49

As Artemis left, Regan was alone. Just minutes later, a knock was heard. That time it was Liv, holding a glassy tray with food. "Lady Artemis said that you should rest and sleep. Tomorrow, in the morning, you'll eat breakfast with his and her highness," she informed.

"Thanks," Regan answered dryly. She didn't want to sleep, she couldn't shake the feeling that Viggo was a creep. The way he had looked at her spoke volumes.

Liv nodded and left. Regan walked to the table, grabbing the tray. She ate the food, just to fill her stomach. It didn't taste good but it was okay. She glanced outside the window but they couldn't show much. She only saw some dried trees covered in snow, the ice hanging on their branches and the grey-white background.

The icicles where hanging dangerously from the window's top, sharp and icy. Regan slid the window open and the freezing breeze hit her face. All she saw was a frozen landscape. She tried to break one of the icicles but the moment she touched the ice, it melted immediately.

Regan sighed in frustration and slid the window off. She glanced around the plain room. There was nothing to do. It would have been freezing but the room has panels that spread the warmth around. She entered the bathroom, which was icy cold. On the sink, she grabbed the toothpastes and mixed them. It was senseless but something to kill off boredom.

Then, Sirius got in her mind. She was angry and confused, like she had been every time. She was so mad that she felt as if suffocating by thinking about him.

She cleaned the sink with the water, which was just white and sighed in frustration, leaving the bathroom.

Knowing there was nothing else to do, she went to bed and fell asleep.

The next morning, she woke up with the same boredom, anger, and frustration. The snow was still there, and the same view was there as well. She couldn't find a difference in day or night but shrugged it off. Maybe she'd convince Artemis to get her out of the fortress and show her the city.

Slipping off the bed, she glanced once more outside the window and turned to open the white door. 

The coldness washed all over her as she met with the cold corridor. An air of chilling silence hung around and she only wanted to go and meet Artemis. She stepped down some stairs, and came face to face with Liv.

"Oh, I was just going to get you," Liv said, her expression startled, "Come with me," she added and gestured for Regan to follow. Regan followed, having nothing better to do.

Liv led her to a large room, where the diner was supposed to be. The walls were a perfect white, decorated with intricate patters of light blue glass. The floor was carpeted with a light blue carpet too, and in the middle, there was a long crystal table.

On the table there was seated Artemis with her husband at the head of the table, an older woman, and another younger boy. The younger boy, had a similar appearance like Viggo, she assumed he was his brother. As for the woman, she thought her probably as Viggo's mother, given by her regal vesture.

Artemis signalized for her to come, gesturing for Regan to sit beside her. Regan complied, her teeth chattering slightly from the cold and from the uneasy feeling of eating with them.

As she sat there, uncomfortably, Viggo's stare lingered, his eyes glinting an evil spark. Regan felt out of place as Artemis tried to ease the tension by stirring up a conversation with the older woman, who seemed to be eager to talk.

"Is she Sirius's mistress?" Viggo suddenly asked with a predatory gaze, a disdainful tone in his voice.

The question made Regan's nerves jump and the words slipped before she could hold them, "I'd say you should watch your language," she said, her voice way too sharp for the liking.

Artemis bit her lip, her eyes widening at Regan's comeback. The air crackled with tension and she quickly cleared her throat, "I apologize, Viggo. She's not related to Sirius. Y-, I mean, Cornelia is a long-lost cousin of mine. She was lost in the woods as a child and was raised by wolves. She's still getting used to our manners. Wolves, you know, they have hierarchy but they address differently. Cornelia asks you for forgiveness."

But Regan wasn't going to ask anyone for forgiveness, let alone the man in front if her. What was keeping her from standing her ground fully, was the alien world, and she knew she had to be careful.

The older woman leaned closer and whispered something to Artemis, who glanced at her and then at Regan, before she nodded. Regan couldn't even hear their words.

"So she still has been living in his quarters, hasn't she?" Viggo implied with narrowed eyes, filled with a sinister glint.

"I haven't lived in anyone's quarters," Regan shot back, trying to keep her anger at check, but it was grating on her nerves.

"She's been just a prisoner there for a while," Artemis said, her voice calm and measured, "Since she's been living with the wolves, she didn't know how things work and she disrespected one of the higher-ups. But Cornelia now understands the gravity of her actions and she's been learning to be more respectful to those who are in charge."

Regan just watched as her story completely twisted before her eyes, but she couldn't even bring herself to deny, not unless she wanted to get in trouble.

"Interesting," Viggo murmured, though his expression left no room for conviction. He didn't buy the story, Regan could see it. "And Sirius, he just let you go?"

The younger boy at the table, who hadn't even shown his face, threw a quick look at Regan, his curiosity piqued.

"She wasn't captured by Sirius," Artemis explained, her expression tight, "It was one of his ranks she had the, uh, misunderstanding with. They had no idea she was related to me. When I found out, I had her brought here immediately."

The prince's mother nodded, her gaze sharp but not like Viggo's. Her hair was light blue, tied and braided up, with a crystal crown on top that reflected the cold lights of the chandeliers. Her eyes were the same shade as Viggo's, where there was no difference from the white part and the pupil. She had no wrinkles, just a tight and long face. The dress she wore dripped of wealth-a thick royal gown, ornate with pearls and other cold crystalline jeweleries.

"And what was it like growing up with wolves?" Viggo asked again, leaning back in his chair and taking a sip of his crimson drink, his eyes never leaving Regan. For a moment, she thought as if he was a vampire. She had seen wine, but this one looked too....red. She wanted to tear his throat out.

"It was good," Regan retorted, trying to make up something, "They taught me about the nature of the beasts and their sins. It's a hard life, but you grow stronger. You learn to survive and protect what's yours. And I'm sure you'd understand that."

The words hung in the air, heavy with anger and defiance. Artemis looked at Regan, concerned, but did not say anything. The prince's eyes narrowed further, and for a moment, Regan thought he might actually make a scene. But he just placed the glass down with a click and a predatory smile curled his lips, revealing the sharp fangs.

"Well, Cornelia, you seem to be quite the firecracker. I must admit, I'm intrigued. Perhaps we should get to know each other better," he said, his white eyes darkening slightly. 

Regan's skin crawled. She remembered Sirius had called her firecracker once, but now it was a thousand times worse to hear it from someone else. She wanted to stir up a fight just now and there, but given in the unknown place, unknown surroundings, and unknown creatures, she doubted where this would lead to.

The prince's mother cleared up her throat, trying to diffuse the tension, "Well, you seem to be quite the survivor, Cornelia," she said, her eyes hinting at something akin to admiration, "I'm queen Frida, prince Viggo's mother."

"Thank you....Queen Frida," Regan replied, unsure if it was the right way to address to these people. She glanced at Viggo, then back at the queen, not knowing what to say at their expectant gaze, "From where I come, creatures are very strict when it comes at surviving and defending their own," she began again, "And they don't hesitate to protect those they consider as their own." She knew she was making things up about where she came from, but she just wanted to protect her own pride and honor.

The prince chuckled, a low and sinister chuckle, "Oh, I've seen those. They end up as concubines to the princes and kings. They never truly belong to their own kind, do they?" His eyes fell on her chest and Regan's fists clenched with anger and disgust. Frida shot him a warning look, but he didn't seem to care.

Regan's blood was boiling already, the retort on the tip of her tongue, but Artemis grabbed her hand tightly, eyeing her with a pleading look, to not fuel the matter further.

"That's not true, Viggo. Not everyone is the same," Queen Frida spoke up, her voice neutral but her eyes firm, "We know monsters born from gold and we know angels born from coal. It's not about where they come from, it's about who they choose to be.

Viggo's predatory gaze shifted to the queen, then back to Regan, "You're right, Mother. Maybe she proves what she's capable of," his voice was laced with malice and cruelty.

Then, he pointed at Liv, who was standing near a wall, her hands folded. Liv walked closer and leaned down to him. He whispered something in her ear, and she nodded, before walking back to her place.

"Well, if you'll excuse us," Viggo said to the Queen, standing up from the table, his eyes still on Regan, "I have some urgent matters to attend to," With that, he left the hall, followed by Liv. The tension in the room eased somewhat, and Artemis let out a shaky breath.

Regan's gaze followed them, her eyes flashing with defiance and fury. She knew what Viggo was insuating already. His appearance, the way he acted, and of course, the way he looked at her, spoke enough of his wicked personality and intentions, and she didn't want to prove otherwise.

She was going to vent about him to Artemis, but knowing that Queen Frida was there, she sealed her mouth. The queen, she seemed to be a decent woman, unlike her son.

The silence fell and Regan found herself thinking about Sirius and Viggo, comparing them to each other. They were probably the same kind of monster, but in different skin.

Artemis nudged her arm, snapping her out of thoughts, "Cornelia, why don't you eat?"

"Uh, I'm not very hungry," Regan replied awkwardly, "But thank you for the food," she said to the queen. She looked at the younger boy across, who hadn't said anything, but just watched.

"This is my other son, Natsu," Queen Frida said, "he's a bit shy."

"It's fine. It was my pleasure to meet with you," Regan said, forcing a smile.

"It was ours, as well," Queen Frida smiled back.

Artemis urged Regan to finish her plate. Being embarrassed by both Artemis and the queen, Regan ate, although the food tasted like ash.

The food at Sirius's castle was better, thought bitterly at herself. Why was she even thinking that?