Changes

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Ruya

~

Consort, in short an official lover.

That was what Jashuen wanted me to be. His lover.

I kept siting on the same bed as Jashuen had left me to, while doing his own sorting out with his guests. My mind not really accepting the fact readily, of what he had said. There was no justification, no request, just a verbal statement keen on bringing my world to an upside down.

People didn't just randomly blurt out such things in haste, what he was doing was not justified. It was not the end of the world, but more than that.

Why did he even want me to be his consort. What was the use of it? Didn't he know I was straight and did not do such sort of things?

My father if he heard would have a fit. Really.

And Sian wouldn't even believe me if he heard the news.

"So Ruya," I was greeted with a happy Aariye, whose blond hair was parted from the middle to expose his handsome forehead. He was wearing uniform of some sort, like grey trousers and pink shirt with grey tie. What made me shift back was his strange glances he kept throwing on my chest.

When had he arrived?

And was being naked that bad in this house?

But then he wasn't really a pervert as far as I knew, so what-

Oh.

Oh.

The pendant, Jashuen's gift, I was still wearing it. Why did I keep forgetting about it?

"Y-Yes?"

He coughed with a fake hitch, "Jashuen is going to visit the northern terrain tomorrow evening, he wants you to go with him."

"...because?"

"He wants you too."

"...so?"

Aariye frowned, "So you say you are ready for that and I tell you about some social etiquette manners we night crawlers practice."

"But I haven't agreed, I am not ready. I just got better."

"Doesn't matter, you have a favor, you return it. It is important for Jashuen to attend the ball, so do me a favor and agree."

I rolled my eyes, "Favor is a favor but you can't really force me to oblige to you."

"Maybe, but in your case, you don't need two angry trinity members breathing down your neck."

"What if I do?" I asked with a sassy intone.

He cringed, "Spare me your kinky shit, but I don't want Jashuen mad, when he is mad he does stupid things and we all get messed up in it."

"So like, why would I care?"

"We saved your ass, what more you need to care about?"

Okay so maybe I was grateful but they couldn't just drop the invite on me out of nowhere, I was afraid Luer was right and I was Jashuen's target. I had yet to blurt out the facts to Jashuen, yet I didn't had the courage to show him how fickle minded I could be, like listening into fairies and then acting upon their distrust was a big deal.

Sian had been very right when he had warned me against the fairies.

They were good with spreading lies, rumors and dark thoughts.

"I will go okay," I accepted, "but then I don't know why he even needs me to go with him."

Aariye agreed, "Same, and I know he didn't tell you much, but I can tell on his behalf that the ball he was invited to was a social gathering of all the figure heads of the candidate families. He was asked to join as well."

I paled, losing my shit, "Then Rose would be there as well? Like he wants to dump me in the lair of night crawlers?"

"She won't do you harm now, she can't."

"She will and she can," I mostly shouted at Aariye, "what if she decides to end me?"

"Don't be so dramatic, you will survive and Jashuen would be there with you, you don't need to be so afraid of going. Jashuen takes protection cases seriously. And if Rose wanted to strike, she would have done that by now, we had expected her to. But she didn't."

"Am I that infamous that even you guys are fully aware of everything?"

He smirked, "You are infamous alright. Very much indeed."

"Fine, I am going and I am okay with it, right... happy?"

Aariye coughed, "Very." Then he paused in his celebratory response, recalling why he had come to me in the first place. "As for the lesson in manners... you obviously dress well." He did make a point of scanning my half naked body and I winced mentally.

"Who even took off my clothes?"

Aariye smirked, "Jashuen?"

I flushed.

Of course.

--

With the last touch ups I was ready to leave with Jashuen. Turns out the whole ball thing was a five day festivity but me and Jashuen were going to be there for only two days. One today and another tomorrow.

Sian and my two other recent friends had been notified of my plans and to say Sian's messaged reply bugged me was an understatement of the year. Unlike the rest I told him the truth obviously, but instead of freaking out about it or texting me loads, he simply answered back with a small 'ok.'

I mean what was that?

Anyway, I hoped he would be more expressive after my return. He was my only confidant and friend, like a family, I couldn't hope to lose him to anything. It bothered me that he didn't contact me immediately but maybe he was in class or was busy.

I had to take Wang's mark, but for now I guess the plan was put on hold.

"Are you ready?" Aariye asked me, since he was the one incharge of powdering me up.

"Yes, where is Jashuen?"

"He is waiting by the foyer, told me to bring you there."

"And what about my luggage?" I was sure that going empty handed wouldn't really bring any positive conclusions for me.

"Jashuen has it arranged, you don't need to worry about it."

Well if they both were so sure.

I sighed, I noticed I wasn't wearing any weapon on me, and neither did I have any safety guard for myself, except for Jashuen's pendant.

"I am trusting you all here," I murmured and Aariye smiled at my worry, his gaze softening towards a kinder hue.

"You will be absolutely fine."

Well maybe I would be, but he didn't know I was a mafia's son, and if he had, he wouldn't send me to the most important Ball of night crawlers, the bulk of information I would be getting would be insane.

--

Me and Jashuen didn't waste time in get going, our luxury car taking us by a path covered with forest, like huge trees all around, with no settlement till far.

The yellow of the forest was refreshing, and since our window was open, I could breath the infill of fresh air and greens.

I had been surprised when unlike before we didn't need to cross the lake to exit our university, it was like there was this secret path which connected the main land and the campus, which only night crawlers knew about.

That password system which I had learned hadn't come into play, so it was not even bothering to just sit back in my seat and enjoy the smooth ride. Jashuen was actually driving himself, so I had no issues at all.

The car though must have been very expensive, I was sure even my father couldn't afford it if he wanted to.

I looked at his side profile as he drove, the curve of his neck and that high cheekbone, all of them pale above his collar.

He was dressed nice but then again, he always wore nice.

"The scenery is beautiful," I added, might as well continue with some sort of conversation.

Jashuen hummed, his focus still on the road, "That, and... I have been wanting to ask you, what are you expecting from the ball?"

What I was expecting?

"Seriously? I expect grand mansion, rich people, curious folks and an expensive cocktail."

He laughed softly, "You aren't far from truth, but no, this ball would not be held in a mansion. It is quite interesting actually. More connected with nature."

"So what, we would have it in a forest?"

He smirked, "Maybe. But I am curious, you don't seem as upset or bothered as I would have thought. You look relaxed rather."

I rolled my eyes, "I have been to such gatherings before Jashuen, with my father."

"Oh, so your father, tell me about him."

I cursed mentally, why did I have to blurt out things. "My father... is a very strict man, with an intolerable presence and a repulsive behavior."

Jashuen got silent on that, and I tried my best to look at the trees outside instead of rolling in the awkwardness.

"Sorry."

I sighed, "My old man is like that, not your fault that I hate him. I hate everything about him. Because of him my brother ran away and Tae was the only human being I could trust."

"Is that why you are so prickly about interacting with me?"

I raised my eyes at that, turning to glare at him, "I am not prickly, just considerate and cautious."

Jashuen laughed, "I am joking, but anyway. I have to warn you, don't interact with Rose. Or any of her kind. There was a reason for taking you to the ball."

"Oh?"

"I wanted to make it clear to Rose that you are under my wing, even if you don't take my mark. I don't want her to harm you. Which I am sure she had been planning."

I gulped, the thought behind his action was strangely kind. "Well, Luer met me before, she saw the pendant and told me it was to mark me as your territory. Is that true? Are you interested in me? Because I believe that you aren't and it was genuinely for my protection. Nothing else."

"...you are right, I gave it solely for your protection only, there was no game there, but you are wrong in concluding that I am not attracted to you."

I choked on my spit, "S-So what will you do if I said I was uncomfortable knowing that?"

"Are you really?" he grinned, his teeth showing through. "I don't think the kisses and that humping was just for pleasing me, you were especially loud with your lust for me."

I flushed, looking away from his satisfied grin. "Don't be crude, I am attracted to you as well but that doesn't mean you don't scare me sometimes."

"Being very frank aren't you? Is it the forest or the car?"

Well he wasn't wrong in thinking I was too honest. But I thought keeping the conversation clean was a good start. "You are my friend first, before I consider you anything else."

"Agreed, then what do you want to do next? I am assuming you don't want relationships."

I pressed my lips thin, "You are right, but I would like to call myself straight. Thank you."

Jashuen giggled, "You aren't straight, not for me anyway."

"You don't even know me Jashuen," I told him with a finality. "You are helping me out which is nice, but you should know I am not-"

"Now you listen to me," he retorted, all his cheerful aura sniffling away, "You are going to give me a chance at this, I do like you, even if I don't know you. Maybe it is simply attraction, but I don't invest in people whom I don't appreciate. So you better learn to accept my kindness for you. You don't want to see me angry, it will not be nice."

"See here?" I pointed with my gestures, "you are threatening me. That is not how a relationship works. Plus, I am human, what do you really want with me, I am just very amusing to you aren't I?"

He was silent at that, at least for a while but a slow smirk started to spread on his face, "So you caught me there, but don't all relationship start like that? Where two people are curious about each other."

"No," I stressed with a finality. "What is it about me which you like anyway. My attraction for your blood?"

I wasn't particularly angry, but it was truly bothersome and appalling. It wasn't as if I was his slave, I could just ignore him for the rest of my life if he started being strange. And obviously we did not have any contract between us. So it was upon me if I wanted to distance myself from him.

"You aren't wrong, but I do like you. You are somewhat loyal to those you trust, even if you don't know that yourself."

"And how is that?"

"You didn't believe Luer, you actually told me what was bothering you."

"I do have secrets."

He shook his head, "I know that, but being loyal and keeping secrets are two different things. Get my point?"

I sighed, "No, you are being an idiot. We are worlds apart."

"Maybe. But aside from that, why do you find me interesting?"

I would have responded with something vague, or would have blew it off, but something told me it wasn't the right thing to do. "I just... "

I didn't know what to say. Was it his aura, vibe, dressing sense, his blood or his attitude? I had no idea why I even found him interesting, so there was no way I liked him. Was it simply attraction then?

"What is it?" he asked, his tone encouraging yet knowing.

I felt pissed, "Just attraction I guess, you are an intriguing figure, all boss and vampy."

He laughed hearing me, even I felt embarrassed.

"Boss and vampy? So can I assume you like my dominance and grace."

For some reason it felt even more wrong to continue the talk. Where were we going with it even? It wasn't some dream, it was reality and after completing my course I would leave, probably to take the throne from father. There was no scope for us, not with my background.

"This is a bad idea."

"Not until we try. But you did not answer my question. Is it my dominance and grace that you like?"

"Yes."

He chuckled, "Interesting."

I snorted, interesting my ass, it was a very superficial acknowledgement.

"But I would have thought you liked me more for my protection, I helped you, so don't people generally get attracted to someone who saves them from distress."

I pouted, "Of course I like your kindness, even if there was no reason for you to help me out. But isn't that just a part of your charm you wanted to show me? I don't believe it is your heart's desire. Just a way to make yourself look superior. Like you want to get satisfied knowing you have me on your side."

"But I do like you, what part of that you don't understand. You are talking as if I am doing everything to get in your pants."

"Well aren't you?"

"No. I am more than that, don't just assume things when you know nothing about me," he had started to frown now.

"I have hard time trusting you, sorry."

"You really believe that?" he asked with a very careful poker face, his lips pressed into a thin line.

"...yes."

I did feel bad for trampling on his goodwill but I really did not believe in it, not from a night crawler. It seemed more like his effort to win me, like didn't Rose want humans to be on her side for winning the candidate round? Jashuen may be different from her, but I still didn't feel like he was as kind as he made it seem, his sidekicks like Aariye and June were kinder and more trusting, but not him. I wasn't really stupid enough to believe that. Somewhere deep I had full realization of things.

He was dangerous and... dark. A layer of mirage shaded his true nature.

And it always felt intense to even look at him. The air around him felt charged and his posture stated and told a different tale from the rest of the crowd. He did not seem like a university student at all.

"Well?" I encouraged. If I somehow managed to screw our understanding, I needed to know it now. There was still an option of return.

But his response was scary, like he was calm, a kind of which spooked me out. The expression in itself did not feel human or even vampire.

It wasn't him baring his teeth or making his eyes sparkle red, it was simply a very eerie look, full of unkempt unbridled calmness, like the most dangerous one which could erupt any minute. Announcing a small peek at his true nature. Allowing me to see something I am sure very few must have noticed.

It was like I was sitting with a pissed serial killer.

I shifted at that, attempting to look calm, but on the inside I felt my heart trembling and beating faster than before, pumping with a conscience to get away from him.

"Are you scared now?"

I stilled, hearing the creepy double edged voice, echoing through the car space, even the incoming onslaught of air did nothing to subdue the terror I felt.

Jashuen slowed the car through the meander of curves, his eyes focused on the road ahead, yet I questioned where exactly his attention was.

"I am not afraid," I tried to say strongly, when I was sure my whole body was thrumming with alarm.

"I am not your enemy Ruya, or else I wouldn't have saved you."

"W-Who knows. You act like an enemy, and aren't all night crawlers the same, a little bit threatening."

He chuckled, his double voice shaking with rough tremors. It was not nice to hear. More on the horror side.

And unexpectedly he stopped the car on the side, pulling in a brake to make even the tires screech.

I clutched on to the armrest to have some sort of a stand, but the way he was behaving suddenly made me feel more vulnerable and panicked.

Maybe I went a bit far with those snarky remarks. He had saved me, even donating his blood, shouldn't I be more generous?

"Why did we stop here Jashuen."

He did not respond and simply slid out of the car, gesturing for me to come out as well.

I was obviously reluctant, but still listened to him. Now more than ever I wanted my weapon with me, things weren't looking very spectacular for me.

As soon as I got out, dread settled in me when Jashuen did not even speak to me, just pushed me against the car, nose to nose.

His expression still that frightening dark, his eyes ablaze with something I couldn't decipher. He looked chilled, relaxed even, but there was still this hostility in him which I hadn't even noticed before.

I gasped when I understood why I was so freaked out.

Even his sharp odor repulsed me, like he had just walked out of the gutter.

He was actually behaving like an enemy. An enemy to me.

I did not feel safe with him for that reason alone. He had always ignored me in the favor of splashing others with his poised and all knowing vibes, like he didn't care what people said about him. Like he was aloof.

This Jashuen.

The one glaring at me wasn't the one I had ever met before, this Jashuen was standing tall, sending off this wave of intimidation.

"W-What a-are you d-doing?" I couldn't keep the stutter out of my voice even if I tried, it was practically impossible.

I was fully understanding where I was standing with him, I was realizing the power he had. And something told me even the guns wouldn't kill him.

He leaned in even more, basically coming into my space without hesitation. The light around the forest dying, everything turning into the inverted self.

The forest flickered with yellow to violet, the image specially scaring me.

I blinked my eyes, but I couldn't get out the flickering change. The reality had morphed into something warped of itself and the previous buzz of the air had changed into one of silence.

Even Jashuen's image didn't hold, I was terrified to see him, as if looking at some underworld creature.

His eyes dark with red highlights, and some sort of miasma wafting off of his body, like dark flames.

And then when he spoke, the double intone in his voice seemed more magnified. Like hearing two Jashuens at the same time. Two pissed Jashuens.

"Do you know why I am doing this?" he asked me.

What scaring me?

Although I was too shocked to even blink now.

"Do I still smell nice to you, sweet as you had described."

No he didn't.

"Do you feel scared of me?"

He knew I did.

My heart stumbled when he leaned closer to me, his smoke tasting of pungent stink. And his eyes piercing me with absolute wrath. "Do you understand the difference between an enemy and a friend now? If I wanted to just make you mine, I could, but I respect you and believe me or not I do like you, as a person, as a friend."

I quivered when his breath touched my chin and ear, sending in warning signals to my brain.

"The me now is what an enemy has to face when I am mad, but the Jashuen you first met and still know is the one that cares about you, even if you do not seem to pick up on that."

His pale tongue stuck out of his mouth as he licked his dry lips and moved in to lick my neck.

It burned.

Very much.

I flinched away, crying at the sudden attack.

But there was nowhere to run since he was holding me by my arms I noticed.

"That hurt didn't it, because I wanted it to."

"W-Why are you doing this, did my comment make you that m-mad?"

He simply shared a look with me, "Yes."

"But t-that shouldn't anger you," I managed to get it out well, even if he was breathing down my neck, "you know you scare me, and you know you are threatening."

How was I even arguing with him in such circumstance.

I gulped, my throat feeling like sand. The answering look I was receiving was not good.

"Ruya," I felt his voice, I literally did, it was that deep. "I know you don't mean it, but next time be more grateful to me, you are my consort for today, and if we stay, tomorrow. So make me angry and you will face the consequences of it. I don't tolerate misbehavior. Specially from my consort. And think before you speak to me, your words do hurt, even night crawlers are people."

I glanced into his glossy eyes, and smelled the pungent taste of the smoke around him, like he was burning, but now that I had received some better response from him, much gentler and considerate, I picked up the sweet smell of nectar, coffee and pastry beneath it. Overlapped with this stink of course.

So did that mean Jashuen was doing all this just to warn me, and my behavior... or was he really this dangerous.

I did not know.

The lights were back and Jashuen was as well, immaculate like before. Like he hadn't just threatened me, even if his reasons were solely because of my sharp review of him.

The forest had sound again and the sun was still beaming. I sighed a long one, suddenly feeling very drained.

"Get back in, I hope you consider what I said just now, I know you do not like night crawlers, but categorizing them all as one is not a good way of living, or deducing their behavior as just twisted," he told me seriously, in his normal voice. The smell of his, fruity and nectar again.

"I don't h-hate your kind."

"Yes you do, you seem to have this ingrained hatred for vampires specifically. The way you talk and behave says the same, don't think I haven't seen the change myself, it is subtle but it is there. May be you do not know of it, but you unconsciously do it all the time."

I shook my head, "You also don't know me, I hate witches but vampires are okay."

"I don't believe you," he simply replied.

I bit my lips from making any sound. That is why I hated night crawlers, they all considered themselves above humans, took advantage of their vulnerability and expected humans to love them and not judge them, when he was here contradicting himself.

I knew vampires always made me recoil into myself, like I was mature enough to not focus on my past. But because of them I had been born with a defect. If that vampire hadn't attacked mother while I was still in her womb, maybe I wouldn't have been this weak from heart and mind. Well I still didn't hate on them, certainly not, but Jashuen really reminded me of that one glitch. Even now I had to take medicine regularly, to help with my anxiety and headaches.

I may have been at fault first, but Jashuen's behavior was no excuse.

So I did not say anything, only pushed the asshole away and got inside the car with slight tremble.

If I hadn't been sure of his faults, I was now. He was dangerous. Being with him or even interacting with him felt like some double edged sword.

I felt the car rattle slightly as Jashuen sat in on the driver's seat. And like that nobody spoke again. he didn't apologize and I didn't think I needed to.

So the car ride ended up being tense and awkward, my own mood sour.

--

When we arrived at the destination, Jashuen parked the car along the river bank, where I noticed other cars were parked as well.

We got out of the car separately, since I was in a hurry to get away from him.

And I was shocked to see glowing blossom trees in front, they were glowing so much that even the air around them felt enriched and energized. A total opposite of what Jashuen's power had done with the forest.

"This is Sakura avenue, a very well known route around here. It is short but unnatural. Attracts attention easily."

I did not respond to Jashuen again, I was still pouting, but did hear what he said. I was not really happy with his stunt, so I was in full right.

Once we had crossed the avenue though, my eyes took in the darker sky, cast with decorative bulbs and streetlights.

There were a lot of people here and all of them seemed to have a rich vibe to them. It immediately made me recall what Aariye had taught me.

Never make eye contact with them.

Always eat with mouth closed and only after someone has tasted the food previously.

Bow to the elderly and nod to the young.

Stick with Jashuen.

Always tell Jashuen where you are going, and take his permission first before wandering around.

Never speak in english, night crawlers do not like to be reminded of humans.

Keep track of time and always smile.

What Aariye had taught me wasn't etiquette really, most of them were just rules for me to feel more safe. Since I had raised the issue of feeling nervous, he had guided me to stay next to Jashuen, since it would help me.

But after our spat, I did not feel like staying with him, wasn't he the same as them in the end?

"Don't stray, stay by my side," Jashuen reminded me. His eyes scanning the crowd. On the left they had this small dance floor and far ahead at the right, they had this empty table, as far as my eyes could see.

Jashuen obviously went straight for the vacant space, his presence both intriguing the rest of them and baffling them.

I couldn't blame the intriguing part, but baffling?

Did they expect him not to come?

Or well, what must have made them more baffled was his outfit, I noticed he was wearing a jacket, not a blazer, but I assumed it was some fashion statement of his.

So what made it even more attraction worthy was actually me, since to match with Jashuen, even I was dressed up in some beady jacket and a lose shirt and tie. It was Aariye's idea.

From my point of view, I was actually more dressed up than Jashuen and it was bad. Though the way Jashuen walked around the place reversed our image.

When we were finally at the vacant sitting space, I sat next to Jashuen as he took the corner chair.

"Isn't this table devoid of people?"

"That is why we are here, this ball is just a roll call, we get attendance for it and then we leave."

I hummed, noticing that Jashuen just busied himself on his phone.

Lucky, my phone was somewhat dead. I thought sarcastically.

Well we would have continued in awkward silence but then I noticed Rose walking up to us.

Alone.

We didn't have to wait since she got straight to the point.

"The figure head of bane family asks for your consort's verification, you know the rules, humans aren't allowed inside this area."

Weren't the Bane family the current ruler of the night crawlers? Like ruler of this continent...?

Rose pinned me with a toxic stare and I felt the urge to stare right back.

Jashuen frowned, "Ruya isn't a human, I broke no rules."

Hmm, well things were about to get interesting.

I sighed.