Chapter 6: Reunions
Anaya’s P.O.V:
“Yes mum! I’m not on a date, I swear! I’m meeting with Mary and then I’ll go straight to her apartment…Okay, I promise I won’t get drunk. Bye mum, love you.”I hung up the phone as I passed the familiar bouncer, who gave me a nod of acknowledgement before putting on his poker face.
At ten minutes past nine, Joe’s Bar was comparatively empty, but considering it was a Wednesday night, I wasn’t complaining. This was my favorite place in all of New York, not just because the booze was cheap, but they also serve the best chili in the world.
I could easily spot Marissa’s flaming red hair right from the entrance. Her natural hair color was the palest of blonde’s and it tended to make her face look paler too, so she dies it a flaming red to look more vibrant and quite frankly, it matches her personality pretty well.
“Sunny!” Mary waved me over as soon as she spotted me. She was sitting on a bar stool, next two a couple other guys who at first didn’t appear familiar until I got close to them.
“Liam! Nate!”I exclaimed as my former co-workers and friends got off their stools to give me a hug. “I’m so happy to see you! I miss you guys.”
“What’s not to miss?”Nate replied in his usual cocky attitude that had Mary rolling her eyes and Liam slapping him on the head. “Ow! What did I do?”
Ignoring the boys as they got into yet another fight, Mary and I ordered our drinks and caught up on everything we’ve missed out on.
“He’s a complete Manwhore! You won’t believe it Mary, the tabloids were right. First day at work and I found him on undressing a woman on top of his office desk!” I told her.
“EW!” she cringed. “I can only imagine how many papers would have gotten stuck on all the bodily fluids.”
“Gross!”I shuddered at the imagery. “Ace is so much better than him, you know. He’s kind and caring and knows how to respect woman. And Lancelot changes women like clothing. I can’t believe they’re actually brothers.”
“Sister, were you blindfolded this whole time?” Mary asks incredulously.
“What do you mean?” I ask, taking a sip of the beer that the bartender had just placed in front of us.
“Antony’s the same!” Mary shrugged. “Caught him with three different women in two weeks and if the gossip column of our office is to be believed, others have seen him with several more. But never heard him hook up with someone from the office. Maybe he has a no-employee policy? I don’t know.”
My jaw had hit the ground by the time Mary finished talking and took a swig of her beer. When she turned to look at me, she frowned. “By the looks of it, you didn’t know that about him.”
I closed my mouth shut and took a swig of my beer before regaining my voice. “I had absolutely no idea. They’re really brothers, huh?”
“Tell me about it.” Mary shook her head in disappointment.
This was indeed hard to digest. Lancelot I could understand; he had that whole bad boy persona about him who didn’t care what others thought about him. The one who attracts all sorts of women who either want to fix him or become a little bad themselves. But Antony? He was the complete opposite to Lancelot. Sweet, kind, caring and understanding. Those are the words people use to describe Ace, and to think that he could be a womanizer…I shook my head, trying to clear it of the image of Antony sitting in the midst of hundreds of half-naked women. I had no idea where that came from.
“You ready to order?” A waiter showed up with a notepad in hand.
“Sure!” Mary answered, without the need for a menu card. “The sweet and sour chicken chili with sour cream on top and cilantro and lemon rice, for four.” We didn’t have to ask Liam and Nate because they would’ve ordered the same thing and they were busy shoving their tongues down each other’s throat.
The place had now started to crowd with some middle aged men joining together for a weeknight beer, but it was still empty enough that we weren’t suffocating or being shoved out of the way by college students who wanted to show off their killer moves. Liam and Nate joined us then and the evening passed by with cheerful conversations, merciless teasing and an awesome dinner that had us sighing at every bite.
Lancelot
“What’s the matter, brother? You look worried.” Ace came to stand in front of me, much to my annoyance, so I decided to express it.
“Why must you loiter around me to notice my every expression, Antony?” I questioned back.
“Because it was Miaka who put that expression on your face, and she just might be the only person in your life you’ve ever loved,” he stated.
Indeed, he stands corrected. We may not be her brothers by birth, but Erick and I, we both raised her since she was an infant. We taught her to talk, to walk, and to fight. It was impossible not to love her. We would give our lives for her if she but asks. We can never be truly angry at her, but it wasn’t Miaka who put a frown on my face. It was what she had said that did.
“Miaka just told me something… something that’s quite distressing,” I informed Antony. “It’s about Erick’s competition.”
“Emiel, was it?” Ace continued at my nod, “What’s so disturbing about him?”
“Alina told me something today,” it was Miaka who spoke from behind Ace, “something that indicates towards possession.”
“Impossible!” Antony looked at her unbelievingly. “Possession? How?”
“We have yet to confirm, but I have a hunch.” She led us to a secluded corner where no one could overhear us. “If what I’m thinking is true, then... this is no longer a battle for the throne.”
“I don’t understand, Miaka,” Antony pleaded. “What aren’t you telling me? What’s so bad about this?”
“Very bad if what we think is true.” I nodded at Miaka. Antony might worry, but he wouldn’t whisper. Miaka looked at me for a second and agreed. Then she confirmed what had been in my mind this whole evening.
“An Ancient is waking.”
Chapter 7: Jealousy and revengeAnaya’s P.O.V:It was two days after Lancelot had left with Antony that Trevina called to get an update on him. To say that she was furious to find him gone would be an understatement.“He went without me? How could he? Tell him to call me as soon as he gets back!” Were her exact words and her tone had made me want to dig up the floor and burrow my head in it. How did Lancelot tolerate her for six years?I was kinda worried that she might just quit even before the contract has been made, but also, I felt weirdly relieved that she might not be working for us anymore. But honestly, the only reason I could feel relieved for her leaving would be because she was Lance’s ex and that she was drop dead gorgeous and Lance just might get back together with her if given the chance...which all led back to me being jealous of her relationship with my Boss…which I had no re
Chapter 8: We’ll SeeAnaya’s P.O.V:“Is everything alright Mr. Eustis?”I asked as I set his coffee down on the desk in front of him. Today was the final day of the one-week deadline he had placed on me and I’d been extra careful to reach office ten minutes before time. But I hadn’t exactly expected Lancelot Eustis to look this exhausted and worried.His shirt, which was the same he’d been wearing last night when I left him, was unbuttoned halfway down his chest, revealing porcelain white skin with a few scattered hair. His hair was in a disarray as if he’d run his hands through them multiple times. But despite that, he still managed to look drop dead gorgeous and I could not be more envious for it. If only I could have that sexy bed hair...But most of all, his cabin looked like a tornado had passed through here. “Did a thief break in?” I asked, worried that that just mi
Chapter 9: A Shot Too CloseAnaya’s P.O.V:I took my appointment letter and my file with me and placed it on my desk. Since this was Lancelot Eustis, I was pretty sure that he would be back before sundown and barking orders till midnight. I was already looking for an apartment around town where I could stay so I didn’t have to spend hours on travel every day. So far I’ve had no luck and the offers I’ve got so far are far too expensive. I’m hoping there will be some place I can stay that won’t suck me dry.“Let’s go, Ms. Johnson. We’re getting late.” Lancelot said from in front of the elevator.I picked up my bag and dashed after him, reaching just in time for the elevator door to ding open. We entered together and as soon as the doors shut, I felt engulfed in Lancelot’s aura. I’d generally avoided staying near Lancelot for too long since it feels suff
Chapter 10: Wilting FlowersAnaya’s P.O.V:I stared at the man in disbelief. How could he? And to think that I’d actually been worried about him!But he couldn’t be that hurt if he could bang a nurse while he was hospitalized, after getting shot only two days ago.I moved back from the curtains of the cabin and strode out the door, slamming it shut in the process. It got me a good few glared from the nursing staff in the corridor, but at least I was satisfied Mr. Eustis would be able to hear it loud and clear.Dumping the flowers I’d bought for him in a trash can just outside the door to Lancelot’s room, I walked as fast as my legs would take me without having to run. I’d nearly made it to the exit to the Hospital when I heard someone calling my name. Ace!Trying my best to regain my composure, I turned towards Ace with a smile on my face, but from the way his smile disapp
Chapter 11: Something UnexpectedAnaya’s P.O.V:It was nearly ten at night when the elevator doors to Lancelot’s office dinged open and he stepped into the room, looking utterly exhausted and ready to pass out.“Mr. Eustis?” I ran out of my cabin and reached him just in time to catch him before he collapsed on the ground. “Lancelot!”“I d-don’t need help!” He fought against my hold on him as he stood up on shaky legs. “Book me a hotel for tonight, now!” He snapped at me as he walked towards his desk. “Where’s the diary I gave you?”“The diary?” I asked him dumbfounded. He couldn’t possibly be thinking about that damned diary at a time like this? “Are you sure you don’t want to rest for a little while?”“Do not tell me what I should and shouldn’t be doing Ms. Johnson. Get that di
Chapter 12: Revelation Anaya's P.O.V:The feeling that I'd messed with something I shouldn't have finally set in as the temperature in the room kept dropping enough to freeze.Lancelot's back was still turned to me, and although I couldn't see his face, I had a feeling it wasn't going to be anything good. The women all around the room seemed to be frozen in place enthralled as they kept staring at his face, their eyes wide and mouth wide open as they looked at Lancelot. And then suddenly, their eyes changed, becoming void of any emotion.Then I heard Lancelot speak, in a voice I've never heard before. A voice so cold it made me shiver all over again."Leave this room and forget you came here today. You will come again when called, if and when I need you."And then, as if in a trance all fifteen of them walked out in perfect synchronization, their eyes dull like they weren't even human but robots on
Chapter 13: Clam Before the StormAnaya’s P.O.V:“What’s a Scribt?”I’ve never heard the word before, but I knew it couldn’t be anything good. And by the way Mary was looking at the floor; I knew it was something awful. “Mary?” I asked again, this time with a firmer voice.“It’s like a P.A of sorts. We keep track of the women they’ve slept with, make sure no woman is repeated and cover up after them so no one finds out about them.”I narrowed my eyes at her, “So basically, we’re their servants.”Mary winced at my tone by nodded unwillingly. She knew I was right. There was no other word for it, we were pretty much going to be slaving for them. “Do I have a choice in this?”“You do.” Mary turned towards me. “You can choose to walk away, but if you do that then your memories will be era
Chapter 14: Truth Amid the MythsAnaya’s P.O.V:“Mum, have you ever heard the word Incubus before?”Two hours after Martin had dropped me off home, I’ve had a hot shower to clear my mind, had the biggest dinner of my life- mostly because I wouldn’t be able to enjoy mom’s cooking for a month- and then I’d shad to tell my mom that I’d be off to distant lands for a month, slaving for the Prince while he extended his kingdom…quite literally. Mom hadn’t taken it well, as I’d expected and I’d had to convince her that I’d be okay and I wasn’t going there on my own, although I wasn’t that convinced of my own words. That is why I was up packing a huge suitcase with my mom at two in the morning.Mom froze midway while folding a dress she was convinced I’d need for the inauguration party. It was kinda old but it was gorgeous and it was a