Chapter 46: Chapter forty six

She ran a hand across her face, urging me to understand where she was coming from. "Look, Leon, it's complicated than you think."

"Then explain it to me then. I promise I won't overreact."

She sat back down on the edge of the bed. "The Coven is worried. The Elders are restless. We all have seen this before. The Elders know your fate and the fate of this Coven. They have been engaging in discussions about you. You, as fragile as you are, have brought restlessness to the Coven. I have grown fond of you like Marianne has. Just know that Marianne is fighting hard for you to be here right now. It's only a matter of time before the Elders turn on her. I trust her judgement, and I want to ensure your safety."

I didn't know that. I thought everyone at this Coven was cordial. But Marianne is the leader. Why would they turn on her?

Isn't she the one taking decisions?

"You are right, Leon. She's our leader. Although she makes the decisions, she's not the kind to take them on her own. She values her Coven and ensures that no one is left behind."

I understand. It must be hard for Marianne right now, considering that she owes me nothing.

"Like I said, the Elders feel that it's enough now. Marianne has been collecting you like prizes. I fully understand her, but the others don't. That's why I want us to leave for a week to get fresh air."

I sheepishly scratched the back of my head after remembering that Richie insited to come with us. I told Seren, not caring whether she read my thoughts or not.

She was fine with it, as long as she was around.

"How is Cicilia treating you, Leon? I see you two have been spending time together. Is she accommodating?"

I didn't want to say anything that would be taken out of proportion. Cicilia is a chill girl, considering that she's still young.

She did take my mind off things when she showed off in front of me. I got to know about her origin and why she joined the Coven.

To summarize it, Cicilia was born out of love. It's said that some vampires are born out of trauma or resentment. She told me that she was born out of love. Her maker was her real mother.

They were attacked by three ferocious vampires that only saw humans as nothing but blood banks. Her mother was pregnant with her little brother when she was turned.

She endured the pain of being sucked dry of her blood, violated and abused. The vampires turned her for sport. And when they left, her mother turned her out of love, out of fear that she would attack her own child because of blood lust.

Her mother killed herself days after turning Cicilia. She hated herself for doing that to her daughter.

Cicilia spent centuries alone. She said that she did not mind the loneliness because years were nothing to her. It was when she met Richie that her whole world changed.

She said that Richie is not a cold, cruel vampire. Everyone in this Coven is good. She has seen what Richie had been through with the Harimots, and she understood why he attacked me. It wasn't that it was justified, but she understood.

"I understand that you and Cicilia have been talking about Richie. I am going to tell you how to live your life, Leon, but please don't hate Richie. He's just trying to be accommodating and I know that he's overdoing it. Like Cicilia said, he's been through a lot, and I don't expect you to understand, but please do."

That's the same song everybody keeps singing, but its just of tune.

"I am not being hard on him. You are the one who's been warning me about him. Now you're taking back your words."

She pinched the skin on her forehead, seeming defeated. She explained that just like any vampire, Richie sometimes loses control. He is not good at regulating his emotions like the others. That's one of the reasons why they locked him in the dungeon. That was to calm him down and to give him time to critically think about what he did.

"None of us wanted to lock him up, but for your safety, we did so. And now, we are going hunting with him. How exciting." I could tell that she was pretending to be excited.

We ended up having nothing to talk about, which was a first since she talks until somebody calls for her. She did ask me to pack everything that I would need since we were going off grid, and we would be salvaging for food. That was part of the hunting experience.

She ended up leaving me to pack. I packed a few clothes in my suitcase and also three pairs of closed shoes which consisted of boots and sneakers.

When I was done packing, I ran myself a cold shower to cool off. I didn't spend a lot of time showering, and when I was done, I went to lay down on the bed. I was looking up at the ceiling trying to count sheep when a thought came jnto my head.

It was more of a wonder than a thought. I wondered what Drew was doing, if he thought about me like how I was always thinking about him. I wondered if he'd moved on from us since he signed the divorce papers.

It killed me inside to know that after all he did, I still had love in me for him. For him...

The days are passing by like its nothing. I know that I have to be strong for myself, but how do I become when the person I thought was the love of my life betrayed me, manipulated me and killed me inside?

I know that I'm going to be alright, but being alright isn't enough for me...