CHAPTER 17 - AN IRRESISTIBLE SCENT

A day after rejecting Elias, rumors about a feud between the werewolves and the vampires spread throughout Elysium.

Elias and his men were sent to the borders to talk to the vampires and settle what started the feud. It was already more than a week when they left and somehow, her life became peaceful.

It wasn't a new threat to the werewolves. The two species had been enemies for centuries and they hated each other even before they came to Terraria. Both supernatural entities came from Aeternus—the Immortal Realm.

Helena had written something about the rivalry in her journal. She wasn't sure why the girl was researching them, but she was thankful for her. As a former mortal, she had no idea why the two despised one another.

Her interest grew when she learned about the vampire's grudge to the werewolves. Especially to the Lycan King.

She laughed with a sneer. "I can use them." She said to herself.

She came to see Jolene to tell her the good news. "So, what's your next move?"

She told Jolene that she rejected Elias and was in disbelief because it was her chance to be the next Queen.

"Nothing. I just have to be around him so he won't forget me." She said.

Jolene couldn't believe her answer. "I still don't understand why you rejected him. Tell me your reason."

She sighed. She knew the old woman would not stop asking, so she had no choice but to tell her.

"If I accepted him that easily, it would raise suspicion. Remember, he's in need of a Luna and a Queen. I'm still not sure if I am what you said, a Cytherian, but if I am, everyone would think that he chose me because of my lineage. I want him to want me more. I want him to crave for me. I want to be around him so he can never forget me. I want to make him crazy for me, to the point that he could not live without me."

"And?" Jolene crossed her arms.

"If it happens, I can easily toy with him." She answered, giving the old woman a wild, dangerous glitter in her eyes.

Jolene's eyes flared with excitement. "Not bad."

She smiled, then got out of bed and handed Jolene Helena's journal.

"What's this?" Jolene asked.

"My journal. I mean, Helena. She's been researching about vampires. And not only them, all the creatures living in Terraria."

Jolene stared at her, deep wrinkles forming on her brow. "So?"

She sighed impatiently. "Isn't it weird? She's a rogue and a fugitive. Why would she waste her time learning about other creatures?"

Jolene shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe she was just curious about them.

She shook her head and pointed to something in the journal.

"Look at these words." She said.

Jolene frowned. "Vampire, Lycan, enemies, grudge, immortal, sun, moon, star, Cytheria?"

"Why would she write those words? You said the story of the sun and the moon was about the Lycans. I read the book a few times, and it didn't say anything about the vampires." She said.

Jolene shrugged her shoulders. "I have no idea. Helena was also a mystery to me."

"Why?" She asked.

"I don't know. I just have this feeling that she's not just an ordinary orphan. And if you have her body, she's already dead. Have you ever thought of the reason for her demise?"

She was surprised. She had never thought about Helena's death. All she knew about her were the words she had written in her journal.

"Let's not rush. You got a second chance. Maybe there was another reason you were alive, aside from your revenge." Jolene commented.

She nodded. "I have to go back to the palace. Emma will kill me if I come back late."

"Today is Elias' return. The kingdom is rejoicing. He became a hero once again. Do you have any plans?" Jolene stared at her with flat brown eyes.

"Well, from a dishwasher, I am now a food server." She said.

"And?"

"There will be a banquet tonight to celebrate Elias' victory, and I'm one of the servants Emma selected to serve the guests."

"And?" Jolene kept on asking because she wasn't satisfied with her answer.

She took a deep breath and stared back into Jolene's face. "I need a dress. Emma said we'll be serving royalties, so we're not allowed to use shabby clothes. Helena had nothing, so I came here to ask you if you brought a dress with you."

Jolene crossed her arms and strolled her eyes on her body.

"I think my daughter's dress will fit you. I brought one, just in case I found her." Jolene smiled, then took her luggage from under the bed.

"Here. This will suit you." Jolene said while handing the dress to her.

She returned to the palace to prepare herself. She took a bath and made sure to soak herself in the delicate, sweet floral scent of lavender. Emma gave them a hair ornament that they should wear at the banquet. It was a golden pin with the symbol of Elysium, engraved in it.

She let her long black wavy hair down, but made a flower tied in the middle. She accessorized it with white fresh jasmine, scattering them on her hair. The dress was a simple flower embroidered sheer sleeve dress. But what made it noticeable was the deep V-neck style, the cutouts on the waist and the strappy open back.

She put some light makeup on her face and a pink lip gloss. She took a deep breath and stared at herself in the mirror.

"You're gorgeous, Helena." She said to herself.

At the banquet, Elias and his men arrived on time. They were guided to their seats in the elevated front of the banquet hall. The guests started to greet and congratulate them. Elias was not in the mood to accept the people's greetings, but he had no choice.

Daughters from different clans and packs began approaching them, making him irritated. But an irresistible scent suddenly lingered around the hall, driving everyone into a drowning ecstasy.