Chapter 140
1419words
I didn't flee from the bathroom, although, considering how I felt on the inside. I couldn't believe Paris's audacity.
I couldn't believe myself as well.
Why was it that after all of this time, he still had some power over me? Why was it that every time I thought I was done with him, things like this would happen that would only make me feel like my feelings were tumbling over and trying to fight their way back to him? I was fed up with him. Fed up with constantly feeling this way. Fed up with the whole idea of love.
It was Paris's fault that I could not love Jean the way he deserved, Paris's fault that I was stuck wondering when I would ever heal, stuck wondering if I would ever truly be enough. And then yet, I was still stuck on him. And I hated it. Hated constantly feeling this way. Hated that I had actually given Paris a chance even when I knew better, but he had made a mess of it all.
I took my anger with me and went outside. I didn't think William would want to see me this way, nor did I think I had what it took to begin to explain to him what got me feeling the way I did. He already didn't like Paris. I had no desire to make a bad thing worse.
I walked to a nearby bench, with hot tears gathered in my eyes, and when I sat down, the tears fell freely. It was unfair that I had to live this way. That every time I wanted to move on from Paris, that every time I felt like I had, something like what took place in the bathroom, came and dragged me right back. So I was crying from both frustration and anger.
It was several minutes after my crying jag, while I considered going back inside because I was sure William was already looking for me when I heard footsteps coming my way, and I looked up to find Kate walking towards me. She seemed to be coming from the forest, and not actually from within the party. I decided it was none of my concern what she might have been doing inside that forest, but I suppose she wasn't going to let it pass that she saw me
"And what are you doing here?" she asked, stopping right in front of me. Funny how this was the same woman who had pleaded for my forgiveness…what? Wasn't it just yesterday?
I looked up from my spot, thankful that I was already done with my crying jag because I was able to look at her with all of the venom I felt inside of me,
"I don't think that's any of your concern," I said coldly, straightening when she narrowed her eyes. The damned woman's bloody audacity.
" you're on this pack land. I'm going to be Paris's Luna soon enough, so this place is equally mine. So, I ask again, what are you doing here? Who invited you?" she asked, sounding just as paranoid as ever, and I shook my head at her,
"You don't change, unfortunately," I said and rose. There was no way I was having this conversation with her. Or any conversation for that matter. She was an absolute psychopath.
"Where do you think you're going?" she said, sounding nervous, and I raised a brow,
"You were coming from within the forest, when I'm pretty sure the party is this way. You don't see me asking where you are coming from, do you?" I asked,
"my comings and goings are none of your concern," she said and I nodded with a smile,
" Neither is mine any of yours now that we've cleared this up, I best be on my way, should I not?" I asked and turned away from her,
"you're awfully bold, tonight. You just wait until I let Luna Lara know that you've come to this party uninvited. You just might hate yourself."
I told her with a glamorous smile, "Why don't you do just that? Truth is, I've been longing to see her from the very moment I arrived."
"liar. You came here to Paris. You like to pretend as though you want no part in a relationship with him, but the truth is, the very idea of the both of you being together thrills you. But not while I am still breathing."
I nodded slowly, "then you just might lose your life." I said turned away from her and started walking toward the banquet hall. If Kate so much as said another word, I was going to have to ignore her adamantly, because to respond to her was to stress myself out totally.
When I got to the banquet hall, I was going to head straight to our table and let Albert know that I had had enough of being in the party. I had come to rub it in Luna Lara's face that I wasn't intimidated by the idea of attending her stupid party, nor was I fazed by it. In the end, I had only had a run-in with Paris that made me somewhat emotionally vulnerable. The run-in with Kate didn't faze me as much, but I was ready to go.
But midway to our table, I heard my name be called out and I knew as I turned around, that it was the woman I had come here for.
She walked toward me gracefully, as though she owned the place. Perhaps she did. I didn't take my eyes off her, but waited until she got to me, only speaking when she spoke,
"I didn't think you would honor my invite, Ember," she said, sounding like the gracious host that we both knew she was not,
"But still, here I am."
"here you are," she said, eying me menacingly. She really did look surprised to see me. I had known she had sent that invite to spite me, so here I was, more than willing to spite her right back.
"cute of you to throw such a banquet for your daughter who is 'finally back home' by the way, has anyone asked where she's been all this while, Lara?" I asked sweetly and could tell that I had pissed her off.
Good, I thought. She deserved as much and much more.
"you're crossing the line, girl," she said cooly, but I shook my head,
"You crossed the line the moment you sent me that Invitation letter. You all but begged me to cross the line." I said and took a step back, "But lucky for you, I didn't get to see you from the moment I arrived here. I had a whole lot of annoying things outlined and prepared for you. But as it stands, the night is far spent, and I'm really longing for my bed. But one advice, Luna Lara, pick your fights well, or you just might end up in a ditch."
"Who gave you the right to speak to me in such a manner?" Luna Lara asked and looked ready to huff and puff
"Ember, is there a problem?" Albert asked from behind me, and put a supportive hand on the small of my back.
I smiled and leaned into him, "Everything is fine. I was just telling Luna Lara about how I had honored her invite and I'm more than ready to be on my way."
If he caught how the conversation between Lara had been going south, he said nothing, but only nodded,
"Alright then, let's go. It's getting late anyway."
We walked past Luna Lara and headed out the door, but I found it strange that Kate remained in the same position that I had left her earlier, and this time around she actually looked worried about something,
"I had an encounter with her not so long ago." I said, gesturing toward Kate, "She had been annoying, but now she just seems broken."
William spared her a glance before looking away, "Don't tell me you feel sorry for her."
I sighed, "Not really. But something is definitely off about her. She had been coming from the forest when I saw her. Now she's just sitting there as though she's considering her whole life. It's just off."
"her battles, Ember. Let that girl fight her own battles." William said,
"yeah," I replied but looked at Kate one last time.
I had something to tell Jean.
