ARTEMISIA

Exhaling, I twirled my hair out of habit as I stepped towards a door that I believed was leading to the balcony.

I twisted the doorknob and stepped out. Immediately cool air smacked my face.

I let out a deep breath as the wind caressed my cheeks whilst lifting my eyes to the night sky, to stare at the stars as they glittered brilliantly.

My eyes dimmed as I caught sight of a shadow lurking in what looked like a garden.

I couldn't explain what or who it was since it was extremely dark and I was also far away.

I shook my head and averted my gaze. Also, I attempted to think of something else to clear the thoughts of the shadow being from my head as it resurfaced.

"Perhaps, I should take a look," I say to myself whilst staring in the direction of the lawn.

Shrugging, I step back into the hall and I notice everyone was still engrossed in the party.

It was my perfect chance 

ARTEMISIA

As soon as I stepped back into the hall, Sin's mother was all over me. I noticed she wasn't alone as well.

The same people that had welcomed me the minute I stepped into the hall were the ones watching me now.

I stared back at each of them before glancing back at her.

"Are you hurt? What happened?" She inquired, clutching my hand.

"Nothing happened," I replied. My brows furrowed as I glimpsed at the perplexed look on each of their faces. I was certain they knew what had gone on. But, they were waiting to hear it from me.

Sin's mother sniffled and narrowed her grey eyes at me. "You smell weird. Who have you been with? Where is my son?"

"He's out. And I smell the same way I always did," I said.

I brought my hair closer to my nose as well as the collar of the dress I donned to sniff them.

I smell the same. But, Sin's mother and his siblings had made it seem like I smell l

ARTEMISIA

'Where are we going?" I asked for the umpteenth time, staring at Sin.

Whether he heard me or not, he didn't act like it. Rather, he went on dragging the luggage he had carried yesterday, including mine. He dumped them at the back of his car and walked to the driver's side.

Since I woke up, I had noticed the change in his demeanour. But, he didn't tell me what was going on with him. Instead, he had been ordering me about to get ready.

'Are you coming in or not?" He asked, turning on the ignition.

'Where are we going?" I asked again.

'You've barely answered any of my questions since morning."

'That is because I got no answer to your questions." He said, nudging the door open for me.

Even though he had no answer to my questions, at least he had the courtesy of opening the car for me.

I slid into the car and let out a sigh.

'You know, it's not nice ignoring questions when

ARTEMISIA

Exhaling, I twirled my hair out of habit as I stepped towards a door that I believed was leading to the balcony.

I twisted the doorknob and stepped out. Immediately cool air smacked my face.

I let out a deep breath as the wind caressed my cheeks whilst lifting my eyes to the night sky, to stare at the stars as they glittered brilliantly.

My eyes dimmed as I caught sight of a shadow lurking in what looked like a garden.

I couldn't explain what or who it was since it was extremely dark and I was also far away.

I shook my head and averted my gaze. Also, I attempted to think of something else to clear the thoughts of the shadow being from my head as it resurfaced.

"Perhaps, I should take a look," I say to myself whilst staring in the direction of the lawn.

Shrugging, I step back into the hall and I notice everyone was still engrossed in the party.

It was my perfect chance to sneak outside without getting caught, I reasoned.

Also, Sin was nowhere to be found and I was ha

CHAPTER 13