Fate

13: Hands of Fate

                                                                 PART 2: INFINITE

"Conan." I whisper.

The fire-lord is stood next to five very beautiful men, but my eyes are focused on him. How is this possible? Yes, I knew he'd been reunited with his blood but it wasn't in my awareness that his blood was royal. This means he's a prince. The whole time he was staying in my cabin, he knew. Every little question I asked about the leaders, he knew. He knew everything.

"Stop it." Niko hisses at me. I turn to look at him and find the woman he was conversing with is gone.

"Niko, I need to use the toilet." I mumble, desperate to get away from these eyes. Conan will notice me sooner or later, I don't want to face him.

"For god's sake, Astraea, couldn't you have gone earlier?" He grumbles, quietly.

"Didn't have much of a chance, did I?" I murmur.

"Careful now, mate." He growls, tugging my leash. The collar digs into my throat, forcing me to gag and choke for a second.

"Please, Niko." I gasp at the air.

"Fine." He barks and begins dragging me by the rein. We twist and wind through crowds, only some catching my scent. Others are too absorbed by the kings, some by their dancing partners, and most by themselves. I don't blame them. They're beautiful.

"Astraea!" A voice calls out to me, I almost jump into a sprint right there until I realize it was Coco's concerned tone.

"Coco!" I cry and strain against Niko's tight grasp.

"Do it again. I dare you." Niko's voice is dark and evil, I whimper slightly.

"Leave her be, Niko. Where are you taking her?" She growls, harsh as ever.

"She needed the toilet." He smiles, snarkily. Coco glances down at me, checking in my eyes if he's telling the truth.

"I'll take her. I'm a woman, aren't I?" She smirks, holding out her hand.

"I-I suppose so." Niko grumbles.

"I'd thank you, but honestly I shouldn't have to ask." She barks.

"I'm trusting you, do not betray my trust." Niko uses his alpha voice, though it was expected. He could cuff me right now and I wouldn't be surprised. His heart is stone.

"I despise you." Coco snarls and takes the leash. As soon as we're out of his sight, she unclips the now disgusting shade of pink leash and shoves it into her hand purse, "It's the best I can do, Astraea. Please, don't run away."

"I won't." I sigh. Not if Coco asks me not to.

The bathroom is stunning. The walls are a pale shade of pink, as always. Pink. Everything is pink. Including my dress. Stereotypical as heck. Just like everything else in this damn world.

"You alright, darl?" Coco's soothing voice calls from the sink.

"Yeah, I'm fine, just a second." I reply. My fingers are tugging at the back of the collar, feeling for the clip. The clip I can't seem to find.

"Astraea, what's going-" A thud follows as her sentence is cut short.

"Coco?" I yell, confused as to what happened. After no reply I shout again, "Coco!" 

"She won't hear you." A voice mutters from the other side of the door. As usual, I think with my heart instead of my head and slam into the door, "It won't open, darling."