Chapter 88-A cruel trap

Chapter 88: 88-A cruel trap

Varitreya did not stop running until the dark forest was far behind them.

The trees eventually thinned, the oppressive darkness of the prison giving way to the familiar glow of Old Scaris.

The ancient waterfall came into view through the trees, its silver ribbons of water tumbling over the rocks beneath the moonlight.

Varitreya slowed at last, her speed dropping from something impossible to something the surrounding world could comprehend. She stepped onto the familiar stones and carefully lowered Maisa onto a broad, flat rock beside the pool.

Maisa sat there for a moment, still trying to convince herself that she was actually out.

The forest had been terrifying in a way she hadn’t known was possible. It had taken away everything she had begun to associate with being a vampire; her speed, her strength, her hearing, even the strange certainty of the mate bond.

Inside those trees, she had been nothing more than a girl with a hunter’s training and a weapon she’d found on the ground and now she was sitting beneath the moon again.

She watched Varitreya cross toward the waterfall’s edge. The princess retrieved the jacket she’d left hanging over a nearby branch earlier and slipped it over her shoulders. The fabric was still slightly damp, but she didn’t seem to care. She adjusted the collar, then turned back toward Maisa.

"Thank you," Maisa said quietly.

Varitreya’s expression softened by the smallest degree. "For what?"

"For coming for me. I’ll remember this favour and make it up to you however you want in the future," she let out, she wasn’t ungrateful.

Currently, the princess had already saved her three times. Showing her that in the vampire nation, she had a strong backer behind her who would break rules if it meant saving her. She made a note to do her best to be worthy of the kindness.

The princess stared at her without a word. Her white eyes narrowing down at Maisa with a keenness that tickled Maisa’s skin.

Maisa swallowed and lowered her eyes. She couldn’t hold those eyes without her face burning up.

"I thought nobody knew I was in trouble. I thought I’d disappear in there and everyone would just assume I’d run off and move om without me," Her fingers curled against the rock beneath her as she nibbled at her lower lip. "You came anyway and I am grateful. Thank you."

Something unreadable passed through Varitreya’s eyes. "I felt that something was wrong with you..."

"You did?"

"Your side of the bond went silent," she glanced at her wrist and sure enough, the dark red part of the flower was glowing again.

It sent emotions like relief, happiness and gratitude pulsing through to the other petals.

Maisa’s gaze dropped. "So that’s what happened?"

Varitreya nodded.

Maisa breathed out slowly. "I didn’t feel anything either. Not from you... not from any of you."

"The forest blocks all connections. It’s how it was engineered." The princess’s gaze moved toward the distant darkness. "That’s another reason why that place is dangerous."

For a moment neither spoke, Maisa nodded. She had lived through it, if incase the school set a test on the dark forest, she was sure she wouldn’t come out blank.

Then Varitreya’s expression hardened. "Tell me how you ended up there. How can you be so foolish as to walk into a place like that?"

Maisa’s stomach twisted. The question reminded her of the trick that had been played to her. She had thought that it would be a while before she gets back at the three vampires but the princess saved her and her revenge might be sooner than she expected.

"Kriza, Jane and Sophia tricked me that Lumi was waiting for me inside the forest," she spoke the truth. "I had no idea about the dark forest so I just went in."

Kayden, who had been standing several paces away, immediately looked over. "They tricked you?"

Maisa nodded. "They told me Lumi had prepared something for me. They said she wanted to make up for what happened at the cemetery." Her voice became quieter. "I believed them... my mistake..."

Varitreya’s jaw tightened. She couldn’t believe how daring those three were. Even through the student council or the fiery four hadn’t officially released an official notice, Maisa had been spotted several times with all of them which should have been enough warning.

It should have been common knowledge that she was under their protection and they still dare to pull such a trick.

"I didn’t know about the forest. I didn’t know that crossing those flowers would..." Maisa looked down at herself. "I didn’t know I’d lose everything."

"But they knew that you didn’t know this?"

"I think so."

Varitreya’s eyes became cold. Her eyes started turning crimson. She imagined the several ways to hold those three accountable for their actions and all included loud screams and desperate pleading.

"Then they will answer for it," she said.

Maisa looked up. "You’re going to punish them?"

"I’m going to make certain you get an opportunity to decide what happens to them," she corrected, making the moment about Maisa, the actual victim instead of focusing on her own feelings.

There was something frighteningly calm about the promise. Maisa didn’t press further. She will know and decide accordingly when the time comes. But she decided to head to the library immediately upon return and read up on all things vampire, being naive was sitting duck and her enemies were growing in numbers by day and night... she’ll need to be prepared.

Kayden looked at his best friend and couldn’t contain his smile. ’You say that you will let her decide but I can already see the crazy screws in your head moving,’ he thought. ’Maisa’s way will be the icing of the punishment... your ideas will be the main cake. It’ll be fun to watch.’

Varitreya caught a glimpse of him reading her and stilled her face and emotions, that only got him to smile even more brightly. ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

She ignored him and returned her attention to Maisa. She asked, "What happened after they abandoned you?"

Maisa hesitated. She thought back to the fight with the panther and the arrival of Nersus and wondered if she should tell the truth.

If she says that she killed a panther after losing her vampirism, they will ask about her past and training and the truth may come out. She couldn’t allow that to happen so she skipped the panther part of the story.

"There was someone else there. He taught me a trick about how to survive in the forest."

The atmosphere changed and became extremely chilly. Kayden straightened. "Someone else?"

"His name was Nersus. He was very nice to me," Maisa answered innocently.

Varitreya went completely still and Kayden’s expression darkened. They exchanged a look with worry written clearly in their faces.

"Tell me everything," Varitreya demanded with her regal tone.

Maisa glanced between them, confused by their sudden seriousness. Nevertheless, she told them what they wanted to know.

"He was inside the forest. He helped me," she spoke. "He gave me herbs that hid me from the beasts. He explained the forest to me. He even stayed with me for a while."

"Did he tell you who he was?"