CXXVIII ||| Vampire Queen’s Blood Snake

The tournament is tomorrow and we are still not okay.

Oliver doesn't seem to be able to control his nerves since I talked to the Circle in the arena that day when they cornered me. Or maybe my thoughts about being okay with dying if I break the bond were the problem. And though we get together for a while and I give him my blood, he's still angry, hurting, and he's not controlling anymore. The last time I spent the night with him was the day of the whole Belladonna-and-the-mirror-of-the-soul and cult-of-new-Camelot. I've been spending the nights on the dorm.

Everyone noticed we are weird, especially because we have been going all out at each other during training. He's angry, and I'm angry that he is angry, plus the fact that his emotions are coming to me, and I can't handle that.

So, it's been annoying and I know it's my fault.

On My Way by Alan Walker ft. Sabrina Carpenter and Farruko's been playing on the speaker of my phone as I laid on my back watching the girls all together, from both teams, having what they call a girl's night. Yumi, Priya, Savannah, Dorothy, Danielle, Yuliana, Elsa, Kalisha, Nevena, Irene, Sabrina, Dora, my sister and Agatta. Though they called Agatta because I said I would only stay if she came.

Come on, the girl needs friends. But I just stayed on my bed while watching them gossip, with Agatta in the middle, about everyone and every single thing that comes in their mind. Polishing their nails, playing with each other's hairs, and drinking.

["You okay?"] Jack came closer to mw

No.

["But you're having strawberry ice cream."]

It reminds me of Oliver. Makes me angry. And sad.

["You brought this to yourself."]

"You are being super helpful, Jack," I mocked, getting on my toes and when all the girls turned to me, I gulped. "I won't do anything reckless or harm anyone, or break anything," which I may have done those last two days. "Don't worry," I mumbled, only with a sport black bra and a small pair of black sport shorts on, which I bought yesterday from the internet and got magically teleported to me.

Awesome, I know.

"Hel, you don't look okay," Yumi said as Jack flew to her arms, since she now seems to be his favorite person.

"I don't think I ever looked good to begin with," I mumbled as I left my phone on the side-table of my bed and walked to the balcony. "I'll be fine, you don't need to worry about me. As Jack said, I brought this to myself." Soap by Melanie Martinez began to play.

"You did!" Irene and Nevena exclaimed annoyed.

And though the girls cursed at them, I didn't. "I know," I took a deep breath. "Can't be helped. He's unlucky to be mated to me. He deserves way more than what someone like me can give him. I'm an arsehole and I hurt everyone." Meredith wasn't wrong when she said I was problem.

["Don't. Don't say that to yourself!"] Jack gasped loudly.

"It's the truth, Jack."

["She was not right about anything!"]

"Believe whatever you want. You're free to do so," but I froze as I walked inside the balcony. "Uh… girls? Did you began to raise giant red snakes that are extremely deadly now? Or is this a wandering one?"

They all let out a squeak, as I caught the animal by it's head and showed it to them. "What the fuck?" They cried, running to the beds.

"Hel! Be careful!" Nicolette cried.

"That's a vampire snake!" Irene and Nevena yelled.

"I know," I blinked, looking at it, as it began to wrap itself on my arm and body. "Hey, you little bitch, you know you are messing with a serpent a lot deadlier than you, right? If I bite you, you're dead."

"Can you understand me, Wilhelmina?"

I frowned, "Uh? Yes."

"Yes what?" The girls cried horrified.

"Is it talking to you?" Yumi let out a squeak!

["It's being controlled, Hel!"] Jack yelled, still in Yumi's arms.

"Interesting," I grinned viciously, flashing my fangs. "Yes, I can!"

"I want to meet with you in private. Can that be arranged?"

I tilted my hand, "And who are you, exactly? Why do you want to meet me? And why this eerie method?"

"Don't go!" Savannah and Dora gasped.

"It must be a trap," the vampire girls warned.

"Can't a mother meet her son's girlfriend?"

A dreadful feeling spreading through out my entire body and it was impossible not to tense. "You…" I clenched my teeth. "Where?" I hissed.

["Who is it, Hel?"]

"Hel. It's 9 pm. It's late to be out," Nicolette cried.

"It's definitely a trap, Hel!" Kalisha added, haunted.

"Let the blood snake bit you, it'll teleport you to where I am!"

I scoffed bitterly, "And where is that, exactly?"

"Hel, you can't be serious!" Yuliana gasped, scared.

"Oh, I am," I scowled. "I want to see what she… what this person wants from me. So, where is it? Shall I take a coat? I'm only in a bra and shorts."

I swear it laughed, "No coat needed. I will not harm you. Yet."

"Yet? Is that supposed to be a threat or a promise, honey?" It was impossible not to mock her. "Because I can't promise the same," I hissed.

"Did this person threaten you?" Yumi asked horrified.

"Hel! You better not go," Sabrina exclaimed. "It's dangerous!"

"I am dangerous, babe," I winked at her. "So?"

"Leave your phone. Don't worry, it's in the Academy grounds."

I side-glared my phone, "I'm not with my phone. It's near my bed playing songs for the girls. And why would I be worried? Even if it wasn't on the Academy grounds, I could still harm you. I doubt you have the Crone that much on your side as she's on mine, to protect you from me. And I'm salivating to have a one-on-one with you, lavander."

"It's Violet!"

"Oh, I know. But I love to give people nicknames. So, how will it be? Are you going to take me or what?" I winked.

"Free your grasp on the blood snake, daughter-in-law."

"Will that be enough, lavander?"

"Hel, no!" The girls gasped.

["Hel, don't do anything!"] Don't let Oliver know.

I stared at the snake, "Here we go," I freed it's head and in a second, it opened its mouth wide baring is fangs and bit me. "Sweet!"

It all changed and I found myself in a fancy chamber all in black and crimson red. In the fancy couch was a hot female with a glass of blood on her hand, the blood snake now on her thighs. Way too similar to my mate, with her perfect looks, snow skin, wavy black hair, though her eyes are ruby right now. The similarity is unsettling but understanding, given that she's Oli's mom. She doesn't look that much like River though, but Oli told me his brother took from Darius.

"I see where he took his good looks from, you're hot!" I said very directly. "Pretty snake you have there. I'm more into serpents though."

She grinned, lips identical to his, "Thank you, daughter-in-law. I see that you also have good looks. Though the way you talk is uncannily similar to the Meredith's dog, Cosmos. I guess the rumors that he raised you were right."

"He's my father, so, yes."

"He's not your father," she licked her lips. "Russell Bloom is."

Of course, she would know this by now.

"Only biologically speaking," there's no reason to lie if she already knows the damn truth.