"Help me bring him back and I will do whatever you want me to."
The corners of Maximus' lips curled up, pushing himself up. His steps were slow, taking the steps down, and squatted down in front of her.
"Do you know whose heart is this?" he asked, raising the beating heart in between them. "It's his. I got it from Marsella while the bitch was pounding her own head against the wall."
Aries glanced at the beating heart, clutching her skirt, but didn't show the slightest emotion.
"Heh." He snickered, pressing his thumb on her chin and raising it slightly. "Your lack of reaction is suspicious. Just what did you and that butler talk about during those hours you were gone?"
"How to kill you." Her blunt answer made him laugh. "Help me bring Abel back, and I'm yours."
"And what makes you think I want you?"
Aries stared at him with dull eyes. She didn't answer, but instead, grabbed her collar and pulled it down, maintaining her eye contact with him.
"That look in your eyes says it all," she smirked. "You might not want me, but surely, you want my powers. Go and take it as much as you want. After all, it seemed you are starving after failing to retrieve half of your powers from your father."
Maximus assessed her haughty expression, licking his lips.
"Well, I don't think I want him dead as well. Not when he dies in the hands of another." Maximus closed in, placing his hand on her nape before opening his mouth to sink his fangs into her neck.
Aries clenched her teeth as his fangs grazed her skin, but she maintain her composure. She moved her eyes in Fabian's direction, only to see Fabian looking back at her emotionlessly. When she peeled her eyes away from Fabian, a glint flickered across them, listening to Maximus's gulp.
Her gaze lifted to the throne behind Maximus, only to think about the person who owned that throne. She then slowly closed her eyes, breathing out as she could feel her energy get drained.
No matter how painful or how deep in hell she was, Aries pledged she would not shed a single tear. For as long as she could keep Abel alive, it didn't matter how long it would take before Maximus could take every bit of her life's energy.
<strong>'I will wait...' </strong>she whispered in her heart, shutting all her emotions in a place where no one else could touch them. <strong>'... until the day you come and pull me out of this hell.'</strong>
Since that night, Aries had to follow Maximus, binding herself with him in a blood contract. A blood contract was a contract between a vampire and a human that could only work with mutual agreement. Because Aries was a witch, the contract was different and unfair to her. She didn't mind though, because Maximus helped Aries maintain the life force in Abel's body.
Her contract with Maximus wasn't anything special, honestly. Aside from that, she had to feed Maximus her blood and give a portion of her powers to him since Maximus hadn't retrieved his entire powers. Apparently, the last body he occupied -- the previous king of the mainland, Maximus III -- still carried the original owner of the body.
In other words, Maximus III stayed in slumber with a part of this Maximus's soul and power. Killing him also meant he could take the powers with him to the grave.
What a crafty person.
That was a quick summary of how Aries was in this arrangement with Maximus and Fabian. And it would remain that way until her plans come into motion.
<strong>*</strong>
<strong>*</strong>
<strong>*</strong>
<strong>[ PRESENT TIME ]</strong>
Aries hugged her body, hiding it under the shawl as she stood on the balcony. After visiting Marsella, she parted ways with Fabian because Fabian had to keep an eye on everything. Aries could barely do anything in her position. Hence, keeping Fabian as her 'lover' helped her do things according to her plans.
Fortunately, Maximus understood her connections with Fabian, and those watching her every movement were buying their scandalous 'affair.'
"Today, I've seen the emperor's seal," she whispered as her eyes softened, smiling subtly. "It's been two years. I'm relieved he is back."
Aries slowly raised her eyes at the sky full of stars where the moon shone the brightest. The side of her lips was curled up, breathing in the fresh night breeze. It was especially chilly tonight, but somehow, she could enjoy it.
"Darling..." she whispered, staring at the night sky. "How have you been? Do you also feel reassured we are now under the same sky once again?"
The glimpse of the Emperor's seal amplified her longing for the man she yearned for every time she breathed. Aries closed her eyes, hugging herself, and somehow, she could imagine Abel hugging her from behind like usual.
There were no words that could explain how much she missed him. However, she couldn't help but wonder, would Abel forgive her? With the world he woke up to and the news that would surely reach his ears, what would he think of her?
Aries reopened her eyes as bitterness resurfaced in them.
"I hope he doesn't hate me that much." She gripped her biceps tightly, hiding the exhaustion in her eyes. "That... will make me cry for sure."
<strong>*</strong>
<strong>*</strong>
<strong>*</strong>
<strong>[ The Haimirich Empire ]</strong>
Abel was sitting on the railing of the balcony attached to the emperor's chancery. He had his eyes gazing at the night sky, swinging his foot back and forth.
Knock Knock
"Sorry to interrupt your alone time, Uncle." Samael knocked on the glass as he stepped inside the balcony. "Tilly was just worried you might cry all night. We don't want your eyes swelling tomorrow."
"Samael, do you know your mother used to fancy the young Lord of the Von Stein clan?"
"What?" Samael scrunched his nose up, hopped on the railing, and sat on it. There was an arm's length distance between them. "Are you saying my father seduced her? The Von Steins likes patterns. Hence, boring."
"Can you understand Ameria?" Abel asked, ignoring Samael's additional comments. "If she fancies this man, I can't understand how she can marry another and even have his children."
"Well, you can't understand it because it's a person's heart we are talking about."
Abel slowly set his eyes to his side, only to see Samael shrug.
"She might've done it out of love for a good-for-nothing or she might have a different reason. Either way, when matters of the heart are involved, people tend to do silly things. Speaking from experience." Samael smirked, glancing up at the night sky.
"God damn it..." Samael crooned. "... I'd be in trouble, but just go if you want to go. It's not like we need to --"
His face contorted as he glanced to where Abel was sitting, only to see him gone. The latter already jumped off the railing, only to spread his wings midair and flew away.
"Hey, that's rude! At least, let me finish!" Samael clicked his tongue in irritation.
A deep sigh slipped past his lips, cocking his head back to the person who was standing by the door. "Oy, Tilly, don't scold me. I'm trying to be supportive."
"Abel..." Tilly had her eyes on the small figure in the night sky. "... missed his wife. Thank you, Samael."
Samael grinned from ear to ear. "I didn't know you have a soft spot for your brother, Tilly. But you're welcome. They're our family, right?"
"Mhm." Tilly slowly cast her eyes back to Samael. "They're family."
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