Esme watched the stubborn boy melting into her embrace like a ice cube melting into water. His expression turned so calm and refreshed one that it seemed like he hadn't been so relaxed over decades. The tight frown of his face was slowly disappearing changing into a steady one as his eyes were tightly shut.
Esme frowned lightly before reaching out her palm to wipe off the sweat from his forehead gently. Her fingers suddenly brushed through his hairs as she jolted sensing the thickness of sweat drops across his hairs.
Why was he sweating heavily? Was he having nightmares? He looked so afraid after waking up.
As the conclusions gathered up in her mind, Esme felt more and more curious towards his life. Her gut feelings were telling that he had been hiding some matters from her regarding his own life.
Should she try to find out? But that has nothing to do with her, isn't it? At least, she will be at ease after leaving him. No matter what, this man was unconditionally good to her.
Since the curiosity was circulating through her mind, Esme glanced at the mechanical clock hanging aside the room and frowned reminding Athena's warning.
Watching outside, she thought of delaying few hours then she would go out to find Athena.
But what did she want to tell her so desperately?
HUMAN WORLD,
Meanwhile, two hours had passed waiting there at the lakeside but there wasn't any sign of Athena around. Ethan's face turned sour and angry as the veins of his forehead tightened in rage. After taking one last glance from his wrist watch, he got up from the stone and jumped off on the ground.
He clenched his fists tightly aside and spitting out in a low voice " betrayer", he threw a hard kick in the stone behind.
With a crack sound, the stone broke into pieces instantly but this didn't ease up his anger a little. Without holding back the anger inside, it burst out into a loud growl as the birds hiding inside the bushes flew away fearfully.
His growl resounded like an angry animal who was roaring at his prey to stop. Ethan had always been a calm and sensible man but when it comes to fighting, he never showed any sympathy to his enemies. He was like a tornado. When it erupts, it destroys everything around.
His eyes flashed with a killing intent as he spoke gnashing his teeth,
" I knew it. I knew that vampires can't be trustworthy. Still I believed you wholeheartedly and though that you will help me find out my sister. But in the end, you didn't show up here and chose the side of your own clan."
He continued abruptly,
" I.. I thought that there was any special feelings between us.. but you... you sided up with the monsters and forgot about our moments.. Athena.. don't come in front of me ever because that day I won't show you any mercy for deceiving me."
As the saying, he flung open his wide wings suddenly and flew up high in the sky across the white clouds.
VAMPIRE WORLD,
MOONSHINE CASTLE,
Esme was laying down by his side without sleeping for a moment as her mind had been restless so far. As the clock decayed 2am, she swiftly got up from the bed staring at the man beside carefully. He had fallen into a deep sleep under the tough effect of the medicine that he showed no sign of moving. Her perplexed mind finally relaxed at the sight of his sound sleeping face as she climbed down from the bed cautiously after removing herself from his embrace.
She breathed a sigh of relief when he still didn't wake up after leaving her cage. She walked towards the closet slowly and put a long coat with hoodie. As the wind was chilling cold outside, she thought of wearing this moreover nobody wouldn't be able to recognise her easily.
After seeing her own reflection one last time, Esme headed outside quickly shutting off the door very smoothly. Soon after, she reached downstairs and wasting no more time, she stepped outside intending to find Viviana first.
After searching the potential areas, she didn't see a glimpse of Viviana thus she waited at the entrance earning suspicious glances from the few guards who were in charge of securing the castle at nighttime. Shortly after, Viviana returned at the castle intending to inform some news to the guard and she found Esme at the halfway.
For the vampires, they didn't had any day or nighttime as they were always active and didn't need to sleep. Viviana bowed her head surprisingly before asking,
" My Lady, what are you doing here at this hour? Didn't you go to sleep?"
Esme's eyes lit up and replied pleading,
" Viviana, I was waiting for your arrival. Thank god, you have come finally. I need a favour to ask you."
Viviana nodded looking at her anxious face as she continued,
" Queen Mother has sent Princess Athena to the old castle. I don't know where it is. Can you take me there? Athena has requested me to meet her alone before leaving. She must have needed something from me. You know that queen mother is very angry over her. We can't let anyone find it about our meeting. But I can't do it alone. I need your help. Can you please help me just this time? "
Viviana's face turned puzzled and hesitated as she didn't utter any word. Esme understood her hesitance as she suddenly grabbed her hands together pleading,
" Viviana, please! Just help me this time. Its not like I'm asking you to take me back to my world."
After giving it a second thought, Viviana finally nodded her head slightly as her lips formed into a wide smile with gratitude. Viviana replied guiding her outside,
" This is the last time that I'm helping you, my lady. But you must inform Lord about your visit tomorrow. I can't be disloyal to my king."
Esme responded walking ahead,
" I will tell him. You don't have to fear your Lord. I can handle him."
After stepping out of the castle, Viviana helped Esme to hop on a white flay horse as she seated behind her. With a snarl of the horse, it started running towards the north pool.
About ten minutes later, Viviana pulled out the rope tightly as the horse stopped in front of an old half-darkened castle. Viviana came down first and helped Esme to get off. After landing down safely, Esme gazed around curiously.
The castle had European style, old fashioned most likely built thousand years back. The wall had masses and some part of it had been broken here and there leaving marks for eternity. It completely symbolised that people had stopped living here for years. Few of the strong guards were standing at the entrance who glanced at their way expressionless.
As they reached nearer, one of the guard spoke coldly,
" You can't enter the castle, Viviana. The order has been placed by Queen Mother. We can't let you in without her permission."
Viviana frowned and turned her way to Esme helplessly. Esme finally fell off her hoodie and looked at them sternly replying,
" But you can't stop your queen, can you? "
The guards turned nervous and replied back looking down,
" Pardon, my lady but the order has been given by Queen Mother. We are just your servants."
Esme's eyes flashed with anger as she commended without paying attention to her words coldly,
" I order you to let me enter as your queen. Now get out my way."
The guard's expression turned helpless but at last, let her enter hesitantly. Esme instructed Viviana to wait at the entrance as she walked in the castle.
The maids quickly bowed after seeing her and told her the location of Athena's room. The castle had a misty scent of herbs that were roaming in the air causing her to sniff her nose in displeasure.
After arriving in front of the western side room, she gave some light knocks on the door calling out softly,
" Athena, are you there?"
Very fast, the door was opened along with an anxious face replying,
" Sister-in-law, you have finally came. I thought that you won't believe my words."
Esme looked at her face blankly before speaking cautiously,
" Let's talk inside. "
Athena nodded before opening the door fully for her entrance. After going inside, Esme asked quickly,
" Is there something that you want to tell me? Please speak fast. We don't have much time. If your mother finds out, both of us will be in trouble. "
Athena understood the danger thus she asked directly without wasting the essence time,
" Are.. Are you called Serena? "
Esme's face sank as she stared at her blankly. She struggled to hide the panic from her face but it wasn't working at all. Athena looked through her emotions as she continued tapping on her shaking hands,
" You don't have to afraid of me, sister-in-law. I won't harm you. Moreover I'm asking you for your own good."
Esme looked through the sincerity of her eyes thus nodded her head slightly. Athena's face tensed up as she said staring at her,
" Sister-in-law, I have met your brother in the human world, Ethan. He is looking for you everywhere. May be he will find a way to take you back from here."