Primous Rising [Book 1 of The Unravelling series]

4. Celestiana

((AN: Things get slightly 'heated' as the chapter goes on, I don't know if that actually needs a warning or not so yeah, be aware =)) ))

The human base city

Celestiana, now curvier and shorter due to shape shifting, pushed a strand of dark brown hair behind her ear. She intertwined her fingers with the once handsome human boy, turned into an average peasant, with sunburnt skin, greasy hair and thin body frame, showing the lack of fine quality food.

It was indeed a small city. In fact, more village than a city.

The roads weren't paved. Her shoes were dusty, the hem of her jeans had changed from navy blue to an ugly shade of yellow. The stench of dust, sweat, and exhaust rubbed the back of Celest's throat similar to sandpaper. But she was holding Elliot's hand, and none of these mattered. On each wall, a poster of Elliot in his natural form hung, with a thousand dollar price for anyone who informed the guards of the location they had seen him. Or knew where they resided. On every main street, a royal guard had been stationed, watching everyone like hawks. Celest ignored them, in hopes of not becoming suspicious. After all, they were vampires with supernatural hearing abilities.

They slowly made their way to the brick house Lord Nikolus had arranged for them.

Elliot opened the door, and they walked into the cramped room. Celestiana's eyes wandered around the area, taking in the queen-sized bed on the room's side with a compact kitchenette across from it. The only source of light, a narrow window.

"He could've given us a better place. This is a dumpster," Elliot complained as he plopped down on the bed, causing it to whine under his weight.

"You shouldn't talk to him like that and nor behind his back. He's the only reason we're here together. And only that should matter, not the size of where we'll be staying for lesser than twenty-four hours," Celest reasoned and treaded to him. She stood between his parted legs and placed her hands on his shoulders.

His hatred irritated her, but she wanted to see things from his perspective and be as understanding as possible. Elliot had been through a lot because of her, this was the least she could do. But it was exhausting and she hadn't found a way to induce him to quit voicing out his distaste regarding Nikolus and the other vampires. 

He craned his neck and met her eyes. "I don't trust him," he repeated himself for the thousandth time. He settled his palms on her waist, pulling her closer to himself.

Her fingers drifted to the tips of his hair and played with it. "I trust him. Shouldn't that be enough? And please enjoy this moment and stop arguing about him." She spoke softly hoping to persuade him to give up his hatred.

He heaved a sigh. She sat on his lap and rested her forehead on his. "Let it just be about us," she whispered.

He didn't answer, but slipped his hand under her shirt. Her breath hitched as his fingertips left a trail of goosebumps on her skin. The butterflies in her stomach going wild. He brushed his knuckles on her ribs and pressed their bodies together with his other arm.