Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Servant Girl.

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IMPRESS.

Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Servant Girl.

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Cathryn's POV~

"Has anything been found yet?" I stood behind my brother Alexander who was crouched, searching under someones bed for any sign of stake.

He tiresomely lifted himself up and sighed in failure, "nope, none of the guards or maids have seen any sign of disorder in any room."

"I bet father is going mad, where is he?" I arched my brow suddenly as I realised I hadn't seen the King anywhere since our family meeting without Zac, earlier.

Alexander gestured that I follow him, turning to leave the luxury bedroom which belonged to a noble and the many guards that were currently searching it.

So far the first floor had been searched and nothing had been found, and the search had moved to the second floor which was the floor with the most rooms.

It was guaranteed the search would take all night. The chances of stage 4 continuing tonight were very low, it looked like Zac would have to choose who to kill tomorrow.

Once I'd followed Alexander out the room, he scanned the hallways with speed and came back to me with a shrug, "father isn't on the second floor, my guess is he is in the dungeons, trying to suppress his rage."

I bit my lip nervously, "I'm scared his going to go mad again, remember how violent father was before, I fear for my everyone especially any human roaming the castle."

"Yeah, I do too but I don't really care. I kind of liked when father was mad, it made him very vigilant and we all felt a little more secure than we do now, knowing that someone has stolen the only thing that can kill us is scary."

Xander continued to reply in a hushed voice, "I personally think the Queen stole it."

I crossed my arms and stuck my hip out, growing a defensive attitude for my mother, "why would you think that? My mother may do questionable things, but she wouldn't steal the nixonited- ink stake because first of all, why on earth would she need it?"

Alexander scoffed and laughed aloud, "to kill me," he stated and I widened my eyes like he'd possibly lost the plot.

"Are you crazy?!" I exclaimed, "you may not be her favourite person but she'd never try kill you, she knows how much you mean to myself, father and Zac."

"Exactly that, she doesn't care about the circumstances of killing me. I'm a bastard child, father would immediately get over my death and so would you and Za-"

"-you know thats not true, I love you as much as I love Zac," I assured him and he smiled, a genuine smile.

"I still think she stole it but despite that, we should probably warn Natalya to steer clear of father, God knows what could trigger his blood thirst," Xander warned and I nodded quickly, agreeing.

"Yeah, do you want to warn her and I'll continue with the search?" I asked with a knowing smirk.

I had a feeling he wanted to see Natalya alone since he hadn't had a chance to hang around her recently, especially with the negotiation that she marry Preston.

A deal I hope doesn't go through if we win the war with the support of the werewolves and demons.

Xander's eyes glistened when i gave him the option and I giggled, "I take that as a yes, go, I'll cover for you in the meantime."

"I owe you one, thanks sis," he playfully ruffled my hair and I involuntarily squeaked, smacking his hands away before he sped off down the halls.

Rolling my eyes, I muttered under my breath, "what a sister does for her brother's happiness."

Both Zac and Xander wanted Natalya. Question is, would she choose to have any of the two?

At first I was sure I wanted Natalya with Zac but my brother has treated her like crap until recently and it made me think maybe she deserved someone who had treated her with non-stop respect aka. Alexander.

But the choice is ultimately up to her, who knows maybe she wants Preston, the evilest of all evil.

Pffft, yeah right.

There may have been chemistry between them at the ball, especially when Preston kissed her but...

Natalya doesn't do evil, she wouldn't want that monster even if he did resemble a perfectly carved sculpture of the Gods.

I blinked myself out of my daydream of the demon king, shaking my head and brushing my dress' skirt down.

I should probably go back in and supervise the guards as they search.

Natalya's POV~

"I don't think I will have to choose who to kill tonight, I feel the search may take all night. So I will get back to you tomorrow and ask again if you really do want Ella alive or not," Zac brushed my hair behind my ear, "in the meantime, you should maybe steer clear of my dad."

That was understandable. I can't imagine how angry the King is at the missing nixonited stake. That alone, could send him mad again.

And I was thankful the stage would be postponed for tomorrow because I was starting to question whether I should risk it and not help my aunt and couson in the slightest.

"Okay, I will try. I doubt anyone will be getting sleep tonight if the search is to run all night," I slumped my shoulders and frowned.

Zac stroked my chin, "you could always sleep in here..." he wiggled his brow suggestively and I bluntly declined.

"Yeah no, I might bunk with Cathryn instead if they are yet to search my room," I responded in thought, "but thank you for the offer, I will see you tomorrow."

Zac pouted at my spoken dismissal and I rolled my eyes in amusement.

Forwarding towards the door I briefly turned around, "I hope you guys find the stake, seriously."

"Thank you, Lady Ascelyn," Zac teasingly said with a laugh, "I hope we do too... I will check up on you soon."

"No need," I called as I exited his bedchamber rather quickly.

As I turned from shutting the door, I bumped into something- well, someone and that someone caught me by surprise.

"Oh Xander!" I brightly smiled in surprise, "long time no see."

He furrowed his eyebrows looking up at Zac's door and back at me in obvious suspicion, "did I just see you exit from my brother's room?"

Maybe if I play him at his own game he won't continue to question me. I went onto my tip toes and scrutinisingly widened my eyes at him, "I don't know, did you?"

Xander narrowed his eyes, furrowing his brows even more as he looked into my wide eyes, "what are you doing?"

I pursed my lips, dropping back down onto my feet and smiled amusedly, "I have no idea, just don't ask what I was doing in there with your brother please."

Xander pouted and shrugged with the response, "okay fine, erm are you busy right now?"

"Well, with the search and everything going on, not really. Why?" I asked curiously and he looked around momentarily in thought.

"How about we go get something to eat and quickly catch up? I haven't been able to speak to you alone since you woke up..." Alexander suggested and I nodded instantly, "yeah, I miss your company, a lot."

"Not as much as I do yours," Xander put his hand out to me and I happily placed mine in his, "I'm liking the new look," he added with a wink.

Old me would've swooned at his compliment and that golden wink of his but new me simply just smiled thankfully and nodded back at him.

Whether it was meeting the Shadow King that had completely erased any intimate feelings I had for Xander or the arising darkness within me, I just didn't tingle at his touch or blush at his voice anymore.

***

"Moral of the story, just try avoid any interaction with my father, he isn't in the best of moods," Alexander advised and I lifted my thumbs up.

"Got it. Zac warned me too and trust me, I know a bit about the history of the mad king," I finished tying the apron around my neck so I could dig into my plate of food without the worry of staining my dress.

Alexander did the same but instead, to protect his shirt from any unruly stains.

"So what did inspire the new look?" Alexander smirked as he cut into his medium to rare steak that leaked across the ancient design of his plate.

I grimaced at the juice that poured from his steak and diverted my focus to the well done steak I had smoking up on my plate. It smelt so good and looked so good too, with spring greens and freshly cut tomatoes surrounding the meat.

Cutting into my meat I sucked on my bottom lip and thought before responding, "I don't know, I kind of just woke up like this."

Which was true, I had literally woken up looking like an enchantress. All I did was glamour up my appearance by wearing the black garments I was used to.

"Of course you did, you get hotter by every bleeding second," Xander bluntly said, his words sounding as truthful as ever, "I'm still waiting for you, you know that right?"

Xander placed a piece of steak into his mouth, the steel of his fork clanging against his plate as he bought his hand down.

I was close to choking on my steak when his words registered in my head, "waiting for me?"

Alexander sniggered, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes amplifying. "I confessed my love for you a long time ago Natalya, one of the first times we met actually, the time I saved you from the blonde whore my brother was dating..."

The memory was almost foreign to me, but I was getting momentary flashbacks to the time I was attacked by the blonde and saved by him.

"I recall telling you that my first initial intention for getting to know you was so I could feed from you, but then something else about you attracted me and I told you that I wanted you... But-"

"-You never got an answer," I finished for him and he nodded slowly but he didn't let the smile falter from his face.

I went to pick up the cup of water I thought I had, only to find that I hadn't asked for water.

"Thirsty?" Xander quieried and I sheepishly nodded before watching Xander clicking his fingers at a servant walking by.

The servant girl whipped her chestnut hair over her shoulder as she turned to attend her Lord Alexander.

"My Lord, what may I assist you with?" She held her hands together in front of her waist and looked down timidly, trying to both make and quickly break eye-contact with Xander.

I remained silent as Alexander insisted on speaking on my behalf, "Lady Ascelyn would like some water."

"Yes, Lord," she bowed her head and instantly rushed to the kitchens.

I blinked a couple of times, baffled by how fast Xander was served in comparison to the other Knights and Lords that were calling for assistance.

"Anyway, back to the topic of us..." Alexander stared directly into my soul and I was forced to not crack under the questioning glint in his eyes, "do you have a response for me yet?"

"A response to what?" I dumbly asked and Xander cocked his head to the side with a humoured smile, "to my confession."

"If you mean your confession of love then yes, I do have a response," I stated and he grew the biggest smile ever which broke my heart because I was about to break his.

I want Preston.

Not Xavier.

Not Xander.

Not Derek.

And not even Zac.

Preston Sterling.

"And what response is that-"

Alexander was interrupted when the servant came back with a tray and single silver chalice centred on it.

I raised my brow as Xander furrowed his. "I said water."

"Yes I know, my Lord but the chef insisted that Lady Ascelyn try his purest wine, made from a rare type of grape." The servant spoke like she'd been given a script to recite, instantly raising my suspicions.

Especially at the mention of the castle chef, I didn't know the chef personally so why would he possibly want me to try his finest creation first.

It didn't make sense.

"Mind if I have a sip first Natalya?" Xander asked and the servant exclaimed "no! This drink is made especially for a Lady, my Lord. No good for a man of your honour."

Alexander frowned, "okay then, Natalya?"

I squinted my eyes, the more I thought of it, I remembered, Preston warned me not to drink from any glass or cup given by any Lady, Lord, commoner or servant.

This servant girl could be working undercover for the witches, she may look innocent but as you may know, looks can be very deceiving.

"Uhm you know what," I chortled "I'm no longer thirsty."

The servant was an inch away from placing the chalice down in front of me and froze when I spoke. "But, you look like you could use a drink. After all, we wouldn't want you passing out from dehydration, right Xander?"

Xander just shrugged with a fixed smirk on his face as he eyed me curiously, clearly confused by the way I was acting. "Yeah sure," he agreed unsurely.

The servant wavered whilst lifting herself back up to a general posture. She trembled under my scruntinsing gaze and I smiled knowingly, "its rude to decline an offer made by a Lady, is it not Xander?"

Xander was slowly catching on and began to play along, although he probably didn't have a hundred percent idea what I was getting at.

"My Lady-" the girl hesitantly said and I cut her off with a demanding "drink."

She worriedly placed the tray down onto the table, looking frantically between myself and Alexander before trying to make a run for it.

I abruptly stood up and shouted "stop her!"

And guess who appeared at exactly the right time...

Yep, the six torturers of the castle. Chris, Xavier, Douglas, Terrence, Dario and Aaron in a perfect line formation that blocked the servant from escaping the dine-in room.

Xander followed after me as I rushed over to the boys and girl with the chalice of this "pure," dark-looking wine the girl was trying to persuade me into drinking.

The girl was trapped by seven muscular boys who seemed to get the memo that I obviously didn't want the girl to escape.

I tugged on the girl and swung her around by the arm only to be met by frightened eyes and a paled face.

I smiled physcotically at this and extended my arm out to her, "you were trying to convince me to drink this but since I'm not thirsty, you wouldn't want this good wine going to waste now, would you?"

The girl gulped breifly glancing at the boys and back at me defeatedly, "no my lady, I wouldn't."

"So drink," I insisted, shaking the chalice a little until she had full grasp of it.

I took a second to greet the six castle torturers with a warm smile over the girl's shoulder and saw their eyes lingering all over my body.

That made me both insecure and unconfortable for a minute and the next thing I knew, I felt super confident.

"Lady Ascelyn asked you to drink," Xander notified, snaking his arm around my shoulder, "and if Lady Ascelyn asks of something, it should happen immediately."

The girl nodded whilst inhaling the smell of the wine I suspected to be contaminated by those witches that I thought were my friends.

She scrunched her nose and whimpered before putting the rim of the chalice to her lips.

My smile grew nastier by the second and when she took a hesitant gulp, I crossed my arms waiting for something to happen.

As if I had predicted time, the chalice dropped from the girl's hand and all the wine spilled across the floor, instantly acting like acid and burning bits of the panelled flooring.

The wine must have contained Nixon as well as the blood magic crystal of obedience the witches wanted me to consume. Nixon was the only thing that could burn and spread like that.

There were gasps across the room when the girl began to claw at her throat as the skin of her neck down rapidly tore and her bones burnt.

She tried to gasp for air but failed as the Nixon in the wine had struck her respiratory system, her digestive system and had taken away her life.

"Knew it," I simply said before nonchalantly hopping over the servant's dead body to stand in line with the boys.

"Get Zac," Xander instructed Chris who vigorously nodded, "on it mate."

"What the fu- Natalya, you were almost poisoned..." Xander covered his mouth in disbelief, sliding his hand to my shoulder and looking at me with concern.

I ran my hand through my hair and sighed, "I had a feeling something was wrong with her."

Xavier, Douglas, Dario and Aaron were confused and concerned about what they'd just witnessed and were blinking in utter awe.

Like everyone else in the room was, people were pushing their drinks to the side and chattering amongst themselves, deciding whether or not to continue eating incase something like this happened to them.

"You had a bad feeling?" Xander questioned, "any idea who you think has it in for you?"

"I- Yeah- my best guess... the witches," I revealed and Xander cursed under his breath, maybe wondering why they had helped bring me back if they wanted to bring me down.

Thing is, no one knew that I was immune to Nixon and that the witches' true intention was to actually get me to obey their every command and not to kill me.

So this looked worser than it was supposed to. The servant wasn't part of the plan, she wasn't supposed to die but I was just too smart. Thanks to Preston.

Out of nowhere a gust of wind hit me and my cheeks were cupped by a pair of both possessive cold yet soft hands. "Oh my God, Chris just told me what happened, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Zac frantically searched me for any injury and I waved at him, "Zac stop," people were beginning to look at me like I was trying to steal him from the other girls of IMPRESS, "I'm fine, see."

Zac smiled in relief, stroking my hair so it'd stay behind my ear and gently kissing my cheek, "good, you should go to Cathryns room and sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day, I promise you no further harm will come to you tonight. Not whilst I am here."

Was he sure about that?

"Thank you Zac," I slid his hand from my cheek and to his side, "and thanks Xander catching up with you was nice, I'm sorry we got interrupted and... nice to see you again guys. Goodnight."

Their hungry eyes wouldn't leave me and I knew they were either craving my blood or my body, their blood red eyes roamed over me until I had completely exited the room.

And as I was walking to the direction of Cathryn's bedchamber, I was knocked off my feet but I didn't hit the floor. I dropped into a pair of arms that I wasn't able to see because my vision was blocked by a sack that was thrown over my head.

As this happened I didn't scream. I didn't scream, shriek, yell or try to run even though I was being kidnapped, crazy right?

As my hands were being pulled behind my back, I felt safe...

I felt safe?

Why am I not petrified and why am I allowing myself to be captured? I certainly know I shouldn't feel as safe as I do now...

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Next chapter will be here soon!!! But hope you liked this!

Qs: who captured Natalya? Why does she feel safe? Do you think she is doing the right thing by not supporting the witches anymore? How will everyone react when they find that Natalya is missing? Is Prince Zac more likely to turn mad instead of the King?

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- Natasha xx

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