Chapter 17 *Not that bad*

Todays song is temperatura by Maluma

(hey im sorry i got no more english songs in mind, but i promise its a 10/10 song)

 ENJOY 

I'm frozen.

How the fuck did he—

"Aura, darling," he says.

"What do you—" I get cut off halfway.

Louise gets close to my ear, his breath warm against my skin, whispering something only we can hear.

"I can taste your aura energy from miles away, darling."

The air shifts, suddenly charged, hot, suffocating.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Thought so. You're not very good with magic, are you?"

I stare into those silver eyes of his, feeling both trapped and intrigued.

"Quite surprising, considering you're celestial, darling."

I'm paralyzed. My mind is racing, but all I can do is stand there, trying to process everything. We're in the greenhouse, tucked away in a shadowy corner, and I feel like I'm on the edge of a cliff. He knows everything. But he's not angry. He's calm, almost... amused.

"Why don't you look mad?" I ask, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to sound indifferent.

"Why flirt when the enemy's right in front of you?"

"I'm not interested in harming you at all."

"Not?"

"I'm a wizard, darling. Most of us see everyone as nothing more than energy. And you"—he steps closer, almost predatory—"have an exquisite energy, if I may be so bold."

I'm caught off guard, his words both flattering and unnerving. No one has ever complimented me like that before. I don't know how to respond.

"Am I interrupting?" Obrovsky's voice slices through the thick tension.

I jump, my heart racing. I'm still not used to how quietly everyone moves here.

"No, not at all, my friend," Louise says with a grin, completely unfazed.

Obrovsky's eyes snap to the space between Louise and me, like he's measuring the distance, calculating how close we are.

I take two quick steps back, creating a buffer between us.

"If I may remind both of you," Obrovsky's voice is low, dangerous, "Adele gave us a very specific command. Instead of flirting, we should be looking for the flowers she needs."

I chuckles. "Well, it's not like you're doing much either, so you don't have any right to scold us."

Obrovsky's eyes narrow, his jaw tightening.

The tension between both of us thickens, the air crackling. He steps toward me, and I can feel the danger rising.

"You're in absolutely no position to talk, Prin—"

"I'm pretty sure she knows her position, but you don't seem to at all," Louise snaps, his smirk turning sharp. "Especially when talking to a lady with such disrespect."

"I know exactly how to talk to a female." Obrovsky's voice is ice-cold.

"It doesn't look like it."

Obrovsky takes two more steps forward, closing the gap between them, his posture stiff with barely contained aggression. I can feel the heat radiating from both of them, and it's suffocating.

Louise doesn't back down, his eyes flashing with defiance. "Looks like the fields took your manners away."

"I'll show you som—" Obrovsky starts, his voice a growl.

I've had enough.

"Calm the fuck down, damn it!" I snap, my voice sharp, louder than I intended. "Look, I don't know what I've ever done to you, but you've been an ass since the moment I met you! Whatever your problem is, it's with me, not him!"

Both men freeze, and the atmosphere goes deadly quiet. Their stares lock, both of them simmering with rage.

"If you hate me that much, you might as well leave. We'll take care of the flowers."

"I'm in charge of—"

"I won't run away," I cut him off, my voice full of defiance. "Look around you, damn it." I raise my hands in frustration, my heart pounding. "I've got no way out. I'm not that stupid."

Silence.

I turn sharply, walking away, my anger boiling inside me. I don't even know where I'm going.

asshole, as if id try anything 

I hear Louise's footsteps behind me, steady and unhurried.

"Hey."

I stop in front of a silver beautifull fountain, my breath heavy in my chest.

"What, Louise?"

"Why are you really here?" He asks, his voice softer now, but still probing. "It's obvious you're being kept captive in some way, like you said earlier. But not quite much. If you were, you wouldn't be able to step a foot out of the cells. So what is it, darling?"

My mind races. I'm torn between telling him and staying quiet. What's the worst that could happen?

"You're right," I admit, my voice quiet. "I'm not exactly free, but I'm not being kept in a cell either. I'm just... here, trying to figure things out."

The silence hangs between us, heavy and expectant. I look down at my feet, unsure of what to say next.

"I don't really have a choice," I add, my voice small.

"Hey, look," he says gently, stepping closer. "I know we literally just met, but you can count on me. I'm great company, especially with the ladies."

He winks, and despite myself, I smile.

"And if you really don't have a choice, you might as well relax and live in the moment. There's no sense in fighting it."

"Now come on, darling. Let's get those flowers."

I smile and follow him, my steps a little lighter than before.

My mind has been a mess sence the moment i got here and although im in a bad well most like a really bad situation, im not being tortured or anything like it.

Maybe he's right.I'm not being locked away in a dark, foodless cell. If I really think about it, I've always wanted to see the Cerberus kingdom, and while this isn't how I imagined it, it could be worse. Especially considering how Celestials aren't exactly welcome here.

we get to the counter and order the flowers

but...

 but something about this flowers loos off.

"Um, I'm pretty sure these aren't flowers." i tilt my head in confusion

"They're darkeye seeds, darling. Don't worry, they'll bloom just in time for the ceremony."

"Bloom? Why not have them ready?"

"You really don't know much, do you?" Louise's smirk is back.

We take the bags of seeds and meet up with Obrovsky shortly afterward. His gaze is as intense as ever, impossible to ignore. He's been watching us the whole time.

A few minutes later, we reunite with Ms. Adele.

"Oh, beautiful, they'll be perfect for the ceremony," she says to the woman holding some rock fragmants.

We all smile and admire the beautifull colors coming from each unique rock thats on top of the counter, except for Mr. Asshole in the back of the room, who glares at us with that cold, piercing stare.

This is going to be tough to handle, but at least I've got help.

I wonder what his doing right now?

Him.