Malachi's exhaustion weighed him down like an anchor as he trudged into his dimly lit house. The soft creaking of the wooden floorboards beneath his feet echoed through the silence. The events of the day—Chase's revelation of the ritual and Sabrina's unknowing presence in his life—swirled in his mind like a vortex. All that he craved right now was rest.
After a refreshing bath, he settled into bed, inviting sleep to claim him until whenever he wanted to. The softness of the pillow cradled his head, while the coolness of the night air caressed his skin. However, his tranquility was short-lived. A familiar scent wafted through the air, alerting him to an intruder.
The sweet, floral scent of Belladonna's perfume invaded his space, stirring memories he'd rather forget. Anger washed over him as the realization that she must have snuck up into his room again dawned on him.
"Show yourself now," Malachi ordered, his deep voice firm and commanding. He was pissed that the spoiled daughter of King Vladimir dared to disturb his peace at such a time that he was trying to get enough rest.
A figure emerged from the shadows—Belladonna, King Vladimir's daughter. Her piercing emerald gaze locked onto Malachi, sparkling with excitement as she stared at Malachi, the one and only man that she has loved since her existence into this world.
"Malachi, I've missed you," Belladonna beamed, her sultry voice laced with longing.
Malachi's expression twisted in disgust. His mind seethed with hatred, recalling the night King Vladimir turned him. Belladonna's role in his transformation only fueled his anger. It's been ten years, yet that anger and hatred that he harbored towards her and her father didn't go away. Time, they say, heals all wounds, but in Malachi's case it was different. His anger and hatred for the father and daughter keeps growing all the time, whenever he is reminded about them or whenever he sets his eyes on them.
"What are you doing here at such a time, huh? You have no right to be here. You can't just show up in my house like it belongs to you," Malachi growled in anger.
Belladonna's smile faltered, but she persisted. "I just wanted to spend time with you." Her voice dripped with sweetness. She wasn't even paying attention to the anger on Malachi's face.
"I've missed you so much, and that's why I came here to meet you,"
Malachi's eyes narrowed. "You came to meet me, so we could do what?" His tone was icy.
Belladonna's gaze dropped, but she didn't leave. "I thought... maybe we could—" Her words hung in the air.
Malachi's patience snapped. "Get out! I don't wanna see you here" he thundered before laying back on the bed to sleep. The room seemed to shake with the force of his voice.
Belladonna exhaled as she climbed into bed beside him, misinterpreting his anger. She felt that he had finally allowed her to stay with him, especially as he didn't say any more words.
Malachi's fury boiled over as he felt her presence on his bed. "Leave before I strangle you," He hissed, but Belladonna didn't waver. She just pretended not to hear it.
"Leave now!" he bellowed, his chest heaving with rage.
The bed creaked as Belladonna scrambled out. She glared at him before turning around and leaving his room.
Malachi sighed in relief as he saw her walk away. He hates to set his eyes on her. That was how much he despised her.
As she fled, tears streamed down her face like a fountain. She was very pissed and sad at the same time.
Belladonna didn't try to weave through the night or even disappear to the Palace to save her time. Instead she ran. She wanted anything that would take her mind away from the brewing anger and sadness within her.
As she got to the palace, she stormed into her father's chambers, demanding to see him but she was told that he was currently in the courtroom.
She went straight to the courtroom to meet him. Despite the guard's orders that the King was in an important meeting, she pushed herself into the room.
The meeting was with some of the Lords of different regions of the lands. It was a very important meeting and if anyone dared to interrupt King Vladimir at that point, it would have meant his or her death. Right now, King Vladimir's face hardened as soon as he saw the tears on his daughter's face.
"What's wrong, sweetie?" He asked her, but she didn't answer. She just continued sobbing. Belladonna really knows where and how to push her father's button, like she was doing now.
"I want to have a word with you, Papa. It's urgent,"
King Vladimir, indulgent as ever, dismissed the Lords, telling them to come back later. Some of the Lords were pissed at the King for welcoming his daughter even though they were having a very important meeting that involved the lives of their people, while some were happy that he dismissed them. They were already tired of sitting down for long and they just wanted to relieve their overused muscles.
One after the other, the men walked out of the courtroom, leaving the King and his over pampered daughter.
"Come, my child," King Vladimir gestured for his daughter and she walked towards his direction, still sobbing like a four year old who didn't get her favorite chocolate.
"What did you do this way? Who dared to hurt you?"
"Papa, It's Malachi," She said amidst her sobs.
A frown crept its way to King Vladimir's face as he heard his daughter's words.
"Malachi? What did he do? Did he hurt you in any way?" He asked as he stared at her in close scrutiny, checking for any marks on her body. He didn't care if she was a vampire and the possibility that she would have healed by now even though she was hurt.
"He rejected me. Malachi rejected me. He sent me out of his house. I just wanted to spend some time with him, because I missed him, yet he sent me away" Belladonna sobbed.
King Vladimir's expression darkened as his face contorted into anger "I'll speak to him, my child. He will regret sending my daughter away. I'll have the guards send for him at the break of dawn, okay."
Belladonna nodded, as her father helped her wipe her tears. She was a spoiled princess and whatever she wanted, she always got. And Malachi won't be an exception.
"Did you go to his house alone?" King Vladimir asked and at once, Belladonna knew what he was aiming at. Nevertheless, she answered.
"Yes, papa. I went there alone,"
"It's late already, Belle. You know that you should be sleeping. You shouldn't have gone there by such a time. What if you were hurt? You know I have lots of enemies and they won't hesitate to hurt my child if they see her, because they know that's the only way to get to me. They could have used you as bait,"
Belladonna pouted. "I wasn't hurt, father. See, there is no injury on me," she said as she showed him her delicate pale skin.
"Besides, I'm a strong woman. I'm not like other weak princesses that can't fight and protect themselves, okay?"
King Vladimir exhaled. "Of course I know that you are strong, but that doesn't mean that you should take that as an advantage and go to a place like Malachi's house without guards. Even if you are strong, you could have been outnumbered and you could have been killed"
"I'm sorry, papa," she pouted her lips and King Vladimir sighed. He took her into his arms and hugged her.
"Please don't go out without any guards, okay? If anything had happened to you, I would have ran mad. Promise me that you won't do it again,"
"I promise you Papa. I'll go with the guards next time,"
The King nodded his head. "I'll hold on to your words, my child as they are nothing but gold"
"Thank you Father. I'll go back to my room now. Please don't forget to talk to Malachi,"
"I will,"
As she departed, King Vladimir's thoughts turned to Malachi. He would ensure Malachi understood the consequences of spurning his daughter's affections. No one ever says no to his daughter.
Not even him. Therefore, he will make sure that Malachi understands the consequences of his actions.
"Guards!!"