A Bastard's Allure-Chapter 42: Gabriel And Disloyalty
Seconds passed, paving way into minutes! Still, Elena didn’t feel it... The craving, the obsession, the unexplainable feeling... She let him knock the air out of her lungs in a heated kiss. An intense one, and one that was exaggeratingly longer than Gabriel’s! But there was nothing!
Her hands rested on his chest armor before she pushed him off. He appeared to be in a daze, but her eyes found his before he shied away in guilt. Still, no redness in them. His fangs were still intact!
She tried touching his face again but he took a step back, afraid of the consequences of his actions.
"I’m sorry," Elena said, her hands falling to the side of her fabric. She cast her eyes on the floor, slightly embarrassed. "That was unbefitting for my status."
Darion’s grip on his helmet tightened, too scared to afford her a glance. He could be executed for this! In fact, spending a second longer in this room felt like treason in itself!
"My Lady," he excused himself, offering the clumsiest of bows. And she did little to stop him. He slammed the door behind him and disappeared into the corridors.
Elena suddenly felt ashamed of herself! She walked close to the mirror, her very image appearing to stare in mockery. How could she be so foolish, a person of her stature? What was even running in her mind all that time?
And Darion? He was definitely blaming himself for everything, yet it was all her fault! Gabriel’s face crossed her mind and she couldn’t imagine how he’d take it. And judging from the time she had spent with him, he wasn’t someone who wished to share her with anyone else, not even the dead!
"You are stupid," she said, staring back at her reflection. And the more she stared at it, the more she despised herself, her self worth!
Disgusted, she lied on the bed, her thoughts a mess. But there was something still bothering her. If Darion was as bastard as Gabriel was, why didn’t his eyes turn red, or elongated fangs at least? Instead, he just drowned in her kiss.
*****
Jophiel ascended the flight of stairs leading to Gabriel’s chambers, a jug of water in her hand. She was happy Elena had finally regained her consciousness. Her smile was however cut short when Darion walked past her, shoving the jug off her hands. Her nose flared wide, ready to unleash her anger on this imbecile of a knight.
She caught his face before he walked past her, and he didn’t appear like someone ready to be scolded by a maid. Instead, he continued walking, his boots clicking against the stairs before he disappeared into a corner!
"Darion?" Jophiel called but he was already gone. A frown settled on her face and more disappointment when she saw the jug shattered on the ground. She’d have to go back all the way to the kitchen, and a narrative to give the head maid. Still, she wondered where Darion had left to in such haste.
After fetching another jug and avoiding the head maid, Jophiel managed to get to Elena’s room. She found her resting on the bed, her hair sprawled as usual. She was absentmindedly staring at the ceiling. Only when Jophiel walked close did she notice her.
Tilting her head sideways, she studied as Jophiel refilled the pitcher with the fresh water. "Did you see Ser Darion?" She asked, her fingers crossed to curb her nervousness.
"I just met him walking down the hallway. And thanks to him I have to avoid the head maid the whole day." She closed the pitcher and poured Elena a glass. "Here, My Lady."
Elena sat up, curious as to what Darion had did to upset Jophiel. Was it related to what had just happened? "What did he do?"
Jophiel handed her the glass and smoothened her maid skirt. "Shoved me off at the stairs. I broke a jug and he didn’t have the honor to at least apologize. He just walked past me, like I didn’t exist!" She was now seething in anger.
Elena placed the glass on her lips but she never took the sip. That only meant Darion was upset with himself. How then would Gabriel take it? For once, she was scared of the monster Gabriel Sinclair might be holding inside of him!
"What’s the worst thing my husband has ever done to anyone?" She found herself asking.
"Pretty many things," Jophiel stated as if it was a normal occurrence. "When I was sixteen and working in the kitchens, he had a member of his kingsguard then flayed for betraying him!"
Elena’s heart skipped a beat to resonate with her shocked demeanor. Jophiel picked her expression before she smiled.
"You don’t need to be scared My Lady. His Highness only punishes disloyalty."
Elena gulped the water without a break and handed the glass to Jophiel, swallowing the lump in her throat in the process. She could only imagine for the worst! But one thing she was certain, whatever transpired between her and Darion had to remain a secret!
"I’ll draw your bath, My Lady," Jophiel said and left for the bathroom. Elena released a sigh she didn’t know she was holding all the while. She stood up and walked over to the mirror. Untying the stripes on her back, she let the gown slip off from her body before she stepped out.
Her eyes met with her reflection. God, she looked emaciated! Her cleavage was more pronounced than the last time she had checked. She run her fingers to the back, revealing the spot she had a wound. And surprisingly, not even a scar was left of it! She ran her fingers on the spot and it was as clean as if there was no wound there in the first place!
She undid the bandages on her wrist, and just like the wound on her back, this one was completely healed! Her skin was flawless as it was before, with additional two marks on the spot Gabriel had bitten her!
"Impossible!" She whispered, her fingers running on the skin. Her eyes met with those of her reflection, her eyes wide in surprise
