The Destined Queen

Chapter 14

* Winter*

After the most awkward breakfast, I have ever had, I sat beside Uncle Gerald to watch t. v. Rose didn't come down for awhile. I wondered what was she doing in her room. " Is that boy gone? " Emerson appeared beside me. " Oh wait. You can't talk when your Uncle is here. " Emerson chuckled. " I don't know why you are still single when there are so many handsome guys around you. " Emerson popped his chin over his fisted palm. " What do you think about the Isaac guy? " Uncle gerald asked me. " He is good. Though we don't know that much about him, he seemed great. " I replied. " Oh he is great. Black hair and blue eyes. Every girl's dream. " Emerson commented. Uncle Gerald nodded and went back to the movie. I stood from the sofa and excused myself. I went to my room. Emerson appeared beside me. " Why are you ignoring me? " Be pouted his oh so perfect lips. " Because you are jerk. And you talk too much. " I said, sitting on my bed and starting to work on my newest idea. A new perfume. " You love to make these things, Don't you? " He asked. " Yes. Don't you have a passion? " I asked. " Cooking is my passion. " He smiled. I nodded and looked at my notebook. " Why aren't you ready to go in a relationship with Ashten? " He asked. " That is none of your business. " I snapped at him and went back to my work. But he is very persistent. " Tell me. I am your friend. " " Because. Because I am just not ready. " I said, waving my hands in front of him. " Why? " " I am afraid to love. " I whispered. " Why? " " Because everyone I love tends to leave me. " " That's not true. " He said. " That is true. " " No. " He shook his head. " Yes. It is. " I seethed. " You are afraid because you don't want to get hurt. " Emerson said. " Yes. It is the same. " " Stop being afraid and jump, Winter. " Emerson said. I put my notebook aside and face him. " Why do you want to talk about these things now? What made you so intrigued about my matter? " I asked. " Nothing. I heard you and him yesterday. " " You heard our conversation? " That means he saw us kissing? " Just a little bit. " Was he the one to break my vase that night? A knock at the door was heard. " Come in. " I said. Emerson quieted down beside me. Ashten entered my room. " Are you busy? " He asked. " No. Not at all. " I said. " I wanted to ask you something. " He said. " Yes. Go ahead. " " Do you want to go out? We will leave today. So, better make the best out of it. " He shrugged one of his shoulder. Is he asking me out or us he telling that we all should go out. "Are you asking me out? " I raised my brow. " Yes. If you don't mind. " He scratched the back of his head. He is nervous. " Only you and me? " He nodded. " Where will we go? " " Just to have lunch and go to a park. Not here. But back at our home? " Home. Means back at the park, where we spent our time building mud pies. " Let's go back. And cherish our memories. I would love to go with you. " I smiled. Why not? Maybe it will be the last time I am visiting. He grinned. " I will not let you down. I will try to make this day to be one of your best. " I smiled and nodded. He left in my room and sighed when he was out of my room. " You have a date now. You take my advices very seriously. Don't you? " Emerson asked. " You know I would have loved to kick your butt if it was not for you being... " I stopped. It is a very sensitive topic for him to talk about. " For me not being a damned soul. I know. " He said, smiling. " Don't you have work back in your realm? " I asked. " No. Jacob is busy with his work. And I am free for now. " " How is Jacob like? " I asked. " Oh. You will love him. He is great. A real charmer. " " Would love to meet him. " " He is busy now. But I will make sure that you meet him someday. " He gave me his brightest smile. " You adore him don't you? " " He made my damned soul life not so miserable. " Emerson said, with so much emotion. " You didn't do anything wrong. So, why is it that you are being punished? " I asked. " I am not being punished. It is a rule, Winter. " " Will I go there if I am being murdered like you? " I asked. " Vampires are extinct now. I don't think nowadays there are those incidents for which people will go to our realm. " " I don't want to go to your realm for sure. " " Why? We will have lots of fun when you go there." " No. Thank you. You are a nuisance. " I said. Emerson shook with laughter. " Jacob agrees with you. He thinks I am nuisance, too. But I know you both love me. " He flashed me his white teeth. I rolled my eyes. " Okay then. I will leave you to your work. And I wish you all the best for your date. Adios. " He saluted and disappeared.

" He asked you to go out with him? " Rose squealed. I covered my ears. " Yes. " "Well, what are you going to wear? " She asked me. " I don't know. " I shrugged. " Winter, Are you ready to go out with him? " She asked. " Yes. It's just one date. Nothing harm will be done to anyone. " " Winter, he likes you a lot. So, don't do anything before thinking twice. " Yes. I know he likes me a lot. And I don't want to hurt him. So, I have decided that I will give it a chance. I will give him a chance. He deserves it. " I said. He does. He does deserve a chance. " Good. Then I am going to pick out your dress. " Rose grinned and bit her lip. " Come on. " She pulled me to my wardrobe. I shook my head and smiled. But followed her quietly. Yes. He deserves it. So, I am going to give my best and we are going to enjoy.

" Mom, Dad and I will be leaving. We will lock the door carefully. Don't worry. You should enjoy with him. " Rose said, grinning ear to ear and rummaging through my dresses. " Lunch and park. You should wear something simple. Aahh.. This is perfect. " Rose said waving my grey jeans and faded pink chiffon top. " No. That says,'I like you but I don't want to show it.' " I said, leaning my hip on the table beside me. " Yes. And that is the truth. " Rose winked and went off to pick a bracelet and a chain for me. And then she took my classy faded pink pumps and gave all those to me and said, " Go change. " Grunting and cursing under my breath, I stalked to my room to change.

When I came out, Rose jumped in her place and clapped. " You look perfect, Winter. " " Thank you. " I bowed. Giggling she took my hand and made me stand in front of the mirror. " When he will see you today, he will fall for you hard. More than ever. " She said. I smiled and let her put slight makeup on my face for a fresh natural look. And my hair looked perfect just the way it was. So, she combed it a bit and left it alone. After she was done, I glanced at the clock. It was already 12 in the afternoon. " Winter Honey, Ashten is waiting for you. " Aunt Annie shouted from outside my door. " Coming. " I replied and walked out of my room with Rose at my heels. " Good luck. " She sang. I rolled my eyes but smiled nonetheless.

Oh, Rose was right. She was definitely right. When he saw me coming down the stairs, his jaw hit the floor, his eyebrows touching his hairline, and his hands were out of his pockets. I smiled the whole way down. When I was done, Uncle Gerald offered his hand for me to take. " You look beautiful. " He smiled. I chuckled and took his hand. " Thank you. " . When we were in front Ashten, he hardly fixed himself up. And looked at Uncle Gerald. He was playing the role of my father. Always has been. " You should take care of her or else I am going to stuff you in my closet. No, not the one I share with my wife. The other one, where you and friends sneaked in when you were little. " He warned. Ashten laughed lightly and shook his head. " I will take care of her with my every breath. " He swore. " Good. I expect you to. Enjoy. " He kissed my cheeks and Ashten took me by my waist. " You all are so grown up. " Aunt Annie came wiping her tears that were already falling. She higged me then Ashten. " I wish you two all the very best. " She said grinning. " Thank you, Aunt Annie. " We said together. " Aww. Already speaking together. " Rose said, pouting. Ashten chuckled but Rose definitely got a glare from me and Uncle.

Ashten led me out of the house after they told me that they will make sure to lock carefully. And everything will be perfect. Ashten also told me that two of his bodyguards will be around my house, as stealth as they can be, hiding in the shadows. So, I left for my first date. That too back at my hometown.

We both were quiet for sometime but Ashten spoke first. " Are you okay? " He asked. " Yes. Why won't I be? " " I know you didnt want any relationship. But here we are. Sk, everything is okay, Right? We can go back if you like. " He said, hesitating. No. I have decided. I will give this a chance. Because that night, We kissed and it was great. I want a relationship that is that great. So, Yes. I am going to give this a chance. But I don't have to worry that much. It's just one date. " I am fine. I am sure we will have fun. " I smiled at him and he too smiled at me but kept his eyes on the road. " Do YOU want to go back? " I asked. " No. Never. I wanted this. I want this. I have dreamt about this date for a long while. I am stoked about it. " He said, smiling and something red was evident on his cheeks, which he couldn't hide. I nodded and looked at the road.

Soon, the buildings disappeared, and trees after trees appeared. Trees and flowers and houses. That familiar scent. God, I missed it. I missed everything from here. I inhaled a deep long breath and smell of honey, flowers, grass fled into my nostrils. I love these things. "I know how much you miss it. I have missed it for a long while. So, I knew you would love to come here as much as I. " He said. " Thank you. " I said, squeezing his free hand while tears brimmed in my eyes. Ashten shook his head. " Thank YOU. For coming with me and making my miserable life the best even if it's just for one day. " He said, looking straight at me. I smiled. And then he stopped. All too familiar surrounding caught my breath in my throat. And my heart slowed it's beating until it stopped completely. And I was dumbfounded and speechless. " Winter. Welcome home. " Ashten said. It is my home. Not just my hometown but my house. Man's house. But it seemed quite different. It was polished and clean from the outside. Flower garden had flowers in it which were blooming not dying. An all too familiar painting was on our front yard with ballons and pretty clothes and flowers decorating the house. A painting, smeared with hand prints of different colours. And some splotches of paint here and there. And at the bottom of the painting were some green colours and three names written by three kids. Rose, Winter, Ashten. This painting was made by us when we were grounded all together and wasn't allowed to go outside the house for a day. We were locked in Maw's studio for an entire day and we had nothing but paints, brushes and canvas. And none of us could paint. So, this painting was made by us, which was only handprints and patches of paints and our names. When Maw saw us that day, covered in paint, and her studio wrecked, we were stupefied and hid just our hands behind us, we waited for her to scold us or ground us for a week. But she did nothing of such sorts. What she did was surprising. She laughed. Her hands placed over her stomach, her head fell back and she laughed. We started laughing too after few seconds. And then she said, that some day a rich man will buy this painting with millions. The rich man who understands and treasures friendship.