Chapter 18: Chapter 18

I wiped the sweat dripping down my face. I've been practicing with Amaya for a few days now and she has been doing great. She walked up to me, panting. "Am I doing great?"

I nodded. "You're doing just fine"

She chuckled. "We should continue"

I shook my head. "No, you should have some rest"

She pouted her lips. "But I want to learn more"

"No, you've learned enough for today. You should rest, ok?"

She nodded but with a sad face. "If you say so, I'll just go back to the Queen's chamber"

I rolled my eyes. "No, sit down. Gary will get you water and something to eat"

She chuckled. "You want me to eat here?"

I nodded. "Or dont you want to?"

She nodded quickly. "I want to. I can watch your practice"

I smiled. "You can sit over there"

She nodded and walked to where I pointed and sat down. "Can I ask you a question?". I nodded. "Why do you smile often, these days?". I furrowed my eyes and she chuckled. "I mean you hardly smile before but now you smile a lot"

I rolled my eyes. "Who told you I don't smile?"

She giggled and stretched her legs. "I guess I found out myself.

I rolled my eyes. "Gary, get Amaya a cup of water and something to eat" I whispered

"Yes, my lord". He bowed and left. I sighed and went to sit down beside her. "Are you always like this?" She furrowed her brows and I chuckled. "I mean, friendly, outspoken, and humble"

She chuckled. "Am I?"

I nodded. "You ain't a bit like your sister"

She rolled her eyes. "Rude? Sassy? Or hostile?"

I groaned. She knows her sister much better. "Yeah"

She giggled. "She isn't a hostile person or rude or sassy like people do see her. She's just been timid". I hissed. Timid my foot. She's a weak human. That's what I see her as. "Damien?" She called, jolting me back to reality. I rolled my eyes

"You called me?"

She nodded. "I said, Is she giving you any trouble?"

I furrowed my brows. "Who?"

"My sister. I mean Elmira". I rolled my eyes. Her constant act of getting into trouble and her constant running away is trouble on its own. Not to talk about her rude attitude towards me. That girl has courage. She tends to disrespect me as often as she pleases. "Damien" Maya jerk me out of my thought. I hissed and she chuckled. "Deep in thought?"

I rolled my eyes. "No. I...". Gary walked in with a tray.

He dropped it on the table and bowed. "Here, it is, my lord"

I nodded and gestured for him to leave. "Eat up, Maya. The Queen might be looking for you"

She nodded and began to eat. I stood up to continue my training.

**

I walked out of the bathroom, with a towel tied around my waist. I stood in front of the mirror to give a few touches to my hair, before going into the closet to get dressed. I'll be going to see the Queen. She had summoned me for some unknown reason. I got clad in blue faded jeans and a redshirt. I walked out of my room into the deserted aisle. The sun was out already and most of the vampires were indoors, making it easy for the humans to walk about. But since I have only Gary as my human guard, and I had sent him out this morning, my door was without any guard.

I went straight to mom's room. She was seated on the couch when I walked in. I looked around to see if Amaya was in, but she wasn't. I was curious to ask but before I could, mom spoke up. "Looking for Maya?"

I chuckled. "No"

She hissed. "You don't have to pretend. I know you're so fond of her"

I rolled my eyes and sat down. "Why do you call for me?"

She hissed. "Don't try to change the topic"

"I ain't doing that"

"Is there a thing between you two?" She asked, ignoring my talks.

I widen my eyes. Is she been serious?. "Mom, what are you talking about?. Why will you even think such a thing?"

"If there isn't a thing between you two. Why will you reject the senior and be fond of the junior?"

I rolled my eyes. Mom can't be serious. "Why did you call me here. I have a place to go to" I said, ignoring her question

She glared at me. "You have to answer my question"

I hissed. "I don't want her, that's it"

She furrowed her brows. "I don't get you?". I groaned. What is it that she doesn't understand?. That I don't want a weak human like Elmira or what?. "Damien, answer me!"

I sighed. "I don't want a mate. I don't even have a reason why I should want one. Not with the weak human, I have as a mate" I murmured the last part, so my mom wouldn't hear me but she did

"Why can't you make her strong? Huh?"

I relaxed my back on the couch. "I don't have time to waste".

She glared at me. "She's a waste of time? Huh?". I rolled my eyes. Like I care. "She's your mate"

I groaned. "How many times will I make it clear to you that have rejected her?"

"As your mate or pet?"

I hissed. "As both"

She sighed. "Now listen to me carefully. I don't care if you want her as a mate or a pet. You're to teach her everything she needs to know"

I groaned. Why should I do that?. "For what?"

"Because I say so. You are to train her on how to fight and be able to defend herself"

I scoffed. "Gary will do that"

"Don't dare me, Damien. I'm hiring you not Gary"

"There are a lot of people out there that can teach her. I can't waste my time teaching her"

She glared at me. "You're teaching her, and that's final!!" She yelled.

I groaned and stood up. Why will she want me to waste my time training Elmira when I can train Amaya instead. I hissed. There's no way I'm training her. Never!!. With this decision, I stomped out of my mom's room.

**

I was pacing around the room, waiting for Gary to walk in with Elmira. I had sent him to get her for me. I'm going to make her tell my mom not to let me teach her. I can't stop teaching Amaya just because of Elmira. The door opened and I stopped moving.  They walked in and bowed. "Gary, leave us alone". Gary left, leaving just the two of us. I placed my index finger beneath my jaw, staring at her, while she kept her head bowed. "Hey, head up". She raised her head slowly until we were both staring at each other. She shifted her gaze immediately. "Now, listen and listen carefully. You're going to tell the queen, not to let me teach you how to fight, ok?"

She furrowed her brows. "I can't do that"

My eyes switched. "You won't?" She said nothing. "Don't let me repeat myself!!" I yelled getting irritated already.

She nodded. "Yes"

I batted my lashes. Did she just say yes? Without the usual my lord?. "What did you say?" She kept her gaze to the floor but said nothing. "Answer me!!" I yelled at her but she didn't budge. "Elmira, I'm talking to you!!"

She raised her head as if gathering her courage, open her mouth to speak. "You ain't my lord. I'm not your pet, neither am I your mate so you have no right to order me around"

My eyes switched. Did she just say those words? To me?. "You said what?"

"I'm only answerable to your mother, the Queen. I'm sorry if I sound rude. But I'll like to take my leave"

I stood rooted to my spot, surprised and shock at the same time. I can't believe those words came out of Elmira's mouth not even with an iota of fear. I batted my lashes. I must be dreaming!!.