Choice made
1175 Words
**Arianna's POV**
I stood before Damon with eyes wandering all over my body in wonderment. I was in flesh, of a human totally restored. Next to me, my parents, Diana, and Sergio stood with their faces filled with happiness and relief.
Then I realized: the moon goddess had heard my request. She gave me a second chance in life.
A mix of emotions, shock, thankfulness, and confusion, ran through my mind at that time. I didn't know what to say, didn't know how to.
Damon cut into my thoughts, his eyes smoldering into mine with an intensity that made my heart trip itself.
"Arianna," he said huskily, his voice at its lowest register. "From the moment I met you, I knew that you were not the same. You are strong, fierce, beautiful."
He stepped close, his eyes burning with a passion that raised the tiny hair on my skin.
"Arianna, will you be my mate?" he asked softly, his voice full of emotion.
It was like getting hit in the gut. Mate? Seriously? I could not speak, could not do or say a thing. I just stood there, paralyzed in horror, as Damon's eyes kept searching for mine, waiting for my response.
I stood there, still in a shock of momentary paralysis. Flashbacks from the night I had caught Damon and Diana together, the fateful night, streaked through my thoughts. Oh, the intensity of this heartache and betrayal was hard to bear. I have seen the face behind Diana—poker face, unguilty, and unremorseful. She stood there, and neither her face nor her words divulged any form of guilt or sorrow. She did not care. This revelation just churned up the boiling anger inside me.
My eyes then turned to Damon, who was still expecting me to say something. I had long decided what to do, though. I suddenly recalled Sergio, Damon's older brother, who had treated me so tenderly. He had always loved me, but I never looked at him that way because my heart belonged to Damon.
But this was different now. This time, I had another life, and I wouldn't let anyone who betrayed me get ahead. A sly thought struck my mind—I would choose Sergio to be my mate instead of Damon just to spite him and make him jealous.
The slow smile spread over my face, thinking about the shock and # anger on Damon's face when it erupted # and I said no. # That I was worth fighting for, and that he deserved far better # than someone willing to cheat on me in so deliberate a way.
I looked directly into Damon's eyes and said with a new feeling of confidence and willpower, "No, Damon. I won't be your mate."
The room hushed, and all the eyes shifted to me. Damon's face burned brightly red with rage, and looking at him, I could tell his state from his face—shocked and still in disbelief.
But I wasn't done just yet. I took a deep breath and then said, "And I choose Sergio as my mate."
The room erupted with gasps and sputtered whispers—Diana paling, Sergio widening his eyes in shock.
Damon's face, however, turned purple with rage, and he took one step closer to me, fists clenched. "You can't be serious," he growled.
With that, I rejected Damon and took Sergio through destiny to be my mate, and the room fell silent—all eyes on me. My parents' faces turned in shock, and the look of incredulity on their faces made them switch a nervous glance with each other. They wanted to intervene, rise against my decision, but they wouldn't do so, leaving me to my choices.
But not Diana, who turned red in the face with rage and proceeded to take a step forward with a high-pitched, annoying voice. "You can't be serious, Arianna! Sergio and I are together; we've been for days!
The room was in a chaos state as gasps and murmurs were heard about. I suddenly swayed under a tidal wave of confusion; from when? Sergio and Diana would never look in each other's direction before.
Sergio's face was expressionless, and he took a step back, lifting his hands in protest. "Diana, what are you talking about? We've never been together!"
Diana's face turned even redder as she spat out her words, "Don't lie, Sergio! You know what I am talking about! You have been sneaking around with me behind everybody else's back!"
The room was now in an uproar, with everyone speaking at the same time. By this time, I felt that I am standing in the middle of a whirlwind, with no way of exiting it. Diana had just about had enough, totally lost it as she turned on her heels and stormed out of the room; with a loud bang, the door closed behind her. An uncomfortable silence loomed.
I shifted a glance his way; he was shaking his head, lingering in denial. "Arianna, I swear I don't know what the hell she talks about this time," he added with his gaze seeking mine.
Immediately, the room was empty, and my dad faced me very seriously. "Arianna, we must talk about this. Your decision to pick Sergio as your mate has consequences."
But before he could say any more, Damon had appeared to form out of the air, anger glowing in his eyes. "No, Father. She's not going to change her mind; she's made her choice, and now she's coming with me."
My father's eyes narrowed. "Damon, what are you doing in family business that is not your concern?"
But Damon didn't listen. He strode over to me, his movements swift and decisive. "Come with me, Arianna. Now."
I tried to protest but Damon had a grip like a vice. He pulled me out of the room, for out of my dad's sight.
Was I scared of him?!
Hell no, but I need to lay low and let him act like a fool.
I could sense the anger seeping from his every pore as he walked. It was virtually tangible, coming out of him like heat. "You think you can just pick Sergio over me? After everything we've been through?" Was he referring to? "I haven't been through any s**t with you!" I retaliated. I turned to walk away, my pulse still racing from the confrontation. Damon's words ran through my mind, but I wouldn't let myself cave on that account.
I had made a choice, and I was standing by it. I could feel Damon's eyes on me, full of anger and frustration, as I walked away. But I did not look back. I just walked on with my head up high, shoulders straight, and my feet forward. The forest seemed to close in around me, the trees towering above me like sentinels. But I didn't feel trapped. I felt free.
I could sense the figure standing somewhere within, and Diana stood there; her eyes somehow glued to mine, with deathly intentions.
- Writer
