Chapter Nine

I stood there staring at him as he looked at me with disbelief, obviously by how beautiful I looked. I felt like fainting with the way he was looking at me. I glanced at Ann who remained calm on her seat, a smirk on her face. I glanced at Ace who was staring at Roy's hand on my arm with narrowed gaze, like he would break it soon. With all the courage from him and Ann, I whipped my hand away from Roy's hold and glared at him.

'Marinette, is this really you?'

'Yes, any problem?' I asked calmly.

'No way, this bitch here can't be Marinette, the her I know is as ugly as my old maid's shoes.' Manuwei said incredulously.

'There you have it, the her you know or in this case, knew. I am no longer that her and I would really appreciate it if you behave yourself and not cause unnecessary scenes, my boyfriend is watching me and he is a very jealous guy. Roy, for your sake, don't let him know you are the rapist he have been searching for, you will die this very minute.' I smirked at him and looked at Ann.

'Ready to leave, sunshine?'

'After you, babe,' she stood up and pushed Roy aside, the tip of her fingers momentarily turned blue.

'There is no way you...' Ann snapped her head to Manuwei and gazed into her eyes, hypnotizing. She looked at each and everyone of them, keeping them under her control.

'Go back to where you were before coming here and don't ever bother Marinette Karnowsky ever again. Is that clear?'

'Yes,' they turned, all of them and then left. I breathe out, I never knew I was holding my breath. My feet moved on their own, I walked to Ace immediately, my body trembling with fear; anxiety. Some girls surrounded him, touching him on his chest, head and arms. I ignored the sting in my heart and pushed them all out of my way, away from him.

'Hey! What do you think you are doing?!' One of them yelled over the music. I rolled my eyes, trying my best not to embrace the speck of fury and jealousy burning in my heart, tried my best to ignore the urge to pull her stupid blonde hair and hideous blue eyes off. Ace snatcher.

'Ace, it is either you answer me or I leave with Ann,' I threatened, even though he had his headphone on, I knew he could hear me. He chuckled and lowered the headphone to his neck.

'Okay, girls, time to go. Angry girlfriend is here.' I rolled my eyes even though I secretly smirked at the looks on their faces.

Yes, take that, bitches, I am his girlfriend.

'Are you all deaf? Get away from my boyfriend before I break countless of bottles on your heads,' they all moved aside but didn't leave. 'Ace!' I shouted. 'I want to go back home, now!' I demanded. Instead of replying, he suddenly pulled me by my waist to stand very close to him. He wrapped his hand around my waist and kissed my temple.

'It's okay, they won't hurt you when I'm here,' he whispered into my ear. I exhaled, relaxing into his arms and accepting the heat that was gushing from his hand to my body. He kissed my forehead and the corner of my lips. I giggled, squirming because of the tingles that came from each kiss. 'You were so bold, but you should have kneed that guy for me. How dare he touch you!'

'I almost fainted talking to him, he is very...'

'Wait, is he the guy that raped you?' Ace asked with a sudden cold tone, one that clearly state he was going to kill Roy if he ended up being the person. I hate the dude, but I don't want him to die because of me, certainly not going to have that on my conscience.

'Not really,' I lied. 'He was more in the beating department,' he looked into my eyes, like he was searching my soul for the slightest hint that supported my sincerity. I gulped and tried to keep my stare even. 'Come on, Ace, will I ever lie to you?'

'Knowing how innocent you are, it is a possibility.'

'Aren't you suppose to be working?'

'I am,' he said, jerking his head towards his other hand which was still working while the other stayed around my waist. 'You are lying, he is the one.' He said through gritted teeth.

'Ace, please, don't kill him, I beg you.'

Ace chuckled darkly and slipped his hand away from my waist. I gulped with fear as I watched him do his DJ thingy with a menacing smirk and shoulders extremely tensed. His jaw had clenched and the unnoticeable flame in his eyes was burning with extreme fury. 'Ace, please, don't hurt him, I beg you.'

'Hurt, that is the word I'm looking for. Don't worry, I won't make his death that painful.'

'No, please don't kill him, I beg you.' I pleaded. He laced his hand around my waist again and kissed my ear. My knees turned to jelly, I almost collapsed from the sudden thump in my heart and the electricity that jolted my kneecaps.

'Don't worry, I won't kill him, but I will surely make him feel a pain much more stronger than any you have ever felt your whole life.' His breath fanned my ears, I almost felt sorry for Roy, almost.

'Stop it, Ace, that's ticklish,' I giggled. I tried to push him away but his grip around my waist tightened. 'What is wrong with you?'

'Making them all jealous and to show that idiot who you belong to,' something about his tone, something different from the normal tone he always used. This one was dark, possessive and clearly murderous. 'He would surely regret touching what's mine.'

'Your tone is going off, Ace, you are scaring me.'

'I know,' he sighed. 'I'm sorry,' he pushed away from me. 'I promise to try not to hurt that guy, I will try.'

'Thank you,'

'Whatever,' he muttered. For the rest of the night, I partied. Ann came and dragged me to the dance floor, I never knew I could dance so well until I got possessed by the dance demon. The celebrant and I held a dance battle with some other girls, we won. She was really nice to Ann and I. We later drank – tho I only took a glass – did a stupid sing along and then she insisted we opened her presents with her. By the time the party was over, Ann had already left for home through a lake and I was a little bit tipsy.

'Ace, where are we going to?' I whined as Ace took another turn. 'That's not the way back to Elle's.'

'Do you even know the way?' He asked chucklingly.

'No,' I giggled.

'We can't go back today, it's already 0 hour in the morning. The road to Twilight will be too dangerous by this time of the night. On my own, I can handle myself but with you, I might not be able to protect myself and you at the same time.'

'So, what are you a vampire for?' I scoffed. 'So you are that lazy and weak? What if I was a princess and you are my royal guard? What use are you to me then?' I folded my hands pettishly.

'I don't ever do bodyguard. When I fight, I concentrate on my opponent, how to kill him or her easily. I let my mind wander around my surrounding just in case of any surprise attack from behind or side. I don't focus on anyone else. Maybe it is that way because all my life, I have always been with people that can protect themselves better than I can. I have never had to deal with a situation where I had to protect someone other than myself.'

I sighed sadly. 'That makes me a burden then, a weak and completely useless link.'

'You call yourself those names, not I. You are not weak or useless, not at all. You just haven't figured out who or what you truly are yet.'

'What in the world can I be!' I yelled exasperatedly. 'Just look at Elle. She is very powerful and I am sure Dermot, Gomez, Liliane and Twyla are too. I can't even lift a plastic chair.'

'Sober up, Rinette, you are unique in your own wonderful way. You just have to find out what way that is, where it is hidden deep inside of you.' I looked at him and smiled.

'You know, you might share a brain with a five years old, but you are very good with words.'

'I will take that as a compliment,'

'But it is a compliment,'

'You might be scrawny and lacking in most body area, but you are beautiful.' He said drily.

'That's an indirect insult!' I exclaimed.

'No, it's a compliment.' He mimicked my voice and twinkled his eyes innocently.

'Jerk,' he chuckled and drove into a street. 'Where are we staying for the night? An hotel?'

'At my maternal aunt's place. She's away for vacation with her boyfriend...'

'Is she human?'

'Is my mother human?' He asked back.

'Why is she here and is her boyfriend aware that she is not human?'

'Should I care why she decided to live amongst human and what is my business if her boyfriend is aware or not?' He asked back. I sighed.

'What are we going to her house to do?'

'What do people do in houses?'

'She is not around, Ace.'

'I borrowed her house key the last time I came.'

'Ace...' I drawled.

'It's called borrow when I returned it,' he paused and smacked his lips. 'Right after I duplicated it.'

'You could easily sneak in...'

'My aunt has a spell around her house to prevent any supernatural creatures from sneaking in. Except you have her enchanted house key, you will die the moment you try to sneak in,' I rolled my eyes. 'Don't worry, she don't have dogs or cats.'

'That makes me feel so much better,' I said sarcastically. He chuckled and stopped the car in front of a beautiful bungalow, peach and pink in color. Lanterns surrounded the top walls of the fence, hung down from the trees inside the compound and beautified the roof. It was so beautiful, like a glowworms garden. The compound was so clean and beautiful. I could live here forever.

'Come on, Jasmine,' he said teasingly.

'Jasmine, seriously?' He shrugged. 'Why?'

'It's the only Disney princess I know that suits your appearance,' he said opening my door for me. I won't bother to ask how he got out so easily.

'I am not brown skinned and my eyes are blueish green, sea green to be precise.'

'Well, I tried.' He shrugged. I rolled my eyes and got out of the car. The fence was pale orange with a little shade of peach. The gate was a see through gate, making it easier to see the inside of the compound.

'This place is beautiful,'

'Thank you, I painted it myself.' He said with a cocky smile as he approached the gate.

'Like you can paint,' I scoffed.

'I painted and designed the room you live in,'

'It's terrible,' I lied. He snapped the padlock off. 'I thought you said you had the key and we will die if we try to sneak in?'

'Of the house, not the gate. I will replace the lock before we leave,' He pushed the gate open. 'Welcome to my lovely home!'

'Yeah, right,' I pushed him intentionally and jogged to the front door. The compound smelt like wild rose. I brought out my phone to text Elle, I wasn't as tipsy as I thought I was. Elle already sent a message, she was texting every two hours to make sure Ace hadn't raped me.

Elle: hey, sis, just checking up on you. Hope that man whore isn't trying to rape you?

I chuckled and replied her text.

Me: we just got to where we would spend the night. I'm not sure he won't risk that, we are friends. Don't you trust your best friend again?

Elle: I do but you are beautiful and you did look sexy when you left. And trust me when I say with you, Ace has no self-control.

Me: what is that suppose to mean?

Elle: nevermind that, any new girls for the night? That cock always have ladies throwing themselves on him, offering themselves for free and spending money on him as bonus. That lucky flannelmouthed devil have them all mesmerized.

Me: (laughing cat emoji) tell me about it. You should have seen the way the girls crowded him, begging to be fucked for the night, not even caring if his date was looking at them. I mean who do they think they are! Throwing themselves on my boyfriend like they are better than me, like they can satisfy him more than I can!

Elle: (smirk)

Me: what? (Frown)

Elle: you are jealous! OMG! YOU ARE CRUSHING ON HIM! NO! YOU LIKE HIM!

Me: no I don't, I am just saying. (Roll eyes)

Elle: did you reread what you sent to me? Like the fact that you angrily typed MY boyfriend and I can satisfy him better than they can or something?

I reread what I sent and face palmed myself. So embarrassing.

Me: that was a mistake.

Elle: she's in love! Rinette is in love! Oh my God! I have to tell Twyla and Liliane!

Me: can you shut up and let me explain?

Elle: oh my my... I'm running around and squealing like a mad woman. I can't believe it! My best friend and sister... (Exaggerated surprise)alone in a house with no adult to supervise them. Use protection. (Winking emoji)

Me: cut it out, Marielle!

Elle: (Halo) Goodnight, Mrs Acheson. Kisses, mwah... (Kisses)

I rolled my eyes and turned around to look at Ace. I almost screamed when I saw him behind me, grinning like a kid who just got a new bicycle. 'You scared me!'

'You are in love with me,' he said as a matter-of-factly, grinning from ear to ear.

'No, I'm not.'

'I read your text.'

'Elle is crazy.'

'You love me,' he giggled like a girl.

'In your wildest dream,' I scoffed. He smirked and licked his lips.

'Trust me, you don't wanna be in my wildest dream,' he closed his eyes and moaned. 'You wouldn't be able to handle the heat.'

I bit my inside cheek sheepishly. 'Can you please open this door so I can ignore you for the rest of the morning,' I huffed embarrassedly. He stepped forward, making me move back until my back hit the door. He caged me, putting one hand above my head and the other a little distant from my waist. 'Ace, what are you doing?' I asked nervously. He didn't reply, he leaned forward until his breath was fanning my face. My legs started shaking, my heart thumping against my chest furiously.

His lips graced my cheek, his hot tongue swept over it. He trailed his tongue all the way to my ear, my breath remained hung in my throat. He nibbled on my earlobe, making my breathing tense up as my heart went overdrive.

'You blush too much, it makes it easier to know when you are lying,' I screamed when I fell backward, he opened the door. He caught me in the blink of an eye and had me back on my feet. He jumped back and squealed, clapping his hands like he didn't just make my heartbeat accelerate. 'Rinette is in love with me! Yay!'

'A...A...A...Ace, stop it.' I stammered. He laughed and swayed his hips girlishly, before cocking it.

'Oh come on, girlfriend, don't be shy. It is not everyday a girl like you falls in love with a poor ugly ogre like me,' he said with a dramatic body gesture. 'Don't worry, I love you too.'

'Ace, I don't love you, get lost.' I huffed and walked into the house, cursing under my breath at Elle. I screamed again when I found myself on a bed. Ace had me pinned on the bed, his golden yellow eyes were burning lava of something I couldn't pinpoint. I became scared from the way he was staring at me, like he was going to eat me.

'You are so beautiful, very very beautiful and all mine,' he was using that tone again. I wiggled on the bed and tried to get away but he held me tight. He kissed my neck, I froze as the pleasure shot through me. My body was satisfied with the purr that vibrated from my chest when he leisurely started licking my neck and grazing his canines on my sensitive skin. A small moan left my mouth, arching my back and pushing myself forward.

You do realise that your best male friend is touching you inappropriately?... A voice asked in my head.

'Oh God!' I gasped when he bit me with his fangs, gentle light love bites. Another wave of pleasure gushed down to my core, setting it on liquid ocean. He bit all the way down to my cleavage, pulling my top down until I was only clad in a bra. He bit the space between my breasts, grinding himself on me through my shorts. 'Ace,' I breathe. 'What are you doing?' I asked under my breath.

He moaned into my chest. 'I don't know, Rinette, I can't control my body, please stop me before I do something we will both regret.' He pleaded, though his voice was clouded with desire like mine was.

'Ace, stop, we can't do this or things between us will become very weird.'

'Let it be weird, just let me taste you this night, just this night.' He pleaded.

'We can't keep on, please stop before...' He was gone before I could finish my sentence. I sat up, feeling completely stupid. I wiped the tear that rolled down my eye and smiled.

That was the best thing I had ever felt in my entire life!

I fell back on the bed and laughed, covering my face sheepishly. A guy actually wanted my body without forcing me. He made me feel something no one had ever had the decency to do before. 'Thanks, Ace.'

AN HOUR LATER

I slept on my side, my eyes opened and staring into the pitch black darkness. Since I was a kid, I had the eyes of a cat, could see in the dark if I wanted to and now, I was staring at the room. The room was beautiful, no doubt about that. But I didn't have the energy to admire it further, I was busy thinking. I already had a lot of things to do when I return to Twilight, things I must find out:

1. Visit the house's library and find out what this fire tattoos mean, what is really means. I figured that since his aunt owns the place, she must have something that will give me a clue on what the tattoos really represent. If however she had none, I would visit the school's library.

2. I had to buy an anniversary gift for Elle and Dermot even though I don't like him one bit.

3. Find the history of my family who eventually is a one of the strongest witch family in the whole of the supernatural realm.

5. Find a way to find out what I am and open my powers if I have any. Without my powers, I can't fulfill no 6.

6. Reconnect with my family and claim my properties back from the council of elder witches, from the crone of witches if she would give it back.

7. Find out why the hell I was falling for Ace. That one isn't necessary though.

A soft knock on the door made me shut my eyes. The door opened a minute later and Ace walked in soundlessly. 'Marinette, you awake?' He asked softly. I didn't reply, I dared to see what he would do. He slipped under the duvet which wasn't doing much good in keeping me warm. I tossed on the bed to face him, to see if I could fetch his face. All I saw was his glowing golden yellow eyes looking down at me with admiration.

I almost yelped when he pulled me closer to himself, wrapping his warm hands around me and transferring his heat to my cold body. He held me delicately, like I would break. I moaned unconsciously and snuggled even closer, wrapping my hands around his waist too. I was literally almost sleeping on his body, almost. His warmth felt homely, peaceful, perfect.

He kissed my temple and ran his hand down my spine, making me shiver at his touch. 'It's getting harder keeping my hands away from you, too hard. If you continue to be so gorgeous, I won't be able to control myself again. I don't know how long I can keep myself from marking you my Angel. Sleep well, my Fire Blazed Soulmate and be rest assure that I am watching over you.'

Before I dozed off, my mind asked:

What is a Fire Blaze Soulmate?