chapter 33 : Sabotaging Jealousy

The assembly hall, where the vampires used to hold their opulent balls, was packed with Phil��s trustworthy followers and his closest rivals. It was decorated beautifully on the occasion of Phil getting the throne of the king tonight.
Meanwhile, Becca was dressed in a beautiful long-sleeved purple gown with the help of Vanessa and Pristine. Even though she didn��t fancy the idea of kissing Phil, she had to do what she had to. She couldn��t back out from her words now. Yet, the thought of anyone but Alexander��s lips on hers made her skin crawl in disgust.
Becca was pacing in her designated room back and forth when there was a soft knock on the door. ��Come in,�� she hollered, and Alexander entered her room.
Alexander didn��t look very pleased either. When his brother declared that he was going to kiss his soulmate right in front of his eyes, Alexander went silent. His mind stopped functioning, and before he realized it, all the preparations were done. He had never protested against Phil. How could he do that now of all times?
When Becca saw Alexander, without a second thought, she went and hugged him tightly. ��Alex, isn��t there any way around this?��
��I don��t know,�� he mumbled quietly, hugging her back as if she would disappear if he didn��t hold her right then.
A thick silence fell over the room as Becca listened to his heartbeat which was beating for her sake.
After a moment, there was a knock on the door and Pristine hollered from outside, ��Becca, come outside. It��s time to make our way to the ballroom.��
Becca pulled apart from Alexander and took a sharp breath. ��I��m sorry. I shouldn��t be getting cold feet right before the crucial moment. It��s just a kiss, not a wedding.�� She prepared her heart to face whatever awaited her and went out of her room without looking back at Alexander because she knew if she looked into his green eyes again, she would back out.
Becca followed Pristine to the assembly hall and got nervous when she saw a pack of vampires staring at her. She had never been the one to get so many glances at once, so she kept her head low and went near Phil who was standing on the dais.
Soon, Alexander appeared in the assembly hall and stood beside his twin in the corner of the dais.
��Ready to watch your soulmate kiss your beloved older brother?�� Vanessa teased in hopes of making Alexander stop all this nonsense. After all, she didn��t want Phil to be king.
��Of course. Why wouldn't I be?�� Alexander said, jealousy bleeding into his tone.
Vanessa decided not to tease him any further because he looked really pissed.
But after a few seconds, Alexander spoke up on his own as Becca neared Phil. ��Why does he have to try kissing her? How is he so sure that kissing her is the only way of getting the vampire potion? What if it's not?�� he let out.
Vanessa let out a nervous chuckle, not knowing exactly how to respond. She has never seen Alexander talking like this. Maybe she should try to calm down the fire rather than fueling it this time. ��Chill, Alex. It��s just a kiss.��
��Just a kiss? How can kissing Becca be just a kiss? Can you imagine some other girl kissing Sebastian?�� he pointed out.
Vanessa��s nose flared in anger. ��Never in a million years.��
��Exactly. What would you do if you were in my place, Ness?�� Alexander asked.
��Simple. I would sabotage the whole thing,�� she answered casually.
As nothing came into his mind at that moment while Phil inched closer to Becca to place his lips on hers, Alexander snapped his fingers and made the windows fling open, letting heavy gusts of wind blow, which broke the light bulbs and distinguished the candles. The whole assembly hall was covered in darkness.
Alexander nudged Vanessa to say something. ��Oh, no. It��s so dark. How will the kiss happen now?�� Vanessa exclaimed dramatically.
��Too bad. Maybe we should get the light bulbs fixed first,�� Alexander added.
��There��s no need. We all can see in the dark,�� Phil said.
��But I can��t,�� Becca spoke up, knowing that it was Alexander��s doing as she was staring in his direction from the start.
��Okay, fine,�� Phil grumbled. Then he turned towards the crowd of vampires and said to a certain vampire, ��William, use your power to illuminate the room.�� With that, instantly, the room illuminated with strange light balls, making the assembly hall look prettier than before. ��Now, I can proceed,�� Phil smirked.
��I think you just made it worse,�� Vanessa told Alexander who was gritting his teeth for the past few minutes.
On the other hand, Becca squeezed her eyes shut when Phil��s lips were only an inch apart from her lips. That wasn��t how she pictured her first kiss. Just as his lips made contact with hers, someone shouted, ��Fire! Fire!��
Becca took the chance and moved away from Phil. Then, her eyes fell on the huge fire which had evolved the curtains along with the carpet, spreading wildly.
��How did it catch fire?�� Phil growled, extremely frustrated at the obstacles that were coming his way, preventing his kiss with Becca.
��Someone must not want you to be the king, Phil. That��s why nothing is going right. Otherwise, how can the curtain catch fire when there are no candles anywhere in sight?�� Alexander pointed out.
��If that��s the case, then I won��t stop,�� Phil declared and pulled Becca close to him by her arm. Just as he was about to force a kiss on her, Alexander pulled Becca towards himself, making her back clash with his chest.
��It��s not working, Phil. You have already pecked her lips. Don��t you see kissing her won��t get you the potion?�� Alexander spoke up.
��But, Alex����
��I��m taking her with me. It��s dangerous out here,�� Alexander interrupted Phil and started walking away with Becca, leaving a furious Phil behind.
Alexander took Becca to the furthest corner of a corridor. Becca breathed an air of relief and let out, ��Thank goodness, Alex. You saved me. I really didn��t want my first kiss to be with Phil.��
��First kiss?�� Alexander wanted to be sure whether he heard her clearly or not.
Becca said, ��Yes, first kiss. How would I have been kissed before when all my father did was lock me in the house like Rapunzel?��
Alexander felt like punching his brother for forcing Becca to kiss him just for power. He never even thought of hurting Phil before, but now, he wanted to strangle him. After all, Becca was his soulmate, not that Phil knew that, but he should have some consideration for Becca��s feelings.
��Alexander?�� Becca called out slowly as Alexander was lost in his thoughts.
��Yes?�� Alexander replied absentmindedly, his eyes locked on her lips.
��What are you thinking?�� she asked.
��I��m thinking who you want to kiss since it��s not Phil,�� he whispered, inching closer to her, snaking an arm around her petite waist.
Becca��s breath hitched while her cheeks heated up, yet she whispered back, ��What if I say it��s you?��
Alexander barely restrained a smile from taking over his lips as she reciprocated his feelings and desires. He placed his other hand on her cheek and leaned in to kiss her soft lips. Just as his lips were to touch hers, someone hollered in the corridor, ��Phil is calling for you two.��
Alexander moved away from Becca as he would be labeled as a traitor if he were to kiss her, knowing she possessed the vampire potion. But taking the potion was the last of his concerns, it was only Becca��s safety that he was concerned about. Yet, he cursed the man who interrupted their kiss.
While they were making their way to Phil, Becca clutched Alexander��s hand out of anxiety. ��What will happen to me now, Alex?�� she asked fearfully. What if Phil killed her since he didn��t get the potion from her?
Alexander gave a squeeze to her hand and replied sadly, ��You might have to go back to the human world.��