Chapter 14 - Gabriel: The Vampire King (2) (1/2)

”Luther, bring Paul and Nathan in here. Esme, come here.” Gabriel's voice was quiet yet commanding and sent a shiver down her spine. He beckoned her over with his finger.

Esme felt her palms becoming sweaty, and she casually wiped them on her jeans, wincing slightly at her injured hand. She walked around the bar and to the spot where that man had been kneeling. She met Gabriel's gaze and felt her feverish state drop slightly; she couldn't tell what he was thinking. ”Would you like something to drink?” She calmly asked, her voice unwavering.

”No. How did you injure your hand?” He questioned, his gaze flicking to Esme's hand by her side and back to her face once more.

Esme flexed her hand and looked at it. Should she tell him?

”Lie. If you tell him what happened, he will take Paul's side. We are singled out as the only werewolf,” Isana whispered.

”If I were you, I would tell the truth,” Gabriel drawled as he held her gaze and lifted the tumbler to his lips; the ice clinked in the glass as he sipped on what looked and smelt like whiskey.

Esme sighed, she knew she could not outrun a vampire, let alone the damn King, but she wanted to see what sort of a man Gabriel was. He was a vampire, but as a King, there was a lot of responsibility. He told Niko that she would have no help from him, but what if she was not in the wrong?

She decided to use this as a test. If she were to be punished, then it was a sign that she should leave. Paul now had a grudge on her, and she knew from experience that this would not be the last time he'd try something.

”HOW did you injure your hand?” Gabriel asked again, his voice thundered in the room.

”I had a disagreement with Paul, and he crushed my fingers,” Esme stated simply.

”What was this disagreement?” The vampire tapped his finger against the glass's edge as he bore his eyes into hers. She felt glued to the spot. But on his question, Esme thought back to what happened, and she frowned.

How ridiculous, she scoffed quietly.

”I must have ignored Paul calling after me..” She replied lamely.

It was then the door swung open, and in entered Luther, Paul and Nathan. ”Esme, take a seat,” Gabriel said, patting the spot by his side. Her eyes widened, and she parted her lips to politely decline. ”Now.” His voice deepened, and she swore the red flecks in his eyes glowed briefly.

Esme immediately followed his command and sat next to him, though she made sure to leave enough space between them that would seat another body. She sat down stiffly, her back straight, her face forwards and her hands in her lap. Gabriel chuckled under his breath, gaining her attention, she looked at him, but he stared at the two vampires now standing before him, their heads bowed.

”Your majesty,” Nathan and Paul spoke simultaneously. Luther was now back at the bar, his glass of wine in one hand as he watched on like a spectator to a play.

”I was informed of an incident that happened in the staff room. EXPLAIN.” His voice was hard, lacking any emotion.

Paul's head snapped up, and he glanced at Esme, his features souring momentarily before he met Gabriel's gaze and looked at his shoes again. ”Esme attacked me out of nowhere and said because I wasn't a pureblood, it didn't matter if I died.. I only defended myself then Leo interrupted us-”

”The human?” Gabriel interrupted sharply.

”I-I compelled him, sire. He does not remember anything,” Nathan stuttered, his head still bowed.

”Hmm,” Gabriel pushed himself off from the couch and appeared just before Nathan. ”Do you agree to what Paul just said?” He asked; his voice was somewhat menacing as though if he were to lie, then he would end him. Nathan lifted his head up and looked at Gabriel, his face paling.

”W-well.. He called out to her, and she ignored him. I'm not sure what happened next, but then Esme held him by the throat, and Paul grabbed her by the hand-”

”You know there is one thing I hate above everything else.. and that is when people lie to me..” Gabriel cut in and stepped in front of Paul. He looked down at him like he was nothing but a bug beneath his shoes, easy to squish.

”Your highness! I-”

Gabriel smacked Paul's face, who flew backwards and crashed into the stage, flopping onto his hands and knees. Esme jolted and stood up, staring wide-eyed. The only other person to react in the room was Nathan, who cringed but didn't even look around at his friend. The others watched on like there was nothing special to be seen.

The atmosphere grew tense and silent; the only noise heard was Gabriel's footsteps, who approached Paul nonchalantly, raking his hand through his hair and the other relaxed in his trouser pocket. Paul kept his head low and did not move or say a word. ”I do not understand what makes people think they can lie to me. Luther, do you know?” He asked while staring down at the hunched-over body on the floor.

”No, Gabriel. I do not,” Luther replied with amusement flashing behind his green eyes. Esme returned her gaze to Gabriel's back.

”Esme is my employee. I accepted her into working at ONYX. ANYONE who is against this, in turn, is against my judgement and against my rule-”

”Sire, I did not mean to disrespect you. I would never-”

”No matter. I see that I must have this in writing or make it evidently clear that my decisions are final. Esme..” Gabriel's deadly voice dropped, and he stepped the heel of his shoe on top of Paul's hand. He cried out in pain as the room filled up with the slow, crunching sound of his bones breaking beneath Gabriel's foot. ”Is NOT to be touched.”

”What a wuss,” Isana smirked; she was satisfied by the sight. But Esme was not satisfied at all. Instead, the scenario, though entirely different, reminded Esme of a day that always haunted her. Her heart started to race as she pushed down the memory.

Gabriel chuckled and stepped away from the bouncer on the ground, he turned to watch Esme, but his gaze fell to her wrist, where she unconsciously reached for a rubber band. His brows furrowed as she pulled the band back and let it snap against her skin, looking away as though the sight in front of her was mortifying.

”Nathan take Paul out of my sight,” He snapped while staring at Esme.

The she-wolf slowly sat down and counted to ten in her mind, reminding herself that she was with the Vampire King. For some reason, her racing heart and anxious mind slowly calmed down; that was right, she was safe, and even if Gabriel turned out to be someone who would hurt her, then she would just leave.

She had no attachments here, so it would be easy.