Chapter 4 CHAPTER 4

An hour passed by and u heard footsteps walking towards me. Baylin slipped into the other end of the chair.

"You were out for quite a long time today"

"It's none of your business Baylin"

"Ione..."

"You don't get to know everything about me or what I do. Not when you're keeping secrets of your own"

She sighed deeply. "I'm not keeping secrets. I'm only asking because I'm concerned about you"

I know she meant well but I wasn't telling her anything when she was keeping things from me.

"I'm going out later at night"

"At night? You never go out at night"

I rolled my eyes. "There's always a first time"

"And you're going with the human boy, Drian?"

"Yes"

"That boy doesn't have pure intentions"

"Please don't start"

She ignored me and continued anyway.

"He wants to fuck you and I'll  be damned if I let that happen"

I laughed dryly. "Firstly, Drian is not interested in me in that way. Secondly, if I want to fuck him or anyone else I'll do that and there's nothing anyone can do about it"

"The king will kill anyone who touches you" I scoffed.

"Who the fuck is he to have a say in my affairs? I do not belong to him" My temper was rising.

"Lie to yourself and think whatever you wish but you know you belong to him"

"I do not belong to him" I roared angrily, my eyes flashing with that strange golden light like it always did. Fear flickered in her eyes but she quickly masked it.

I stormed away into the house and to my room slamming the wooden door roughly. Something about what she said triggered me.

I was not a fucking property. I was my person and I didn't belong to anyone especially not to that proud, egotistical, fucking delusional vampire king.

I hated him so much. As much as I hated the ones that were cursed to be my family. I felt the urge to slam something into the wall again but instead, I left the house. Running through the forest until I couldn't feel my limbs again.

I stayed out late, letting my anger wither until I was calm enough to go home. Baylin was thankfully out of sight when I got back. I didn't want to deal with her today.

I had a quick bath and changed into a beautiful dress with a long shawl for the cold. 

It wasn't difficult to find the location of the bonfire. They were already going at it with the village drummers playing some kind of music. It was fairly good. As I drew nearer, the smell of wine and sweaty bodies filled my nose.

I spotted Drian as soon as I arrived. He had two cups in his hands, one of which he handed to me as soon as he saw me.

"I was almost convinced you wouldn't show up" I rolled my eyes and took a large gulp of the drink. 

"This way" I followed silently behind him and we went through a mass of dancing humans who were halfway intoxicated. It was a recipe for trouble.

"What are we supposed to do here?" I asked, looking around.

"We dance"

"That's it? I would rather read a book" I hated reading books. It was one of the things the old me liked. When I did a complete turnaround from my old life, I made sure never to do the things the old me enjoyed doing. 

Old Ione was dead and would never be resurrected ever. 

"It's not that bad. Have some more wine. I assure you that you'll enjoy it as time goes on" I decided to believe him and take more wine. Although it didn't get me drunk, it made me feel lighter and more relaxed, and soon I was dancing around the fire like a maniac with the rest of the humans.

I danced and danced, forgetting all the problems I had. I danced until I couldn't feel my legs again.

I had a wide smile on my face when I collapsed on the floor. Drian joined me a few minutes later.

"You seemed to be having a lot of fun"

"I had a lot of fun"

"I told you" I rolled my eyes at that. He must have been dying to say it all along. 

"I wish every day could be like this" There was something weird in his voice. Something sad.

"Every day could be like this" Why wouldn't every day be like this if we wanted it to?

"No. The king will come for you" I tensed at that.

"You swore never to talk about the king," I said harshly. Why was he coming up in all the conversations today?

"I know but..."

"But nothing. You made a promise and you just broke it" I stood up angrily from the floor ready to go home.

Drian had somehow overheard Baylin and me arguing about it the first time I arrived. Baylin wanted to wipe his memories but he begged me not to let her. I accepted under the condition that he would never mention him.

It was going well all these months until he just had to spoil it. I'll tell Baylin to take away that memory. She would be so glad to do that.  I stomped away and I could hear him running after me but I ignored him.

"Wait Ione. I'm sorry" I ignored him and continued walking away.

"The king is coming for you," he said and I froze in my steps. I turned around harshly looking at him with anger.

"What the fuck did you just say" I took a menacing step toward him. 

"It's the truth. I overheard the women in the village talking about it. The king announced in the capital that he has a bride who will bear him an heir and he'll bring her back before the next moon" he rushed out in one breath. I shook my head. It couldn't be true. Baylin would have said something.

I turned around and ran towards the house. If Drian followed me, I didn't know and I didn't care. I had only one thing on my mind as I stomped towards the house.

Baylin was sitting cross-legged in the living room. The light from the moon illuminated her face.

She looked like she had been expecting me. And one glance at her eyes told me what I needed to know.

"How could you?" I wheezed out. My whole heart clenched with betrayal. 

"Why didn't you tell me"

"Ione..." she started but paused and her eyes shifted behind me.

I tensed as I felt a presence behind me. I didn't need to turn around to confirm.

He was here.