Guarded Hearts ✓

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

     "May I cut in?"

     I snapped out of my daze whilst dancing with Damien and turned to the blonde haired stranger beside us. I mentally sighed in relief. Being in Damien's presence was like being locked in a room with a ticking time bomb. I knew sooner or later I'd say something and he'd snap. Being in his arms, I could feel the strength and power radiating from his skin. It scared me. Scared me more than dancing with a complete stranger. It felt like we had been dancing for hours and this gave me a chance to find out a way to get out of here from the other guests.

     I turned to look back at Damien as if asking permission. He reluctantly nodded and turned to the male beside us with a grin. 

     "Matthew." He let go of me and they both shook hands, whilst giving each other a side hug with their remaining hand. "It's great that you could make it."

     "I wouldn't miss it for the world," he said turning to glance at me and offer a quick wink.

     "How are your quarter's doing?" Damien asked with a smile.

     Quarters? What does that mean? 

     "...increasing their sentences..."

     I zoned out their conversation despite my mind telling me not to and that it might help in in some way. It was just so damn boring.

     "Aren't men so interesting when they talk Politics?" A voice said next to me.

     I turned to my right to see Alyanna smirking and nodding her head in Matthew's direction.

    "One of his oldest friends. Knows almost everything about him and this kingdom. His likes, his dislikes, the people, the landscape....how to get in, how to get out."

     "Why are you telling me this?" I spoke in a hush voice.

     She simply just smirked deeper and walked off into the throng of tuxedos and ballgowns; her dark hair swishing behind her. I turned back around to see Damien walking away and Matthew extending a hand towards me. 

     "May I have this dance?"

   I nodded and took his hand. Not knowing what else to say. Alyanna's words echoing in my mind....how to get out. But can I trust her? Why would she tell me all this? Is she trying to trick me? It could be genuine, who knows. But can I risk it?

     "Are you alright? You seem a little..." 

     I looked into his hazel eyes and tried to nod, but it turned into a cross between a nod and a head shake. "I-Uhh....Need to get some air."

     I didn't wait for a reply, I just bolted towards one of the many balconies circling the room. Thankfully the room was crowded enough for my actions not to create any attention upon myself. I leaned forwards on the marble railing and closed my eyes breathing deeply in and out. My mind and body suddenly felt weak and exhausted; a slight dizzy spell floating through me. 

     I felt an arm snake low around my wait beside me and I immediately opened my eyes; stumbling to the opposite side. "Ma-Matthew?"

     A small sleazy smirk appeared upon his face. "I couldn't help but feel offended at your sudden departure," he said, leaning towards me. "I'm really not that bad am I?"

     "No." I shook my head. "No it's not you. It's just..." I leaned away slightly. Despite his obvious beauty that he managed to share with everyone else I've met since being here, I couldn't help but feel repulsed by him.

     He chuckled slightly. "You really are quite beautiful Persephone." I felt like hitting him. That's not my name and his casual use of it just intensified my dislike for him.

     I stood frozen as he inched towards me as he grazed his knuckles across my cheek. My mind fighting over whether to tell him to 'go fuck himself' or whether to use this time to find a way out. I looked behind me and noticed we had managed to inch ourselves to the left side of the balcony and I was now leaning against the stone railing.

     "You're quite the silent type aren't you," he murmured in my ear, leaning in towards me.

     I swallowed and tried to steady my voice; my body shouting at me to push him over the balcony.

   "I've heard some interesting things about you...." I said surprisingly steadily. I mentally applauded myself. 

     He leaned away and raised an eyebrow. "Is that so."

     "I heared you are one of Damien's oldest friends," I said with a smirk at both the irony and at my own sudden confidence. 

     He didn't reply, instead crossing his arms and raising both eyebrows, as if to analyze my current and future words. 

     "Now why would one of Damien's oldest friends act so....forward with me?"

     "You've surprised me. You're not really as what I first pegged you as." 

     "And what did you peg me as?" I asked. 

     He smirked and trailed his fingers up my arm. I yanked my arm away and pushed him back, gasping slightly; surprised at my actions to keep him as far away from me as possible. I flashed back to the sensation of his hand on me, feeling light-headed and completely disgusted at myself. The idea of his hand on me. I physically shuddered and he cocked an eyebrow. There was only one person whom I wanted to touch me and he was no where near me.

     "Silent....submissive.....innocent." In some sense he wasn't completely wrong; my school life reflected those ideals. But I wasn't like that anymore. I was more than silence, than inferiority and beyond innocence; being thrusted into this world and life had opened my eyes.

     I just stared at him. Finding myself physically unable to speak. The dizziness threatening to send me under. 

     "Ten minutes left on the clock." He winked, before leaving.

     I leaned back against the railing, enjoying the cool sensation against my now perspiring back and now struggling to stand up. I pressed the back of my palms against my cheeks, moving down to my neck and then back up run through my hair, when my hand got caught on the chain of the necklace Smi-Sophie had given me. I played with the metal locket, turning it around and around when the uncovered side chilled enough. I gasped slightly when something small fell out of the locket into the curve of my palm. A small pink pill? Is this what Sophie wanted me to take? I heard rustling a footstep approach the balcony and I quickly slipped the pill in my mouth; not thinking twice before swallowing. 

     "Violet? What are you doing out here?" 

     I just stared at him in disgust and anger. He was the reason I was here. My head throbbed painfully and I saw stars. I blinked furiously trying to clear my mind. He was the last person I wanted near me. I fell to my knees and he rushed over to me as I curled up in a ball on the cool stone floor. Why do I feel like this? Sophie did this. I didn't even think about about whether she's working for him or not. I feel so stupid.

     "Violet! Stay with me. You can't go to sleep now! Just one more minute. You have to stay awake until twelve and it's broken. I'll have it broken and we can be together. No bond, nothing!" 

     I blinked and suddenly I was thrusted into darkness.

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A/N: Ooooh yet another cliffhanger. Let me know what you guys think. Like? Hate? Let me know ;o

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