"Here?" I screeched, backing up against the door.

I don't know where Avian is but I can't wait for him to realise that I may just be one of her ingredients in tonight's stew. She nodded. "He'll be back soon," she mumbled, picking something off the floor and putting it in her mouth.

"Whom are you talking about?" I asked adamantly.

She shook her head and sighed. "Child, you don't have all the time in the world. Look for what you came you for or else leave because if he finds you, he'll rip your limbs off your body sooner than a child can breathe a wish at a dandelion," she told me.

I frowned. "Aren't you scared of him?" He didn't sound very appealing to meet but the old woman spoke like she was safe. Like this was her house and no harm could be done to her.

"He can't hurt me," she cackled. I shook my head and with an irritated sigh, made my way into the creepy old mansion once again. The floorboard creaked as I took one step at a time and with every noise, I turned behind to see if I was being followed.

Skipping what looked like a kitchen, I made my way into the first room. It was neatly made but had a rustic old to it and a smell of rotting cadaver. The closets enclosed old rags that seemed to belong to the old lady. There was no sign of the man she spoke of.

The next room was the same. And so was the one after that. They were all the exact copy of each other but one stood out. It was at the end of the corridor and had a red mahogany door with a rick silver handle. It screamed money and power unlike the rest of the creepy manor.

I held on to the handle and pushed the door open.

It had a neatly made bed with fresh smelling linen sheets that smelt like a man's musky cologne indubitably. The closet was filled with black silks only. No colour. The room seemed to be dull as if the life was sucked out of it if it wasn't for the bright red curtain across the room.

I pulled the door handle and gasped at the sight in front of me.

There were thousands of pictures of me.

On the wall, on the ceiling and even on the floor.

Me sleeping. Me having a bath. Me reading. Me crying. Most of them were taken in my house. It seemed like it was taken from a window and some from a hidden camera apparently.

There was a red board with pictures of Arian and me. In his room, on top of each other, laughing in the kitchen. They were all beautiful candids which I'd adore if it wasn't for the fact that someone was spying on us.

There was a picture of Arian looking at me fondly while I ate and one of him carrying a sleeping me in his arms when I fell asleep in his car. I smiled and touched the pictures fondly. I didn't know that he looked at me when I wasn't paying attention.

I jumped as the floorboard creaked behind me. Turning around abruptly, my eyes found nothing unusual. I continued looking at all the photos taken. The last one was from yesterday.

Who is spying on us?

I shut the door as I left the room. I couldn't look at more without spewing my guts out. The next floor was an office and library. The office was locked but I slipped into it through the window from the next room and began going through files on the computer along with the recently searched items.

Aside from animal-printed men's socks, there was nothing unusual.

"Nada," I grumbled bitterly.

I heard the woman downstairs talking to someone. She was perhaps talking to herself but I couldn't risk it. I quickly switched off the PC and began walking to the door when I dropped the diary that was on the edge of the table. And there they were. Pictures of Cara.

Lying lifeless.

This was taken at the scene of the accident in which she died.

Why would someone take these pictures?

And more importantly, why did this weird-socked creep have these pictures?

I walked to the top of the stairs and gasped when I saw a man in black talking to the old woman. I couldn't hear what they were speaking about but I could tell she was trying to buy me time. I cursed my luck and opened the window in one of the rooms and jumped off.

I heard leaves cracking under soft and careful footsteps. "Avian!" I sighed in relief. I'm glad I made it out of that house alive ans breathing. "What the fuck, Ally? I tried breaking the door down and I even called out to you but you wouldn't answer! I was just about to set this damn house on fire for you," he whisper-yelled.

"We need to get out," I said urgently as I dusted the mud off my clothes as I stood up.

He followed me and we walked for a few minutes until we reached a place no one would ever see our car parked. I got in and immediately switched on the air conditioner and began narrating the previously happened incident to Avian.

We pulled up outside the castle entrance and I walked out of the car with Avian. We were laughing about something stupid that he had done and without realising, I walked right into someone.

"Arian," I whispered, a small blush creeping over my cheeks.

I hadn't seen him ever since we kissed. My first kiss. I didn't know how to be normal around him after that. All I knew for sure is that I didn't want to freak him out. He looked at me softly and then his gaze hardened when he saw how Avian's arm was around my shoulder.

I stepped away slowly.

"I-" I started to speak but he cut me off.

"I've got more important stuff to handle, Alaska," he callously told me.

"Excuse me?" I asked in disbelief.

"I said, get out of my way," he repeated loudly.

"Gladly. I'm sure hell awaits it's master," I muttered under my breath.

"What did you say?" He hissed and pulled me by the waist, snug against his body.

"I said hell-"

"I heard what you said," he snapped.

I frowned at him. "Then why did you ask?"

"This is no way to talk to your mate and king!" He growled angrily. I could see swirls of red and gold dance around in his eyes furiously as he tried to keep his vamp-side at bay. I smirked.

"I'm the future queen. I don't take orders anyone."

Take that, Asshole Arian.

"Not if I find another one," he said with a devious smirk.

"W-What?" I asked; dumbfounded. Did he seriously just threaten to find another mate because I wasn't being his bitch? I thought the Ice I knew was someone else. Someone that only exists in fantasy apparently.

"See for yourself, baby," he said with a wink.

I watched as the door to the castle angrily slammed shut after him. I looked at Avian who was looking at the floor and biting his lip nervously. "I'm sorry you had to witness that," I sighed.

"That was bound to happen," he mumbled with a shrug.

I frowned at him. "What do you mean by that?" I asked nervously, knowing fully well that I wouldn't like the answer if he gave me an honest one. I just had the unquenchable thirst to know everything.

"It's nothing," he said hurriedly and began walking up the stairs. I stepped in his way and we both almost tumbled down. "Damn it, Alaska!" He snapped exasperatedly. My eyes filled with tears. Everyone's just yelling at me today.

I hate that I care too much.

And in return people think I'm a bitch.

Fucking awesome.

"I'm sorry," he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. I pouted but didn't reply to him. He kept poking me until I got annoyed and swatted his hand away. He groaned.

"Fine I'll tell you but you won't like it."

I grinned sheepishly. It was so easy to manipulate Avian. "I have to know," I told him.

"Arian Ice isn't the Arian you know. Your mate is calm, understanding and patient. Arian Ice is ruthless and destructive. An enemy you don't want to make," he said softly, looking around to make sure no one was eavesdropping.

I shook my head in denial. "No. Arian does that to help people. He has a kind heart."

Avian sighed heavily. "Look, Ally, he really cares about you but there's another side to him that you need to know if you want to live with him and love him. His meetings are killing sprees. No one sane has meetings at lunchtime."

"He's killing people again? I presumed that he stopped," I murmured softly, deep into thought.

"Why would he stop? Because he met his mate? Wake up, Ally. This isn't a fairytale. Yes, Arian may kill only bad guys but that doesn't mean he's a saint. Your presence isn't enough to stop his cravings for blood."

"So you mean to say that the Blackwater Butcher is back?" I asked grimly.

"No, Ally," he replied, "What I'm saying is that He never left."

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