Chapter 13

Third Person's Pov

"So..." The same unknown woman who's hiding a smile from Artemis earlier started a small talk.

"What's the next plan?"  She asked, staring at her wine glass. 

Mallory took a cloth from her lap gently damped it on her lips and spoke, "Nothing, we'll let the situation cool down for a moment. The last incident involving the Miscreant has gained too much attention."  Mallory glanced at Artemis with a meaningful glimmer in her eye. 

Artemis's lips parted and she shrugged after realizing what Mallory meant.

The Miscreant killed more than thirty people in the courtroom, but Artemis shooting the helicopter down as well, was an attention-grabbing act that wasn't part of the plan.

"I just had to do it, sorry not sorry," Artemis blurted out and faked a smile. She glanced at Sin who seemed to not care about his surroundings, then she returned her eyes to Mallory.

"By the way. How's the wedding preparation going, Li?"  The youngest member of Miscreant asked.  Alaia Rivalee Campbell is an eighteen-year-old, mechanical engineering student of the University of Naples Federico II. Rank number four in the miscreant mafia and a gun expert;  just like her cousin Thayer, she's both a brain and a beauty.

Liri Blair gazed at her with so much annoyance in her blue eyes.  "Riv, don't ask me about that forsaken wedding. It gives me goosebumps knowing that Conrad Alexius Stallworth. Liri stared intently at Conrad and Kanoa who were talking in a rather flirtatious manner.

Liri's eyes narrowed even more when she heard Kanoa's soft giggles before she gently hit Conrad on his chest.

"What a flirt. She is a well-evolved species of snake," Liri commented and Everyone heard.

The smile on Kanoa's lips disappeared because of what he heard.

"Excuse me?" 

"Did you call me a flirt?" Kanoa asked hysterically. Artemis quickly enjoys the tension between Liri and Kanoa.

"No. I'm talking about Conrad, but the well-evolved snake description was meant for you," Liri mockingly replied.  Kanoa's eyes ignited in fury.

She quickly stood from her seat across from Liri's and pointed a knife in Liri's direction.

"How dare you?!"  Liri Blair gasped dramatically before her expression darkened.  They were about to have a catfight and it looked like no one from the table had the intention of stopping them.

"I'm sorry, did my words offend you somehow? Can you please tell me what exactly it is that offended you so that I can say it again?" Liri stood up as well. Liri unexpectedly hit Kanoa's arm with her wine glasses.

Kanoa winced as the piece of glass pierced her skin. Blood dripped from Kanoa's arm and the pain caused the knife that she was holding to fall from her hand.

"I guess sharp words don't always bleed the most," Liri muttered and stared at Kanoa's bleeding arms before she sat again.

"I need a new wineglass, please," Liri commanded.  The moment Kanoa walked out of the dining room. Everyone continued with their meals as if nothing happened.

"Enough of blood drops for today, let's not be violent today, shall we?"  Sin said as he looked back and forth to Artemis and Liri.

Artemis gazed back at him and smiled. Liri on the other hand nodded. No matter how strong and courageous the other Miscreant Mafia Bosses are, they know their limits, and that is to avoid angering Sin. 

"Excuse me, I have to go back to Genoa,"  Liri said goodbye then stood up from her seat and walked away.  Conrad followed her after a minute.

Just like that, their dinner ended.

****

"Hi?"  Rivalee greeted Artemis with a smile when they met in the chateau's maze garden.

"Hi." Artemis smiled and greeted her back.

"You're Dr. Artemis Thaleia, right?" Artemis usually hates nosy people but for some odd reasons, she just can't raise her eyebrows at Rivalee, maybe because she's charming or maybe because she sees in her a younger sister she wishes to have.

Artemis nodded and hugged herself as the cool breeze blew.

"I'm Rivalee, Thayer's cousin."

"It's already late. What are you doing here?"  Artemis asked. 

Rivalee glanced around as if she suddenly remembered something.

"I was hiding from Thayer. He's being nosy and annoying about my assignments," she said making Artemis laugh a bit.

Rivalee glanced at her in amazement.  The smile on Artemis lips slowly disappeared when she noticed that Rivalee was staring at her.

"Why?"  

"It's been years since I saw someone in Miscreant Chateau smile like that after—"

"Alaia!"  What Riv was about to say was cut off when Thayer's baritone voice echoed around.

His jaw was clenched as he walked straight towards us. 

"Running from your assignments huh? Now tell me that you aren't a kid anymore because you're acting like one!" Thayer ranted. 

"I'm not a kid anymore stop treating me like one, and worst you're acting like I'm your daughter! Vaffanculo!"  She snarled and walked away. 

Thayer ran his hand through his hair frustratedly.  He and Artemis looked at each other for a moment.

"So you're also a babysitter?"  Artemis asked Thayer teasingly.

"You had a long day, Artemis. Why don't you take your rest, too?  He said.

"If that's what you want Father," Artemis said.  Thayer's poker face remained until they heard a familiar raspy voice from behind.

"Look, what do we have here? Is this some sort of rendezvous?"  Sin asked, he was smiling but his eyes showed anger.  Artemis advances towards him while Thayer is silently looking at them before he says goodbye and goes inside.

"You sound jealous."  Sin turned to look at Artemis and without saying anything he grabbed her waist.  A smirk crept into his thin and luscious lips, that Artemis started to get addicted to.

"Oh no, I am not and never I will be. I am not a normal person, Mi Amor. I don't get jealous, but I made everyone jealous of me," Sin whispered in her left ear and licked her earlobe before he began trailing her collarbone.

Artemis closed her eyes.  Sin angled her face and claimed her lips slowly and lustfully.

"Just like now, someone's jealous of me for kissing you," Sin commented. She quickly opened her eyes and caught Thayer looking away from them.