Ninety-nine
SIN
I grimaced as I came awake. My head pounded and I winced.
I groaned, feeling the sour taste in my mouth and shielding the bright light streaming into the room with my hand.
As I lifted myself slowly, I rested my back on the headboard of the bed.
I didn’t know how much I drank yesterday, but I was certain Laurent had dragged my butt back home after taking too much blood.
I frowned, recalling everything. It had been a while since I went on a killing spree and since Artemisia’s arrival; I hadn’t engaged in such activities, and I had vowed never to do so or show off my monstrous side.
Now that she was gone, I believed it was coming back. It was only a matter of time before it hit me full force.
And I would turn into a monster. A full-blown berserker.
I let my head rest in my hands for some time before climbing down from the bed and trudging to the bathroom.
I turned on the tap and splashed some water on my face to keep myself sober.
However, I feel light-headed and as if I was walking on air.
“I feel so awful,” I mumbled, staring into my bloodshot eyes.
Even my fangs were out, and I know it was only reacting to what happened yesterday.
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The headache I feel subsided after taking a cold shower. I strode towards Laurent’s room for the updates on Artemisia.
I hadn’t forgotten yet. As much as everyone wanted me to move on from her, there was no way I could do that.
Artemisia was my life, and killing me would be better, as I wouldn’t be alive to think of her any more.
I heard giggling from the room Emma and Julie stayed in.
It wasn’t my business what was making her laugh, and listening to their conversation wasn’t my thing as well.
But then, something inside of me made me stalled.
I waited a few seconds outside the door. I didn’t know exactly what I was waiting for, but I believed the hunch I was feeling wanted me to.
“Any news on your sister’s whereabouts?” Adrina said.
It did not surprise me both were friends. They had clicked off immediately, and I was sure whatever Emma was doing, Adrina knew about it.
She might as well be the mastermind of the plan.
“I don’t care about her and I want her dead.”
I gritted my teeth and my hands clenched. The urge to dash into the room and yank Emma away from wherever she sat filled me, but I restrained myself and heaved a breath.
“What about Sinclair? Does he know yet?”
Know what? I mused whilst I moved close to the door.
“Of course, not. He’s clueless about whom the father of the baby is, and I’d leave it as that. It’s easier blaming him, and it makes me happy he knows nothing happened between us.”
“Nothing happened,” I said to myself. And a weight that I feel had been pulling me down lifted.
And almost immediately, fury surged through me.
Everything had been a lie.
Emma had caused me pain based on lies.
I booted the door and stood at the doorway.
“Emma,” I growled.
Adrina and Emma flinched. Both stared at me with wide eyes, and I marched towards Emma.
It was Adrina that got over the shock first as I yanked Emma off the bed.
“How long have you been there?” She stuttered. “Did you hear what we said?”
“I freaking heard everything, and you have a f**king explanation to do!” I said.
My grip tightened on Emma, and I glared at Adrina.
“Do I need to make you talk, or you’d do so yourself?!”
“I’ll…” Adrina mumbled.
Her eyes flickered to Emma, and she stared at the floor.
“I am sorry, Sinclair,” Adrina said. “I didn’t want to do it. She forced me.”
“I did?!” Emma asked, her eyes enlarged.
“Of course!” Adrina yelled at her, “I told you to leave Sinclair as he is married, but you want to go to any length to make him pay for being with your sister.”
“But it was all your plan!” Emma gritted her teeth. “You literally shoved me into this, and if I knew you’d betrayed me at the end, I wouldn’t have agreed.”
I didn’t know who to believe, so I just gazed at both of them as they argued.
“Believe me, Sinclair, I didn’t do it. It wasn’t my intention to hurt Artemisia, even though I don’t like her.” Adrina grimaced.
“Why didn’t you stop her? Why did you agree to it in the first place? Goodness, both of you ruined my f**king life!” I released Emma’s hand and tossed my hands in the air.
“Artemisia left because of you two, and you weren’t even remorseful. What kind of sister are you?!” I turned to Emma, and she bit her lower lip.
She looked as though she would burst into tears any minute from now, but I wasn’t buying it.
There was no difference between Emma and Adrina and asking who started it wouldn’t even make any sense.
So, I settled on asking what had been bothering me for a while.
“D-did we have anything together the day Artemisia saw us?”
I heaved a breath as Emma shook her head. I heard it before, but I wanted to hear it from her again.
“Then who is the father of your child? Whose child are you carrying?”
Emma lifted her gaze to me and tears slid down her cheeks almost immediately. She wiped both cheeks with the back of her palm and shook her head.
“Emma…” I said in a low voice, as she didn’t want to say whoever it was.
“Please, don’t make me do this.” She sobbed.
“My marriage is at stake because of this, and god help me, see Artemisia again. This will prove I know nothing about what happened.” I pleaded.
I didn’t want to beg her, but seeing as she wasn’t willing to talk, I didn’t think I could force her.
“Please…”
Emma bit her lip again and sniffled. “Laurent did. Laurent is the father.”