14 Barbaric Outlander

when we were back in Ball i was stupefied to see Ashley having conversation with father, when father saw me he waved me to come towards him.

she's the importunate one and she is the foremost reason of me attending the Ball, i just don't even want to see her face, she knows very well in front of my father i can't say anything to her.

she was wearing a pink gown and same color mask, her hair was made into an elegant bun.

i went and stood beside my father and faked a smile toward her in front of father, she greeted me and i did the same.

"how are you Princess Zeri" she asked with a smile.

even her voice was annoying me, i don't want to talk to her or see her face but in front of father I've to do it.

"i'm fine"

"what about you" i added with some fake smile.

"i'm good" she replied.

"excuse me father" i said and walked away from her giving her a frustrated look and sat on the chair i was flaring right now, Remus came and sat beside me and said " what happened Zer you look so annoyed "

"she's here" i exclaimed eyeing her, she was still having conversation with father.

Remus looked at her.

"oh Zer please don't spoil your mood because of her" he said by keeping his hand on my hand which was resting on my lap and gently squeezed it and gave me his astounding smile which made me smile too.

"you know why i attended the Ball today due to her" i quoth.

"what!! due to her??" he asked in stupefaction.

"yes due to her, i had a dream in which" i explained him everything and he was just horrified after hearing it.

"i'll never ever do something like that to you, i swear Zer" he said by holding my hand which was still on my lap.

"i know Remus, i trust you with all of my life and you'll never betray me or hurt me,

it's her who i don't trust" i said in soft voice.

"you know it was the worse nightmare of my life" i added.

"so you attended the Ball because you thought if you were not here i would have given her your place??hhmm so that's why you're here Zeri" he exclaimed and let go of my hand.

"no Remus it's not like that, i came here for you too but she the was foremost reason" i quoth.

" see you said that she is the foremost reason and i'm least for you" he said in frustration and left.

"Remus wait please listen to me" i witted but he didn't listen to me and walked away.

what should i do now i got him upset.

"so sad he left you here alone" she smirked.

"it's none of your buisness so stay out of it and go away i don't want to talk with you " i raged.

she shamelessly sat beside me and said" i'm not even interested in talking with you okay so don't make it a big deal"

"so what do you want from me then?" i asked in frustration.

"i think you know very well what i want" she grinned wickedly.

"i don't know what you want from me, just say what is it" i infuriated.

"you will know it soon don't be apprehensive, Zeri" she said and walked away with her evil smirk.

what she want from me now is she talking about Remus.

yes she is she wanted him from the beginning i was right about her she was in love with him, i've seen her many times staring at him, she never used to miss a opportunity to be with him and on that day when she saw me in his arms she became aghast.

so this was the reason for breaking my Brooch, she grew hatred towards me because he chose me instead of her.

i need to talk with Remus he misunderstood me i need to clear his misunderstanding, i saw him walking into the corridor and went in there but he wasn't there probably he's in balcony so i walked out into balcony and he was standing there at balustrade, i stood beside him i was unable see his expression due to the mask.

"it was not what i meant" i started off but halted.

i turned him towards me by holding his arms and cupped his cheeks, but he didn't looked at me" look at me Rem" i quoth.

and he deftly followed me and locked his gaze with mine, " i'm sorry i didn't mean to upset you with my words" he laughed on my words and moved away.

" what happened why are you laughing did i said anything funny " i asked in astonishment.

"i'm sorry i was just spoofing i'm not upset with you" he chortled.

"I'm thankful to your nightmare, it made you come here" he added.

"you're so bad, i hate you" i said with disdain and walked away but he held my hand and pulled me towards him my body collided into his with jerk and his back hit the wall he wrapped his hands around my body tightly.

"where are you going" he uttered leaning.

my mask was making me so uncomfortable to talk so, i just removed it " away from you" i replied.

he too removed his mask and left on the floor "do you think it's so easy to walk away from me" he whispered.

"no it's not" i said by looking down.

he raised my face to meet his gaze and leaned so closer to my face " did you forgot about your punishment" i mumbled against his lips.

his warm breath raising goosebumps on my skin and shivers crawling down my body his touch always has an amazing effect on my body.

"forget about it Zer" he muffled and brushed his lips against mine and kissed gently,i let the mask fall off from my hand on the floor and wrapped my hands around his neck, before i could respond to him i heard footsteps approaching towards balcony and moved away from him keeping fair distance between usband picked up our masks from floor.

Remus was so irksome now, i just gave him a naughty smile by trapping my lower lip in between my teeth.

"what you two are doing out here??" he asked.

i thought it might be Bloom but i was surprised to see him," i-i was feeling suffocated in there with mask so i just came out here for some air and Remus was helping me" i quoth and turned my back on him holding the balustrade.

Raiden stood beside me and asked "are you okay now Princess"

"yes i'm fine now" i replied whilst playing with masks in my hand.

he stood beside me keeping good distance between us, i could imagine Remus's angry face but i didn't dared to turn around to see his face.

"you are so beautiful" he said, it sounded more like a whisper and i immediately looked at him.

"thank you" i mumbled.

He moved bit closer before he could get too close to me Remus hastily entered between him and i saying "are you enjoying the Ball Raiden"

"yes i am I've never attended any Masquerade Ball before" Raiden replied and removed his mask he was good looking masculine man, he had blonde hair which was covering his forehead, Hazel eyes and when our gazes met he just flashed me a sweet smile and i returned it back.

"what are you all doing out here leaving the Ball" he asked skeptically.

we turned around to face him his gaze was struck on me.

"just enjoying the view" Raiden replied to Bloom by moving his gaze from me.

"brother father wants to see you" Bloom said to Remus.

"okay, i'll go see him " Remus quoth and gave me his famous heart melting smile.

"come with me Raiden i've something to show you " Remus said with smile and Raiden's smile was vanished on his words. i know that Remus took Raiden with him purposely, because he was being so close to me even in front of him, he didn't want him to be alone with me.

"okay" he sighed.

they both walked out of balcony passing over Bloom.

Bloom he was holding a glass of wine in his hand and took a sip of it staring at me, i just turned my back on him. I miss the old Bloom he was nothing like him.

In a jiffy i found an arm wrapping around my waist turning me over placing a quick kiss on my lips, i was bewildered by his haste kiss i didn't expect him to do that "i will continue later" Remus whispered.

"forgot my mask" he said and took it from me placing a quick kiss on my cheek and scrammed.

the mask was only a excuse for a kiss, he didn't needed it.

i was left stupefied with his kiss i was pretty sure that my cheeks were crimson now, i felt so hollow without him. he wasn't bothered about Bloom he just kissed me in front of him.

Now Bloom must be so infuriated Remus don't know that Blooom has trouble seeing him doing all this things with me. when i saw his face he was so raged, he threw the glass which was shattered on the floor into pieces " how dare he kiss you in front of me " he miffed.

"he don't need any dare to kiss his Princess in front of you" i scoffed and turned my back on him.

"how many times should I have to tell you that you're mine Zeri, don't you comprehend" he exclaimed and turned me around holding my arms. he just removed his mask and threw it away, showing me his fiery face.

"and how many times should I have to tell you that i'm not yours" i exclaimed in anger by moving away from him.

"it doesn't matter what you say Zeri"

"then same here, it doesn't matter for me too" with that i left him there and i walked into the corridor when i was about to walk out of the corridor, a muscular hand wrapped around my waist and jerked me into the dark chamber covering my mouth with his hand. He tied a blind fold around my eyes another fold on my mouth and tied my hands on my back.

With one stroke of his sword he ripped upper front of my gown but he didn't rip my corset for which i was thankful to him. He shoved me on the floor, i squab on the floor with thud and hit my nose pretty badly a sharp pain crawled into my nose making it bleed, with that he was gone because after he shoved me i heard the sound of the door closing, i tried to loosen my self but he bounded my hands so tightly on my back. it was more than an hour and i was still in that room tied and lying on the ground probably the Ball would be over by now, father and Remus must be worried about me, i heard some voices outside the chamber, they must be knights looking for me i heard them say "Princess Zeri is no where to be found, King Edward is so worried about her" and their voices were getting muted as they walked away from the chamber after half an hour i heard Remus's voice he sounded so apprehensive" did you find her" he asked " no yet prince Remus " the knight replied.

"send a group of knights out of the castle in search for her" he almost hollered.

"where are you Zeri?" he said to himself.

tears rolling down my eyes he was so close to me, but he can't hear me and i can't invoke him.

Remus's POV

where are you Zeri' i said out bit loudly, how she can disappear so suddenly where she would be, i can't survive if something happens to her i love her so much words can't explain my love for her, i walked out into balcony where i've left her it was almost two hours since she got missing still there was no sign of her, i was going insane my mind was crossing numerous thoughts.

when i was walking out of the corridor i saw something on the floor behind the drapes i bend over and had closer look at it, it was Zeri's mask i picked it up and i looked at the door she might be in there i opened the door hastily and found her lying on the floor, her hair was falling over her face covering it, it was dark in there light entering from corridor lit the chamber dimly, i rushed towards her and took her into my lap her gown was ripped at front, there were bloodstains on the fold which was tied on her mouth her hands were tied on the back and there was another fold on her eyes, in a swift i untied her folds on eyes and mouth, her wrists were bruised badly because the rope was bounded tightly, i clutched her to my chest and heard her fragile sobs i pulled back and looked at her, the light from the corridor was enough to see her face she looked so fragile, her nose had become red and blood was smeared on all over her cheeks, i cupped her face " Zeri who did this to you" i asked but she was not in a situation to answer any question, i heard knights coming in this direction as she heard them coming over she covered her corset with her hands and leaned closer into my chest i pulled her more closer to me by wrapping my hands around her back.

as the knights came in "bring a cloth" i ordered one them rushed out and brought a cloth handing over to me i wrapped it around her body and ordered" inform King Edward about Zeri" and they were gone.

i pulled back to look at her but she fell motionlessly on my arm "Zeri- Zeri wake up" i patted her cheek, i was freaking panicked when she didn't moved i held her so close to me repeating her name,"Zeri please wake up" but she didn't moved a bit, i felt tears rolling down my cheeks..

"Zeri"..

Writer's Note :-

I Hope you all like it...