Rejection on the Alpha #1

CHAPTER 22: Cinderella Moment

The air is heavy, suffocating me in a way the games did not. I stand in front of the nameless mirror. The black and golden gown I wore had it’s own weight, and almost it’s own crown as I look at the design, luxurious and so very royal, it made me hate it more. Elias stands taut next to four other elders who still refuse to remove their hoods, yet I felt the atmosphere of them all sustained in calm serenity, but a hint of anger from one of them, “Celestine.” Elias says slowly.

The glass of champagne in my hand creaks, I lower it down, the maids fumbling with the dress take it and leave the room in a swift fashion. I step off the podium, the neck-holder dress had more than just a slit, it parted down the middle when I walked. I stare at Elias, who purses his lips, his eyes penetrating mine, he could see my anger as clear as water, “I’d watch your next words carefully.” I tell him, my fists ready to do his head in.

He stares deep into my eyes, “What happened in the illusion you saw of those trials...of me as a mutated vampire, I just want to make certain you can differentiate my true self from that illusion.” He murmurs, I throw my wine bottle at his head. He ducks and the two other elders merely tilt aside, it smashes against the marble wall behind them.

The double doors behind me open, “I thought I heard something.” Martin’s voice echoes as he closes those doors and nods to Elias, gesturing he step aside before Martin grasps another bottle of wine in his fingers and pours us both some. He takes a seat on the couches and takes a slow sip of his.

His silver eyes penetrate my form, following my body like water. Like my presence alone pulls at his very heartstrings, his eyes move down me, lining every exposing patch of skin, he takes another sip of his drink, “You’re beautiful.” He whispers, sounding completely infatuated, even in awe at his unwavering gaze that makes a woman want every man to look at her like this. Not me. His eyes weren’t making me want to strip bars for him, if anything, biting his head off and removing his favourite part of his anatomy sounded more delightful than whatever his version of sex was.

“We are the victors of these trials. Smile, why don’t you?” He chuckles.

I take a seat opposite him, “If you require a reminder, I did most of the work.” I point out.

He leans forward, hands intertwined, his eyes move south of mine, my lips was at his view and unfortunately, I couldn’t kick him where it hurts the most for merely looking at my lips like he could picture every way to devour them and that that in itself was overwhelming due to so many possibilities.

His eyes conveyed a deeper connection, that should have touched body and soul, when all I saw was silver storm and shadows, “You did, yet you didn’t need to prove your worth to anyone. Charles forced that on you. I won’t let it stand, my Queen.” He accents his words as of that will make me look at his lips the same way he just took a long moment to cherish mine.

I’d tell him to go to hell, but I’m already there and I’d prefer not to give him direction until I’ve found my way out.

I stare at the glass before me, he stands and steps around the small table, even with Elias and the other elders in the room. Martin takes a seat on the table in front of me, his eyes indecipherable and on mine, “We will be crowned the victors of these trials in less than an hour, and you look ready to destroy this place and everyone in it, Darling.” He says, raising an eyebrow at me.

I maintain a blank stares, “And I’d go for you first.”

He tilts his head at me, “What I said in those trials, after you were bitten, was real. They weren’t for cameras, or even a useless council. They were for you. And whether you like it or not, Celestine, you are mine to love, hold, cherish and touch. Every single inch of you will be known by my eyes, hands and lips by the time you’re twenty with a real crown on your beautiful head. But, for now, you need to relax and enjoy the festivities. After all, they are for you.” His eyes move back down my body once again, before he stands, glass in hand, he downs it with his back to me.

I figured he’d leave, but he stands still for a moment, “I have one question.” He states.

“Then ask it without the dramatic, narcissistic pause you always need when you talk.” I answer with.

“Hmm, she speaks more than a few flimsy, non-threats.” He muses, stepping back towards me, he’s on the couch faster than a human could blink, which may be considered slow to vampires, but still fast enough to be considered less than a second. He brushes his fingers along the slope of my high cheekbone, his skin only slightly darker than my pale white texture.

He rests his other hand on my thigh, I tense as he trails his thumb up high, caressing me. I grab his wrist, “You have no right.” I spit.

He grabs my throat in a quick move, “I have every right, and much more. How did you kill the chimera?” He questions, I stare at Elias, who had moved, as did another elder, both of them looking tense.

“None of you move, I asked my Queen a question.” Martin whispers, his lips brushing along my cheek before letting me go, his irritation flaring before he rips away with a pissed-off growl. I watch him strut out of the room. Elias steps around the couch, he stands behind me.

“Look at me.” He whispers, softly.

“He did it to scare you.” I tell him, only now sensing it. Considering there was no death grip that left bruises on my neck, I look over my shoulder when his fingers grasp my shoulders, he looks me over, face filled with worry. But I tense and still at the pulsating thrumming of his skin against mine. He pulls me into him, fingers in my hair. I furrow my eyebrows, trying to understand what the fuck was happening to me. Why was my skin electrified when he touched me?

“He did it to hurt you.” Elias harshly voices out.

I stare at him, “You stood there like a bodyguard who doesn’t get paid enough for this shit. And he was watching you. Why—not even I know. I don’t find that I bloody care either.” I mutter, brushing his fingers from my skin and moving away without a second glance, the doors open before me and tunes of drums, along with trumpets light up the atmosphere along with outside fireworks as Martin sits on that throne, waiting.

He stands at my arrival with a look of determination and something in the mist of power. He had it in his grasp. I move forward, not liking the eyes or the hollers, the cheers and the whistles slicing my way. Flowers are thrown and slide along the floor helplessly. The room so bright, it was almost blaring.

I move towards the steps as Martin steps down and meets me half way, he stares at me with a different set of eyes now. I still when his fingers shape along the nape of my neck before he presses his lips to mine and the crowd goes bloody wild. He kisses me like a man who knows his flaws, but is reshaping his world to accommodate a new player and he cherishes her with his heart and beastly features.

I wasn’t so convinced as he smooths a caress against my lips, his arm curling around my hips, head bowed down to mine. He runs my waist, pecking my forehead before pulling me up to the throne chair, the one he was seated on and he lowers me to it, gesturing for the dancer holding the ridiculous crown. She steps up, wearing next to nothing, and lowers the crown upon my curls.

Martin smiles at that, standing next to the throne chair while whistles call out, “Your new victors of these trials, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of the world, may I present, Alpha Martin Julius and Alpha Celestine Colton.” Kade Knight, councilman and former Agent K announces with a low voice, a mild smile too when I look to him and Charles. Both of them stood staring, clapping. Martin smiles at the crowd, reaching for my fingers, he raises me from the throne chair.

I trail my eyes over, brushing them past Robert, Reina, and others from Julius who came for this bullshit. I saw Serena with her glass raised, I saw Alice standing next to Warmer, her eyes meet mine, she bows her head in respect, a small smile dancing across her lips as even Torrence, with his Luna look happy. Martin strokes my fingers as petals of red and white are dropped over our heads as he turns me to face him, “Let the dances begin!” He calls out and earns roars of triumph from the males of the room. I side-glance the throne chair, where Elias and the other elders are standing. Only Elias pulls his hood on, and the shadows that hide his face so clearly has me unable to identify the tenseness I feel stroking my spine.

Martin leans his head down, “Does my Queen want something to eat?” He whispers, brushing his lips against my ear.

“I need some air, can you allow that?” I ask of him, gripping his forearm.

He stares at me, furrowed eyebrows, he nods once, “Not for too long. There’s a balcony one level up. Five minutes, I have a surprise for you later.” He murmurs down to me, stealing a kiss that has him lingering against my skin, his nose curling up mine. He growls under his breath in a menacing, frustrated purr, before lifting my chin and kissing me harder. Except my lips never move as I tilt my head from him, no one can force on love. Not even him.

I pull away and move straight for the decorated stairs to the level no one really is on. I look over my shoulder, before moving towards the balcony, I close the coloured glass door behind me and grip the railing of the balcony with wind rippling through my rustic blonde curls.

“Trouble in paradise?” I hear a soft murmur behind me, there stands Kade, a whiskey on the rocks in his hand as he moves to stand next to me.

“I doubt it matters.” I mutter.

He takes a deep breath, “It doesn’t, we both know you cannot stand his touch. We chose not to intervene at court when he announced something I never believed would ever be the case here. You bonded with a lunatic.” He adds, chuckling when it cracks a smile on my lips. He’s alone with me, so his truth sets out more clearly. Like the way of unpolluted, non-toxic water, it’s transparent and pure. He was showing his purity in this single moment that I needed.

I stare at him, “Is that why no one stepped in? No one stopped it after I grew up here, under you and Charles and the council members that did nothing while I was dragged off by a madman. Who is still a madman, by the way.” I point out through clenched teeth.

He studies me, “Why do you think we sent the elders. They have promised to stay with you and Darkling.”

I pause.

Stilling like an ashen statue as I stare up at him, “You know who he is? Have you always known?” I question, staring at his features, those eyes that I had known as a mere child.

He reaches over, gently cupping my cheek, “I know what he’s about to do. He’s ruthless, but he’s changed now that he’s found a chosen he cannot part from him. Do you not think we saw the way he held you, the way he looked at you, the way he lingered? None of us are fools, child. Not even you, despite your wish to be a figure in the crowd rather than a red rose in a field of white ones.” He whispers, leaning forward, resting his lips on my hairline in a fatherly manner.

I stare at the medallion he wears, “Only an oracle can see into the future.”

“Only an oracle can see into the future. He believes I’m next to Charles in that ballroom down there. I will find you some day. And I will explain everything once you’re old enough, once you tap into what you hide so deep.” He tells me, eyes holding mine as he leans back, hand cupping my cheek.

I swallow, “What the hell do you mean?” I ask him, pulling back from him.

He pockets his hands, “You’ll know soon enough. Do not hold back, do you hear me? Never hold back, not for what is to come. Be ready.” He makes me promise, before turning me around so my back is facing him. And when I turn to look, he’s gone. No glass door was opened, no way off this balcony, yet he’s managed it. He use to play it with me all the time as a child. Powers that run beyond the beast inside every werewolf.

And he knew about Martin.

And whatever surprise Martin has in store for us all.

I move down the steps, finding him smiling and laughing amongst other Alphas, including Torrence, who looks to be enjoying himself just as much. I still when a hand moves in front of me, “Care for a dance?” Charles stares deep into my eyes, his nose is healed, not a scratch can be seen on him. I look behind him, stilling at Kade sitting there eating his meal alone and I frown at that.

Pursing my lips, I stare at him, “What kind of man does what you did to me?” I say to him, not taking his hand.

He stills, “Excuse me? I was not the one who smashed your head in before I could congratulate you on being the last man standing.” He says slowly.

I step forward, “You used me as a child. You used my first mission against me in those trials. Red Fox Foundation, did you really think I couldn’t make that connection? That I was following the Fox, before realising the sheer fact that I was the orange fur ball who wanted to run with the wolves, to fight with the wolves but you used me as bait, time and time again. You think your metaphorical bullshit in those trials was strategic and calculating when we all know you are nothing but a shell of a man with no fucking soul in that forsaken body of yours. Don’t come here and sit on a pedestal looking down on me, when we both know who had to get their hands dirty under your orders. Where is the loyalty in you? In your people, in your comrades and every level of personnel you hold so dear. I looked up to you. I obeyed you because all I wanted was one single thing in return and you couldn’t give it to me. And I can’t give it to anyone.” I played the emotion so deeply in my voice, my eyes glistening with whatever I wanted our audience to see.

Charles stills where he is.

I saw his emotions, ones he never, ever wore on his sleeve, it was dancing in front of me now. The tremble of his frail bones, showing his true age, the life he lived before greed and power poisoned his mind long enough to sustained itself within the host, within him. He buried it so deep, that small black box he kept locked in the cage of his heart—I bashed it open with a sledgehammer and dragged out the part of him that showed vulnerability. That had even a sliver of care in him, that showed a heart where I always knew there was one. No matter how small and how broken, and how damaged it was, it was there. Attached to string of arteries and veins that are finally exposed and I’m making him show emotion because I am showing that emotion. Because I am giving him that beat, that feeling of someone wishing he accepted me as a person and not an expendable achievement that he wanted to use and abuse every chance he got because he couldn’t fathom ever opening ever.

He couldn’t fathom ever opening up to me, when now, in front of everyone he needs as his supply, as his audience for his throne, I’m showing him that the little girl he had dragged in chains with orders, demands and instruction embedded in her...is free. Emotion, is a betrayal of stability, is a heavy object in a balance of feathers and it crashes down everything.

But what the hell can anyone see when that emotion is just another fucking illusion made to break apart another?

It’s my turn to be his greatest illusion.

It’s my turn to shove him in a dome and shake it until he screams.

It’s my turn to shove him in a closet of nightmares.

It’s my fucking turn to show him what it likes to fear, and what it’s like to feel.

I point at him, “You wrecked everything, and worst of all, you think it will blow over with the winnings of ridiculous, disgraceful, and disgusting trials that put people’s lives in jeopardy. That gives the world entertainment when how many people were watching for the blood and gore—that’s just you. They saw the ruins of heartbreak, the devastation brought with loss, the power in standing up against unruly and sinister beasts in the nightmares of darkness and despair. You used the nightmares of a child’s fear and you exploited it all. The chimera—you listened, you overheard what I told Kade, the only fucking man who treated me like a girl when all you wanted was a fucking soldier.” I spit at him.

Charles falters, for the split second I see it, his lashes flicker and the movement of trembling lips are so visible with his back facing a silent crowd, I blink away the tears, “I wanted a Dad, Charles.”

And I watch him shatter.

The music was gone.

No laughter, no chatter, there wasn’t a single movement made, until I had to watch in abundant shock when his eyes bulge wide. My eyes widen in horror when he leans over and drops against me with blood pouring out of his mouth, “Charles! CHARLES!” I scream, shaken up as men and women, specific people in the room start choking on their food, their drinks, whatever they’ve touched. Even a few sinister dances drop to the floor, skin bubbling and popping in disgusting masses of blood. I see Kade. Before I run to him, “NO! NO! KADE! KADE!” I roar, before Elias captures me and I drop to my knees as Martin moves slowly up the steps of the throne. He’s staring at me, indecipherably.

He kicks Charles’ dead body off the steps, “All hail King Nicolai Darkling.” Torrence’s voice calls out. Before the shock of a lifetime reverts across the entire room, as all those loyal to Martin chant.

All hail King Nicolai Darkling.

All hail King Nicolai Darkling.

All hail King Nicolai Darkling.

All hail King Nicolai Darkling.

“LONG LIVE THE KING!”

Be ready. Wait for it. Wait for it.

Do not hold back.

Never. Hold. Back.