"So what are going to do now?" Edlyn asked as she looked at Ariana. "I, I need time.... I need to break the remaining bonds the Lumas have with the G.o.ddess... That also means I have to make up with Cayden. I may have severed my ties with Adonis but he is still bound to the G.o.ddess." Ariana replied. "What about your," Gregory started to say but Ariana gave him a bitter look. "I already said what I need to do first. If I approach my mom"s village unprepared it could be disastrous." Ariana said in haughty tone. "Where was that ferocity when Faraji was here?" Gregory asked as he stared at Ariana. "And where was your normal self? I never seen you so pathetic looking. I wasn"t sure if it was really you." Ariana reb.u.t.ted.
Gregory flinched. "I trained and disciplined myself to be the best in my field. Do not forget that I was the Vice Capital of our Kingdom"s military." Gregory said proudly as he puffed out his chest. "But..." Edlyn encouraged. "But." Gregory said as he defleated a bit. "But that b.a.s.t.a.r.d trained me in his own way." Gregory continued. "Trained?" The girls said in unison.
"Let"s leave it at that." Gregory said with a small shudder. Ariana wondered what kind of training Faraji gave Gregory to turn him into such a push over. Then a cold chill ran down her back as Faraji"s cold, smiling face surfaced in her mind. "You okay?" Edlyn asked.
"Ya, I really want to take a bath. I feel so gross." Ariana said pitifully, trying her best to erase the image from her mind. "Then you should get going." Gregory said as he placed his hand on Ariana"s back then instantly pulled it away. A digusted look appeared on his face and he started to wipe his hand on his pant leg. Ariana caught sight of his action and couldn"t help but smile.
"Thank you daddy for taking care of me for so long." Ariana said happily then jumped on top of Gregory. She wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a big, wet kiss on his cheek. Gregory"s face turned green as Ariana"s sweat soaked clothes touched him but his eyes shone with delighted and disdain at the same time. "Get off!" He scowled.
"Daddy is s-o mean." Ariana pouted as she tighted her grip around his neck. "I gave you a kiss I want one too." She continued. Gregory started to blush but then he raised his hands and pried Ariana off. "Now I have to bathe. Happy now?" Gregory grumbled. "No. I thought my daddy loved me too. Oh well I will have to strengthen our relationship later then." Ariana said in a pitiful tone.
Gregory looked guilty. He wanted Ariana to see him as family but she was so dirty, he wondered if one day he would act the same way with his own children. Ariana tapped Gregory"s stomach making him focus on her. "You don"t have to push yourself. We are still awkward with each other and you know I"m not really your daughter. However there"s still that rumor about you being my actual father and Lady Zula as my real mother. If I can get people to believe that rumor, hopefully the church won"t look at me too closely." Ariana explained.
Gregory furrowed his brows causing Ariana to sigh. "Look, I made a huge mistake showing my priestess form. I don"t want anyone figuring out that I am that woman"s daughter or that it was actually me at the arena. If they figure it out and report it to the church..."
Gregory pursed his lips then gave Ariana a nod. "Thanks. Anyways we should get going. I have a lot to do." Ariana said before she started to move towards the door. "Be careful." Gregory mumbled as she and Edlyn left the room.
Edlyn had recommended for them to stop by the dorm. Ariana needed a new set of clothes but Edlyn wasn"t allowing her to go back to the room. She offered to grab the set of clothes and told Ariana to hide herself in the woods.
"Aroha, do you think Vasu will ever forgive me?" Ariana asked as they waited for Edlyn. Aroha shook her head. "I don"t know. Out of all of us Vasu has been the most unpredictable." Aroha replied. "You"ll just have to wait and see." Davita said as she flew up to Ariana. "I don"t think he is actually upset with you." Loralei chimed in causing Ariana to quickly look at her. "What do you mean?" Ariana asked in a confused tone.
"He is not so unpredictable... he just looks at everything in a different way. I think he is trying to figure out what to do next." Loralei explianed as her beady, black eyes stared at Ariana with out a single shred of doubt. Ariana picked up Loralei and brought her up to eye level. "You are such a wonder. You see things that others miss, I would love to hear your story next." Ariana said with a small smile.
Loralei started to blush as she flapped her fins in a fl.u.s.ter. "You"re giving me too much credit! Plus my story is really simple. I don"t think you will be all that interested." Ariana sighed then placed a small kiss on Loralei"s head. "Silly, of course I want to listen. Besides I need to break that bond, if the G.o.ddess steps in and stops my plans then what will happen to you or the others. We can"t risk it." Ariana explained.
Loralei"s fins drooped down, Ariana glanced at Rahul, who started to step away then glanced at Davita who averted her own gaze. "I won"t force the next Luma to speak but we have to do it soon. If you don"t want the others to hear that"s okay. We can do it privately." Ariana said sweetly. "Okay." Loralei said as she hopped out of Ariana"s hands.
"Hey, I got your clothes. Let"s go." Edlyn called out in a loud whisper as she walked towards Ariana. "Okay." Ariana said as she got up. She then eyed Edlyn"s bag, she wondered what she packed but then shrugged off her own question. "It"s still early and everyone is sleeping so I"m betting the bathhouse is pretty empty right now." Edlyn said as she adjusted the bag. "Mmmh." Ariana replied as they walked towards the bathhouse.