• • • Eve's POV • • • At the mating festival; Melody from the contrabass, drums and lute are booming in the hefty auditorium which is well decorated from every angle with seasonal flowers with intense fragrance and textiles of very good quality. Filled with abundant fear, I finally, walk into the auditorium. Freeze chills going down my spine. I feel like all folks are glaring at me. I can't infer why?! but I strongly sense their stares are damn fixed on me. My heart starts pounding yet I manage to contain my terrified but happy self; terrify because of their piercing, scrutinising gazes it's my first time seeing or being with such a huge crowd and I'm happy that I'm here for the festival Unconsciously, I gently saunter out of their viewpoint, wandering by the corner sides of the big auditorium and staring at places like a novice, appreciating all that I see. All that my dad thought I wasn't fit for. I take a cup of Juice and lean on the wall with my eyes close and a heavy smile on my face. So heavy that one could see it from a distance. "Hey, are you a novice? You look strange!" she gaily moves to chat with me like we knew each other before. With each step, she took a heartbeat and exploded in my chest. Speechless, I stand once she attains my presence. "Don't mind her beautiful lady. My name is David and you are?" Luckily for me, this handsome fella interrupts the crazy girl, who was practically aggressing me yet all I do is smile. "Lovely mates," I tell myself when looking at them, they fit perfectly together. "I'm Eve Elite!" I gaily retort the young fella, he sounds friendly. I called both of my names though I despise both. "Nice to meet you, Eve!" smiles he. "Hey!" the young girl hits his shoulders "I'm called, Matilda and I'm the most beautiful girl of the night" she introduces herself with so much confidence that I begin to like her. "Nice to meet you, Marilda!" I nod. "Nice to meet you too, Eve! Are you from the C clan? and is it true that your king killed his wife?" she beggings to ask a lot of questions at the same time and I simply get lost in all of them. "No! Why such questions? I'm obviously from this clan, more to this both clans have a separate mating festival and everyone knows this!" I boldly retort as proof that I'm one of them which is the truth. "Not this year! This year is special, both clans are having their mating festival together, here and now. I heard it's because very soon both clans will be united by marriage. So..." David explains. "I have never seen you though! And your face isn't familiar. If you are one of us, tell me exactly where you're from?" she keeps insisting. "Or perhaps you are a vagabond? Oh!" she gets terrified by her own words. I stand speechless. I can't tell her who I am and I don't know the name of any place in this kingdom. "Give her some space!" Cries he. Matilda immediately seizes my left arm hand "I told you, Dav!. She's a Pariah, she has no mark on her arm" she turned to David with a smile of victory. "How did you manage to have such expensive royal dresses and jewellery? You must have stolen them from the Palace!" she affirms with so much certainty that I begin to fear that she might report me. "Dav, we have to report her" she tightly clenches my arm so that I don't run away. "No! Just let her be!" he gently yells at her as he tries to untie her hand from my arm. I fight in silence I don't want to call for attention. The melody suddenly stops in the auditorium and everyone angrily turns to the stage. We, too turn in shock, not like I want the music back but it's a good way to run away from Matilda's interrogations and false accusations. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ People murmuring, angrily ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "This year is special; first, we have both clans gathered here today, something which has never happened and has always been considered a taboo. It's unbelievable!" the emcee screams from the stage where she is standing. "All this is a facade! It would have been better if it remained like in the past. This is ridiculous!" Some people in the crowd scream, clearly exhibiting their opposition. "As a special year, we have a special guess. A guess not like others!" The emcee proclaims m. "Who is he/she!" the crowd eagerly shouts some murmuring amongst themselves. "Let's all cheer to welcome Sir, Prince and son to be King... Adams Telor!" Screams the emcee the lady on the and she claps her hand. Some people in the crowd curse him while some cheer him up as he climbs the stage. All the ladies in the hall blush when they see him except Matilda, and I. "He surely here to control me" this pops into my mind. I frown just at the mention of his name. "Adams Telor!" David whispers with a cold chill going down his spine as he sees Adams. This calls for our attention, especially mine. "What do you know about him!" I twirl to him. "As we all know, we're here to find our mates, perhaps love... No hesitation to approach who so ever you find fit for you. Don't forget, to have fun as you find your mates!" Emcee yells happily. < The crowd applause. > Then the melody starts playing back. "What do you know about him?"I frown at David. "He's our prince sorry I didn't tell you earlier, I'm from the C clan. What people say about him is that he's desirable, strong and brave. Anyway, this is how they'll look at him but for people who know him, he's just a heartless animal!" He frowns as if Adams had done something bad to him. "Why?" His words intrigue me and I want to know more. "Rumours which go around about him aren't God at all. I didn't believe all those bad rumours until I saw him killing a man with no mercy. Omg, that was so barbaric!" He whispers as he gets terrified by his own words. "OMG, that's so terrible!" I exclaim in shock. "I have never liked him in the first place so I'm not shocked" Matilda carelessly retorts. "Sorry but duty calls me!" Matilda follows a sexy young guy who has been staring at her for a while. "Can you tell me everything you know about Adams?" I insist. "Why the sudden interest in him? Don't tell me that you're crushing on him like every other girl?" he says. "Certainly not but her intrigue me!" I boldly retort. "After the meeting festival then, don't forget that we're here to have fun!" he said with a soft grin on his face. Then our stares get glued to each other. He isn't bad after all; he looks handsome, he sounds kind and brilliant and discussing with him is very easy. "A perfect mate" I whisper deep down while taking my stare off his with a blush. "Can we go somewhere calm?" he nervously asks while shaking his hands on his back head with a sexy grin on his face. "Okay, if you wish!" I carelessly retort though meanwhile, I'm super excited. I didn't expect things to be this easy for me at the mating festival, perhaps I have already found my destined mate. Dad always told me that no one will ever like me. "Our!" I get mad at myself for always thinking about my dad. Unfortunately, I can't take him out of my head, this is a burden I have to carry for the rest of my life and this saddens me. We move out of the hall and pull him to the back of the building, where there is no light and not even the moon was reflecting at the angle. We seat on the stares found there not talking to each other just observing the stars. We're both blushing. Then he suddenly glances at my hand with his and he stares caressing it. I face him with a smile as he caresses my hands. I can't explain why but I seemed to like it "Take my virginity before he does, I don't want to marry him" I beg. "Who?" David wonders aloud. "Just do!" I instruct. "What are talking about and are you serious?" he widened his stare. "Have you ever done it before?" I ask. "Yes, ones!" he gets nervous. "How was it?" I get nervous. "It was pleasant!" he exclaims. "Good! Let's do it!" I order. "Are you sure this is what you want I don't want to take advantage of you. You're very beautiful, you look smart and intelligent and I won't like to take advantage of you" he explains with his trembling but eager voice. "Then let's do it!" I yell. I will have initiated it but the truth is I have no idea about how it's been done. All I know is the name of the act "Virginity". "Okay!" he grabs my lips with his and begins to kiss me.