《Hellish Obsession》


 Chapter 1：Authors Note

    Hi, this is your amateur author. ILma. Please read the following clauses before you start reading this book.


    (1) It is an unedited book so some grammatical errors, mistakes are common. I''m trying hard to improve. Please do note this.


    (2) This novel is slow-burning and r-rated. For some readers, some parts can be uncomfortable. But if you are willing to give it a chance, I guarantee that you won''t regret it.


    (3) Everything in this book is my imagination. And some long-term research. like the place, people.


    (4) NO-RAPE. It''s a fantasy book with mystery, romance, revenge, action, violence, and a little bit of comedy. If you like fantasy books with dark romance and mysterious moments, then this book is for you.


    (5) The story, characters have nothing to do with reality. So if you read lizard holding fork and knife, eating dinner or... talking, You can''t complain.


    If you are liking this story, please just don''t pass by after reading. VOTE for this book. leave your precious COMMENTS. Please. THEY DON''T COST ANYTHING.


    You can read my other book on this platform. "The Crown Flower: My First Love." Give it a try. You will not be disappointed.


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 Chapter 2：Prologue

    A menacing explosion of morning alarm and the chirping of distant birds startled Aveline Celeste out of her abysmal nightmare. She flipped her eyes open and felt her body bathed in cold sweats. The twisted pile of dishevelled sheets around her limbs were probably because of her thrashing in sleep.


    Not that the foreign room was entirely dark, everything was brighter than it should be. Assumably because of the morning sun that darted through the mirror of this room.


    The mirror! What''s that on the mirror? Something was written on it with red bold letters.


    Aveline struggled to get herself up to assuage her curiosity. The surpluses of her nightmare were still clinging to her mind and the hangover was making her head feel the worse.


    She blinked her blurred vision to glimpse clearly.


    She read it aloud but before she could react, or even catch another breath, she was startled by another sound. The door swung open and the sluggish hinges of the old door creaked like fingernails on a dusty chalkboard.


    Aveline massaged her temple and twisted her head just to witness no one at the door. Then what caused the door to creak? Was it because of the wind? She panicked.


    "Meow! Meow!"


    At the wail of a cat, she glanced down on the floor and spotted a black cat staring at her with its bloodshot, hazel eyes. So, it was not someone but a cat. A black cat!


    She let out a relief sigh but couldn''t just relax at all. "Where the hell am I now?" This place is not familiar to her.


    The room was old enough reckoned by its proficiency but it still seemed so new as if was built last night. Snapping out the thoughts, Aveline tried to straighten her composure and stared at the mirror. "I started what? Who will end it and what?" She wandered.


    She was aware of everything weird that was arising but didn''t understand a single thing. From yesterday, everything was already so confusing and she could barely remember anything.


    "Good morning, Princess Ave." An indistinct hissing, wheezy sound faded in Aveline''s ear.


    Curiously, she pulled herself up and her long hair fell over her waist. She stood up, avoiding all of her body resistance and stopped by the mirror. It was liquid on the glass, thick and flowing down. Her heart slammed against her ribs with sickening dread.


    Blood!


    The words with bold red letters were written with blood!


    "How was the night?" The distant whisper overlapped had now.


    She felt the squish of frosting beneath her cheeks. The fear, the exhaustion, the life transforming events of last night overwhelmed her.


    Garnering her courage, she grabbed her phone and tied her hair into a bun before she made her way out of the room. She had to figure everything out but little did she know there was another shock waiting for her?


    After she stepped out through the door, she found herself in a forest, surrounded by giant trees. She swallowed her breath, as her body jerked in another terror.


    Bzzt... Bzzt... Bzzt...


    She jumped when her phone vibrated. Glancing down the caller ID, she picked up the call and her heart felt ease. "Peter?"


    "Where are you, Ave?"


    "In the Purple Forest." She replied as she frantically glanced around, searching for a existence that could turn into a great evidence.


    "What? Forest? Why? Are you playing with the animals? Come out quickly. I''m standing in front of the club. The duke has called me to find you."


    "Wait a minute. I will be right there." With that, Aveline found her way to the street and tried to remember every single thing that happened with her from last night.


    * * *


    Author''s Note: Everything is my imagination. It''s a fantasy book. It has nothing to do with reality. So if you read lizard holding fork and knife, eating dinner or... talking, You can''t complain.


    If you really support me and like my work, please vote more! Also, give my other books a try. For more information follow me on insta: ilma_author. or Twitter/Facebook: Author ILma. Happy reading. Thank you.

 Chapter 3：Last night

    "Are you freaking kidding me?" Aveline shouted in disbelief, her fresh grassy green colour eyes swirled into altering vague with darkness as she glared at the man in the black zip-up jacket beside her.


    "Is it written on my face that I''m stupid? You are saying that you are a grim reaper. But how can I see, no... actually, HOW can I talk with a grim reaper if I''m alive? I''m not that dumb! You can''t fool me, David." Snorted Ave, her voice mixed in the music beats of the club, murmuring along with the instruments.


    "How do you know my name, Aveline?" David Morgan glanced upward, averting his gaze from the glass filled with juice that was placed on the table. His mouth pursed but slightly open and loose.


    "I can not believe I''m talking with you." Ave voiced in frustration as she pointed out the nameplate on David''s cloak. The loud music was making her blood boil, portraying the rising frustration.


    The next second, the sigh that escaped her lips was slow as if her brain needed that time to process what had happened. It was her best friend Ethy''s bachelorette party. On the way to the club, she remembered her car getting crashed against a giant tree in the jungle. But when she opened her eyes, David was driving it and from then something was ensuing to her. She was feeling weighted as if it was a foreign body and she was taking time to set herself in. The twanging sensation inside her head, it was killing.


    Why? What? How? These questions were another piles of questions to her that crammed his cloudy mind like another cliffhanger.


    David, in the most cold-blooded human-like form, gave her a sardonic smile as he tried to explain calmly. "Human dies when we, the Reaper sever the soul''s last ties to life and grant the soul safe passage to the afterlife. We do not ''kill'' mortals, but merely guides their spirits to the next realm. But in your case, I don''t know what to do..." He trailed off as a long sigh escaped his lips.


    The more he analyzed it the more his brain became a spinning top, always finding more questions than answers. "You were supposed to die because of the break fail of your car. But when I found your body and tried to cut the ties of your body with the soul. I couldn''t. Because of a different soul... in your body..."


    What a Psychopath! Ave didn''t complain but anger boiled deep in her system, as hot as lava that she felt her blood started rushing upward from her toe to top.


    But everything he said made no sense to Ave. Soul, body? How could a soul be separated from a body? And retrieved in another body? The fuck!


    "Actually... This is...NONSENSE!" She scoffed at him.


    David stamped his foot as a long sigh brought out all of his frustration. "You still don''t believe me. Okay... Let me prove myself to you first." With that, he looked around and noticed a waiter plodding towards them, grunting as he carried a tray of a dozen glasses filled to the brim.


    David waited for the waiter to come close so that he could prove himself.


    When the waiter was just a step behind David, he shot out his foot into his path, outstretching it. The waiter walked slowly, and unnoticed he tripped over David''s leg. The tray he was carrying fell down, all the glasses on it broke into pieces.


    Ave''s attention overhauled on him while he was trying to maintain his balance, holding onto the handle of David''s chair. When he was successfully able to stand straight, he looked relieved. But when his gazes found Ave, his eyes widened, he gulped. "I''m sorry, It will never happen again, Princess Ave." He bowed and apologized in urgency.


    "It''s okay. Not your fault." Ave''s quick forgiveness curtailed his stress.


    "I will get this cleaned up." The waiter then glanced down at the broken pieces of glasses and squatted down to swoop them up.


    Ave nodded and turned her head to David who was smiling mischievously all the time.


    "You little lunatic. Why.. did..." She was about to denounce David but stopped as she heard what the waiter had said just now.


    "I''m becoming clumsy day by day. How could I tripped over nothing?" He kept muttering to himself, picking up the broken pieces on the tray.


    Ave watched him in disbelief. David''s leg was still there, unmoved. Couldn''t the waiter see that? He didn''t trip over anything but his foot.


    Shortly, the waiter started reaching his hand to pick up the piece beneath David''s foot. If he wants to pick it up, his hand needs to touch David''s foot. And just then, in another second, the waiter extended his hand, ran it through David''s foot without any difficulty as if he was running his hand through thin air.


    Colour drained from Ave''s face, it turned as white as paper. Her mouth dropped wide open in collisions and the adrenaline that coursed through her system shut down her ability to think logically.


    The spot where David''s foot and the waiter''s hand mingled together, it looked somewhat obscured like an opaque paint. But both of their hand & foot were as visible as transparent colour.


    Aveline''s body wished either to run fast from here or to scream or work to find weaponry, but instead, she stayed right where she was. Sometimes freezing is the best of the choices.


    She stayed that way, frozen until the waiter stood up after picking up the glasses on the tray and David''s voice knocked against her head hard.


    "Wanna see the real me?" David just took time to say that before his appearance turned to an animated human skeleton, draped in pitch black robes and a scythe gripped firmly in his hand.


    Ave''s face turned paler, she realized she wasn''t breathing at all. "P... please. Change yourself into human form... You look... scary." Her adrenaline surged so fast she almost vomited; she could taste the saliva thickening her mouth to a rancid paste.


    The waiter who was passing beside her got confused. Wondering with whom she was talking!


    David brought his human form back as easily as snapping his fingers, not scaring the fellow further. "So... Aveline. Do you believe that no one can see me? And I''m a grim reaper. Everything is clear, right?"


    Ave who was aghast until now struggled to nod her head and swallowed her breath that was stuck in her throat.


    David chuckled before he switched back to his professionalism again. "Taking out a living, breathing soul from a body isn''t a piece of cake. But finding out the body is our main job. If we can find the body of the soul you are carrying, we can make it leave your body as soon as possible."


    Slowly the tangled mess of her brain started to loosen. She took time to relax and then decided to trust her since there was no other way left. "What am I supposed to do now?" She asked, frowning.


    David who was floating in his thoughts came back to his senses. "When the body of this soul will be close to your body, you will feel like a magnet pulling you towards it. All you have to do is to remember this And enjoy."


    "Enjoy what?" Ave gave him a confused look.


    David got up from his chair and smiled widely. "Such is the life of the crown Princess of Qidan."


    Ave sighed. "Right. The unluckiest so-called Princess, Aveline Celeste." She mumbled to herself in great dismay.


    David exhaled a soft breath and looked at her. "No matter what it is. You should enjoy the new chance to live. You will find your phone and keys in your pocket. Your car is in the parking lot. One more thing, don''t let anyone understand your difference. Don''t talk with anyone about it. Now. I''ve told you everything. So I gotta go. I will see you soon. Goodbye."


    Before Aveline could react or even realize what he said, he was disappeared; he was nowhere in the club just like vanishing in the air. "David?" Ave glanced around frantically but couldn''t find him anymore.


    How can he just leave like this? Her inner sense roared and she almost jumped when the phone in her pocket rang, announcing her best friend, Ethy Allen''s ringtone. The bachelor party! Ave forgot all about it. She took it out and answered it right away. "Ethy? Where are you guys?"


    "We are all dancing. But it should be me asking... where the hell are you bitch?" Ethy Allen, her best friend, sounded concerned.


    "I will see you soon." A long sigh signalled her frustration.


    After a long minute of silence, a lively smile was heard on the other end. "Come fast. Let''s have fun. Bitch, it''s my bachelorette party." Ethy nearly screamed, the music thrumming loudly through the phone speaker.


    Ave tried to smile. "Yeah, bitch. I am coming." With that, she hung up and adjusting her clothes, she shifted her gaze at the dance floor.


    There, among the drunken people, her friends were dancing on the northern lights; beneath the dry-ice smoke swirled an array of blues, acid greens, hot pinks, and gold. The music played over the floor as if it had intertwined with the bodies.


    It was her best friend Ethy''s bachelorette party. She was getting married soon, to her boyfriend. But everything was messed up.


    "Heck you, David!" She cursed underneath her breath, assuming no one heard her, but apparently, it was loud enough to make the guys standing in the corner stop talking and turn to catch a glimpse of her.


    Well, not all of them, the man dressed in black didn''t bother to spare her a single glance as he continued drinking his wine while others stared at her with their mouths wide open.


    "Woah...." She snorted at his misconduct; however, she couldn''t miss his charm at all.


    He was a man of any girl''s dreams, having thick, tousled dark brown hair. His lips were so alluring that any girl on the earth would jump to taste them. He had a strong and defined face, features that looked like they were chiselled from granite with a moon tattoo just lower behind his ear, a few stars on a side of his neck.


    Ave managed to snap out of the fascination when she noticed the girl beside him elbowing and whispering something. She threw a soft, mysterious smirk in Ave''s direction.


    Irritated, Ave didn''t feel like wasting time, so she looked away, trying to find a place to sit and relax peacefully. Her friends would just have fun on the dance floor without her. Finding the mini bar, when she turned towards it, a wheezy, cackling voice rose from behind, stopping her pace. "Hey, there."


    She took a long breath and turned to take in the direction from where the voice succeeded. Having the tattooed guy staring at her, her lips slowly parted. His savage and cunning pitch-black eyes that perched above his hawkish and hooked nose pinned Ave with his gaze.


    "Yeah?" She questioned in the response.


    He gave her a shivering smile as he pulled himself up and his long legs moved towards her, closing the distance between them in a flash.


    She could smell the alcoholic scent of his breath when he leaned close to her. "Free tonight?" He queried in a whisper.


    And... From here, it started.

 Chapter 4：Princess

    "Why can''t I remember the guy?" Ave growled when her eyes opened like two flashlight beams. She couldn''t even think of why she barely recalled that a man approached her with pitch coloured eyes and asked if she was free or not. But she could neither remember his face nor the conversation after that no matter how much she tries. Not that she was drunk, she was completely sober. "Then why the hell?"


    Peter who was driving the car jumped up at the sudden explosion of her voice. But the words that came out of Ave''s mouth did not fully register with him.


    "Our great Princess has lost it finally?" Peter chortled, his shoulders trembled slightly. "But Ave, did you really do that in that forest? I mean with whom? A man or an animal?" He paused and took the time to mock his childhood friend for a while. "Woah!!! A one night stand with a wild animal of the Purple forest."


    Aveline couldn''t withstand her friend''s cheap sense of humour anymore. "Shut up, Peter. You are so annoying." She yelped and tilted her head slightly at her friend with a murderous glare in his eyes. "Why did he call you? Where is my driver?"


    Peter shrugged. "I guess, he doesn''t want your driver to find out about your one night stand with an..." He restrained himself from uttering the next word when he felt the intensity of her glare.


    "Just Kidding. He called me and asked me where you are. So I told him, you are with me and will be heading to the castle soon. From there, we will go to the art school for dance class and then Ethy''s home together. But doomhead, did you really spend a night there?" He again teased his friend. But deep inside, he was concerned about what happened. When he called her in the morning, she was in the forest and her voice didn''t seem usual at all. She was astonished.


    Aveline, on the other side, didn''t bother his teases at all. She closed her eyes tightly and her thoughts started becoming tormentors; the thoughts of the accident, meeting David, then waking up in the forest, the blood in the mirror. She was sure that waking up in that forest, and the words written on the mirror has something to do with him. But the whispers and the blood? She got no answer to this question.


    The sleek car cruised to the Royal Gate, running over the black tarmac so fast that the passing greenery became a hazy blur.


    "What''s happening there?" Peter gaped at his own words after he pressed his feet on the brake and the car abrupt stop.


    The sudden halt brought Ave back to her senses from her deep thoughts.


    Without making a single sound, Ave sneaked a glance at her friend before turning her head to the populace.


    To her conception, the crowd of about hundreds people flowed down the wide courtyard of the castle. Their gazes were fixed in the same direction with a shocked and pale surface of their faces. In a hundred strong people, there wasn''t a single smile or expression of pleasure.


    Ave swung the door open with ease as she got off from the car and rooted there at spot, trying to discern the details. From such distance, the only thing she saw was the edge long wooden beam. But the wooden beam was enough for her to comprehend that it was a ducking stool and the condemned people were getting punished.


    She sighed deeply and through the process, some people of the crowd got aware of the presence of their Princess. From one ear to ten ears, it spread to hundreds of ears. Shortly the crowd divided into two-part, forming a way for her.


    Although she didn''t plan to go there and witness the scene, but now that they had made the way, she couldn''t just ignore.


    "Give me just twenty minutes. I''ll be back." Ave said and made her way ahead through the expanse between the crowd. However, shortly, another crowd was formulated, and it had occurred between the crowd itself to bow to the Princess.


    As Ave stepped forward to the castle, she couldn''t notice anything except the ducking stool. The ducking stool was located alongside the pond of the courtyard and the repeated ducklings routinely proved fatal, the victim dying of shock or drowning.


    The apparatus consisted of an iron armchair onto which the condemned people were strapped. One of them was a man around thirty and the other one was a woman. She almost looked up at the woman but stopped herself when the expressions of the women in this crowd reflected in front of her eyes. She must be stripped.


    Releasing a soft sigh, she whipped her gaze at the guy. He was bruised, crying, begging for forgiveness. His face was a mess, his shirt was all torn by the sword attacks, blood was falling every time he was opening his mouth. "He just had his initial punishments." Ave muttered underneath her breath.


    The troop and the hangman were whirling a rope around him with the chair that was attached to a long wooden beam. And it''s the ultimate punishment. Death!


    Perceiving the Princess, one of the head paladins who was standing near the stool came and bowed to her. His hair was all set, gelled, his fair face seemed extra white in his white cloak that''s hidden his broad shoulders and some part of his bare chest. "Princess, the guy is one of our headmen, the woman is a witch. They got married yesterday. And..."


    "And if a human has the least relationship with an evil-power being, he gets cursed. slowly the entire kingdom gets cursed, And to stop this, he should be thrown out of the kingdom or should die no matter who he is!" Ave took his words out of his mouth and a long sigh escaped her lips as her gaze fixed at him. "I know, brother Jeff. But what''s wrong with that woman''s robe?"


    "Suspected witches should be strip-searched to see if they had the devil''s mark on their body, Your highness. It''s the evidence that we can show to the generals." Brother Jeff explained.


    Ave nodded calmly. "It''s not about that witch. It''s all about the women here who are humiliated by her. I can guarantee that if that woman or witch was covered properly, the women here would feel less awkward, half of the men would lose their interest and go back home. And your evidence. You are devoted to God. The citizens trust you blindly with or without evidence. I think you should consider it."


    Satisfied, Aveline now readied herself to take a glimpse of the witch up on the armchair. She looked the same as other humans with a pair of dark eyes filled with resentments, her hair was long-midnight black flowing from her broad shoulder.


    Underneath the armchair, some paladins were making fire. Some were holding a pile of holy books, some were drawing circles with some chalks and others were reciting: "Burn in hell to bless Qidan." The motto the citizens here believed so strongly. To them, if they expunged all the evil power beings, Qidan would be blessed.


    Did she ever believe that? She didn''t know; surely, never bothers about these stuff.


    Abruptly a heavy wind blew with a powerful passion. It sounded its mighty roar, making everyone shuddered in fear.


    "Witchcraft. Witchcraft." The Paladins said one to another.


    Seconds later, the rain started falling in torrents, the crowd of the courtyard had already run to their shelters, the place looked deserted now.


    Ave didn''t waste more time here. She walked into the rain, resisting its heavy waterdrops. She sent back all the servants who came with umbrellas. She liked this foreign feeling it was like the new rain of her new life.


    She was already soaked when he stomped into the Qidan Castle. The servants ran to him with towels, she grabbed one and with that, she brushed the water away from her hair while she hurried her steps towards the hall where Queen Salena and Duke Elbert were discussing over something with their son Aaron.


    The entire hall went silent when she entered with her white face that was flushed red and wet.


    "I''m Home." Ave bowed to the duke and then to the Queen before she moved his blank gaze at the Prince, her step-brother. "What happened, Aaron?" She asked, presuming the distortion of his expression.


    "You can''t see what''s happening?" Aaron raised his brows, couldn''t believe how she looked so normal.


    Ave shrugged calmly. "I''m no wiser."


    "Some evil-power beings have started grounding here. You saw what''s happening outside. It''s truly a threat to us." Duke Elbert spoke tensely as he patted his daughter''s shoulder.


    Queen Salena''s eyes didn''t miss her daughter''s drenched blouse. "Why are you all wet? Did you get drenched in the rain?" She panicked and as Ave nodded, she widened her eyes. "Why? What''s wrong? You know you can''t..."


    "Mom, rain can''t be a curse to someone. Rain is like grace to us."


    "But... It''s not for you..." Salena stopped in the mid-sentence when Ave heaved a deep sigh and walked away, not giving attention to her words. "I need to get changed. Peter is waiting outside. We need to rush. Bye."


    Aaron shook his head in disbelief and sighed deeply. "She will understand when..."


    "Nothing will happen." Salena scolded her son. "She will be safe under my shadow."

 Chapter 5：Tattoos

    When Aveline entered the art school with Peter, the rain was already over and it seemed like the rain didn''t touch any place of Qidan except the castle. Everyone who was present was rooted in place and stared at them as if they have never seen a human being before.


    Ave sighed. Whatever the purpose is, an institution is a place for everyone, however, these students reckon that institutions only belong to the kids from well-known families. It was never mandatory to heed anyone here, yet their jaw drops and they make crowds whenever they see someone with a soothing outlook and affluent vibe.


    "What a beautiful place!" Peter who was busy scanning the entire place, parted his lips in awe.


    "I wonder why people call this place dancers oasis." Ave mumbled underneath her breath as she continued walking through the stone path lined with dark sieges from the entrance to the main studio that is accented with dozens of beautiful fountains, trees, statues and sculptures.


    Peter looked at her. "You made the right choice to come here instead of making them go to your place. Though it will tough for us to learn dancing in a week. But we have to do our best since it''s our best friend''s wedding. And I am sure that we won''t be that bad because it will be Mr Aldrick who will instruct us. He is the dance master of this Faber Arts School." A smile spread across his face.


    Faber Arts School is an oasis of dancers near busy downtown Qidan. On its front, FA S has lots of lush lawns that are perfect for studying and pickup game or two of ultimate frisbee or football. And the campus boasts regal brick buildings situated far from each. The main vast building was on the Southside of the campus.


    Getting at the sign of the help desk on the building, Peter and Ave strode inside the office. The office section felt bigger than the hall with a bright, and warm vibe.


    A brown-haired woman who was standing before the long counter looked up at them and bowed noticing the Princess. "Hello. How can I help you?" She greeted and asked formally.


    "Hi. Can we get the passcode of the dance class? We are the dance students invited by Mr Aldrick. I think some of our people are already here." Peter informed her and she nodded before she hurried herself to find two cards from the desk. "Here. You will find the location here as well." She said as she handed them the cards.


    "Thanks." Ave let out while checking the buildings'' numbers on the right corner of it. "Building no 3. Let''s go." She said and together, they made their ways to the building that was arranged beside the cafeteria.


    "What happened there in the morning?" Peter asked when he suddenly reminded of the affair.


    "The odd things that happen Daily there." The brief answer was enough to make Peter comprehend about it.


    "This is really too big to be a classroom. Just for learning dancing." Ave gaped after she entered the room that has a dance floor like arena surrounded by rows piled upon rows of exquisitely arranged desks.


    "I know, right? All credit goes to your mom." Peter smiled and managed to find a seat across the closed windows combined with the stench filling the room slap with a blanket of stuffiness.


    Shortly the eight species of the team who are going to join the performance approached and not after too long, some assistants with the dance master named Aldrick entered in the most comfortable sweats and stood on the floor.


    His face, if not exactly handsome, so closed to handsome that nobody would have opposed a contention that it really was so in its natural colour. People would defined him sweet because of the everlasting warmth in his gray eyes.


    However, he was young, not bringing a master vibe as he spoke. "Hi, I am Aldrick. The dance teacher who will be instructing you the entire week. We will perform two performance. The team dance, and the duo. Yes, yes. Couple dance. But we are gonna choose a suitable partner for you. So don''t be too happy." He laughed and whilst his eyes met Ave''s, he persisted. "I know everyone, so I think we don''t need an introduction. Let''s start with the basics."


    "First one is the two step. When I first started dancing at parties, the two step was the first move that truly came naturally to me." With a smile, he just made a step to left and next to the right. As everyone puzzled, his smile grew wider. "It really is as simple as stepping from side to side to the beat! Let''s try."


    About half an hour later the basic class ended. Ave who was not very attentive in the entire time forced her boredom out and turned left to wake her childhood friend up from his nap. "Peter, It''s over." She kicked his leg under the table but didn''t seem to wake up.


    She parted her lips to snap him out of his sleep again but stopped as someone near beside Peter hooked in her gaze. Though she couldn''t see his face, the tattoos were enough to make her shiver and her words stuck.


    Ave held her breath and her brain immediately threw her in the surface of inverted reflection. Tattoos have something to do with last night.


    Because everything that rose in her mind was obscure but the tattoos were conspicuous. Although the ambiguous reminiscence made her frustrated the most, yet it provoked her to find the guy out in any possible way. So, without wasting a moment further, she looked in the same direction but she''d already missed him. He was nowhere in this class.

 Chapter 6：Lost him

    A nudge to Peter''s ribs made him jerk awake from his nap to see the unfamiliar smiling face in front of him. "Who are you?" The first question he asked in alarm. How long was he out? He really hoped it wasn''t long.


    "Hi, I''m Ethy''s cousin. Rhia." Rhia introduced herself, extending her hand to him. Her brows bumped into a line as he didn''t accept her hand.


    Peter took some time for his brain to recoup its system. And when the system recouped, he rolled his eyes in 360 degrees, searching for his friend. "Hi, Rhia. Did you see Ave?"


    Rhia packed her hand back, lifting her brows. "You mean our Princess? She went outside a while ago, almost running."


    The pupils of Peter''s eyes narrowed and seemed to flee from the expanding whites of his eyes. Running? Something will happen today. The tension was building inside him from the morning "Shit!" He cursed underneath his breath and didn''t waste a second before fleeing out of the room. "The Queen is gonna kill me if something happens to her since I promised her to keep Ave safe." He feared. Aveline wasn''t a common figure who could wander around, she was the dominant princess who had many enemies around. And the Gemini Zodiac Sign of hers.


    A long relived sigh reached out of Peter''s lips when he saw her strolling towards him from the lawn. Though he looked somewhat aggrieved, she was alright. And that''s a relief.


    Peter exploded like an atom bomb when Ave walked past him to the classroom. "What do you think you are doing? Where did you go?" He yelled at her, stepping closely behind.


    Aveline slumped on her seat in the classroom and plopped her elbow on the table. Resting her chin on her hands, she swung her palm from her face to her hair, fingers twisting into her hair, and releasing again. Peter drew a chair in front of the table and tapped on her head as he sat before her. "What''s wrong?"


    She lifted her downed face up. "I''ve lost him."


    "Lost whom?"


    Ave dragged her hand down from the table and turned her head to the seat where that guy was seated on. "I think I''ve seen that boy. From last night."


    Peter held his gaze at her for a while, giving his brain some thoughts. "That guy from last night in the club! Do you mean the animal? Here? No way, an animal can''t...." He bit his tongue as his gaze met her narrowed flashes.


    "You really think it''s an animal, huh?" Ave exhaled a breath what derived like smoke. "If he is an..." She paused as some analytic thoughts blew up in her mind and that got standing her up in a flash. "Peter, stay here. I need to go and find out something."


    Peter wasn''t surprised by this because he knows that every sixty seconds this woman invents sixty-one puzzles in her inquisitive head. "Need to go where?"


    "Purple Forest." Ave lasted for the least second here to grab the car''s keys from Peter''s pocket before she ran outside.


    Peter pursed his lips. "Okay. she is going to the forest." With that, he shrugged and the second later, he froze with his eyes wide open. "Wait what? She is going to the forest. Purple forest. Oh please, not again." He immediately rushed to the lawn to fetch Aveline. But he was just too late, the car was already missing.

 Chapter 7：Save & Destroy

    Chapel Of Qidan Castle


    The Chapel was old enough yet elegant with brightening stone walls, blazing new benches, quiet air tinctured with the scent of incense, candles and solidly Anglican smell of musty prayer books, metal polish and flowers.


    Queen Salena took her steps through the luminously lit passage, the floor of encaustic tiles.


    The door was right beside the Great Hall. Its white-painted shiny walls ran the whole west end of the Chapel. All the people from there bowed to the Queen.


    Salena stopped in front of the father in cassock around his 60. "Father. I hope your health is well." She bowed to him.


    "Yes, Your Majesty," Father responded politely and bowed to her as well.


    "I''m pleased to hear that, Father." Salena smiled faintly. But it vanished in seconds. "Father. I told you...about. Aveline. She..."


    "She let the rain touch her again." Father cut her words off. "It''s the second time. The first time was in front of Eternal Lake when she was 10, playing with her friend. The rain started and you almost lost your daughter. If it happens for the third time, It will be really liable to her." He sighed.


    Salena managed to summon another faint smile. "Father, you know how stubborn she is. She never listens to anyone."


    Father nodded his head thoughtfully. "But she should understand that carefulness comes before safety."


    Salena felt the anxiety crossing over her. She didn''t know anything except that every day arrives with the impression of new threats to her daughter.


    "Is there really no one who can save her?" Salena asked as she curbed the fear inside her and clenched her hands into tight fists.

 Chapter 8：Purple Forest

    In the purple forest...


    The dirt path of the forest was decorated with outgrown roots, wildflowers and fallen leaves.


    Ave took her first step into the forest, and almost got startled by the crunching of the dead leaves beneath her fancy shoes.


    "Come on, Ave. You can do this." She braved herself as she trudged on, taking in the fragrance of minty grass and the damp earth. Each breath was like water, fresh and cleansing, flowing freely into her lungs.


    But the fresh feeling didn''t last long, slowly the sky started darkening, clouds and thunder buzzed, the trees started dancing with the heavy wind. Everything that happened was just like the morning in the castle.


    Ave who was taken aback by the sudden change of the weather started to feel something odd. The sound of the wind and hisses by the trees tumbling back and forth.


    The overall commotion of it gave her goosebumps all over her body. She gasped as she heard the snarls of the werewolves and the feminines overlapping whispers.


    "Oho... The Human Princess is here again. She is here." The sound that spread everywhere was like the hissing of serpents, snakes.


    "Welcome, Aveline." And this one was the males'' whispers, or maybe a male''s whispers.


    Ave clenched her white knuckles tightly and spun herself around. "Who are you?" Her loud voice echoed around, her heart thumped against his chest so loudly that she could even hear the sound.


    "Hahahaha." The awkward, wheezy and screeching sound of a laugh hit directly into her head, and she felt a creaking undulation of it ran through her nervous system.


    She tightened her grip on her cloth and her eyes got conscious of every corner of the forest. "Who the hell are you? Come out, you freaking bastard." Her voice echoed again and the laughter impasse.


    "And who do you think you are to call him a bastard?"


    The feminine voice that arose from behind sounded different from a human being, It was deep, intense with the harsh clatter of breaths that was getting closer and closer.


    Ave felt her legs going numb, the sweat drenching her skin, the throbbing of her own eyes, the ringing snarls vibrating in her ears. But her brain demanded solutions to its function instead of this crazy-making circling anxiety. Though it felt like her bones had no more strength and her muscles were all out of power, she still fought with herself to turn back.


    And as soon as she turned back, a wolf jumped on her in a flash. But someone was fast enough to grab her by her blouse, pulled her aside from there and shot a sharp needle at the wolf.


    Everything happened so fast so that Ave couldn''t even realize a single thing that happened, When she was back to her senses, she saw a man holding her closely with his one hand wrapping around her waist whilst the other was grabbing the coat, gripping onto the robe over her chests. He looked breathtaking handsome in the black hoodie with the hood over his head.


    Promptly, clearing his throat awkwardly, the man moved his hand from her body and averted his gaze at the wolf that was already dozed off on the ground.


    "She almost killed you." He heaved a sigh and feeling Ave''s fast heartbeat against his chest, he gazed at her.


    She was breathing hard, wearing a magenta silk blouse. Her ponytail was ragged, flowing from her left shoulder to her waist, loose hair falling over her features that contorted without effort. Around her feet were clean a pair of shoes.


    "Who are you?" The words seeped out of her mouth smoothly and faded against his face that was so close to her. The scent of fresh jasmine invaded into her senses from the body that was fastened with her. Ave took the chance to survey his eyes, they were intimidating with deepest brown infused with ripples of blackness, colouring it like vague crimson. But the man she was searching for has onyx black coloured eyes.


    Her entire body shuddered with goosebumps as she met his gaze. He was staring at her so dazzlingly that it gave shivers through her spine. "Someone you don''t know."


    She sighed realizing she was a fool to believe that she will find the man here. He can''t be that man. He is not her type. "You are not even close." She mumbled as she pushed him away and brushed her robe. She doesn''t like to get close to over-handsome men. They are truly dangerous and most of them are so cruel.


    "Don''t change your words in the future." The words spat out of his mouth like melted butter.


    Ave narrowed her eyes to slit. "What do you mean?" She was now irritated. This man had no sense of respect.


    He didn''t answer, just took a long breath. "Just don''t change your words. That''s the best for you and me as well." He muttered calmly and turned around to leave but Ave''s voice stopped him.


    "I asked you what did you mean?"


    "I don''t think I need to answer." He replied in an icy voice without looking back at her, shoving his hand inside the pockets.


    He didn''t bother hearing the next words as he made his way out of the forest and lost in the sight in a moment.

 Chapter 9：The Trouble

    "Ave, are you really crazy? First of all, you went to the purple forest and it''s forbidden for you. Secondly, you wandered around there ALONE. The wolf jumped onto you. You could have died. You fucking bitch." Peter gaped at his own words, roaming across the entire empty classroom, from the left to the right and right to left.


    Ave who was crouching on the table massaged her temple, frustrated by her friend''s immense blabbering. "Peter, I''m alive."


    Peter stopped by the table and pressed his palm on the table. Hard. The sound filled the room and she almost jumped out.


    "That''s right. You are still alive because of that man. He arrived at the right time and saved you. Nevertheless, you insulted him saying he is not your type instead of saying thanks, being grateful. You know, you should be grateful if someone saves you, arrogant brat." He shouted at her.


    Ave widened her eyes and scoffed in disbelief. "You are cursing me because of that guy? What are you thinking? Unbelievable. You are really shouting at a Princess? I can throw you out of here." She pushed herself down from the table and glanced at Peter''s hand that was on the table. "This." She pointed to the table then the bench. "That... and Everything around us. It''s all mine. ALL." She asserted arrogantly.


    Peter narrowed his gaze. "Nothing is yours. NOTHING." He stressed his statement as he made his way out of the classroom, not minding her.


    Ave''s lips parted. "Where do you think you are going? Wait there." She shouted whilst she followed him from behind to the yard. "How can you leave me? I didn''t bring my car." She snorted.


    The art students who were standing in the yard gaped at them confusedly. "They are dating. I was right." A guy sighed, his gaze observing them.


    Hearing what he said, Aveline took a halt in front of him. "You were undoubtedly and absolutely wrong, little one." With that, she sneered and again continued trotting behind her friend.


    All the boys who were present there became dumbfounded, their heart almost exploded by her brief glance "She is so beautiful." They immediately melted like ice cream.


    Peter was walking towards his car knowing Ave was following him but after a while, he felt that she was not behind him. He clenched his jaw and looked back to check. He was right. Ave was not following him but she was glued on the middle of the yard with her gaze fixed at somewhere.


    Peter sighed and walked back to her. "Why are you standing here like a statue?"


    Getting no response from her, Peter moved his gaze at the place she was staring at. There was a manly man standing not so far away in a black hoodie, not wearing the hood over his head. Ave''s gaze was locked at him, so were his. He was staring at her with his blank expression on his effortlessly handsome face.


    "Peter, look at that man." Ave uttered in a soft, mysterious tone. "And tell me, are you seeing anything on his neck?" She asked, her slightly widened eyes still fixed at him.


    Peter titled his head. "You mean the moon and stars tattoos?"


    Ave felt like thousands of bricks crashing on her head hard. Every part of her went on pause while her thoughts catch up. "He is the one..." She paused and a soft procedure of a mysterious smile spread across her face as she clenched her fists tightly. "...who saved me."


    A wide smile curved Peter''s lips. "Then what are you thinking? Let''s go there and thanks him." Without wasting time, Peter held her hand and strode towards the guy.


    Ave''s limbs moved as if some inexperienced person controlling them remotely and her eyes staring deep right at him. Dark, calm and flustered. The moment, they approached in front of the guy, he raised a brow over his crimson eyes that never left hers. No sense of respect, again.


    "Hi, it''s Peter Cooper. Her friend.." Peter introduced himself.


    The man nodded and shook hands with him. "I''m Xavier Grey."


    "Grey? It sounded so familiar. Anyway..." Peter persisted with a smile. "Mr Grey, I heard you saved my best friend. She really got something to tell you." Peter said, now hesitated a bit. Although he was grateful that he saved her, but now by his stares, he felt somewhat bitter about it.


    Something felt wrong as Mr Grey shifted his gaze at Ave and a soft sneer appeared on his face but it vanished almost immediately. "I think Princess got a lot to tell me."


    Getting the perception of the game he was trying to play, Ave sighed and took some steps further, closing the distance between them, making everyone looked at them in disbelief. Ave tilted her head and leaned to his ear with a slight smile plastered on her face. "You better explain everything to me."


    His eyes darkened but his face remained straight. "You are welcome." He said, loudly enough and slightly turned his face at her.


    As the blood raged inside, Ave managed to force out a laugh and moved away. "Ah, yeah." She could only say that and nod her head. But she was not going to stop until he explained everything. He maybe thought that she will not recognize him after wearing the eyes lenses. So silly.


    Confused, Peter wasn''t ready to say anything but he tried to speak to make the situation better. "By the way, why are you here? I mean...." Before he could finish his words and changed the topic, a sudden voice chimed in.


    "Mr Grey."


    All of them turned their gazes to the left from where a hot girl in her mini skirt was standing at the front.


    "Harriet." The name slipped out of Peter''s mouth as if there was something that was pushing it out from inside. Ave sighed. Though she didn''t notice her in the class, she knew that this trouble is definitely present here since her family is Ethy''s family friend.


    "Hey, Peter, Long time no see!" She said and flipped her tousled dark brown hair. Her eyes were dark and deep.


    Peter inhaled a deep breath, discerning the trouble that was willing to occur anytime soon. "Do you know him?"


    Harriet stared at Peter as if she was dumbfounded. "Why? Are you interested?"


    "No." Peter answered right away.


    "I know him. We are close." Harriet smiled, this time her voice was loud enough as if she was announcing it. Ave raised a brow, almost snorted. So, the evil mastermind is friends with the devil governor.


    The next second, Harriet''s expression turned out more sarcastic as she walked close to Peter and beside Ave. "Come on. Don''t shy. Mr Grey is not into women. I can help you, Peter." She whispered to them, not letting Mr Grey hear it.


    Xavier who was watching the whole panorama, unaffected by everything except one, looked at Harriet, irritated. "You... we are not close." With he glared and walked away.


    Hearing upon his harsh reply and getting Harriet dumbfounded in place, Ave sneered as it satisfied her in its way. "I guess, I was wrong. He is not bad. But, yeah. If I had known you are joining us here, I would have kicked you out from the team a long time ago."


    Harriet''s face hardened as her dark eyebrows sloped downwards in a serious expression. "So the Princess is showing off her powers? But let me remind you that I have my powers too." Her usual playful smile had drawn into a hard line across her face.


    Ave shook her head. "Not yours. It''s your brother Drake''s power. Why don''t you try to gain some of your own powers?" Ave left with the question that has already slammed on Harriet''s head hard. Ave never liked defending herself with her inherent powers, instead, she had always preferred to gain some of her own. The best way to realize the superiority of powers is gaining it on her own. Just by herself, without anyone''s kind help.

 Chapter 10：Red Flag

    The crimson-like-eyed man walked down the parking lot that was so messed up because of the traffic of the shopping mall beside. From side to side, there were bunches of cars that have made it hard to find his car.


    A sigh fleeted from his lips as he derived his phone out of his hoodie''s pocket and dialled the chauffeur''s number, not even bothering the eyes that were surveying him all the time.


    "Sir, I am at the right corner of the shopping mall. Should I drive to you?" The chauffeur spoke as soon as the call was answered, had the perception of his boss''s impending query.


    "No, I will find you." He put his phone back inside the pocket as he steered his stare and his pace to the way to the shopping mall, eyes finding the trace of the car. Just after a few steps, his legs took a halt hearing upon the sudden voice.


    "Stop there, Mr Gay."


    "Mr Gay?" Xavier mumbled to himself and tried to understand why did he even stop. It''s not even his name. He turned around and seeing the Princess approaching him, his face puzzled.


    She stood just two steps away from him and for not being as tall as him, she was having difficulty casting her sceptical eyes on him directly. "I told you to explain, Mr Gay."


    Mr Gay, again! With an unnoticed lethargy, he rolled his eyes and shoved his hands inside the pockets. His grumpy eyes narrowed once as if there were too much light to condone. "Little hazelnut."


    Ave blinked and got a vertical wrinkle between her eyebrows. Her lips pursed slightly as he spoke again. "Do you have vocal cord problems like Dysarthria?"


    She tilted her head. "Are you talking with me?" There wasn''t anyone else in the lot but she didn''t understand what he was talking about. Hazelnut? Dysarthria?


    The man finally focused on her, arching a sly brow. "Who else is hazelnut here?"


    The nostrils inside Ave flared. He is just too rude. "Excuse me? My name is Aveline." She rectified.


    "Well, that is hazelnut." He said and peeked down at his watch in urgency. "By the way, why are stalking me?" came out his nosy query but there was not even a single whiff of curiosity shown in his eyes.


    For a moment, Ave almost gaped at this man. However, soon, she snapped out of it and shook her head that prepared the blank man even blanker. "Listen, Mr Ga..."


    "Grey. It''s Grey." He cut her off, shooting a darkened glare. "I don''t like it when someone screws up my name."


    "You called me hazelnut because that''s what Aveline is. And I called you gay because that''s what you are." She shrugged it off in the simplest way and lowered her voice to blurt out the secret that she was holding back in her little head. "I know, you are gay."


    "Am I?" Xavier pressed his lip in a thin line and stared at her blankly.


    With a genuine smile, she stepped forward and got closer to him. He couldn''t help but parted his lips slightly when she tiptoed and whispered the next words to his ear. "It''s okay. Harriet told me everything. I know your feelings. I won''t tell anyone."


    Her eyes widened almost immediately. "You don''t have that? Oh my God! Did you have a disease? Or was it cut off? No, I think it''s from birth. But wasn''t reattachment possible? Does it still hurt?" She asked all in one breath. She wondered how he survived without his manhood all these years.


    Her impulsive action and words were enough to frustrate the hell of him. He heaved a deep sigh getting what she actually thought about. But from where did that ''that'' come? She was talking about knowing his feelings. "I mean... fe...." He paused at the loss of words and decided not to argue with her little brain. "How can a princess be so dumb?" He muttered.


    Ave opened her mouth to shower protests but his words shut them off again. "That girl... Harriet... We met just today."


    As fury raged, she closed her eyes and ran her hand into her hair. "She lied. God, that bit*h. Why did I even believe her? I am really dumb. I should have understood that she was lying and you..." She took a halt whilst her thoughts tumbled on. Her eyes wide opened like two flashlight beams. "You are not gay?"


    "I don''t remember doing anything like a gay." His response was flat and firm. But he really didn''t understand if the woman was shocked or pleased by this truth.


    Right then, an assurance of a satisfied grin was revealed on her face as she spoke. "So it''s a red flag."

 Chapter 11：That man

    He peered at her and blinked his eyes several times as he cocked his head. "What?" His question drew a soft grin on her face. She looked uncontrollably delighted.


    Ave surveyed the entire area, checked if there was any human near or not. Finding no one''s gaze at them, she looked at him again. "I was with you last night. I remember the tattoos on your neck." She said in a lower tone what felt like a whisper and pointed at the tattoos on his neck.


    His expression remained unchanged, precisely turned even calmer. "Do you think only one man can have those tattoos?" He asked whilst his eyes stared deep into hers.


    Even she knew that not only the man she met has moon and stars tattoos but many have. Still, she chose to believe that he is the man she met in the club last night. "It can''t be a coincidence. Don''t play dumb. I would have recognized you right away if you haven''t worn the lens."


    "Lens?" His question got a nod in reply.


    The chuckle died drawn by an obvious question mark on his handsome face. "What do mean by what did I do to you?"


    "I mean..." She trailed her gaze downward as the level of her confidence slowly flattened down. "Last night in the club after that jerk left, I went to the first floor and you came to me. You asked if I was free or not... then..." Her lower tone decreased to the lowest and stopped at silence.


    "Then...?" He repeated after her word.


    She bit her lower lip and looked up at him again, blankness overran her face. "Then...!"


    "You don''t even remember that." He snatched her words out of her mouth and let out a soft chuckle that doesn''t have any kind of fervour.


    But it didn''t entail Ave. "But you do." She responded. "I can''t remember anything after that. What is the reason? And the blood. It still frightens me."


    "Whatever it was. You shouldn''t overwork your little brain." He said with a soft procedure of a smile.


    Ave puzzled. He didn''t look glad at all but still, he smiled. She really never met a man like him before. So mysterious and handsome. "So are you not going to tell me what happened, Mr Gay?"


    "It''s Grey." He glared.


    Ave glared back. "Whatever, you are that man."


    He heaved a deep sigh and leaned close to her face. "I don''t know what you are talking about. But..." He paused, understanding she was not listening to him as she rolled her eyes at the entire surrounding. She looked aware, aware of something else.


    Clicks!


    "Shit." He cursed underneath his breath noticing the camera. He didn''t care about anyone on this earth, but if he shows up in the newspaper with her, it won''t be good for him as well as for her. She is the Princess of Qidan. "You called it yourself. Face it alone." He said and without wasting a second, he turned his back against her, trying to walk away.


    Eventually, he was failed when she appeared in front of him with an unreadable face, blocking the way. He stepped left, then right whilst she kept parading her feet following his, not letting him leave. He finally stopped and parted his lips to let something out. But she was fast enough to grab the collar of his hoodie and pulled his face down closer to her face.


    Their faces were too close. He swallowed a gulp and had his eyes wide opened as her lips arrived near his. His lips slowly trembled when he was sure about the next action.

 Chapter 12：Love Bite

    Xavier was prepared to feel her lips against his but to wonder, they tracked down to the tattoos on his neck and her teeth bit onto his pale skin without any notice. "Are you really nuts?" With his rounded eyes, he whimpered as he clenched his fists and felt the soreness of his skin that was getting bitten by a silly woman.


    Shortly the teeth sank deeper, leaving a mark on his body. "You..." He growled whilst his hands moved her hands from his body and dragged her away, maintaining a safe distance. "Do you wanna die?"


    Ave narrowed her eyes and wiped her lips with her fingers. "It''s your skin or a rock? God, I almost broke my teeth." His skin felt stronger and harder than granite. She couldn''t tell if all men have the same structure since she''s never touched one before.


    He cleared his throat and rubbed his hand on the bitten spot. Though it didn''t hurt as much as he reacted, it honestly tickled a lot, more than he defined. "Are you any kind... of vampire? Why did you bite me?"


    Her face beamed with a sleek smile as she didn''t see any camera now. They left already. "It''s called love bite. And I just helped them to click a better photo so that they can make a better news." Her smile grew even wider.


    "If you are that desperate, you should have just kissed." His voice sounded intense as if he really wanted her to do it so.


    But little Ave didn''t realize the intensity. Instead, she rolled her eyes and bit her lower lip. "I didn''t want to have my first kiss with a stranger." She didn''t say it out loud, was a little embarrassed.


    He let out a soft sneer. "Are you sure that it would have been your first kiss?"


    Hearing him say that, she blazed at him murderously and pointed her index finger at him. "Look at you. You remember what happened last night." It was confirmed now that he was playing dumb here. But as she promised to herself, she won''t stop. She never learnt to give up, not even on a little thing. "Did you kiss me? Or did I kiss you? Tell me, did we..." She paused and gulped as he brought his face down, just an inch away from hers.


    Her heart fluttered, stomach caressed with so many butterflies when he studied her nervous face and smiled dazzlingly. It''s the first time, he smiled in front of her. "I have something more important to tell you, little hazelnut." He asserted.


    "What''s that?" She inquired and locked her eyes with his, stiffened on the place.


    "Let''s not meet again." He stated whilst his eyes watched her pinkish lips that were now trembling.


    The close distance was really making Ave hold her own breath. But she managed to endure and keep her chin up. "What if we do?"


    "Let''s not talk then." The reply came out of his mouth so simply like melted butter as he moved away and stood straight.


    Ave persisted. "What if we do that too?"


    "I won''t." His firm reply downed Ave''s face.


    "What if you do?" She still sounded confident.


    "I will do whatever you tell me to do." He had his eyes squinted. "But I am assuring that I won''t."


    "Why?" She asked in her calmest voice.


    "I don''t like tomboys like you. Go away." With that, he placed his index finger on her little pointy nose and pushed her face away with a sneer.


    Ave stood there alone, staring at his direction until he disappeared from the sight. There was a blank feeling left inside. Why didn''t she say anything? Why didn''t she stop him? As she tried to convey the emotions, her stomach crawled. "I am hungry." She muttered to herself as a soft intake of breath escaped her lips.

 Chapter 13：Handsome & Beautiful

    "Ave. Where did you go last night? I was so worried about you." The first words Ethy blurted out having Ave in front of her door. She was always so concerned about her friends and the fact to be mentioned, she is a girly girl, unlike Ave.


    "She was in the purple forest." Peter, the existence who was finally noticed by them said whilst he walked inside and arranged a seat for himself on the bed.


    Ave could barely give her a blank stare. She wasn''t aware of anything that happened last night. She was the most confused one here.


    "She was probably with a wild animal." Peter was the one to reply.


    Ave gritted her teeth as she grabbed the pillow beside him and started hitting him with it. Peter hid his face and lifted hands to shield himself from the attacks. "You... doom head. It hurts."


    Not even bothering to stop, she glared at him murderously and continued hitting. "You better stop saying this." In order to get himself defense, Peter moved away and ran behind Ethy, trying to hide. "Why would I? It''s the truth." He kept endorsing himself.


    On the other side, dumbfounded, Ethy with her rounded eyes rushed to grab Ave''s hand as she chased Peter and they kept rolling around her. "Ave, baby. Cool down. Please." She pleaded and slapped on Peter''s arm. "You better stop."


    He massaged his arm and threw her a glare. "You are always on her side. That''s unfair."


    "What if it''s not an animal and a man with whom I spent the night?" Ave asked in a challenging tone and that got Peter entirely blank for a while.


    "A man...? Why would he?" He and burst out in laughter as if it was the funniest joke he has ever heard. "Come on. Don''t make me laugh." He said between his laughter, pressing his hand on his stomach.


    That got Ave dumbfounded, she gave him a funny-actually-not-so-funny look. "Is it because I am a tomboy?"


    "Yes. Real men like girly girls." Peter had nodded with a soft smirk. He likes to tease her. It always pleases him in a way.


    She parted her lips. "Why only girly girls?" The curiosity her little head transmitted wasn''t as simple as her ancient theory about being not a girly girl is okay.


    Her head went through a great torment of thoughts until Ethy came by her side. "Don''t listen to him." She paused and gave her a warm smile. "You are so beautiful the way you are. Our Princess is always perfect. It''s just that men don''t even dare to approach you because you are a princess, not because you aren''t beautiful, got it?"


    Ave nodded gladly as her lips curved with a smile. "Yeah, I am beautiful."


    * * *


    "Xavier, you are handsome."


    Xavier shifted his eyes from his phone and averted them up at the man in front of him who was walking back and forth in his own bedroom, talking more to himself.


    "How can it have something to do with dance, Sam?" His lips pressed hard but slightly loose again.


    "Exactly." Sam in his yellow sweatpant screeched as he balled his hands together and continued. "It has nothing to do with it. It doesn''t even matter because you are my cousin, as well as my best friend. And that''s why you owe me a performance."


    Xavier shook his head, a gentle rejection. "That''s ridiculous."


    Sam heaved a deep sigh and sat beside him on the bed with a sad surface of his face. "Everything was alright. I almost begged and you agreed to dance. But now what happened to change your mind?"


    "Nothing." Xavier responded and again got busy with the phone.


    "Something must have happened. Don''t hide from me." Sam didn''t give up.


    A soft breath escaped Xavier''s lips as he looked up. "There is nothing."


    "There is." Sam urged.


    "Not." He shot him a murderous glare.


    Sam shook his head. "If you are not..."


    "Are you going to keep nagging until I say yes?" Xavier''s lips parted as he nodded.


    "So please don''t say no. It''s just a day. You can''t even do this much for me?" Sam acted cute, settling his hands on his cheeks, blinking his eyes. "Hmm?"


    Defeated, Xavier who couldn''t tolerate, had his head nodded. "I will go and practice."


    In enthusiasm, Sam smiled so widely and almost jumped. "You are the best." He paused and scanner him top to toe. "You will wear a black suit. You will look like a model. And the bow tie around your neck..." His words stuck as his eyes darted at his neck. "Bro, you got something on your neck."


    Xavier brought his hand to his neck, on the spot where the crazy woman bit him. The spot was still reddened, furthermore, there was a mark left. "It''s still there, right? Even you noticed. But why would this won''t go?" He mumbled.


    "Did someone bite you?" Sam asked as his widened eyes darted at the balcony of his bedroom from where the front gate can be seen.


    Xavier nodded. "A..." His words were halted when Sam stood up and he heard him say. "They are here."


    "Who?" He cocked his head and glanced in the direction of his cousin''s gape. As soon as his gaze lowered at the car in front of the mansion, Sam let out a laugh. "Peter and Princess Ave are here."


    "Ave?" Xavier''s mouth dropped open. He wasn''t sure if he should hide or just ignore her existence when Sam said. "Yeah, she is my fiancee Ethy''s best friend."

 Chapter 14：Serial killer?

    The mansion was shining with the glow of the fairy lights from the entrance to its yard. It looked exactly like the wedding venue of the would-be couple even though the events won''t be held there.


    Aveline and Peter got off from the car, then seconds later were welcomed by the servants with the courtesy of bows and several kinds of sweets in their hands. Wyatts have been always known for their warm courtesies and creative decorating schemes. It''s a saying that they are the descendent of the people who designed Qidan Castle.


    "Something about Wyatts gives me chills." Ave heard Peter say in his lowest whisper. It was the first comment Peter made when they came here for the first time, and now again after about five years, he is saying the same thing, the comment is still the same. Even Ave doesn''t understand what makes them so different.


    "Am I?" Peter inquired to himself before glancing behind his car. But finding no car behind his, he grunted. "Where is Ethy''s car?"


    "She said she will buy a present for her mother in law. Don''t worry, she is with her cousin Rhia." Ave had replied.


    Peter looked pissed off when he mumbled. "The witch didn''t even say that we will be coming here. If she had said it before, I would have had a facial and looked better."


    "You can''t look better, Peter. You always look the worst." Ave sneered and earned a glare. "Anyway, let''s go inside." When he was inaugurating himself to react, she grabbed his hand and not wasting further time, made their way in.


    The interior was luminous, yet every corner looked so dull. Peter and Ave smiled at the breathtaking fair views of Ethy''s in-laws with whom they met on their way to her fiance room, avoiding the open-mouth stares of the other guests.


    "Whenever I come here, I feel so alien. Why do all of them have to be so damn beautiful?"


    Ave heard Pet er whining alone as they walked upon the staircase. She let out a soft laugh. All the members of the Wyatt family are so beautiful, even their servants are stunning. This is the number one factor that makes people jealous of them.


    Peter knocked on the door and after what felt like an eternity the door was opened. "Hi, Peter. It felt like aeons." Sam said as he gave him a brotherly hug before turning to Ave who was standing beside him. "Hey, Ave." He smiled at her. He had a handsome, angular face


    Ave smiled back. "You look fatty."


    "You, meanie." He pinched her nose. Even though he was a senior, he had been always so friendly towards them. He was a cute and funny man. "Come in. Ethy will be here in a few minutes."


    They entered the room and groped for the couch. Sitting on the softest settee, they spun their eyes around the room, quiet in its serenity. The room was frigid with a balcony and no windows.


    Sam poured two drinks from the wine bottle that was placed on the coffee table and handed them the goblets.


    "Thanks, dude," Peter said.


    "So, Ave. How is it going with your Drake?" He gave rise to a topic, however, it was never considered as a decent topic.


    Ave''s goblet stopped short of her lips. "He is..."


    "Relax. I asked if he is still hurting you." He cut her off when she started hesitating.


    "The prime minister is not qualified enough to hurt our princess." Peter was the one to retort.


    Sam nodded with a smile and was interrupted by his phone''s ringing. Noticing Ethy''s name on the display, he answered it right away. "Where are you, babe?"


    "In front of the gate. Can you please come here? It''s urgent."


    "Yeah, sure. Coming." With that, he declined the call and looked at Ave. "You guys finish the drinks. I am coming back." He said before making his way outside the room, acting weird suddenly.


    "What''s wrong with him?" Ave puzzled and saw Peter shrugged. "I will use the washroom." She let out and slumped into the washroom.


    Locking the door, she turned around to the faucet and as she saw the man in front of her, she almost jumped in awe, her lips parted. "Mr Ga..." Before she could scream out loud, her mouth was pressed against his hand, stopping her to make a sound.


    "Shh..." He whispered, glaring at her. "Don''t even dare to scream."


    Ave jerked his hand away from her mouth. "You... Mr Gay, what are you doing here?" She paused and widened her eyes as he watched her with no interest. "Don''t say you are here on a mission. And you are a serial killer."


    He wasn''t ready to approach her, so he just hid here and tried to prepare himself. But it looked like his plan was failed from the very beginning. In frustration, he let free a soft sigh and shoved his hands inside the pockets. "What if I am?" He asked.


    She stared at him, trying to understand the implication whilst he took steps forward and she trudged backwards. "What if I am here on a mission? And what if it''s you...."


    She gasped when her back was pressed against the wall. There was no way to step back anymore. "I want to kill?" He completed the sentence in a stern voice and placed his hands on either side, pinning her to the wall.


    Ave bit her lower lip and straightened her composure. "I-I don''t care as long as it''s me and not others." She held her own breath as Xavier leaned closer until his nose brushed against hers.


    "You are brave indeed but stupid." He stated and just then the door was knocked from outside.


    "Xavier. Bro, you still there?" Sam''s voice came upon like a sound drown to water. "Ave... are you guys... alright?" He kept asking.


    "So you are his friend?" Ave squinted and the next second the red mark over the tattoos on his skin brought a smile to her face. "Oh? It''s still there." She tried to touch his neck but he was fast enough to move away, saving himself from her touches.


    "Get out." He cleared his throat knowing how dangerous it can be to keep up in a locked place with this silly woman.


    Ave didn''t even move a bit. "But we met and talked." She kept her voice bold, eyes sparkling with determination.


    "So?" Xavier blinked.


    "You said you will do whatever I say." She remembered it vividly.


    It was the thing he was hiding from, however, his face hardened didn''t let himself move as her plan goes. "I didn''t talk first." He endorsed himself.


    "It''s the same. You did." She urged.


    He shook his head. "It''s not the same."


    She clenched her fists tightly as fury rushed through her blood although she managed to bury it inside and not to explode out. "So... you will be doing whatever I tell you to do when you will talk to me first?"


    A soft breath escaped from his lips as he forced himself to nod, aware of the fact that she won''t stop unless he says yes. "Hm. Now get lost." He opened the door and pushed her out of the washroom.

 Chapter 15：A Painter

    "What did you two do inside the washroom?" Peter had asked the question thrice already. He didn''t know that Mr Xavier Grey was inside as well until Sam came and started calling him.


    "We didn''t do anything." Xavier was fast enough to retort, aware that the girl would never give a reasonable answer.


    Peter pursed his lips and nodded. "Okay, I trust you. But... why are you here?"


    "He is Sam''s cousin." Ethy was the one to answer although she didn''t understand anything that happened. She called Sam to help her out with the heavy gift box and after delivering them to his mother, when they arrived here, he started knocking on the washroom''s door saying Xavier and Ave are together inside there.


    "Actually, he is my best friend come brother." Sam amplified and looked at Xavier in confusion. "But why didn''t you lock the door?" His cousin was really acting weird since he saw Aveline. He said he needs to use the washroom but now it seemed like he just wanted to hide. Matter of fact, Xavier was never a coward. It must be something so severe.


    "He forgot to..." Ave replied but attaining their suspicious gazes, she cleared her throat. "He told me." She paused and glanced at Xavier. "But why did I never see you with Sam before?"


    Ave''s face obscured when he didn''t bother to reply, and instead, Sam did. "It''s because he doesn''t live with us." It was obvious enough that he doesn''t live with them and that''s why she never saw him in this house before. But in these years, Sam didn''t even bring a single topic about him. He said he is his best friend come brother. So not talking about him, not even once - that''s not reasonable at all.


    Her curiosity was digging her thoughts deeper but she didn''t let herself start nagging about it.


    "What does he do for a living?" Peter queried and Xavier who was watching them silently felt like he was on remand. They were all judges and the juries, he was the only mute victim here.


    Sam took a glance at him and loosened his mouth again. "He is a painter." A soft sigh escaped Xavier''s lips. Finally, he found his attorney.


    "A professional?" Ave continued the question and answer session.


    This time, Sam sustained the silence for while before nodding his head. "Ah... yeah! Something like that." He talked in reluctance as if he was trying to persuade his guilty client not guilty.


    Xavier couldn''t help but put the book down and interfere even though he didn''t plan to. "I am not a professional. I paint for myself. I don''t sell my paintings. And for living expenses, I think I have enough." His reply was sharp enough for breaking off the superfluous session.


    After that, no one dared to talk, even didn''t dare to make a single noise until Sam broke the impression and let out an awkward laugh. "Haha, actually. His family has enough. But why are we talking about these things? We are here to talk about the trip, right?"


    "Yeah," Ethy said, backing her finance up to make the environment less awkward. "I think, we should go to Terra. It''s a nice place."


    Peter shook his head in disagreement. "The hills are very high there. I don''t want to risk my life."


    "I vote. Terra has hills and beaches. All in one. Great idea." Sam smiled at Ethy and then looked at Xavier. "What do you think, bro?"


    "Am I going?" Xavier blinked getting a nod from him. "I don''t want to..."


    "Are you seriously my..."


    "Okay, I vote Terra." Xavier cut him off before he could start his non-stop sermon. Although he felt so pressured, he didn''t want to upset Sam.


    Ethy let out a laugh seeing defeated Xavier and walked close to her mindless best friend. "What do you think, Princess?" Her voice pulled Ave down to the earth from the realm of her thoughts. With a soft decoy smile, she managed to pack them off and snapped her attention to the current topic. "I vote Terra as well."


    Qidan Castle...


    The gates creaked open and Ave''s car rode into the castle. Chaos coursed through her brain as she glanced outside and saw some paladins, swarming like ants in the courtyard, dressed in blood scarlet robe.


    Ave sighed as she dragged himself out of the car and sauntered into the great hall. Everyday happens something new here. She was being more frustrated than being stunned.


    She heard descant enhancing from the Chapel and chased after the sound. She held the doorknob to open the door but someone was fast enough to open it from inside.


    She was stunned when she glanced at the front and almost jumped in shock seeing someone in a black tunic tied around the waist with a grey leather belt, over the tunic was a scapula that consists of a long wide piece of woollen cloth over the shoulders with an opening for the head. A black cowl was attached to the scapula (the cowl is the hood worn especially by a monk). The front of the scapula was secured with a small piece of rectangular cloth that snapped the sides together.


    Her eyes grew wider in surprise, she almost shouted. "Who are you?" Rubbing her hand on his chest that was thumping fastly.


    "Black Monk. My name is Sia. I''m sorry for scaring you. Princess." She voiced and bowed to her, the cross upon a chain around her necks hanging on.


    Ave nodded and tilted her head a little bit to see her face that was shrouded by the hood. She was fair and short, there was a straight black mark on her forehead, her brown eyes were painted with dark shades to her black eyebrows.


    "Are you still following medieval tradition?" She asked, raising her brows.


    Sia nodded. "Yes, Princess." She replied as she moved aside, giving Ave the space to enter the Chapel.


    Medieval Tradition In Twenty Century. That''s weird. Ave thought before she entered the Chapel, searching for her mother.


    As expected, she was talking with the brother of the chapel. Ave went there and bowed to her mother. "Mother, What''s happening?" She gestured at the monk.


    Salena smiled when she saw her daughter. "The Fragile Monk, Sia is here to help the paladins. They will be working to wipe out the evil powers from Qidan."


    "Oh, alright. I am going to my chamber." Ave said and getting a nod, she walked to her room. She was too much tired, needs to sleep.

 Chapter 16：Odd

    It was before dawn. The chamber was dark as the sky, the floor-to-ceiling windows displaying the incredible views of the courtyard and the huge entrance gate whose frame was outlined by moonlight against the dark sky.


    Aveline''s eyes blinked open as if in urgent, waking up from her nightmare, sweating. She didn''t have such hazardous sleep before, still, she wasn''t tired at all. There was unusual energy boosting her. Her body suddenly trembled. It was neither for the coldness nor for the willingness. Her limbs jerked without her concerns. It seemed like someone else from inside was enforcing it.


    To halt, she gripped onto the bedsheet, nails digging into it. But the quake proceeded with greater leverage. She gasped hard when it stopped.


    "W-what...." Her voice stuck as anxiety took place in her mind that made her more like a mannequin on the soft mattress than a human of flesh and bone. Sleep has said bye to her totally now. Her brain turned like a violent whirl of thoughts, trying to organize the chaos in her life.


    The pieces of puzzles were just expanding when her body pulled herself up. Again by a force. Not willingly. Her body started flooding with adrenaline as her feet led her close to the mirror. Something made her sit on the stool in front of it whilst her hands reached out her hair that was tied in a ponytail. The next second, her hands pulled the rubber out and her long hair flowed down her waist that skyrocketed her heart rate.


    Shortly, her hand moved to the drawer and snapped it open. Thereon, she was forced to grab the scissors and placed them on her hair. She widened her eyes, couldn''t make a single move except for the moves by the force that was controlling her body. "I don''t want to cut my hair." She forced her voice out but wasn''t able to scream. It seemed like everything was controlled by someone else.


    The scissors along with her hand trailed down to her abdomen and was held on the hair above her abdomen. Her fingers curled tight into the handles as the scissors started cutting the hair.


    "No." She tried to shout. "Fucking no." She persisted but still failed to move and scream. After the hair under her abdomen was successfully cut off, she got back the control.


    Ave''s sweaty body was literally frozen in place until she stood up and fled away from the stool. "It''s alright, Ave. Just because... the soul inside your body is not yours." She calmed herself down.


    "I have to calm down." She was trying to catch her breath and still deciding if she should call someone or not when a knock at the door drew her attention.


    Her brows knitted together as she peeked up at the clock. 3 am. "Who is supposed to come at this hour?" She wandered and swallowed a gulp. Bracing herself, she walked there, dragged the door back, and its wooden bound swung open.


    "Peter?" Ave''s lips parted in disbelief. Peter wasn''t a guy who will not sleep at night. He sleeps a lot. But he was now standing in front of her! Weird! In the dimmed darkness and freezing cold, she could see he was wearing a thin black t-shirt.


    He wasn''t cold? He should be!


    "I don''t know if it''s my illusion or not. But if it is, I am really relieved to see you. I have a lot of stuff to tell you." She moved aside, giving him space in.


    When Peter came in, Ave looked at her friend but as soon as her gaze met his eyes, her heart almost jumped out of its place in dread. "Are you drunk? Your eyes are... as red as blood." His eyes were badly red with no trace of the sclera, his face was passive and slack.


    Afterwards, she sighed deeply. "It must be the freezing cold. Why aren''t you wearing warm clothes? Let me burn some wood in the fire..."


    "NO!" Peter shouted. "Don''t make fire. I''m alright." He looked scared like a 10-year-old kid.


    Ave was stunned by Peter''s sudden exploration but she stayed calm. "Okay. Relax. Take a seat."


    Peter nodded and sat on the couch while her suspicious gaze was following his every move. There were hundreds of puzzles in her mind that she was holding back, undone.


    "Now tell me, what''s wrong?" Ave queried, sitting opposite of him.


    "Today." Peter said as his eyes darkened in a dangerous shade. "What were you doing in the purple forest again? Why did you go there? And do you know, whom did you call a ''bastard''?" He asked everything in a fast-paced, in one breath.


    Ave chuckled shakily, clearing her throat that had dried up. "I thought you already know."


    Peter shifted in his position, just like a robot. "How am I supposed to know?"


    Ave coughed as the colour drained from her face and the voice stuck inside. "Right, I didn''t tell you about it." A weak chuckle escaped her lips. "By the way, tell me why are you here at this time? Tell me the reason. I don''t want to talk about the bastard now..."


    "What did you call him again?" Peter''s face turned red in resentment, the anger inside him almost vent by his scream.


    "Bastard!" Ave tightened her fists as his pink-red eyes darkened, even more, two teeth started extending, growing out from either side of Peter''s mouth.


    The clock ceased to tick. There was no sound from the outside world, not a bird or engine noise. Then the air was rent with a soft wheezy sound that was so piercing. The air became cold and Ave''s body heat quickly deserted her blood for the frigid atmosphere. One after another.


    "Your death." With that, the form like Peter but literally a vampire jumped onto her very fastly, giving her no time.


    Ave gasped and struggled to push him away from her body. That vampire''s huge nails bit on Ave''s skin. She winced and pressed her hand on his arm. Though the wound was board, it wasn''t bleeding at all but was aching a lot.


    That vampire continued trying to bite her but was stopped by the sound. Both of them were completely taken aback when the door slumped open, a few paladins came across, holding fire lamps in one hand.


    "I''m apologizing wholeheartedly. I''m sorry, Princess. I thought it''s your friend. I didn''t know it''s a vampire with body transformation." The fragile monk explained between uttering something mutely, holding a silver plain plate, pounding something on it that was like a tool consisting of a solid headset crosswise on a handle.


    The sound spread everywhere in a flash, that beast''s hands clamped on his ears, trying not to heed the sound. His real form was back now. The paladin''s held him, muting something that made him unconscious slowly. When he fell on the floor, they tied his legs and hands with ropes before taking him away from the chamber.


    Then one of the paladins and the court lady ran to Ave and bowed apologetically. "Are you hurt, Princess?" The court lady asked.


    Ave who was not in her right mind realized that she was hurt. She nodded. "Yeah." And moved the hand from her arm. In another second, she became dumbfounded, froze after seeing nothing there on her arm. Not even a single mark of the wound that the vampire created by its nails. "How is it possible?" She muttered, swallowing her own breath.

 Chapter 17：Perception Ruins The Outcome

    The morning was as precise as the waves and just as indestructible. Aveline needed a few more hours of blackness. Not to sleep, but to prepare, to pour her thoughts out onto the deepest page of her mind, reorganize, prioritize and pack them back in again.


    But already she could see the chaos that was unfolding in her room, the dark ragged outline of the shiny clothes on the dresser and the tall lamp she always tripped over in the dark. Soon there will be colour and noises, the smell of the butler and cookers making breakfast.


    What happened earlier? How did everything happen? How to stop them? Every question will be answered. But illogically.


    Knock Knock


    A knock on the door and Ave got herself up idly from her rolling chair. It was obvious that no one slept because of the incident of last night. So the timepiece will tick faster today.


    Aveline didn''t ask or even let out a single voice before opening the door. She took a sharp intake of breath when she saw her mother standing in front. She bowed politely. "Good Morning. Mother."


    Salena''s pale face portrayed her anxiety. Even her face seemed tight, like smiling just wasn''t an option today. And good morning? What was so good about the morning? She sighed. "You should ask who is it before opening the door."


    Ave brought in so much stamina to laugh it away. "There are guards in front of the door. And... why do I bother when I can''t believe what I see and hear? Who knows? You can be someone else, not my mother."


    "Was it a joke?" Salena spouted out, looking at her daughter in disbelief.


    Ave nodded with a grin. "It was." But when her mother''s facial expression didn''t change at all, she caressed her cheek. "Don''t let anxiety taken over your mind. It''s pointless. You are the owner of the wheel of your mind. And you owe it to yourself to take control of the wheel." She said calmly, in a way of elders trying to make kids understand about complicated stuff.


    But it didn''t seem to revolve Salena. Her brain continued racing in the most unhelpful way and pace as more unusual thoughts looped around in her mind until there was no room left inside. "It happened because you have started wandering alone. Anyway, will it be okay to go out alone today? Ethy is busy with her wedding. Should I call Peter to come and..."


    "He is the scariest!" Ave cut her words off and sighed exaggeratedly.


    Salena nodded. "Soon, I will find a secretary for you."


    "No." Ave''s reply came out short.


    "Then find yourself a one." Her mother said and seeing her puzzled face, her face darkened. "It will be the best for your safety. You need one. Take it as my order."


    The next second Ave''s face spun stern with a little melancholy, "How are you going to represent a woman with the title Future Queen in front of Qidan if she is scared over little things, how will she protect her kingdom from those supernatural beasts or whatever? From childhood till now, you have kept me under your shadow. Peter and Ethy. They are my only friends and you selected them. It''s alright. I don''t have any objection about it that you take all the decisions of my life. But this time... please let me fight once for myself, and for the future maybe?" Ave looked at her mother expectantly,


    Salena held her gaze for while before averting her gaze finally. "Breakfast is ready. Come downstairs." With that, she turned around and walked away.


    "It''s a NO." Aveline let it all out in one sigh, watching it float off like smoke in the cold air as she leaned her back against the door. Discussing matters over meals are forbidden in this Castle. So it was the end of this discussion.


    After finishing breakfast, Ave went to the Arts School, followed by her bodyguards. There Peter was already waiting for her in the classroom. The moment she saw him, the memory from last night started replaying in her mind.


    "What are you staring at?" Hearing upon Peter''s voice, Ave stiffened. The same face, the same voice was what made the colour draining from her face.


    "Ave," Peter called. "Are you sick?"


    She jerked her thoughts away and tried to shirk all the agonies. "No. I am fine." She finally found her voice back as she sat beside him. Moments later, Aldrick, the dance master entered the class and behind him, the assistants came holding a mini table. Above it was a medium-sized box. Inside that, there were four folded pieces of paper.


    Ave didn''t seem to notice that since her eyes were rummaging for something else. Actually, someone else. "Where is Mr Gay?" The question slipped from her mouth.


    "You mean Mr Grey? He isn''t here yet." Peter answered although his attention was altogether on the table. The box and the pieces of paper were the reasons for his thriving curiosity.


    "Today is the day. After learning the basic, the first thing we need to do is to find a partner who will not only dance with you but also help you and support you." Aldrick cleared his throat and Ave snapped to attention. At least, the princess needs to be attentive. "I have written our four boys names in those pieces of papers. Girls will come and pick one. But remember, the changing partner is forbidden. I think we can start now. The first girl who will come is..." He persisted.


    It seemed so obvious that he will call Ave. It had been always this way. No one would dare to make the Princess wait. That was why Ave prepared herself to stand up but stopped when she heard the name he uttered. "Harriet."


    Peter who was also reliable in the case that he will call Ave first got dumbfounded. "That''s so unusual." He blinked.


    "That''s better." Ave let out a soft sneer and sat back in her place as she rolled her eyes gradually whilst Harriet strolled to the table and picked up a piece of paper from the box. "Peter Cooper." She read it aloud after unfolding the paper.


    Harriet who was stunned as well walked away to her seat, not even daring to look at Peter. Aldrick smiled and gazed at Ave. "Princess Ave, it''s your time. Will you come here, please?"


    Ave nodded and stood up as she made her way to the box and picked a piece of paper. With no interest, she unfolded it and as soon as she read the name silently, her eyes widened, lips curved with a grin. "Xavier." It was a great chance to make him talk to her. But the grin faded immediately realizing he wasn''t here yet. "Mr Aldrick, he isn''t here yet." She said.


    "Let''s wait for him. I think he will be here soon." He replied. Ave nodded and went back to her seat. Then one by one, Rhia, Ethy''s youngest cousin got Noah, Sam''s friend as her partner and Wendy, Ethy''s another cousin got Dylan, Sam''s family friend as her partner.


    When the assistants took the table away from the dance floor, Aldrick stood in the middle. "I could have shown all of you the entire dance performance first. But I believe that perception ruins the outcome. If I don''t show you it from before and start with one, you will be curious about the next. That''s how it works. Now, time for practice. I will request Ave to come with her partner. Is he here?"


    "It''s okay. Come here. I will help you." He said after having her shake her head. Ave couldn''t argue, she stepped into the dance floor and was offered to take his hand. She hesitated before holding his cold hand in hers.


    Aldrick led her to the central standpoint. "So... the first step is the holding hands and walk together to this point. Then it starts...like this..." He motioned her to his opposite side and yanked her hand closer that he was holding. She rolled twice and her back pressed against his body. He placed his hands on either side of her hips as the distance between them closed. "Turn. Go." He instructed.


    Ave rolled back, whirling on the floor. "Again. Try to roll away." Getting Aldrick''s order, she whirled again, taking steps backwards. She gasped as a man appeared from behind and his hard body slammed against hers. He grabbed her waist and in apprehension, her eyes closed immediately. Her head was now spinning but the scent was so deep and breathtaking that she almost forgot about it.


    Shortly, her eyes flipped open. Right then, discovering the unexpected person made her mouth drop open.

 Chapter 18：First Step

    "Mr Gay!" A soft grin spread across Ave''s face. The combination of a black shirt and a khaki with the chain watch around his wrist and his silky brown hair gave him the look of a perfectionist. She was finally alleviated though she couldn''t understand the reason. Something about this man was so magical. He kept pulling her towards him with more power than her mass. Whilst her stomach with so many ticklish feelings, Aldrick turned to her side and his gaze found the guy. "Xavier?"


    Xavier who was observing their moves and attending the performance silently from the entrance door with a straight and blank face scoffed suddenly. His cold eyes slid past Ave''s shoulder. "What''s going on?" His question was meant for the master.


    Aldrick tilted his head. "Dance practice, I guess?"


    "With you?" Xavier asked. He stepped backwards and moved his hands away from Ave''s waist when he finally realized he was still holding her tight against his body.


    "I tried to..."


    "I am her dance partner, right? I know, I am late. But you could have called someone else and wait for me. Actually, you could have called me. You have my number." Xavier cut his words off, sounded quite stern as if he was so mad.


    Ave blinked, could not believe that Mr Gay being such nosy just because of the dance. "Hey, wait. Chill. He was just helping me." She tried to lessen the intensity of the conversation that was filling the room.


    "Whatever." He uttered arrogantly and walked past her but before he could leave the dance floor, his hand was grabbed by her. "We need to dance." He heard her say and looked back. "Can''t we just skip couple dance?"


    She shook her head. "I can''t."


    He let out a soft sigh and turned to Aldrick. "How to start?"


    With a smile, Aldrick entwined their hands together. "First step. You will escort her to the dance floor. She will be standing two steps away. You will pull her close and then push her away. But she will back to you. Let''s start." Aldrick guided them with one of his assistants.


    Xavier didn''t seem to pull her close, so instead Ave did as she was told. Rolling twice, she got herself too close to him. She held her breath when his darkened gaze glided at her. Her heart thumped fast against her chest at a tremendous pace.


    Dumbfounded, Xavier swallowed a gulp as Aldrick placed his hands on either side of her hips. "Now, push her away."


    He didn''t wait a second. He pushed her away and shook his head. It was dangerous. "Now when she will turn around, you will be on bended knee and ask for her hand. She will come back to you and hold your hand." Aldrick responded.


    "That doesn''t make any sense." Xavier muttered to himself and exhaled a deep breath as he bent his knee on the floor.


    "Stand up."


    Xavier pulled himself up and his gaze met hers. He couldn''t avoid her eyes this time that he had been hiding from for a long time.


    "Ave, place your hand on his chest."


    Ave placed her hand on his chest and couldn''t help but gasped as he closed the distance between them and reached her other hand, entwining it in his. Whilst their intense stares searched for each other''s deepest scrutiny, her heart skipped a beat.


    "Okay. Done." Aldrick clapped in epitome and the eye contact between them finally broke. Ave stepped back and fanned her hand in front of her face, feeling extremely hot. Xavier cleared his throat, rolling his eyes.


    "Now, go to the practice room and practice it together. The room is next to this one. If you need any help, ask my assistant." Aldrick said and looked at Peter. "Harriet and Peter, please come."


    Xavier shoved his hands inside the pockets and walked away, leaving Ave behind. Even though he didn''t notice, she gave him a death glare and waited for a while to cheer her best friend. "Best of luck." She mouthed when Peter approached the dance floor with Harriet.


    "Yeah, really best of luck to me." Peter muttered and sighed deeply. His face downed as he yanked Harriet''s hand and pulled her close. Harriet stared at him and a soft sneer unleashed on her face, noticing his annoyance. "You are really not interested in girls?" She whispered.


    Peter''s eyes narrowed. "I am interested in girls. But I am not interested in you." With that, he pushed her away. "Witch." He mumbled underneath his breath.

 Chapter 19：Bruise Of The Hickey

    The practice room was large enough to dance about fifty people at once. It had cream coloured walls with a full mirror mounted on an entire side, reflecting the space and species.


    Xavier who was sitting on the tidy base of the floor pursed his lips as his gaze hooked on the entrance door which hadn''t been opened yet. Inhaling deeply, he got himself up and grabbed the water bottle from the small table before him.


    He swung the bottle''s cap open and right then, someone walked inside the room. Whilst taking sips from the bottle, he turned around and saw Ave staring at him blankly.


    Aveline was in a daze. She had never seen such stunning existence before. She had to swallow her breath when he choked the water and the lump of his neck rolled down, then up back. He was so good looking that defining him as handsome would be less. It will be an understatement and almost insulting. His eyes colour that was changed to normal black had a dazzling effect, the glossy pink colour of his lips was alluring in its way. His silky hair that he coloured back to inky black was combed behind by his nice fingers, the few strands of hair that were stroking across his forehead made him look breathtaking.


    Placing the bottle back to its place, Xavier cleared his throat, didn''t let out his voice although he wanted to, aware of the deal they made together. He wasn''t sure about what he saw on Ave''s face was disappointment or not when she talked. "Ah... I think we should practice."


    He just nodded and extended his hand to her. A soft smile appeared on her face as she held his hand and was pulled close to him. He had a straight face but his touches had already dissipated a magical feeling through her entire body, her entire mind. She couldn''t help but stare at him whilst whirling, drawing herself away from him.


    He knelt and she pulled himself up, resting her hand on his chest. "You are not that bad." She was again back to his closeness, his intimacy.


    The corner of his lips quirked up. "At least... better than you." He taunted, even though he knew that the Princess was not less skilled than any dance master.


    She glared but therefore both of them remained silent and stared at each other as if they were contacting through eyes for no reason. All of a sudden, he stepped back and shoved his hands inside his pockets as the expression on her face turned serious. He was sure that she will provoke the corniest topic now.


    "I just want some simple answers." She said in the softest voice as if she could study him.


    "You can''t afford to." He replied.


    Ave pursed her lips. "We did anything?" She just tried to toss questions at him, instead of bothering his statements.


    "What if I say we didn''t?" He tilted his head.


    "You are hopeless." She sighed in defeat and walked away to grab the bottle. With her lips shoving the tip inside, she finished drinking the water and then realized Xavier''s lips had touched the bottle''s tip as well. Her eyes rounded as she glanced back at him. "Why didn''t tell me?" He had been gazing at her all the time.


    "Tell you what?" He resisted a sneer noticing the destruction of her expression.


    She bit her lower lip and glanced at the bottle. "It''s an.... indirect kiss. We kissed just now."


    He let out a soft smile and grabbed her hand. She gasped as her body pressed against his and he leaned to whisper. "In your dreams." He paused as he moved back and looked at her. "But hazelnut, I want you to show me something."


    "Show what?" She asked.


    He hesitated for a while before bringing his index finger in front of her lips. "Your teeth."


    "What?" She widened her eyes. Has he gone nuts?


    He cleared his throat as he placed his hand on the tattoo of his neck. The bruise of the hickey made Ave almost shout in awe.


    "It''s still there?" Her mouth dropped open. She didn''t bite him that hard. How come it''s still there? It should have disappeared overnight. "Are you sure that you weren''t bitten by anyone else after me?" She narrowed her eyes.


    He frowned. "Stop talking. Just show me your teeth."


    Ave nodded and with a smile, she opened her mouth, gritting her polished teeth to show him the exact pattern.


    Xavier pressed her lips together as he shifted his gaze at her face. She looked unbelievably funny. "Don''t call me hazelnut." She said with her teeth clasped together.


    A smile urged to appear on his face, holding it back was impossible now. From the pocket, he brought his right hand close to his nose. Pretending to rub the edge, he hid his lips as he cleared his throat and let out a safe laugh silently, not letting her witness his smile.


    "Why do you smile?" She shut her mouth closed, glaring at him. Looking at his crinkled eyes, it was obvious that he was smiling. Was it funny?


    "You looked like a..."


    "Does my brother know?" The sudden voice filled the room and cut Xavier''s words off.


    Ave sighed recognizing the voice. Without bothering to move away from each other, they both looked in the door''s direction and saw Harriet, beside her was Peter, looking extremely annoyed.


    Harriet looked at Ave with a sneer. "My brother should know that his lovely fiancee is dancing and having fun with another man."


    Peter narrowed his eyes at her. "Why can''t you mind your own business, Harriet?"


    "Why can''t you stop taking her side, Mr Flop Star?" She was glaring at him now.


    Peter puzzled. "Mr What?"


    "Flop Star." Harriet had a tight smile on her face.


    Peter''s blood raged inside. "If I am that, you are Miss Stinky Pinky."


    "What did you say?" Harriet almost shouted.


    "They are so noisy." Xavier massaged his temple and heaved a deep sigh before leaving the room.


    This way three days passed by. He was the same, unchanged, determined, didn''t bother to talk first to her no matter how emergency it was. He didn''t get caught staring at her like she did several times. However, he was surely amazed at the fact that she was not too noisy, not too nosy. She didn''t ask him any question, neither did she follow him. She behaved like a normal human, that''s so unusual of her.


    She almost gave up on making him talk first and on winning the challenge, still, she couldn''t just give up on the curiosity of unearthing the answers to the unanswered questions. On the other side, Peter and Harriet were too hostile to each other. They started catfights for no reason.

 Chapter 20：Prince Charming

    "Babe, why are you talking? It''s tiring, isn''t it? Let me talk." Peter imitated Sam as he took the handkerchief from the table and passed it to Ave, looking so concerned.


    Sam slapped on Peter''s arm hard that made him rub the pain away. "Come on, dude, I am not corny." He squinted at him, pouting his lips.


    They will be leaving soon for the bachelor and bachelorette trip. Ethy was still inside the Wyatts Mansion, talking with her in-laws. In the meantime, Sam, their friends and cousins were all sitting in the garden of his Mansion, playing the truth & dare game. Imitating Sam was Peter''s dare given by Noah.


    "Right, not just corny. You are super cheesy. And..." Peter paused to wink as he glimpsed at Ave with a frown. "Babe, let me wipe your sweats. You shouldn''t overwork yourself." Finishing off, he yanked the handkerchief and started wiping her face although there was no trace of sweat on her skin, demonstrating the couple.


    Ave could hardly stop herself from bursting out laughing. "That''s so like him."


    Sam''s glare now halted at her. "Your turn, Ave." She nodded and he spun the bottle that was on the ground. It pointed at Ave and at the rear end was Harriet.


    Ave sighed noticing the smirk on Harriet''s face. If she chose truth, it was so sensible that she will ask one of the toughest questions. And if she chose dare, it will be too dangerous for her.


    "Truth or dare?" She queried.


    "Among these five guys choose one who can be your ideal husband for a day." Harriet said after thinking for a while. Those five guys were Xavier, Sam, Peter, Noah and Dylan.


    Ave pursed her lips and bounced her head while thinking out loud. "Only Prince Charming can be my ideal husband..." She said, rolling her gaze at them carefully but stopped and her brows bumped together when she earned a chuckle from Xavier who was beside Sam, reading a science fiction book.


    "As if she is Cinderella." He mumbled to himself but his voice was loud enough to make Ave scoff in disbelief. He kept pondering the book, didn''t bother anyone until Ave''s gaze overhauled at him and he felt she was smiling for a long time. His face swung blank as he looked up and witnessed the authenticity of his impression.


    She was really smiling. That meant she was scheming some silly plans in her little head. "So here my Prince Charming is..."


    "Dead. I killed him." He cut her off as he flipped the book close and took the water bottle from Sam''s hand. The tension almost dried his throat up. He was very sure that the Prince Charming she was going to choose just now was him.


    The atmosphere suddenly became so intense. But his sarcasm didn''t dim the long-lasting smile on her face. "Then you can be his replacement." She asserted cutely.


    Sam and Peter widened their eyes whilst Xavier almost choked on the water that he was drinking. He started coughing, trying to get back his voice.


    "You will be my husband." Ave clasped her lips, stopping herself from laughing out loud.


    His face was almost red in embarrassment now. "In your dreams." He cleared his throat and averted his gaze at the book. Opening it, he again got himself invaded. The best way to ignore the silly game.


    Everyone was quiet, afraid that the Princess will sue him badly. On the contrary, Ave let out a soft giggle as if it was a joke to her. Peter parted his lips but before he could say a word, Ethy''s voice was heard. "Hey, guys. I am done. Let''s go."


    "Finally, mission Terra will begin. I am so excited." Harriet spat out with a big smile. Promptly, Sam got himself up and fled to his girl. "Babe, are you all right? You look pale." He asked worriedly, cupping her face.


    "Awww!" Peter and Ave clamoured, teasing the couple. Xavier peeked up at Ave before sliding the book on a chair and standing up. She was grinning, looking at Ethy. "Someone said he is not corny."


    "You guys didn''t tease my boyfriend, did you?" Ethy glared at them. Of course, she knew how dangerous her friends were.


    Peter cleared his throat as he shifted his gaze at the gate. "I need to get my car out of the garage." He walked away fast, was missing from the spot in a flash.


    "I need to call my brother." Harriet left behind him as well, aware of Ethy''s next targets.


    Only Ave was caught in the spot. She bit her lower lip and rubbed her neck, ignoring her best friend''s glare.


    Sam laughed and looked at Noah and Dylan. "You guys will miss it. Think again."


    Noah sighed. "The castle needs us." The words came out of his mouth like melted butter.


    "Castle?" Both Ave and Ethy puzzled.


    "He meant the Castle Construction Company. Our family business." Dylan who was standing beside Noah rectified him.


    Noah nodded as he laughed awkwardly. "Yeah. I thought you will understand. My bad! By the way, we need to go there right now. Have a safe journey. Call us when you arrive there, okay?"


    Sam smiled. "I will."


    Heaving a deep sigh, Xavier glanced down at Ave. She was still sitting there. He couldn''t even say a thing first because of the damn deal.


    Perceiving his fixed gaze, Ave clenched her jaw, tilting to his side. "What, Mr Gay?"


    Mr Gay! Xavier decided to retain the forbearance. "Are you waiting for your Prince Charming to come and carry you outside?"


    "Since you killed him. I won''t mind if you bear the consequences." She said whilst she spanned her hands against the ground and leaned backwards, plopping the bodyweight on her hands. Her long hair touched the dirt of the surface and the soft wintry wind made them ragged, yet she looked so good.


    With his hardened face, he poked his hands inside the pockets. "Never mind." He said before he turned his back against her and strolled onward.


    Ave stared at him until he lost in the sight. "Something is weird. Very weird."

 Chapter 21：Superyacht

    "Yacht?" Within reach, spotting the yacht at the face, Ave''s eyes seemed to pop out of their place soon. She was shell surprised and as a result, her mouth was dropped open.


    The yacht stood tall, blossomed right there on the ocean, blazed in compliment to the sky and waves. Her strengthened hull had been designed to withstand icy waters but was coated in a bronzed layer of paint. The theme of fire was reportedly a particularly important aspect that reflected in the golden shades of the hull.


    Xavier had a blank face, taking sips of large size iced coffee through a straw. He would always choose refreshment over enjoyment. He''d this kind of habits and he''d wondered what was there in a yacht for a Princess to be surprised about. It was only normal for Ethy to be surprised and touched by her fiance''s fine present.


    And, she was. Ethy had her palm coated her mouth. Shock registered on her face so delicately. "Sam, are you serious? Dream?" She forced her tears back. Dream yacht was one of the most beautiful and expensive yachts in the damn world.


    Sam smiled as he slid his arm around hers. "Dream. That''s what you were to me. And it comes true." She told him about this yacht a lot of times. How could he forget that it''s her favourite one? From the day, he heard of it, he had been planning to surprise her with something like this.


    Peter almost dozed off by the sweetness of this couple. Literally, they were the reason he disliked sweets these days. Yawning his snooze away, he looked at Ave and something hit like a bang on his head. "It''s the sea." How could he forget this!


    Harriet stifled her irritation and adopted a reasonable sardonic tone. "Oh? Really, Mr Flop Star? I didn''t know until you said so. Now I know, it''s the sea."


    "I am not talking with you, Ms Stinky Pinky." The sense of sarcasm had infuriated Peter but he managed to ignore and snapped at his best friend. "Ave, there is water and that means danger. For you."


    Ave''s pitiful gaze flew to Peter. "I am not swimming to Terra, Peter."


    "That makes no difference. You can''t travel through water vehicles either." He let out, sounded alarmed.


    Ave didn''t see this coming. She really thought Sam was too piker to hire a yacht over planes and arrange all these schemes. "I like water vehicles." She defended her willingness.


    "The queen won''t listen to such explanation. She told me to take care of you. And if anything goes wrong, I will be dead." Peter said as he shot Ethy a look of entreaty. She had to make her understand.


    But to his astonishment, she, instead, sapped on his arm like she always does in fury. "You ain''t gonna tell anyone anything about this yacht."


    "You are not serious."


    Sam shook his head. "She is dead serious. Now, stop nagging and let''s go inside." He had to drag Peter inside the yacht whilst Ethy and Ave relished each and every surface to the staircase.


    The interior had been helmed by German studio Focus Yacht Design. They were an exercise in understated elegance and subtlety, with an overarching warmth and welcoming ambience. Everything was so decorative, clean and astonishing.


    "Where is my bro and Harriet by the way?" He took a halt to scan the area but not finding Xavier, he puzzled.


    "They left to their cabins already." Ave acknowledged. She saw Mr Gay plodding upstairs, of course, he was bored here by their unreasonable clatter. Harriet just fast followed him.


    Sam pursed his lips. "He must be tired. By the way, babe, come with me." He said as he gripped onto Ethy''s hand and ran past Peter with her to the second floor.


    Few steps behind, Peter sighed and glanced at Ave. "Are you sure, Ave?"


    Ave nodded. "Believe me."


    She smiled at his troubled face when he grabbed his luggage and stepped upright to the stairs, throwing out words such as ''Hardhead'' ''Immature'' ''Dumbo'' etc.


    However, it felt like a dream indeed. A dream in the ''Dream Yacht''.


    Sometimes, drifting into dreams for a while isn''t bad at all. At least, she could be the judge herself for that certain period. She didn''t want to care if it made her sound like dumb. "Isn''t it only good to be dumb sometimes?" A chill ran through her veins as she spread her arms and then wrapped herself with them.


    "You should know that you are the dumbest."

 Chapter 22：Breathe You In

    Song Recommendation: Breathe Me - Sia.


    Hearing the deep, low-pitched voice that had chimed from the staircase, Aveline turned to sneak a look at the sight and her eyes were literally blessed.


    She doubted if a man could be more attractive. Thanks to the man in front of her who was everything a woman can ever want. He was a complete package of perfection, flawlessly produced.


    Though this perfectionist could attract everyone with his facial features, he could never attract anyone with his terrible manners. Even if anyone had ever fallen for his facial features, she would really run away to spare her life from terrifying mannerisms.


    Dumbest ¨C that was what he called Ave just now. He called a Princess the dumbest!


    Despite her infuriated rage by his offensive insult, she had a soft grin materialized on her face. "Mr Gay!"


    "Stop calling me that, hazelnut." He blurted out as he approached her and gripped onto the handle of the luggage she was holding.


    She loosened her grip and he pushed the luggage with him to the staircase. She blinked. "You are here to help me?" She never reckoned this nutcracker will do such a kind thing to her.


    The fluttered tone of her voice stopped Xavier''s step on the third stair. He tilted to her side. "It''s my own luggage that was mistakenly exchanged with yours in the car. But seems like, you are too dumb to notice."


    Right, their luggage came up to be the same; the white samsonite luggage.


    "Where is my luggage?" Ave glared. He was here to help her ¨C even having the thought was much more than just stupidity.


    "It''s in my room. Take it back to your room as soon as possible. I don''t like nutty stuff in my room." He said before he turned his back against her and moved towards the upper deck.


    Ave shuffled behind as she watched him swiftly carrying the luggage in his one hand. Indeed, it was too light to him. "Can''t you just help me?" Her lips parted.


    "No!" His reply came out unpleasantly.


    "Okay." Ave sighed. "I am stronger. And... I can carry heavy bags. I can cook. I can sing. I can dance. I can swim. I can...." Whilst she mumbled about her capabilities alone, the stairs led them to the upper exterior deck side of the yacht. The deck had four sets of couches with a divan for relaxation stood between them. The curved railings were high and neatly polished. It had been set up for the 180-degree view of the ocean.


    "Wow, the sea looks so amazing."


    Xavier heeded her distant voice fading in the air. He halted in the place to behold the girl behind him who was now busy scanning the entire arena. It was beautiful indeed.


    As she placed her hands onto the rails, the breeze flirted with her, fluttering through her hair, freeing several stands from the ribbon. The whiff of wind blew strong and the gusts of water kissed her face. She enjoyed it; or maybe was enjoying everything.


    However, it was only until a bark was heard from behind. She whipped around and the german shepherd that stood two steps away was given attention to. Her eyes seemed to pop out of their place as she stepped back and her back hit the railing.


    Demonstrating the grip onto an imaginary sword, she lifted her hand and bounced it back and forth. "Go away, please. I am afraid of dogs." She whimpered, probably didn''t notice anyone except the german shepherd and herself.


    Dumbfounded, Xavier watched the dog trudging close to her while Aveline had been trying so hard to keep a distance. As expected, she was failed and lunged back. Placing her legs up, on the railing, she settled herself onto it.


    The dog barked again and strolled to approach her.


    Ave gasped and clenched her hands onto the rail. Hoisting her legs up, settling on there, she had been losing control of her position. "If I get murdered by this dog, I will be so fucked off." She had closed her eyes whilst crying out.


    "Childish." Xavier attempted to ignore her and walk away but when the sound of water and her historical scream was heard, he knew the attempt was failed already. She had slipped from the railing and fell into the sea. "Fuck you, little troublesome nut." Cursing her in numerous names, he hurried to the railing.


    Through sheer survival instinct, Ave was forcing her arms and legs to move and pop her head up above the water only to repeat the cycle. Despite her constant movement, she started to sink lower in the water, with water rushing into her nose and mouth alerting her to the danger.


    "I don''t want to die." Ave barely let out her voice, kicking her legs as fast as she could and parting the water with huge strokes of her arms. The icy water had shocked her system as she plunged beneath the surface of the ocean again. Her heart raced and chest tightened.


    She was failed, again and again.


    That moment she came to realize that, ¨C drowning is quiet unlike the downing in the movies that is loud and splashy. When people are drowning, they can barely make a single noise.


    Her strength was gone and she was giving up until all of a sudden, she was exploded out of the water, spraying droplets everywhere. Her lungs filled with the sweet, life-giving air as someone wrapped hands around her waist and dragged her up. She blinked to clear the hazy blur vision, and after a few attempts, the rescuer she discovered in front of her was Xavier, Mr Gay. "Y-you..."


    He pressed her tight against his chest, hauling the weight of her wet body. "You are such a troublemaker, Aveline. Why can''t you just ignore me? And why the hell I can''t ignore you?" His words blurted out in frustration.


    Not after too long, he realized, she didn''t hear anything. She was too stunned to listen to anything. As the yacht horned, startled, she snaked her arms around his neck, sheltering herself.


    His steady gaze ran over her frightened face as their eyes locked. The droplets on her skin had glittered her almost red face. And, because of the dangerous closeness, he could feel the soft stroke of her delicate body''s features that were now visible under her drenched robe.


    Slowly, he leaned over until his lips brushed against her earlobe. "You can''t swim at all, can you?" He whispered in her ear, feeling the loud thumping of her heart.


    She shook her head and the warmth of his lips'' soft whiff shuddered her in the cold water.


    "Then you better hold me tight."


    His hand trailed up from her waist and midst the route to her nape, his fingers stroked the drenched fabric of her cloth, travelled across her abdomen, breast and shoulder.


    She squirmed, not because of the cold, but the warm touches. Flares of heat shot through her. "W-what are you doing?" Her skin prickled and turned bluish whilst she held her breath.


    He slid his hand under her hair. "By any chance, are you out of breaths?" His voice had a husky rasp.


    Suddenly, she was so hard against him as she felt the rigid tension of his muscles beneath her palms. She was no longer afraid of the ocean or drowning.


    "Yes, let me breathe you in." She said before she curled her fingers into his wet hair and took his mouth in hers.

 Chapter 23：The Sh*t

    Floating into the water, Xavier caught her head in his hand and sank his fingers in her soft hair whilst she ran the tip of her tongue over his, then gently probed.


    He licked her lips and she responded with passion. At that moment all his principles evaporated and he let her play as much as she desired.


    The kiss was deep and full. She used her tongue on him and her lips caressed the corners of that hard mouth, delved inside again. Her excitement clambered, fueled by the feel of his hands clasping her so tightly. She let out a soft, mewing sound. Vulnerable. Needy. And that sound threaded into Xavier''s dulled consciousness and brought him back to reality.


    With one hand he dragged her mouth away abruptly and with another, he gripped onto her hands. "Let''s get out of this shit." He spoke to the expression of shock that swept over her flushed face.


    "Yeah." Aveline nodded, replacing a sigh.


    Xavier swam to the yacht, holding her closely and carried her up to the stable spot on the grand deck. As Aveline tried to brush the water away from her blouse and jeans, he gazed over her in confusion. "It''s the damn water. Not some powder. Go and change your clothes."


    She went very still as she met his gaze. "My luggage... It''s in your room." The water droplets on his skin and the strand of hair that swept across his forehead were what made Ave nervous. Drenched by the sea, the gradient colour of his full-sleeve, linen shirt evidenced the perfect shape of his not so board yet strong, masculine body.


    "That''s the reason I concerned. Take that thing from my room." Xavier spit out before he walked away with his luggage, ignoring her existence as if nothing had happened.


    God, he was being so arrogant. She sighed and followed him closely from behind.


    Located on the second deck, in front of the massive entrance of a VIP room, Xavier took a halt and creaked the door open. Ignoring Ave''s existence once again, he entered the room, placed his luggage across the way and left the door half-opened.


    Aveline didn''t think twice, she stalked inside and closed the door without hesitating a bit as if it was the only right thing to do.


    The room was so unlikely to just accommodate a single person. Except for Sam and Ethy, they were still four in total. A yacht was never supposed to have about four VIP rooms; rather two VIPs, two doubles and one single was always the standard facility.


    Everyone would be staying in VIP rooms ¨C this was what Sam''s words imply. But four VIP rooms? He really got the nerve to spend his money lavishly.


    "What are you staring at?" His voice chimed like the clashing of two grand slopes. His deep, manly voice was the most charming part of his ¨C she thought.


    Deprived of her awareness, flocks of flushes and heat rushed through her skin. "Nothing." She ignored herself shaking her head for no reason.


    Excavating no more interest, he bothered to carry and also, to abandon the exchanged luggage in front of her from the corner of the double bed. "Take your luggage and leave." He paused and as his gaze dropped at her, his expression turned more stern. "You are making this room a swimming pool." Her dress was all drenched was a reason why the robe was getting rid of the excessive water.


    "And you are not?" She snorted whilst her chin held down and gaze trailed down at the floor that was almost swept by the steam of his jeans.


    His blank gaze shifted down to his toes. The water steam he had created was enough for a day for a little family that consists of three members. "It''s my room anyway." He arrogantly hailed.


    Exhaling an exaggerated sigh, she took over the luggage. "I wonder what''s your problem... I am the Princess here. A damn Princess." She mumbled, riding the luggage to the doorway.


    As a sound of knock was heard from outside, her steps slowed down. But the next sound rooted her steps in place, she stopped moving.


    "Are you there, Mr Grey?"