King of Death

1|28 (Armand)

Theatre.

I loved theatre since I can remember.

And there I was, always surrounded by theatre so often, that I started to hate it.

When I lived in Athens among humans and the first performance was held, I was there. It was horrible compared to what happens in theatres now, but in those days, it was the only way I could run away from thinking for a moment.

Theatre always helped.

Seeing Maude across the room with her mate, both keeping an eye on Irma, I could only remember that Maude used to love theatre too. She used to white to Axton to let her come with me and he could only give in. He used to come to me with his tail under his legs, asking if it would bother me if she came. It never did. Maude was a silent girl. She only showed interest in two things. War and theatre.

The relationship between Axton and Maude wasn't easy, but the bond they had now was the only reason I truly believed in love. They both loved being alone at first and they barely allowed themselves to be around each other. It took a lot of time and effort for them to get used with each other.

Axton used to love being alone. We met when he was only an orphan child. I took him under my protection because I've felt bad for what happened with them. The wolves killed by the vampires wasn't something that sat well with me in those days, but I wasn't willing to fight with my brother in those days. I wasn't at peace with what happened then, but I wasn't in a state of mind that allowed me to stop it, even if I could've done it easily.

The hate I carried these days for my brother had valid reasons.

Maude and Axton never asked for too much. They were grateful for having someone teaching them how to tame their wolf, to hunt, to go rogue if they have to, to fight and to feel. They were with me before I made the first pack. I trained them exactly how I trained Xavier and Deimos and took care of them like they were my children. They were, in a way. Even if I never turn them and they were born werewolves, they were still my descendants.

I was grateful that both of them were keeping an eye on their Queen, it was in their blood to take care of her. Even if they would never say that out loud, they were both happy that I finally had my mate. They didn't like her too much, I was aware of that. Axton was mad at her because of her past, but he was mad at me also. If my human side would've let me tell Irma the truth, if he would've fought for our mate at the right time, she would've never been with someone else. But he didn't. Axton hated it and even kept a grudge for that, but he never said it out loud. Maude shared the same thoughts as her mate. Even if Maude always shared her opinion, especially when she was not asked, she never dared to ask me personal things. Because both of them kept their mouth shut about their thoughts on my actions, they took all the hate on Irma, silently.

When a man they did not know approached their Queen, Maude and Axton got closer to her, pretending to dance and have fun while drinking some really, really bad liquor. There was no need for them to watch over her since I was there, but they still did.

Irma was playing her role exactly like a true actress. She smiled at everyone and she was very polite, especially with those who looked down at her. I knew she was beating herself up about what they thought about her, but it never mattered. She was the Queen of Death, crowned or not, and they wouldn't dare to address one words against her if they still wanted to live.

We were all playing a role at the Christmas Ball and it was all a charade. The highest people in the whole world gathered together. They all looked relaxed and happy, even if they hated each other. No one was truly relaxed, the beasts were on the surface and that actually made all of us alert.