Call Of The Dark

Naomi chuckled. "Yes Lord Lazarus," she said, ignoring the pin drop silence around them. "I would love it if you marry Olya. We know that Maeve will be your queen." Her gaze slid to Emma who was now pale. Her mind was overwhelmed with so many emotions that she looked like she had stopped breathing. But Naomi was not affected. "But let Maeve be your queen, Olya will be your second wife."

Emma snapped her gaze at Olya as the two of them stood there stunned. A flare of jealousy rose in her chest and Emma felt like she could kill Olya if she even thought of becoming Lazarus's wife.

Cain scoffed. "Though I do wish that you don't marry Maeve!" He shook his head as his hatred for the goddess was all over him. He glanced at Gladys who had a bewildered expression on her face, but she groomed herself soon. She had picked up chicken wings and was biting slowly.

"Well, what do you have to say, Lord Lazarus?" Naomi said with her chin up. She looked at Magnus for a second. He was appearing as if he would claw the tent down in his blood rage, but she internally scoffed at him and ignored him completely. "Olya will be a good wife for you."

"I think it is—" Lazarus began.

"You don't have to make a decision right now," Naomi stopped him. "You can take your time. We know that you have a very important ritual coming in two weeks." Just as she finished her sentence, Maeve entered the tent.

"You?" Lazarus growled.

Maeve smiled at Naomi and then bowed to Lord Cain, avoiding Lazarus completely. "When I was coming, I heard that you wanted Olya to be Lazarus's wife." She said to Lord Cain. She crossed the distance between her and Gladys and sat beside her as she gauged everyone's reaction. She was especially looking at Emma. And seeing her face, Maeve felt satisfied. Emma's blood had drained from her face. Tears were brimming her eyes. She added, "It is a good idea. Olya would be a nice wife to him. I am a goddess and I know what royalty is all about. Having three of four wives is very common and I am very fine with Olya." Internally she knew that if Lazarus also married Olya, she would simply kill her too.

"Who asked your opinion?" Lazarus snapped.

Maeve glared at him. "I am going to be your future wife. The one who will rule the kingdom with you. Obviously, my permission is necessary."

Emma was feeling so insulted and terrible that she rushed out of the tent. Her chest had tightened and she wanted to breathe fresh air. Her vision had become blurry. Her body was shaking with anger and trepidation. She ran through the crowd of people who were celebrating Samhain. She couldn't help thinking that they were celebrating her doom.

"Emma! Emma! Stop!" Someone called her, but her tears came out unbridled as her chest ached with an unknown emotion. She didn't look back. "Emma, please stop!" Someone grabbed her hand and pulled her to a stop. It was Olya.

"I don't want to talk, Olya," Emma said. "I can't tell you, but—"

Olya squeezed her hand and then suddenly pulled her in a tight hug. "I know…" she said softly. Even she was crying. "Come with me." Olya tugged her all the way to the castle. When they were both in her room, she closed the door and then made Emma sit on the couch in front of the fireplace.

"I really don't want to talk," Emma said with quivering lips as tears just didn't stop.

Olya gave her a small towel and took one for herself. "Emma," she murmured as she sat down beside her. "I don't want to get married to Lord Lazarus."

Emma jerked her head back. "Who am I to say anything in this matter, Olya? I will be dead in a few days."

"But you are my dear friend and you are the mate of Lord Lazarus. I know how it feels when someone speaks like that in front of a mate." She shook her head as she too couldn't control her tears. "Do you know who kissed me in the tent?"

Emma's brows scrunched up as she waited for her to speak.

"It was Lord Magnus."

Emma jolted back as her hands slapped over her mouth.

Olya chuckled and nodded. "Yes, it was Lord Magnus."

"He traced there?" Emma was surprised that Magnus too could trace to the kissing tent.

"Some powerful vampires have this special ability to trace. But the ability to cover the distance depends on how strong they are. Undoubtedly, it is Lord Lazarus who is the most powerful amongst them all."

"Oh!"

"Well, the point is that I want to marry Lord Magnus. I love him. I have told this to Naomi a number of times, but she just doesn't listen to me."

Emma blinked her eyes. "So Lord Magnus loves you?" That made her feel a hundred times better.

"We both love each other a lot."

"Are you mates?"

"No!" Olya whimpered, feeling horrible. "I wish we were."

"What is the problem in marrying him?"

Olya pursed her lips and looked away. "I am seventeen Emma. My father was Lord of Brinefall, which is a small district about twenty miles from here. When he died, I was very young and Naomi took me under her."

"Yes, you told me…"

"We are the only two daughters. When I turn eighteen, according to the Brinefall laws, I will have equal share in the wealth of my father. If I am given in marriage to Lord Lazarus, I will have no claim on it and Naomi will get hold of all my father's property being the elder daughter. But Naomi feels that I shouldn't get a bad deal in the end and so, she has suggested this marriage to Lord Lazarus."

"This is… horrible!" Emma blurted. "Why not marry Lord Magnus then? Won't it be the same and definitely better?"

Olya's chin trembled as she cried. "If I marry Lord Magnus, Brinefall will be his because I intend to marry him after I am eighteen and that would clash with Naomi's interest."