The Trial

Chapter 13

After a few minutes, I decided to read the diary one more time and try to force myself to eat my fruit. I read and reread the diary, before a heavy knock made me jump a little. I waited for someone to say something, but nothing came. "yeah?" I called hesitantly, after a couple of seconds. 

"can I come in?" Ares called with a slight frown in his tone, and I felt myself go pail. when I didn't answer, he added "I just want to talk." I took a deep, calming breath and forced my heart to slow down and my breathing to calm down. slowly, I got off the bed and went to open the door. I paused for a second with my hand on the knob. he must've heard my hesitation, because he quietly added "I want to apologise."

I stood tall and forced myself to open the door, stepping back as I opened it and staying partly behind the door. he took a few steps in and stepped to the side, and I automatically started to close the door but stopped myself. I didn't want to be trapped in a room with him. he eyed me over carefully, before he sighed "I'm sorry I let things get out of control earlier."

"it's okay. it's partly my fault too. I shouldn't have pushed it that far." 

"no. you didn't do anything wrong. it's just that ... I lost control." 

he sounded mortified by that, so I carefully said "I knew you were loosing control, and I still stood my ground and pushed it too far. we're both at fault. it's okay."

"no. it's not. I don't know what I would've done if I ... I could've really hurt you." his eyes and expression were full of remorse. 

I took a step toward him and rested my hand on his arm, before I said "I'm fine, Ares. stop worrying so much." his eyes were searching mine, so all I showed him was forgiveness and a small smile. 

he let out a heavy breath but seemed to relax, so I let my hand fall from his arm. "I can't believe you manage to subdue my creature." he half laughed, shaking his head with a small smile. 

"it wasn't easy." I replied, carefully copying his mood and tone. 

"you keep surprising​ me, Becca." he murmured, searching my eyes again. 

"people have a tendency to underestimated me." I commented, taking a step back and turning away from his scrutinizing eyes. 

I felt him step closer, following me, but I tried to ignore it and kept moving toward the bed to sit down. "did you eat anything?" he asked, glancing at the untouched apple and pear.

"I had breakfast, and I'm really not hungry. my nerves are little ... frazzled." I replied, looking down at the floor. 

as he sat down beside me, a little too close for comfort, I shifted a little, and he seemed to notice, since he let out a small sigh. "I know I've been acting a little ... " his words trailed off, and he seemed at a loss for words.

"strange. confusing." I offered and glanced over at him with a small smile, trying not to offend him. 

"yeah." he half laughed and sighed, before he added "it's just that I don't want to see you get hurt. I really wish you'd change your mind about your Trial."

"what do you mean?"

"I wish you'd just run and hide and let him kill her. let someone else change things."

I frowned and sighed, before I carefully asked "what if my choice and actions are what changes everything? what if I can save them both?"

"I don't want him touching you. you don't understand what will happen." he was trying to hide his disgust and anger, but he was very unsuccessful.

"then, enlighten me." I said, trying very hard to keep the irritation from my voice. 

"he won't be able to stop, Becca. your blood is ... different. I don't know how to explain it, but I know, if he tastes it, he won't let you go. even if he manages to stop, before he drains you, he'll want more."

"believe me. I have no intentions of doing this more than once." I tried to say it lightly, but my slight irritation slipped in. 

he frowned at me and let out a long, heavy sigh. "you don't understand what blood does to a vampire or a shifter."

"it makes them stronger and faster, but, when a particularly appealing taste comes along, it's like a high. it makes them twice as fast and twice as strong. sometimes it's more than just a high. it's like an addiction." the sorrow in his eyes made me want to tell him that I would change my mind, but I knew better. I couldn't fight. well, not really. I couldn't let the princess or the beast die, or we'd all suffer. I carefully added "I know the risks. I get it. I really do, and I'm still willing to try. it could be the only way to stop the entire world from falling apart."

"just promise me one thing." he said after a long moment of searching my eyes yet again. 

"that depends on what you ask me to promise."

"come back in one piece. I honestly don't know what I'll do if ... if you don't come back."

"I'll do my best." I replied, wondering why it was so important to him that I made it back, especially since there had been plenty of others that had gone and didn't make it back. 

"I know you will." he sighed with a small, forced smile, brushing a piece of my hair off of the side of my face and searching my eyes again. "tell me you've at least changed your mind about no weapon? please take your small blade at the very least."

"Simon pretty much convinced me to do that already. he mentioned there might be more vampires in the way when I get inserted." I had mentioned it earlier, but he must not have heard me.

"good." he sighed with relief. we sat there for a quiet, awkward moment, before he took a deep breath and said "I should go. I'll see you at dinner?"

"yeah." I replied, nodding and standing to walk him out. 

as we got to the door, he paused and turned around to face me, making me stop in my tracks. he opened his mouth to say something but must've thought better of it. he closed his mouth and looked thoughtful, so I stood there and waited for him to gather his thoughts. he slowly lifted his hand and brushed my hair off the side of my face again, but, instead of letting his hand fall away, he slid his fingers deeper into my hair. 

before I had a chance to realize what he was doing, he had his lips crushed against mine. it was only for a brief few seconds, but, when he pulled away, he looked almost sad, before he glanced down at my chest and slightly smirked. before I could come back to my senses, he turned and rushed out the door, leaving me standing there in bewilderment. my heart was racing. my breathing was raged, and my mind had turned to mush. I frowned at his back as he disappeared across the open space. 

he'd done it again. he'd messed with my head, and I had let him do it. with an irritated groan, I shut my door a little harder than necessary. I was so done with him and his mind games. he probably hadn't even come in here to apologize. he had probably came in here just to mess with me because a small, human, female had beat him and his creature, and he was getting even. "that's the last time." I muttered to myself with thick irritation. 

I still had a good couple of hours, before dinner. it would be another hour after that, before mason would get his Trial, and I had no idea how long that was going take. at least, I finally knew a time frame and could take this damn dress off for a while, so I did just that, slipping on my uniform and heading outside for a jog. 

instead of sticking to going around the building, I decided that I'd have time to go around the whole property. hopefully, that would help me avoid any company. I really needed to be alone. as I started off from the building, I headed toward the parking lot and started to follow the dirt trail that I knew encircled the whole area. they had said we couldn't leave the grounds, so, technically, I wasn't. right?