Arelia's POV

I then looked his way once more as my very eyes confessed confusion to him with him stepping back from me.

"Hate you? How can I when I can't even come close to wanting to despise you...because of what...some stupid partner thing? Trust me, I wish I could if I had that choice because in the end you're all the same."

Anger started to rise because I didn't feel as though I had to choice to choose to hate him.
Destined partner and all...I felt as though that very tie is what was chaining me down from what I truly felt.

It was like someone had gone and took my true emotions and thoughts and placed them in murky water...making me unable to see or think clearly.

I didn't know what to believe...what was really real and what wasn't.

"You're a human forced to be loved by your worst enemy, a vampire. Do you not hate me for forcing you into this? Are you not livid over the fact that fate has brought us together?"

Enemies not meant to be lovers. That's all I could think of after he spoke to me like that.

"I am upset but...still...you spared my life. And although you'd say that fate has kept me alive thus far...I don't believe in fate...Not after the way my life has gone down the pipes and out the gutter... And as life rages itself at me unrelenting...I in turn fight against it just the same. This just happens to be an ironic situation for the both of us...that is all this is."

"If that's what you choose to believe...Then for now, that is our truth."

He looked at me with a soft longing but stayed quiet.

It was as if he was biting back from speaking to me, as if something weighed heavy on his mind.

"You know...I was suppose to tell you something and I honestly don't really want to. But I want there to be trust between us...so I must."

I then sat on the edge of the bed.

A little on end, a little curious.

"What was it you wished to say?"

"We have a prisoner. He was in your ship that night. In the wreckage more like...He...was pronounced dead. And he was."

"But what? What of Darius?" My eyes sparked off curiousness as he sat down in a chair right across from me.

I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing.

From how loud and fast my heart was beating, I swore if Ambrose was any closer he could have heard it.

"Our arc mage, Valeic...well...they like to do experiments and found him before I could. They gave him parts to fill in what he lost."

He wanted me to read between the lines...and I did.

Tears ran from my eyes.

All I could think about was how Darius was even alive right now.

Despite knowing that he may or may not be himself anymore...was another matter I didn't want to think about at the moment.

He was alive and that's what mattered most.

"I need to see him at least this once Ambrose. Please, I beg you."

He only gazed upon me.

"May I remind you that you cannot leave Arelia." He sounded too stern to seem friendly about the idea of me seeing Darius.

But a glimmer of shine ran across his eyes, as if he could feel my uneasiness.

"Don't worry too much, you will see him soon enough."
He was giving me reassurance I didn't ask for.

"But why tell me if I can't see him now?" I didn't even bother to hide my impatience with him.

"To put your mind at ease that he's alive. And honestly, they should've just buried him... Making him part metal is truly against nature itself...but even more so that he even survived."

"When can I see him?"

"In five days time. That's when Queen Estel will arrive unless she somehow arrived earlier...but that's when I will tell her of you, and only then will you be granted the right to see your friend."

"And also make a choice?" I spoke as he nodded.

"Yes...it won't be an easy one. That's all I can say about the matter."

He gave me a sad glance as he then looked away.

"Is it that you can't say or you won't say?"

I've always despised vampires and yet I still have not come to hate Ambrose.
Why.

"Both. But in time you will understand. You must be hungry. I'll grab you something on my way back."

Before I could say anything he left while locking the door behind him.

Leaving me here alone and trapped in this room was so suffocating.

So stuffy and annoying...I hated how he has yet to answer most of my questions still.

But to hear that he's sorry about the choice I had to make eventually...made me wonder if I was to be his or not...

And if I were to choice him...would I have to let the cost of my life be the exchange?

Because for as long as I've lived...everything came with a price.

Nothing would ever come freely and nothing is ever given freely.

"I'm not even hungry-" and if on cue my stomach growled.

"Traitor." I pointed to my stomach as I noticed a floor board was loose underneath my foot.

I bent down to move the floor board over just a bit to find a silver key.

I assumed was for the locked door that was containing me in this room of furs and greenery.

Before Ambrose could spot me red handed I quickly shoved the small key into the pocket of my dress as the door opened shortly after my new discovery.