DUMBSTRUCK

Ariella's POV…

I was dumbstruck. We were under attack. I ran out of my chamber as the window got shattered from outside.

I never expected that this visit to my parent's castle would be this destructive. We were being attacked from everywhere, and we didn't know who it was. 

The first person that came to my mind was Ammar Alaric Felix. The vampire king whom I had refused to marry one year ago. 

I had always hated him because they were many rumors that he was a heartless demon who killed all four wives betrothed to him. 

But that didn't quite bother me till when my sister Zrai went to his castle and he almost killed her. That's why when he sent the marriage proposal, I rejected it and chose Dilio because my sister always praised him. 

My thoughts were interrupted as I saw two armed men in the direction I was heading. I quickly changed my route and slipped inside another room. 

"Ouch!!" I screamed cause a bullet had grazed my left arm. 

I scanned the room, and when I was sure it was clear, I headed towards the telephone. 

I decided to call my husband Dilio, though I knew he won't really care. 

My marriage with him was hard, I even thought of divorcing him, but Zrai talked me out of it. 

I dialed his number, hoping with all my six stars that he would pick. But nothing.

I called about six times, but still nothing. Oh lord, was I going to die just like that. 

My peace was interrupted again when I heard two men talking outside, and i hid behind the door to avoid being seen.

I heard the first man say"Sir said we should kill all of them, and we've captured all but, miss Ariella". Good lord, then another man said "we should keep looking". 

I stood there dumbfounded, so they have killed everyone and am the only one left. 

This was too bad to believe, so after I was sure it was clear outside, I decided to head to my dad's office. 

When I got there, I nearly fainted as I dropped to the floor on my knees. 

"Dad dad ahhh" I kept weeping bitterly beside my father's Corpse. 

The only thing I wanted to know now was the person behind this attack. 

I swore that if it turned out to be Felix, I would personally kill him and drain his blood. 

I quickly turned back alerted as I heard the door behind me open. And it was my husband Dilio, I ran to him in tears. 

"Ah" I looked at my chest, then back at Dilio. He stood there snickering as his gun released a huff smoke. 

He had shot me. I stood there, unable to move in shock. Soon, my knees gave in, and I fell to the floor. 

"Baby are you done yet" I heard a voice I knew too well. It was my loving sister, Zrai. 

This was too overwhelming for me, and the only words I managed to blurt out was "why".

Tears weren't even flowing. Zrai looked shocked "oh sister, I thought you were dead". 

Dilio walked up to me "Why? Because I never loved you and was only after your inheritance you fool".

I was shocked beyond words. How could he betray me. Then everything made sense to me.

He married me for my position, and Zrai encouraged me because they were together. Suddenly, I regretted trusting them, but it was too late for regrets. 

"ouch" I rolled over as he kicked my stomach. 

Zrai walked to his side "sis you were stupid, and that's your fault. Even our useless parents always favored you now. Die in stress because you aren't in peace". They both laughed like pschos while the blood in me kept flowing. 

"STOP!!", we all turned to the other door. It was the one person I had never ever thought or imagined to come to my aid.

It was Felix. He ran towards us, looking pale that it shook me. 

They both chuckled "awwn I see you here to join the fun, hmm lover boy". 

Lover boy…. Wait, he loved me, and I betrayed him. Suddenly, I felt sick at myself that I had suspected him for the attack. 

He held me in arms as tears rolled freely from his face. "am sorry, I am sorry" was the only thing I could manage to say. 

He kept trying to keep me shut as I started to feel drowsy cause the blood was still flowing. 

Then a man came and whispered something to Dilio, and he smirked "well it has been a pleasure to see the live flow out of you slowly and to see you dying with your lover by your side. Really, I did enjoy the show, but I gotta go cause it's time for the finale". 

Zrai looked at me "sis see you in hell and with your lover boy" They both left snickering. 

This time, I felt the life seeping out of me as I couldn't talk. 

"s-so-sorr fe-lix" I tried apologizing, but the words weren't coming. Soon, my eyes became weak as they started closing, Felix kept calling my name "Ariella stay with me. Don't close your eyes". 

"go go leave me here" I finally managed to say. But he stayed put "no I will rather die with you than abandon you". 

I was beyond disappointed in myself as the tears kept coming, and then I felt I had reached my peak. 

With my last breaths, I said "i-i ahh I will make it up to the next life". Fire immediately broke out, and my last breath left me while my eyes closed shut. 

I prayed to be given a second chance to amend all my foolishness". 

 - - - - 

"ahhhhhhhh" I woke up in heavy sweats. I looked around and saw I was in my night gown. I was beyond shocked had I been saved, then I scanned my surroundings and saw I was back in my chamber and everywhere was still in place. 

I touched my chest where I had been shot and felt nothing… "Was that all a dream?" No, it can't be. 

"sis sis sis" Zrai came running into my room in sweats. I looked at her, but before even asking, she continued "I went to Felix's castle, and he nearly killed me. Please don't marry him". 

It finally hit me hard. I had been resurrected to the time Dilio brought his proposal. I had been given that second chance. Oh lord, thank you. So I didn't dream they both betrayed me. I will make them pay back a thousand times. 

"sis sis are you hearing anything?" I am saying". 

I looked at her then she continued "I love you and I can't watch you die don't marry him". 

I cringed at those words she was actually a pretentious witch. Why did I fail to see that "sis are you hearing me" she looked at me confused. "oh yeah, I am just having a stomach ache" I lied. She then kept crying while I just stared. If it was before, I would immediately be concerned and comfort her because I had always loved her more than anything. She was never wrong, is what I told myself, and always strived to make her happy, but how did she repay that… by colliding with that thing and stabbing me in the back. 

Before I could speak, a maid walked in "your highness the emperor and empress has summond you both". 

I looked at her with blank eyes "go out, I'll meet you when I am dressed". 

She gave me a weird look and then left. I looked at myself in the mirror "Ariella you can't let them know that you know what they're planning to keep cool" I told myself because just the sight of them made me infuriated. But I was more infuriated at my foolishness that a Duth's son and my adoptive sister could fool me for long. I promised to be wiser. 

I got dressed in a red gown with black embroidered Lilies. In the past, I never wore red because Zrai told me it was ugly on me. Just remembering it made me mad. I actually allowed a nobody to control me. I rolled my hair in a neat bun and then glanced at myself in the mirror, I looked really good. 

"ma'am they're waiting" a maid informed, and I came out. I'll make everything right.

Walking through the castle felt like a dream as I never expected this beautiful scenery to turn to ashes as it was burned down. When I got to the throne hall, I was so shocked to see my parents alive and smiling when they were killed by the person they loved with one heart. I rushed up to them and gave them a big hug "Ariella is everything alright" my mother asked me with a worried face. "nothing mom I just missed you, that's all". They immediately began laughing, and my dad said "but you saw us yesterday before you went to bed" I nodded it was good to see them smiling innocently. 

I went and sat on the throne beside my mom. Then, my father cleared his throat and began. 

"Ariella out of all the marriage proposals, who are you going to.." i immediately interrupted "I choose Ammar Alaric Felix". They all turned to me shocked, and Zrai's face was the worst. She instantly stood up "how can you marry him". My mom gave her a look and she sat down clearly annoyed, then my parents faces brightened and my father said "that's wonderful… so you tell your king that my daughter has accepted and he should get ready. My mom turned to me with a big smile "dear is this what you want" "yes mom I'm sure". 

"No I object" we all turned to see an angry Dilio, and then he walked up to the front "Ariella I thought we agreed yesterday that we would get married". 

Oh lord, this guy had audacity, I looked over to my parents, who were shocked at his outburst. Then my father's right-hand man immediately stood up "how dare you a Dutch's son raise your voice before the royals. Guards" but my father raised his hand. 

"your majesty". "leave him be. Ariella, is this true" oh lord, my parents were too nice. I immediately denied it "dad nope I don't know what he's saying". He looked at me like he was going to have a stroke. "very well then, Cilio. I hope you'll discipline your son" and his father nodded. "she's lying your Highness ask her sister Zrai", father turned to her "is it true" she nodded, and then he looked at me "Ariella tell me the truth dear". 

I looked at Zrai she was giving me a familiar look, and then I said "dad I never said such.. and you how dare you say your future queen is lying guards". Everyone was shocked at my reaction, but my parents looked at me with proud smiles. He immediately got to his knees as the guards approached "your highness please forgive me". The guards began taking him away, but my father stopped them "this is your last chance…. Meeting over". We all stood up as father left with mom behind him. I, too, started walking off, but Dilio called me, and he was with Zrai. 

"Baby what was that? Why did you deny me" he looked at me crocodile tears. Hump he had the nerve to call me baby. Well, I looked at them while Zrai comforted him. "Well am sorry baby" I nearly barfed as i called him baby. I had to pretend, I quickly looked like I was sad. "I have to marry him so that I can takeover his kingdom, then kill him and marry you". "Really" he looked at me ecstatic "yes Baby wait for me". 

"Your Highness, the queen has summond you to her bedchamber". That did me good cause I was starting to feel irritated at my words, and before they could talk, I kissed his hand..eww, then left. 

"My dear, come and sit next to me. You can leave us" My mom looked at me with stars. 

"My dear, your father and I are so proud of you, so we decided you're getting married tomorrow. Is that okay". 

Yes, I was so happy "mom I wouldn't like it any other way". 

I had always objected to anyone my parents suggested for me to marry because Zrai told me Dilio was the best candidate. 

After I left, I kept imagining how he'd look because I had never seen him even in my past life. When he came, Zrai told me that she'd go and meet him, and I thought she was doing me a favour, but she's a witch. And the time I finally saw him, he looked sick, I couldn't help but think maybe i was the cause, so now I was very eager to get married tomorrow.