chapter 20

ORION’S P.O.V

I felt myself finally get back consciousness causing my heart to do a little flip-flop ‘she guided me’ i thought to myself as i felt a smile creep up my lips.

“good to have you back” Hazel said with a smile. “ i was not about to tell Karin on how you, you know..” she made a death sign with her hands “especially after she threatened to have my head if i did not do my absolute best….” she kept on rambling but my mind had long since left what she was saying and had now focused on Astrid. She looked as though she would rather be anywhere than here.

“thank you Hazel” i said, cutting her off from what she was saying. “i would like to be alone if you don’t mind” i said, giving her that sweet smile. The one i had practiced so well and showed only to Astrid as Caelum. “Xiaren” i called in an overly soft voice when i realized that we were now fully alone.

“no!” she snapped, cutting me off before i had even began to say anything. “you really can save it Orion. I am tired and apparently, i am still meant to be on bed rest. So if you can please just leave” my palm itched to raise her face so that she could look at me and nowhere else as she spoke.

“i am sorry you had to find out, i got weak and then you had to…” she cut me off.

“you have got to be kidding” she said throwing her head back and laughing. “so you are not sorry that you lied to me? You are actually just sorry that you got caught”

Yes. I thought to myself but decided to keep quiet as i figured that it might not be the best thing to say right now.

“how did you even… why did you do it?” she shook her head “you know what?” she gave a dry laugh again. “it does not even matter. After all, i am your ‘guest’. is that not right?” she said, sighing as she adjusted herself on the bed

“why are you mad?” she seems statled by my answer but i could care less.

Selfish i know, but i was done trying to figure out human emotions and there was even so much ‘Cealum’ could do.

“why am i mad?'“ she looked at me with a look of disbelief ‘fuck!, it seems like i have said the wrong thing again’ i thought as i watched her try to control her emotion as though reminding herself that she could not let herself go or that she had to control herself. “i don’t know PRINCE Orion!, maybe it’s because i thought i made a genuine friend here and i was opening up to the person, just to find out that the person does not exist!. do you know how i feel? Was it ever all real? How did you do it? I have to say my lord” she added the title with a snide in her voice. ‘your acting skills were perfect, from the very first day.”

“it was not from that moment” i said, having this nervous feeling at the pit of my stomach. I did not like having her feel this way towards me. There was so much hate towards me and though it was a normal thing for people to hate me, coming from her, it felt hurtful.

She said nothing as though waiting for me to continue what i was saying so i did just that.

“You don’t have to feel betrayed, because I never lied. And honestly, if it were to play out the way it happened from the start, i would do it all over again.

“you are sick!” she spat causing me to snap.

“well yes i am sick!!!” she jerked back from the way i raised my voice, causing me to curse internally, but it did not seem like i could stop myself from raising my voice. “i am sorry that you fee betrayed, but it is not something that can be helped! Did you think i would stand and see someone be all affectionate towards you? He gave you a bloody gift! A stupid necklace you would not even take off!!!!” i was seething at this point. “and you took it with open hands, parading yourself with it as though you were given a trophy.

“s..so, what did you do to him?” i could literally see the fear in her eyes as she asked me that question.

“what did you think i did?” i said with a smirk and i could literally see the anxiety begin to overtake her. “don’t worry. I was tempted to kill him but my father would have my head and i knew you would not forgive me, so i sent him back to my father” i said, feeling proud of myself for not giving into the urge of killing him.

“you are fucked up! You would do all this just because of your sick and twisted ways sees nothing wrong in this?” she asked, looking a bit shocked though i saw nothing wrong in it. “why Orion, why?” she looked pained and as though she wanted to cry but all i could think about was how nicely my name rolled off her tongue without any title or things like that..

“hmmm…” i sighed, getting a hold of myself so that i don’t freak him out. “isn’t it obvious though? I like you.. Screw that.. i have feelings for you and i do not think that it is just surface level attachments.” i said like it was the most obvious thing in the world because to me, it actually was the most obvious thing in the world.

"she looked at me weird as if she was not expecting me to say that, so i said it again, this time a little bit clearer in case she did not get it the first time.

“i have feelings for you so i masked myself as the one person you like on this ship so that i could get close to you, as that was the only way i could even get the littlest bit closer to you without you trembling and i would be damned if another bastard got the chance to before i.” i looked at her, expecting that she would be excited, this was my way of declaring that she had me power over me.

Instead of what i had anticipated, she had tears streaming down her eyes, confusing me further.

“i guess you do not appreciate that” i muttered “if you are bothered by my presence so much i would leave. Never to see me anymore if that is what you want” i said to her even though deep down, the thought of it did not sit right with me

“Orion, please..” her voice broke which left a sour taste in my mouth “just leave”

“fine, then” i said, my voice coming out in a low and rather controlled way