Sinful Pleasure

14

F O U R T E E N

I hated having the attention of others centered onto me. For it made me feel nauseous and gave me this uncomfortable feeling as if I were suffocating. I always choked and stumbled over my words. Making a complete fool of myself. So when we bustled through the double doors of the kitchen leading into the dining room... I could slowly feel that itching urge to run creep over me as everyone looked to me and Mischa.

"Ellanore. Nice of you to finally join us." Smiling Mrs. Lucilla stood from her chair at the end of the table. Holding her hand out as she gestured for me to come forward.

Biting my lip, I clenched my hands in a tight fist as I held them to my side. Ignoring the feeling of my nails drawing into my skin as I slowly made my way to Mrs. Lucilla. Who looked astonishingly beautiful tonight.

Her hair was twisted into a French braid, hanging off of her left shoulder. Unlike all the other extravagant gowns that she's worn, this one was by far the best. The material was silver with a diamond sheen over it. Exposing both her shoulders as it plunged into a heart neckline, only flaring at the bottom.

"Everyone." Clearing her throat, Mrs. Lucilla smiled as she held my hand in her own. The other adorning a pristine glass rimmed with wine. "My husband and I have gathered you all here to share some exciting news involving the sundown ritual."

At the mention of good news and ritual, everyone seemed to visibly perk up at the news. Their eyes solely trained on me and only me as if they knew what was to come.

"Ellanore here-..." Smiling Mrs. Lucilla gave my hand a light squeeze. "Will be the offering and come together with our son Darius." The words oozed off the top of her tongue like silk. Not one ounce of regret seeping through as they did.

I wanted to scream out how crazy they all were. For letting this happen... For encouraging this vile behavior.

But I didn't.

Instead I peered down the other end of the table. Because at the other end sat none other then Darius himself. He sat there; lips tilted down in a frown, eyebrows drawn together in a glare, fists tightly clenched as they rested upon the table.

He was angry. And from the way his eyes were set on me it was very clear that his anger was appointed towards me. Not to his mother or Mr. Petrovic... But me.

"In three days tops they will be joined. And in a weeks time we'll be able to see the ritual through." Mr. Petrovic was the one to speak next. His eyes tainted with unspoken words as they drifted between both me and Darius.

Praising said news, everyone rejoiced as they sipped from their glass. Some turned to others brewing up conversation about the ritual, myself, or Darius. Others even went as far as congratulating him for offering himself away... Though he'd just brush them off with a glare.

I nearly found myself rolling my eyes at how childish he was behaving. With the mumbling and the harsh glaring. But contained myself from doing so. For I was very livid myself.

"Great party? Huh?" As I slipped away from the table and closer to the wall where Mischa, Celia, and Alice were standing... I shook my head. Sarcasm or not, this party was complete shit.

***

"I can't go through with this." Looking up to the sky, I frowned.

It was past turning in hours, and instead of turning in, me and Celia slowly made our way to the barn. Laying against the very uncomfortable haystacks, bundled in blankets we both gazed through the overly large skyscraper. The moon was full, the sky peppered with stars.