Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 498: Surrender

From the distance, one of the high towers delimiting the borderlines between the two countries became visible.

The great flames of the torch perched at the very top did not rival moonlight but still shone bright enough for anyone within a hundred yards to perceive.

Arabella’s eyes lingered on it as her body sucked and gathered as much energy, confidence and courage as possible to proceed with her plan.

Disheartening? Terrifying? Hopeless perhaps? Those words frolicked in her mind as the only descriptors available for her situation.

On one hand, there was the fate of her brother and husband, on the other, the potential demise of the people, the friends that chose to stick their necks out for the purpose. There was of course, the nausea inducing thought of the fate that would befall her once at Cedric’s mercy.

The closer to the tower she moved, the bigger and brighter the torch atop it grew and inevitably, the dense weight buried among her entrails swelled too.

"I am sorry," the smallest of chirps reached her ear, but instead of Floriel, Ada’s voice emanated from a beautiful, black little bird clinging to her shoulder.

"You should go back to the others," Arabella continued to stare ahead, blinking more intensely than natural. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"I truly meant for none of this to happen," Ada’s words cracked.

"We can discuss the intent behind your action once we solve the consequences it has yielded," Arabella’s voice trembled as well.

"Please, don’t go alone. There is still time to change your mind," the bird-shaped Ada cried, "I am sure we can craft a better plan," when Arabella said nothing and persisted on glaring in front of herself, Ada continued, "I would give my life to take it all back. I would if it meant none of this would happen, if it meant bringing them back safely,"

"Your life wouldn’t be enough to achieve a quarter of the things on that list, I am afraid," Arabella’s face turned away, avoiding the glistening, black eyes of the bird.

No. That wasn’t what she meant to say. Those words were too harsh... Too cruel. A storm still raged at Arabella’s core, a ravenous fire ignited by the smallest of flickers that snowballed into a sizzling blizzard.

A small match which Ada had held in her hand and tossed in the hay.

But she did not do so maliciously... So, was it fair to treat her so poorly for it? Was it worth spending their last moments together on such bad terms?

However, no matter how much Arabella tried to wave away Ada’s hand in the devolvement of the situation, there was no winning that fight.

Silas’ heedless reaction was in no way her fault. In fact, in many ways, it was Arabella’s instead.

She had made the decision to keep things from him despite them having an argument about that very recently.

It simply was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

The anger she harbored towards herself for that outcome was just not enough to push her forward. Maintaining her stance sort of helped keep her from breaking down and shivering senselessly.

"There is one thing you can still do for me," with one hand, Arabella reached for her wedding brooch, unpinned then extended it towards Ada’s beak, "I won’t allow the prince to lay a hand on it, so please keep it safe for me,"

The dagger and blood vial Silas had gifted her were in Morgana’s care already. For some reason she omitted to take her brooch off and no one thought to mention it before.

Ada picked it then placed it between her slender little legs in order to speak, "I really am sorry," the bird squeaked before biting on the brooch, leaping off her shoulder and flapping its wings vehemently in order to land safely on the ground since Ada still wasn’t used to flying.

"I know you are," Arabella murmured.

But those words never reached Ada’s ears. Of course, she could always turn around and scream them but... Looking back may not have been such a great idea.

It meant staring back at the safety she was leaving behind right in the eyes. It meant a risk of cowering and changing her mind.

And so, it was with a heavy heart, with tears streaming down her cheeks that Arabella took off towards the tower.

Heart pounding in her very throat as dread had drowned her lungs, allowing space not even for the most important organ to do its job. Her hands shook so hard around the reins with every inch of ground she crossed that the young woman had to clench her fists and release the pressure periodically to keep her limbs functional.

So many voices screamed so many different, contradicting things in her mind that focusing on the heavy thudding of hooves following her was the only way to cope.

Soon, however, there was no more thinking to do, no more hesitating. Indeed, the instant the tower guards spotted her, some descended to intercept her while others remained hidden inside, preparing their weapons to fight back in case she was a threat.

"State your species, woman as well as your business in Lustris," the gruff voice of one of the guards rose in the night.

"I am human," she dismounted the horse, "As for my business, his highness, prince Cedric the third himself is expecting my arrival,"

"If you are on an official visit then your name should be on the list of royal guests," said the second guard.

"Arabella, Henrietta Sterling," she stared at neither of them in particular.

"Your name is nowhere on the list of guests," the man in the armor glared up from the sheet of parchment in his hand.

"My name should be on the wanted list then," as much as she tried to keep her voice steady, it did not work all that well.

The same guard flipped the page on top to read the one under it and sure enough, his eyes widened momentarily before looking back at Arabella.

Without another word, he pulled his sword and pointed it towards her.

"I am surrendering myself. There is no need for violence," she put her hands up.

"That will be for us to decide, wench!" the second guard barked while stomping her way.