Queen Mother's ferocious voice echoed in the air giving her an ominous feeling as her face scrunched up in fear.

Does mother get to know about my lurking outside everyday?

Her mind was constantly circulating bad feelings as she kept staring at her face blankly. But the next moment, her wrists were grabbed again hardly and twisted earning a low scream from her as she heard her groaning,

" How dare you escape from your room every night when I clearly warned you that you can't go to human world? Tell me, why do you visit human world frequently? Is it anything lacking for you in our world?"

Athena was petrified as she tried to break free from her harsh grip begging,

" Mother.. you.. you are hurting me.. leave my hands.. please.. "

Queen Mother left her wrists momentarily before lifting up and looked down at her hatefully,

" I have already given you enough freedom. It's time to cut of your wings so that you can know how to obey me. "

She turned around and ordered shouting towards the doorstep,

" Maggie, take the female guards here."

Athena's body was tensed up as she hugged her mother's legs pleading,

" Mother, no.. please don't lock me up. I know, I know that I'm wrong. I will never run away again. Please let me stay here. I promise that I won't disobey your order. I beg you, let me go to the human world one last time today."

But Queen Mother paid no attention to her pleading. Rather she was more suspicious over her action and shoved her away mercilessly. Athena was moved back off and started panicking.

She promised Ethan that she would help him but how will she do that now!

As she thought of pleading again, the door was pushed open as the female guards entered one by one.

Queen Mother ordered not sparing a glance to the pitiful face,

" Take her away from here and lock her up in our old castle. No one is allowed to enter there until I say so.If she escapes from there somehow, you all will be beheaded."

The guards nodded with understanding and went to hold Athena who was shouting like a maniac,

" I hate you, mother.. I hate you. You have ruined my life once. Why do you still want to control my life? You killed my love, my b.... "

Before the unfinished words could complete,a hard slap fell down on her skin causing her to pause.

She turned her face angrily and saw her vicious gaze on her burning. Queen Mother gashed her teeth and spit out angrily,

" How dare you mention those rubbish that you have done? Don't you forget that you are the princess of Vampire world.. not any mere vampire who can be used by anyone.."

Athena's anger was erupted by the word "use". She laughed manically and sneered from the hold of the guards who was trying to drag her away,

" Use? He never used me.. never.. I loved him with all my love.. You would be dead here already by my hands if you weren't my mother."

Queen Mother was lost for a moment before replying in a low voice,

" I did everything for your own good."

Athena laughed bitterly before speaking out,

" Do me one favour, mother. Kill me.. That will be the biggest blessing that you can ever do for me.. I can't bear the pains anymore.."

Queen Mother lowered down her gaze and lifted up again subsiding her mind,

" Maggie, take her away. She has lost her mind.. "

Despite being her continuous screaming, the guards pulled her out and was leading her downstairs holding her tightly. Athena cursed them constantly as she passed by Esme's bedroom.

Hearing so many noises, Esme who was resting in her bed got up and stepped outside. She was stunned seeing Athena holding by the guards.

She felt confused and stopped the guard asking,

" Where are you taking her? What did she do?"

Athena's hope of light stirred up at the sight of Esme. She smiled in relief before explaining anxiously,

" Sister-in-law, I have something to tell you. Please find me later.. please.. It's very important."

Esme was dumbfounded for a moment. As she intended to ask her, one of the guard replied briefly,

" This order is given by Queen Mother, lady. Princess will be living in the old castle for the time being. "

Esme nodded slightly before looking at Athena's pitiful face. She suddenly felt sympathy for her but she knew that she didn't had the power to stop them now. Moreover this was a matter between mother and daughter. She shouldn't interfere between their private matters.

Thus she could only order loudly,

" Be gentle with her. She isn't any prisoner to you guys."

The guards nodded obediently before taking her away lightly. Athena's lips formed into a faint smile at her generous act as she spoke again before going down,

" Sister-in-law, please find me.. please.. It's really important for you.. "

Esme still nodded her head without understanding and watched her retracting back blankly.

What did she want to tell me?

RIVERGREEN VALLEY,

The air inside the cave felt heavier than usual as the tensions aroused through his mind.Ethan knew that Anna's suggestion was the best among all the solutions that he had thought till now. But he was never interested to take the throne especially after the mysterious murder of his elder brother. Whenever he watched the throne, it only reminded him his brother's face.

He sighed helplessly before murmuring gazing away,

" I need to think about it, Anna."

Anna nodded sighing deeply as she reminded him,

" Make the decisions fast, brother or else everything will go out of your hands. I know that you are never interested to be the king. I will only say that if you are not planning to loose your sister like your elder brother, take the throne."

Ethan nodded before whispering,

" Let me calm down for a while. I have something to know tonight. I will let you know about my decision. You are the only one left who can support me wholeheartedly. "

Anna replied smiling at him faintly,

" I will be there for you always, brother."

VAMPIRE WORLD,

The day was went fast like a blink of eye as the night fell down symmetrically. For the whole day, Esme didn't see any sign of Aaron nearby thus she was angry and worried at the same time.

He was sick in the morning. How can he be so careless even in this state?

As she started coursing inwardly, finally her bedroom was opened allowing the dim lights from the corridor lighting up the room more vividly. She was jolted and hauled up from the bed gazing at the doorway.

Aaron smiled at her expected eyes before walking towards her way after taking off the coat and rumbling it on the floor nonchalantly.

Esme hissed at his uncultured attitude as he let out a chuckle. He stopped in front of her and spoke after planting a sweet kiss on her treasured lips,

" Waiting for me? huh? So much love?"

Esme rolled her eyes before asking back,

" Did you call the healer? I was waiting

for him so that he can check through your body."

At the mention of healer, Aaron's face dropped a little before replying playfully,

" But I'm okay now, wifey. Why do we need to bother the healer at this hour?"

Esme was angered at his ignoring attitude and replied back sternly,

" When I already told you that you need to see the healer, why are you ignoring me? Is there something that you don't want me to know? "

She gazed at him deeply before spitting out,

" Aaron, I hate being lied."

Aaron laughed quickly hiding the awkwardness as he spoke out rubbing her head,

" Don't be so domineering wifey. Jasper must have informed the healer already. I was out of the castle. Perhaps that's why he hasn't reached the castle till now. "

Esme hummed coldly before urging him to change off his dirty clothes as he followed her order obediently.

Soon after, Jasper arrived with the healer at the doorstep as he asked respectively,

" My lady, the healer is here. Can we come inside? "

Esme responded affirmatively as Jasper entered with the healer thereby. Meanwhile Aaron changed into a comfortable dress and was already lying down on the bed.

He seemed somehow startled at the sight of healer and gave Jasper a meaningful glance. Obviously, as a loyal servant, Jasper knew the meaning behind his glance and gestured assuringly.

The healer gave a respective bow to the king and Queen before proceeding near the bed sitting down beside Aaron. Esme also stood at his side waiting for the healer to be finished off as her mind was getting anxious in every passed seconds.

She never felt so tensed for someone after Ayra!

The healer took some blood from his body and scanned it through a piece of glass. After that, he again examined it adding some herbs and put out two bottles from his baggage.

Esme asked worriedly,

" What happened to him? He suddenly fainted in the morning."

The healer looked up and explained plainly,

" It's nothing serious, Lady. Lord has drunk too much human blood lately and couldn't digest it until now. Thus his body had acted up weakly. I am giving him some a portion of sleeping. He should be okay after having a good sleep."

Esme nodded absentmindedly before murmuring down,

" Too much human blood! "

On the contrary, Aaron felt panicked after seeing Esme's expression and threw a harsh glare to Jasper.

What the fuck!

Did he instruct the healer to say this! Damn it!