The Game of Hearts

14. Betrayed

They didn't know.

I stood quietly beside a tree, the light touching the ground just a few feet in front of me. However, I wasn't basked in light, not to the point where I could be spotted. My guys stood behind me, watching intensely with me in the direction of Liam and Aria. I was silent, even when Rodney asked me what I planned on doing.

Something inside me hesitated to pursue the "mission" when I saw her sitting there, cheeks tinted a gentle pink and body stiff from the cold and the nervousness she felt. I could hear her heartbeat triple in speed when Liam leant against her. A low rumble vibrated in my chest. I didn't like what I was seeing, I didn't like what I was feeling. I assumed she was mine, that our deal would continue for years. But it was only a few weeks that she found somebody more tempting than I, someone she actually felt for.

The real question was: did I feel for her? There was a certain extent to the answer to that question. Maybe. Maybe I did.

A sigh left my lips, "fall back," I mumbled. My friends disappeared, leaving me to watch them in disappointment..

Later, I found myself back at the bar, drinking the strongest thing I could find. I wasn't really in the mood for anything or anybody... not even the woman staring at me from across the room. She sat at the other end of the bar; blonde haired and blue eyed, looking as though she was dressing up as a skank for halloween. I scoffed at the thought, swallowing down another sip of the bottle in my hand. When she realized I wasn't going to approach her, she stood and tugged at her short black leather shorts to get comfortable and walked up to me. "Hi," she said.

"Seats taken," I responded when she began to sit down.

"Doubt it," was all she said, lowering herself onto the stool next to me. "Come on, give a girl the time of day. I'm lonely," her voice took a smooth turn. She wanted me to keep her company. Odd.

Women in this town didn't usually come near me. Maybe it was a sign to move on. I put on a fake smile and looked to her. "Oh really? I guess I will then. What's you're issue?" I asked, handing over the bottle to her.

She sipped it and shrugged. "Cheating husband, you?" That would explain a lot.

"You could say my girlfriend also cheated..." I said simply. It wasn't like Aria was that... but it was pretty close.

She handed back the bottle, which became empty in a second. "I'm Silvia," she stated, scooting slightly closer.

"Rowan," I said, finding her face closer to me when I responded. Smirking, my eyes found her lips slowly. "Nice to meet you."

----

Liam and I stood from our spot. We had talked a bit more. He talked of his father, I talked of my ordinary parents. We were ready to part ways after I comforted him. He was such a sweet guy, I just hoped he'd be okay.

But on to other matters, I was ready to confront Rowan. Not only did I need answers for the way he behaved... but also the killings that happened the year before.

I just couldn't believe Rowan had the grit to act in such a way. He was such a gentleman all the time that I just didn't seem to understand what made him act out. After thinking it over I just assumed that it was just because Liam was a Vampire Hunter, which I still didn't understand just yet. Entering the bar, I was prepared to talk to Rowan no matter what. My heart and mind were craving for an exact answer and explanation. The stench of alcohol and smoke lingered in the bar. People were dancing and wooing. It was an ordinary night for ordinary people in an unordinary town. I walked to the bar area, finding one of his friends serving drinks. Once he saw me his eyes kind of widened. "What are you doing here?" He rushed to me. "You should leave," he said. My eyebrows rose, questioning such a panicked demeanor.

"No, I need to talk to Rowan. I'm guessing he's upstairs," I said before heading to the staircase. Someone grabbed my hand. It was that friend, Rodney was his name. My eyebrows pinched together, my heart beginning to race. "What is your problem?!" I yelled before tearing my hand from him, running up the stairs. The music from downstairs became low, but new music was coming from Rowan's room. I stopped in my tracks when I heard a woman's giggle. My body froze, and my heart scrambling for yet another explanation. What troubled me was the fact that my heart was wild with what I could only label as jealousy.

I scoffed. I didn't even want to go in. I knew what was happening.

It wasn't like we were in a relationship, and it definitely wasn't like I was hurt. Not anymore. I pushed those feelings aside, suddenly just angry. I tore down the stairs and glared at Rodney. "You can tell him I don't want to see him again," I hissed through angry tears. It was nothing more than anger. I should've known, right?