Chapter 46 : Who Is The Punk?

Rakiza's stomach grumbled, reminding her of a forgotten breakfast. But it's Theo's silence while driving the car that bothered her the most, with his distant eyes and angry demeanor. She could tell he was having a bad day and was afraid to ask a question. They were approaching Ghazin, which surprised her.
"Why are we here? Where are you taking me? I believe I have the right to know where we're going, or else...
"Or else, what?" Theo murmurs.
"Take me back to school," she said in response to Theo's cold reaction. I have an appointment with the dean today. "
For the past hour of driving, Theo didn’t speak too much, which was unusual for him.
Rakiza hadn't expected to see Theo that day, so his unexpected appearance caught her off guard. As the engagement ring gleamed on her finger, she tried to remove it quietly, but Theo noticed.
"What is that ring you're trying to hide?" snarled Theo.
"It's nothing; just take me back to school," she joked. When she caught sight of him, she became terrified. He appeared to be upset with her. Was he already aware of Nikolas' proposal? Perhaps Chin ran into Theo earlier and told him about the ring.
Theo made little effort to argue. He returned to silence as he concentrated on his driving.
"I know you're not taking me into your cottage, so tell me where we're going," Rakiza tried but failed. Theo was not paying attention to her complaint. They were on a mountain road. "Can I have some breakfast? You caught me off guard and didn't even think to feed me. "
Still, Theo had no desire to respond. After a few minutes, he pulled over at a roadside burger joint. He moved quickly and opened Rakiza's car door without looking at her. They also ordered two burgers and drinks.
Rakiza was still perplexed by Theo's new demeanor. She'd grown accustomed to Theo's heightened moods whenever she acted suspiciously. But now, Theo was different, acting as if he were a new acquaintance, which was troubling. She was intrigued by Theo's strange demeanor and wanted to know what was going on in his head. For this reason, she stopped asking him to drive her home. They resumed their journey after eating their burgers. After a few more hours of driving, they came to a halt in front of an old cottage in the middle of a small forest.
"What is this place? We're in the middle of a vast forest, and whose cottage is that? It appears deserted," she asked out of Theo's old car, adding, "This is a long way home, and we came here just to talk. What nonsense actions of a man with words like yours! "She grinned.
Theo ignored her. "Stay here; I'll check the cottage before letting you in." Theo dashed into the cottage door and bent over on his knees to retrieve something from beneath the floor mat. It was, without a doubt, a key. Rakiza then followed Theo into the house, opened the door, and entered.
Rakiza was wandering around the living room as Theo built a fire in a small fireplace. "This is a small but lovely spot; whose cottage is this?"
Theo's response was diametrically opposed to her inquiry. "You still didn't know how to follow instructions," Theo said as the fireplace caught fire. "I said, stay in the car, but you followed me. Are you deaf to my voice? "
She said emphatically, "I'm sure you'll let me in after checking the cottage, so it doesn't matter if I come in ahead of your invitations." She then roamed around. "And please tell me if we can’t be called thieves being here," She looked back at Theo, trying to read his motives from his face.
"Don’t worry; this was my friend’s house, left in my care." He responded still cold and avoiding looking at her.
It intrigued her the more, the way Theo acted towards her like some other person. And she didn't notice his abrasiveness. How come he had changed in just a day and she didn’t see him? And where was he the night she was invited by Nikolas? It’s still vivid to her that he was nowhere to be found at a distance from the table where she and Nikolas had sat. Or maybe he couldn’t afford to dine at that expensive restaurant. And she thought herself a fool. The confidence she feels whenever Theo is around is comforting.
"What a fool," she murmured, barely audible.
It struck Theo, "What did you say?"
"No, nothing, it’s just that... You said we needed to talk. Can we start now?" She snorted a bit, concealing her embarrassment. "This is nuts."
Theo stood up and stared at her from her face down to her finger, prompting her to hide her arms behind her back and wait for Theo's rage, but there was none. He didn’t exert any effort to know where the diamond ring came from. Instead, he moved towards the couch and slammed his body into it. "We have to wait here."
"Wait? Oh my goodness. What are you talking about? Who's that?" She became agitated and anxious. "We have to return to the dorm. I have work to do and a project to complete. And I know you didn't care about completing your education because you're abandoning it. "
"How did you find out?" "You went for inquiry," Theo said dryly, his gaze fixed on the blazing fireplace.
She snorted again, remembering how girls were dying for Theo's attention, wishing to be his girlfriend, but when he abruptly dropped out of school, everyone went insane, and particularly Teri's group. They thought you were the coolest and most attractive guy in school.
They even named you "Apollo."
"Who is that punk?" Theo turned to her, brows frowning.
"You didn’t know who Apollo was? Oh my God, where were you born?" She strolled to face Theo. "Apollo is considered the most handsome of all gods." She laughed again.
"And you thought I was?" Theo asked.
"Me?" She snapped, embarrassed. "Of course not, you look like... a frog."
Theo burst out laughing, "You depicted me as a frog?" He laughed again.
"Yes, you look like a frog to me."
"Why not a stallion?" Theo stared at her this time. "Someone told me that if I were to be compared to an animal, I should be a stallion, a strong and beautiful stallion."
"Then, that someone has defected in her eyes." Or maybe she is blind. "
"No, she’s not blind, and she loves me more than anyone in her life." And every day she always reminds me to never forget that she is always there for me, in goodness and in health. "
Rakiza’s ears heated upon hearing Theo's boastful reminiscing with a woman. Her stomach churned with jealousy. She couldn’t understand why. What’s happening to me?
And she even told me that if she had to give her life for me, she would do it because sacrificing yourself for someone else is what love is all about. His voice was dreamy, and there was sadness in his eyes. "She always reminded me to take care of myself whenever she wasn’t around. And I can’t find the love she has for me." He sighed. "And she told me to..."
Rakiza cut him off, "Whoever that woman is, she is the most unlucky of all the women in your life."
"Are you jealous?"
"That will never happen, because I don’t care about you."
"You do."
"Of course I don’t. Who are you to make me jealous? She snorted, adding, "I’m just telling the truth." That woman was blinded by your...
So, how does that work? Go on. Spit out all the silly words for me. This is what I can tell you. The woman I am referring to can never be replaced in my heart. And you are no comparison to her. "
She flared up, "I didn't compare myself to him. And this is all I can say. The day will come when that woman sees your true color."
"That will not happen. She promised me to love me till the end of time. "
Rakiza noticed a tone of sadness in Theo's voice. She could feel the bitterness in his voice, and the love he felt for her was incomparable. He really loves the woman he was talking about. How she wished to have a man who would love her like Theo did to this woman. And her heart sank in dismay.
Theo continued, "And she did. She sacrificed her life for me." His face turned gloomy. "And I promised her to love her until the end of time."
"And why did you kiss me?" Rakiza’s voice rose. She couldn’t stop herself now. She was bursting with anger. "If you really love that woman, if you really care for her and are honest with her, then tell her the truth. You could never kiss another woman when you love another one. That is called "cheating."
"And why can’t I kiss you? I can’t kiss my mother the way I kissed you. Theo said flatly.
"Wait, what is that?" Is the woman you're talking about your mother? "
"Yes, no woman in this world would give her life to her son, like my mother did."
"What do you mean?"
Theo’s eyes turned cold again, "She’s dead. And she died because of me. "
The door opened and an older man and Ajella were inside. All their faces were gloomed, and they were wearing breastplates, knee cops, and bows and arrows on their backs. They looked like medieval warriors to Rakiza.
"Please accept our apologies for taking so long. We're not going down that road. "We still have to climb the mountain to get here," the older man explained.
Theo's focus was on the newcomer, and he interrupted his conversation with Rakiza and said, "It's all right. We just got here, and she's already here."
The older man fixed his gaze on Rakiza, not blinking.
Who are they? Rakiza returned their stare, perplexed as to why they were here. Are they a part of Theo's plan to take her to this seemingly abandoned cottage? She took a step back, disturbed by the old man's stare and Ajella's distasteful eyes. It's clear that she didn't like Rakiza, and Rakiza didn't like her either. But she had to deal with her while Theo was around.
"So, she's the one," the older man said, his gaze fixed on her.
Theo got up from the couch and put his jacket on Rakiza.
"I don't need your jacket," she said as she moved away from Theo, declining the offer.
"Sure you will," Theo insisted, grabbing Rakiza's arms and forcing the jacket on her. "It's going to be cold out there," says the narrator.
"What are you on about?"
Rakiza had no idea what was going on and lacked the strength to oppose Theo's actions. Unlike Nikolas, Theo is more forceful in his treatment of Rakiza. And he never asked Rakiza for permission. Rakiza can't deny his tenacity in all of his schemes.
"We need to go for a walk," Theo stated unequivocally.
"I'll get some supplies," Ajella said before exiting the house.
Rakiza stood in the middle of the living room, and the older man turned around to face her. "What's the matter, Theo?" She then turned to face the elderly gentleman and asked, "Who are you? Why are you staring at me? "
"I couldn't believe it." "Your existence is true," the old man exclaimed, his eyes glistening, and asked Theo, "Doesn't she know who she is, Theo?"
"I told her about the vampires," Theo said, "and that she has something in her that the vampire wants." He then turned to Rakiza and said, "Give me your rings."
When Theo asked for Nikolas' rings, Rakiza was taken aback, "And why would you take it? Nikolas gave it to me, and I'm not going to give it to you. "
"Don't keep getting things from vampires. They could be contaminated and cause you harm." The old man turned to Theo and said, "I'll be back." he left the house.
"Why are you doing this to me?" mumbled Rakiza to Theo.
"This is what I had to do, Rakiza, to protect my kind and your kind," he said coldly. His eyes became grim again.
"What are you on about?" You can't have such a stranglehold on my life, Theo. As an individual, I have the right to...
"Vampires will kill you in order to obtain what they desire from you. It is a prophecy that we must prevent from coming true. "
"I don't think I believe you, Theo." Nikolas would never do anything to harm me. In fact, he asked me to marry him, and I said "yes."
Rakiza trembled as she watched Theo's face turn bright red with rage. She realized she'd made a mistake by telling him about her engagement to Nikolas. And what she had said couldn't be undone.
"Call Nikolas, take back what you said to him," Theo demanded, standing in front of Rakiza like a giant about to devour her. Rakiza, you can't marry him. Nikolas is a vampire prince. "