ZARAMANNI (BOOK ONE)
PART TWO: CHAPTER NINE

His huge palms spread over the table, his long fingers digging into the hardness of the furniture, King Darren wore pure anxiety in his eyes.

He was waiting for Sham who was still searching for Zaramanni.

A glance to his right revealed his specially carved bow and arrow which were instantly unused when Sham came running to the archery fields with the terrible news of the girl’s disappearance.

His feet dancing impatiently as his back arched over the long table, he wondered what Zaramanni was thinking.

It was obvious that she had chosen to run away without letting him know. But that was a stupid, useless and careless decision.

She was injured and new to the realm. She knew nothing about Zenrada- the good and bad sides of the land.

King Darren began to pray silently that the girl had not gone far, that she would be found soon enough before something worse could happen.

And, by something worse… his head was painting something related to death.

But, that must not come to pass. It was clear how things could go terribly wrong should death be involved.

The old librarian had told him that he would die if the girl dies.

King Darren cherished his life too much, as well as his Kingdom. He wasn’t going to let his entire existence go to waste because a half-fairy refused to accept her identity and situation.

Soon, thick exhales filled the room and dragged the King out of his annoying thoughts. Eagerly, the tall man turned to face Sham who was trying to catch his breath.

“Well?” he inquired.

“We are yet to replace her. There are no tracks that could indicate where she went.”

“Did she leave anything behind?” King Darren asked, his eyes now twitching.

The other side of him was already reacting to the news of her disappearance. But, Darren managed to stay calm even though he knew that, without the girl anywhere close to him, his wolf would let all hell loose.

“No. There are no signs that-”

”Oh,” the king let out a loud groan, the veins on his neck popping out as he fought with the impatient beast. It seemed staying calm wouldn’t be enough to tame the creature.

“Your Majesty,” Sham called, seriously concerned. “Are you okay?”

The king had his eyes staring hard at nothing in particular as his hands clutched the sides of his head. He struggled to stay in his human form but the beast was too strong.

Tearing apart the King’s sanity, the wolf gradually turned him into the bloodthirsty, destructive animal he had been trying hard not to become.

After another groan, a loud thud followed.

Sham ran toward the man who was now helplessly sprawled on the floor. Alpha Darren could hear Sham’s concerns but his words sounded so distant and they failed to bring him out of the situation he was in.

King Darren, in that state, wondered what would happen if he decided to close his eyes.

He did just that and, all of a sudden, his eyes snapped open with a bright light embedded in them.

Then, he felt a sense of direction.

For the first time, since he stepped into his barely surviving Kingdom, he found clarity.

All Sham could see was a light-blue glow covering his King’s eyes like it were some sort of shield.

But, as the Alpha got up and ran out of the room, Sham followed as it became clear that King Darren had gotten a lead.

While there was no doubt that the ruler was acting strange, Sham hurriedly called the elite guards of the gamma and beta rank and they raced with the King.

And, Sham hoped that the hasty steps would lead them to the person they were searching for.

~

Zaramanni’s shivering became more evident as her scream failed to bring terror. Instead, it made the creature hovering over her with his bare chest a bit joyous.

“Don’t fight it,” his distasteful voice uttered as his slender fingers began to trace a line on her neck.

Teeth gritted, Zara fought the hold the men behind had on her arms. She ignored the pain in her exposed wound and continuously tried to get out of the nasty situation.

She wiggled violently, her knees jerked without mercy, and her legs kicked the air, not minding who they met, even when someone let out a yelp in reaction.

Despite all that, the leader didn’t budge.

He stayed focused on tracing her skin. His finger which found solace on her belly button soon traveled to the skin of her left breast. Once at her nipple area, he paused and looked right into her eyes.

“You clearly don’t know how strong you could be.” Zara jerked her head as he held her chin. But, resisting her constant budging was easy for him. “You are a half-fairy. Your kinds are rumoured to be both a blessing and a curse. And, your kinds are the ones with unimaginable powers.”

Zaramanni found his words strange. Yet, she linked them to the things King Darren told her.

Her eyes which stayed linked with the vampire were squinted instantly as he said, “You greatly underestimate yourself. Do you think kicks and punches are the best you can do?”

”What nonsense are you spewing?” She threw the question at the man who smirked in reaction.

“Just give in to this moment.” Sounds of approaching multi-orgasms filled the air as he spoke. “When we are done, I will teach you what I know. The Overlord doesn’t like weaklings. If you are to serve-”

Zaramanni gathered a good amount of saliva and spat it into the man’s face. Still trying to overpower the men that held her down, she wore a smile that dared the man.

The vampire dissolved his hold on her chin and his broad shoulder danced as he laughed heartily. Zara kept a straight face as she watched his fangs appear and disappear amid his self-humour.

While she waited for his mirth to end, she wondered if something miraculous was still going to happen.

There she was, naked in the midst of creatures she watched on Vampire Diaries and the Originals. She was about to lose her first time to a creature who disgusted her and all her hope had diminished.

Suddenly, Zaramanni felt a sting on her cheek. With wide eyes, she stared at the man who had just slapped her.

“You might have a special blood but you are still an ordinary girl who is wasting my time and-”

“You are not going to have your way, I promise you,” Zara dared to cut him short. Within her tiredness, after his slap, she had somehow found the strength to get furious.

He chuckled again and the next second, he was forcing his lips on hers, his clawed teeth digging into her flesh purposefully. She had no idea how, but her arms finally broke free and she was able to push the man away with all the strength she gathered.

Her angry eyes maintained on the leader who hit his head on the stony ground, Zara found herself panting hard as she tried to get up. But, her legs felt feeble.

All of a sudden, the entire space wore a different kind of chill.

As she struggled with getting on her feet, a loud snarl filled the air.

The sound reminded Zaramanni of the time King Darren shifted into a wolf.

Though her mind thought it would be a good thing if it was indeed King Darren’s wolf that was approaching, her entire body wished to run.

But she couldn’t.

Even when the beast came charging into the space, dispersing the sensual gathering and digging its teeth and claws into whoever it met in its way, she stayed still.

Without moving, Zara watched as blood flowed. She watched as the huge wolf moved swiftly to attack the vampires.

As she stared at the murderous sight some more, she realized that contrary to what her body wanted, she was being pulled towards the wolf which she had finally recognized to be the king’s.

Zaramanni had no idea when she got up, but she could sense her feet moving toward the animal who was scattering the bones of one of the naked vampires.

From a distance, Zaramanni could hear Sham’s voice begging her to stop.

But she couldn’t. She just kept walking until she could feel the fur of the animal against her skin.

Like a dear friend, she wrapped her arms around the wolf’s body even though she could barely hug its entire build.

Without a word, she rested her head against its fur which was pulsing with the need for violence.

The wolf gave in to her touch and Zaramanni’s eyes welled. The raging need of the animal reduced, it became relaxed.

As she stroked his dark fur and patted the arch of its back, her tears fell onto its thick coat.

Zara let out silent sobs, and she shivered. Not because of the night’s cold, but because of the feeling that coursed her veins as she held the wolf close to her naked body.

After a few minutes of this quiet exchange, the wolf shifted into its human form.

All Zara held onto at that point was King Darren’s waist who instantly woke up.

Sniffing hard, her face reddened, she looked up at the man.

Gently, he placed a finger on her chin and his action gave Zara the strength to smile.

When he saw the gracious look on her face, his touch turned deadly. Just like the vampire leader severally did, he held her chin with a force she could not fight.

His eyes suddenly wore contempt.

His lips did not hide his disgust.

His hand which happened to be on her waist announced itself as he pressed into her blueish skin without mercy.

Zaramanni’s vision was instantly blurred, her throat felt choked as the pain the King was inflicting on her was greater than the one she had been fighting earlier.

The look in his eyes pierced her heart and his hold communicated immense dislike that instantly made Zaramanni hate herself.

Soon, the man roughly pushed her face away and his warmth disappeared from her side.

From that moment, as he walked away, she failed to control her tears.

Zaramanni closed her eyes within those hot tears, and all she could see was the distasteful look King Darren had given her.

That particular picture haunted her and it stabbed her heart so many times.

So much that her tears could not help but abound as the night assimilated the bloodshed in that space.