Once Betrayed Never Forgotten

Chapter 22: Trial by Fire

“Well, well, what have we here?” The familiar mocking voice cuts through the air, jolting me into action. I scramble to pull my dress back up to cover my modesty, while Aleksandr stands protectively in front of me, his gaze shifting towards the sound of the voice. And there she stands, Tatiana, her presence exuding triumph.

A smirk tugs at her lips as she takes in the scene before her – Aleksandr pinning me against the alcove wall, my dress askew and my appearance dishevelled. Her eyes glitter with amusement, and she drawls, “Playing naughty forbidden games, are we?” Her gaze turns towards me, and her smile widens. “I’m sure Anya will have something to say about your inappropriate conduct with this…

human.”

The disgust and disdain with which she says the word “human” is palpable, like she’s just caught. Aleksandr engaging in lewd acts with something as lowly and repulsive as a cockroach.

“Don’t you dare, Tatiana, I’m warning you- Aleksandr’s voice rumbles, a low growl as he takes a step towards her. But before he can finish his sentence, she’s gone, vanished into thin air.

“Dammit, that infernal whore,‘ he curses, his frustration evident in the hardness of his expression. He turns back to me, his eyes softening. There’s no need for you to be here for this go to your

–

chambers. I’ll meet you there once they’ve finished pulling me over the coals. Be prepared. I plan to have some fun with you tonight.”

His finger traces the curve of my lips, his gaze smouldering with desire. A shiver runs through me, a promise of the intoxicating thrills yet to come.

“Go, now, before the angry pitchfork–wielding mob arrives, he urges, nodding towards the doorway leading back to the ballroom.

But before I can make a move, a sudden freezing cold gust of air envelops me, and a sha +10% darkness sweeps over the balcony like a sinister curtain.

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“We’re too late,” Aleksandr sighs, weariness tainting his voice as he motions for me to stand

behind him.

In the dim light, figures begin to emerge from the shadows, taking form and substance. Anya, Seraphina, Konstantin, and my mother. Each of them appears from the darkness, their forms solidifying as the red moonlight casts an eerie glow upon them. Tatiana stands among them, her triumphant smile lighting up her features with glee. Seraphina hovers in the background, her usually smiling childish face serious and sullen for a change.

Anya’s expression is one of fury, a storm brewing in her eyes as she glares at Aleksandr and I.

Chapter 22: Trial by Fire

Konstantin stands stoically, his features inscrutable, while my mother appears worried, anxious even. I’m momentarily taken aback by her altered appearance – her supernaturally enhanced beauty, the impossibly radiant and shining cascade of golden hair tumbling down her back all the way to her waist, her eyes greener than I’ve ever seen them. She’s always been classically beautiful, but her new vampiric countenance will definitely take some getting used to.

“How long did you think you could keep this hidden, Aleksandr?” Tatiana’s voice drips with mockery, her smile taunting. “I wondered why you kept on rejecting my advances and avoiding my bed. To think, it’s because you’ve been slumming it with this child. How cliche.”

Aleksandr stands protectively in front of me, his stance defensive. “Tatiana, enough of your games,” he warns, his voice dripping with irritation.

Anya’s voice cuts through the tension, her tone a mix of anger and disbelief. “Is it true, Aleksandr? Is Tatiana’s claim accurate? Have you really been intimate with your blood–blonded brother’s new stepdaughter?”

“Screwing your niece, so tacky,” Tatiana taunts under her breath, loud enough for everyone to

hear.

Aleksandr ignores Tatiana’s taunting, focusing instead on Anya. His gaze remains defiant, his fists clenched at his sides. “Yes, it’s true. But before you condemn me, remember that Arianna is not my

true niece. We’re not blood–related.”

Anya’s eyes blaze with anger as she steps forward. Blood–related or not, you’ve broken several laws, Aleksandr. This is indecent, beyond inappropriate. It is forbidden. You know that as well as I

do.”

My mother’s voice quavers as she addresses me. “Arianna, how long has this been going on?” Her expression is a mix of shock and concern.

I feel the weight of their scrutiny, my cheeks burning with embarrassment and shame. “I… I’m sorry,” I stammer, feeling like I’m caught in a web of judgement.

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Anya’s voice is stern as she speaks, her anger palpable. “You have both put me in a very difficult position. You, Aleksandr, as my blood–bonded son, and you, Arianna, as a human girl under my protection. You have both betrayed my trust.”

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Konstantin’s voice is steady, his eyes fixated on Aleksandr. “This is a dangerous path, brother. You know the consequences.

“It’s my fault too!” I say, not wanting Aleksandr to take the blame. “He’s not some predator. I wanted to be with him.”

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Chapter 22 Trial by Fire

Sandra’s voice quivers with emotion. “No Arianna, you’re only eighteen. And he’s my brother–in- law. You know this is wrong, right? Besides, he’s a vampire, and you’re a human.”

My voice is tinged with frustration as I respond, “Well what about you, mom? You fell under Konstantin’s spell. Aren’t you being a hypocrite?”

Anya interrupts, her voice like steel. “It’s different. Sandra and Konstantin have waited until her transformation into a vampire to be together.”

My mother confirms it, her eyes filled with a mix of emotion. “Yes, we haven’t… consummated our

relationship yet. We were waiting for tonight.”

Now this, I didn’t expect. What the hell?

“Why?” I ask, my voice tinged with disbelief.

“Because with his supernatural vampiric power and strength, Konstantin would have physically crushed your mother’s weak human body from the inside out, had they tried to make love before her transformation,” Anya says coldly.” No matter how gentle he attempted to be, it would have been extremely dangerous for her.”

“I don’t understand,” I murmur, unable to comprehend exactly what she’s saying.

Anya sighs, obviously realising she’ll have to spell it out for me.

“As I’m sure you can imagine, vampire males are unnaturally well–endowed, and their manhood when aroused is harder than rock,” she says. “Now, imagine being pinned down by an immovable force and penetrated for hours on end by an ice cold rod of steel as thick as your forearm. It would end with him releasing his freezing, poison seed into you, a toxin easily capable of killing. Not only would it be extremely unpleasant for you, unless you happen to be an absolute masochist – it

would likely prove deadly. This is the reason that Konstantin and Sandra waited until her Blood

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Moon ceremony and transformation to consummate their marriage, and it’s the same reason that

Aleksandr cannot be with you, Arianna. It would put you at great risk.”

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Aleksandr’s expression is unreadable, a mask. I look at him with the shock and surprise clearly written on my face, wanting an explanation, wanting him to deny it, but he doesn’t say anything.

Tatlanna, on the other hand, is loving every moment of this.

She sidles up to me, pouting her lips in mock concern as she pats me consolingly on the shoulder.

“There there, you poor thing, pathetic little human,” she says in a mockingly sweet baby voice, cooing at me. “You couldn’t have known how dangerous it was. Big bad nasty old Aleksandr kept

Chapter 22. Trial by Fire

thatiently hidden from you, didn’t he?”

“And besides the great physical risk to the human female in this situation,” Anya continues, ignoring Tatiana’s childish display, “Should a mortal woman who engages in coitus with a vampire miraculously survive such an ordeal, which is unlikely, any child resulting from such a union would be an abomination. By vampire law, it would not be allowed to live.”

My frustration simmers, my voice a mix of anger and hurt as the awful truth finally dawns on me. “So you’re saying… if Aleksandr and I had been together, I would have been physically crushed, or worse, killed?”

Aleksandr’s expression changes, his voice earnest as he steps towards me, his hands outstretched as he reassures me. “No, I would have stopped myself, Arianna. I would never go that far… I would not have let anything happen to you.”

Tears well up in my eyes as I stare at him, feeling a tumultuous mix of emotions. “Were you really that desperate to get your rocks off? You would have endangered me like that?”

Before he can respond, I’m already turning away, my vision blurred by tears. I run through the doors and back into the ballroom, feeling utterly betrayed and used. The revelry around me fades into a blur as I hurry towards my chambers, seeking refuge from the chaos of my thoughts and the storm of emotions tearing at my soul.

Chapter Comments

EJ

POST

I want to know why her mother didn’t at least speak up and defend her daughter in the way Tatianna was speaking to Arianna.

EJ

well damn, if it isn’t twilight all over. And just why would it be an abomination? Would it be like the story from Twilight, the child would not be able to control itself, learn and ki….

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