Daughter of oblivion: Claimed by four alpha(s)-Chapter 106 - 105: Eryx is being judged...

Eryx stormed back into the party room, anger radiating from him like heat off a flame. Everyone could fuck off for all he cared...if they didn’t believe him, that was their problem. His eyes were burning, jaw clenched, and every step carried the weight of someone who had been pushed too far.

Then he collided with someone.

Adrianna. Her face was nervous, forced into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

"He..y..I... what’s... up?" she stammered, her voice shaky.

Eryx didn’t even have the patience for her bullshit right now. He tried to brush past her, moving with the precision of someone who had no tolerance left. But Adrianna had other plans. She planted herself in front of him, blocking his path like a wall.

"Hey... wait... what’s wrong? Was Athena... drugged?" she asked, words spilling out too quickly, betraying her composure.

Eryx froze, brows furrowed. "...And how did you know that?"

Her forced confidence faltered instantly. Adrianna’s eyes widened as panic swept through her. "...I... I..." she muttered, unable to finish the sentence, her voice trailing off into the thick party air.

Eryx’s patience snapped. He grabbed her wrist firmly, dragging her away from the prying eyes and gossiping students. They slipped into a quieter corner of the hall, out of the reach of curious glances and whispers.

Once they were isolated, he slammed her hard against the wall that she almost tasted blood on her tongue. Eryx planted a hand against the wall beside her, leaning close. His eyes were fire, burning with rage.

Adrianna’s chest heaved as she stared up at him, eyes wide, trembling. Her mind raced for an escape, for anything that would make him stop looking at her like that.

"I...I didn’t do it! I swear! You have to believe me, Eryx!" she sobbed, her voice cracking, wobbly and desperate. "I... I would never hurt Athena. You think I’d stoop that low? Please... please, you have to trust me!"

Tears streamed down her face, unchecked, soaking her cheeks as she flung herself toward him, wrapping her arms around his torso. She pressed her forehead to his chest, desperate to anchor herself to something familiar, to someone she thought she could manipulate. "Why... why don’t you believe me?" she cried. "Eryx... you know me better than that!"

Her whole body shook with sobs, shoulders trembling violently. Her nails dug lightly into his shirt as she clung to him, trying to make him see her fear, her supposed innocence. Her voice broke again, ragged and pleading, "I...I swear, I didn’t do anything! I wouldn’t! You know me! Please..."

But Eryx didn’t flinch. His jaw tightened as his eyes narrowed, the sheer intensity of his glare pressing down on her. He shoved her hands away from him, stepping back. Adrianna staggered, a gasp escaping her lips as if the wind had been knocked out of her.

"You’d better not be lying to me," he said slowly, each word deliberate, heavy, a threat wrapped in ice. "Because if I find out you had anything to do with what happened to Athena..."

He stepped closer, closing the space between them again, his gaze boring into hers. She shrank back instinctively, the weight of his anger pressing her against the wall.

"You’ll wish you died the day you were born," he finished, his voice low but cutting through her like a blade.

Adrianna’s knees threatened to buckle. She pressed her palms to the wall behind her, fingers trembling, cheeks wet with tears. Her body shook uncontrollably as sobs racked through her, but she could only manage small, choked-out pleas. "I...I’m telling the truth... I didn’t..."

But the sound of her own voice betrayed her. She realized too late that no amount of tears could convince him. Eryx didn’t answer. He turned sharply, leaving her standing there. She had never seen him this angry before. What was so charming about that Athena girl, that made Eryx want to kill her just now?

She could still feel the intensity of his gaze, burning through her skin. Even the thought made her knees buckled. Adrianna sank slowly against the wall, tears running freely. What if he actually killed her...will he feel remorseful? Will he miss her?

.

.

.

Athena’s eyelids fluttered open, the light in the room cutting through the haze in her mind. Her head throbbed slightly, but more than that, a strange ache lingered through her body, a mix of exhaustion, confusion, and something else she couldn’t quite place. She blinked, taking in her surroundings, and immediately felt the comfort of a familiar presence beside her.

Felicia.

The moment hit her like a splash of cold water. Felicia’s concerned brown eyes, soft voice, and gentle hand resting on the bed beside her were grounding, but Athena’s mind was already spiraling.

"...Athena?" Felicia murmured, a little hesitant. "You’re awake... how are you feeling? The doctor said..."

Athena’s gaze wandered, clouded and distant, before it landed on Felicia’s face. And then, as if a switch had flipped, everything came rushing back. The way her body had burned, the heat she had felt, the haze of the drug, the way she had moved on Eryx, the way she had kissed him.

Her chest tightened, a sharp pang of guilt and disbelief stabbing her all at once. The memories of the make-out, the way she had grinded against him, her lips pressed to his... No, no, no.

She hadn’t just kissed him, she had thrown herself at him, seduced him. Betrayed Oliver. Betrayed herself.

Tears pricked at her eyes, blurring her vision. She tried to push them back, tried to focus on anything else, but the images burned too brighter, almost tormenting. Her hands shook slightly as she brought them to her face.

"Athena?" Felicia asked again, voice tinged with confusion and worry. "What... what happened? You look... upset."

Athena didn’t answer. She couldn’t. The words felt impossibly hard to answer, like a wall had slammed between her thoughts and her mouth. Instead, she moved. Slowly, she swung her legs over the bed and stood, swaying slightly from the remnants of the drug and the whirlwind of emotions in her chest.

"Wait...Athena!" Felicia exclaimed, reaching out instinctively. "Where are you going?"

Athena didn’t turn. Didn’t even glance back. Her steps were quickening, driven by a mix of panic and determination, as if the only way to process what had happened was to remove herself from the room, from Felicia, from anyone who might see the chaos in her.

"Athena!" Felicia called again, more urgently this time, but Athena whispered with a shaky voice. "I need a moment."