Tell me now! How did you get into my castle?!" He yells in such a dark and blood thirsty voice, "You not talking is only going to get you even more pain. But I don't mind. I actually prefer. It gives me the opportunity to see you bleed."
Sozin was the first to see me and his eye widen with, but also shame. It was like a child being caught doing something they knew was wrong. Ozai saw Sozin's reaction and looked in the direction of his sight and saw me.
He stilled and was tense before looking down at his feet.
Zeus looked at the guys, "What the fuck is wrong with you two?"
Zeus whips his head around and saw his eyes. I felt myself flinch. They weren't their usual pale green, they were black with the lust of blood. He looked crazy as he stared at me. But as soon as he registered who it was he was frozen in his place. His hand dropped the whip, "Lily?"
My eyes couldn't stop looking at the blood on his body, the blood of so many different people.
"This is what you do?" I asked quietly. I knew what they did was bad. But seeing it took me on a whole other level. I felt nauseous looking at these disfigured bodies.
Zeus's turned back to their pale green, "Lily, let me explain."
"How can you explain this?" I said in a more firm voice. Both Sozin and Ozai weren't looking at me.
"They're vampires, Lily. They're scum. They were here to kill you." He tries to explain.
"Does that mean that we should stoop down to their level? Become monsters just like them?"
Zeus looks at me and shakes his head, "I'm already a monster, Lily."
"But you don't have to be." I said quietly.
Zeus's jaw clinch tightly, making his jaw muscle pop a little. I turned around and saw Donny standing there sadly. He knew everything. Everybody knew it all except me.
"I let you hold me with the same hands stained with blood, the same hands you kill with," I said to him. I could see the guilt in his eyes. He gulps thickly.
"I can't look at you like this." I quietly left them all standing their in the blood that they shed.
"Lily!" I heard Zeus shout. But I ignored him. As soon as I heard him begin to run toward me, I ran away.
"Just wait, Lily!" I heard him shout again.
I sprinted out of that dark place and away from Zeus. I couldn't look at him let alone be around him.