Chapter 58

I follow Mihai out of the bedroom, but stop at the top of the stairs, searching for Garne, but he is nowhere to be seen. He promised he’d be with me when the time of the ceremony comes. So, where is he?
I frown, searching the entire floor for him as Mihai follows me, “Where the fuck is he?” i shout, losing my temper.
Mihai grabs my arm, stopping me from going any further, “Mae, we really have to go.” he says, pulling me the other way.
I rip my hand away from him, “I can’t go yet, i have to find Garne, he promised to come with me.” i say, trying to fight back the tears.
I've never been an emotional person, i only ever allowed myself to feel anger before i came here, but as time has passed, I've grown weaker. I've gained emotions i never wanted.
And right now, i feel betrayed. He promised. Which might not mean a whole lot to him, but it means an unbreakable vow to me. He should be here.
Fuck, i shouldn’t care, it isn’t like being let down at the last minute is new to me. But i thought we were friends. I thought i could trust him.
“He isn’t here Mae.” Mihai says, slowly dragging me back towards the stairs. “How many time do i have to tell you that we must go?”
I growl back at him, trying to break his iron grip on my arm, but the more i pull, the tighter he holds on, and it fucking hurts. A lot.
When did i become so weak? I'm pathetic.
“Say it all you fucking want, but he promised to be here, and i need to know why he isn’t.” i say, having no choice but to follow him down the stairs.
“If i have to carry you to the car, then that is exactly what i will do.” He growls, lifting me up and throwing me over his shoulder. “You are not missing this, i won’t let you kill yourself because of your own stubbornness.”
“Fuck you.” I snap, “All you want to do is control me.”
“Maybe.” He shrugs, “And all you want to do is get yourself killed.” he sighs, “If you don’t go through with the ceremony, you won’t live to see morning, and i am not going to lose you because you made a pinky promise with your guard.”
I frown, suspicion rising in my chest, “You did something, didn’t you? You made him leave.”
I feel Mihai tense under me, “You were getting too close.” he finally says when we reach the car. “You gave me no choice but to intervene.”
“He is my fucking friend, Mihai!” i shout, throwing myself backwards so suddenly that he drops me onto the concrete. “Why would you do that?”
“I am the one who decides who your friends are.” Mihai growls, dragging me towards the car by my arm. “I don’t want you getting close to other men, not even your guards, a new one will be assigned to you in the morning.”
“Let go of me!” i scream, kicking him in the legs as hard as i can.
But he doesn’t even flinch as he opens the car door, throwing me inside. “You’ll learn that i am not someone to mess with Mae, my decision is final, you will be assigned someone else.”
“I don’t want anyone else!” i shout, kicking the door as he slams it shut.
He walks around the car, practically shaking with anger, just as i am, how dare he? Garne was my friend. The only friend i have ever had. He makes the days here a little more bearable, and now Mihai has taken that from me. Just as he took my freedom.
Will he take my life next? I have nothing. Only him.
I should have never fucked him, i let myself get too close to him, and now I'm trapped.
I slowly sit up, wrapping my arms around my midsection as i try and hold back the tears that threaten to drown me in sorrow. Mihai says nothing to comfort me. Nothing to take away the anger and hurt. He just drives.
He glances at me a few times, but he never speaks, he doesn’t need to, i know what he’s thinking. He doesn’t regret it. He thinks there is more to Garne and i than meets the eye. But there isn’t. He was just my friend.
He was the only person who treats me like an equal instead of vermin. He was the only person who made me laugh in the lowest moments. Now he is gone. And it is my fault, i shouldn’t have gotten too close.
Everyone i get close to leaves, it is always the same.
The drive is slow, and all i want to do is curl up and sleep, but i don’t, anxiety won’t let me. Mihai still hasn’t told me what to expect tonight, and I'm starting to think that i should have asked more questions, i should have made him tell me.
But i didn’t, because i was afraid.
Pathetic. I used to be so much stronger than this.
I've let myself grow weak, comfortable. I need to find my edge again. I need to train my body again and I'll start tomorrow, when Mihai rests during the sunlight hours.
If he doesn’t lock me in the bedroom for the rest of my life for defying him.
“Bring Garne back.” I say softly, the silence deafening.
Mihai glances back at me, “No.”
“He’s my friend, and the only one i have ever had.” i begin, trying to reason with him, but Mihai shakes his head again, growling from the front seat.
“I said no, and that is final.” he responds, making the car jerk as he goes faster, “You’ll be lucky to make it past tonight, you’ve made us late.”
“It doesn’t matter.” i say coldly, “All i have to do is drink Luthor’s blood.”
“It’s much more than that.” Mihai sighs.
I scoff, crossing my arms, “I wouldn’t know, you have told me nothing about it.”
He’s put me in the back like i am some sort of child, and now he’s acting like he has tried to tell me. He never tried. He was as scared as me to talk about it.
“You never asked.” he snaps back, pulling the car into an old parking lot.
I peak my head out the window, spotting the building that looks much more like a church than i had expected, and Luthor is here, leant against his car, surrounded by guards.
I used to think that Nati lords had guards because they are cowards, but now i know it is because trouble follows them wherever they go. Mainly the council and their hunters.
Destroy the lords and the lesser Nati would be easy to kill. The black brick building looms over me as i step out of the car, wrapping my hands around my middle, not out of necessarily out of fear, but because i might puke.
Yeah, i am going to puke.
“Daughter.” Luthor says, smiling as he holds out his arms for me.
I step into his embrace, needing the comfort, even if i don’t know him. He's a stranger to me. But he is here, and that is more than i can say for the man who raised me.
I stay in his arms for what feels like seconds, but i know minutes have passed, and the crows around me is growing restless.
“As much as i would let you stay like this all night, we must really begin.” Luthor says, gently prying me off him.
I guess that is it then, tonight i become a Nati.