Keep Your Fangs To Yourself!

@ Sweet.Persephone
If anyone would to walk in at the moment and see who Jax was having a private meeting with. They'd more than likely crap their pants. Donte Morello, a known Mafia leader. James Harper, a known trafficker of many things, and then there was Sparky Lucas, a drug smuggler who's got quite a few law enforcement officers in his pockets. It was quite a group, one that an heir to a country shouldn't have in their presence.

They had barely gotten a game going when there was a knock on the door. Raising his head, Jax was about to get up from his seat. Jax felt like his whole world was about to crash down when Arielle barged in like she owned the damn place. Fuck, the little bitch really had no respect for a Prince. Did she? "Princess," Jax said slowly, quietly. He slowly placed his cards face down and stood up from his chair. His eyes focused on the Princess that was in the doorway. A calm unreadable expression on his face as he walked towards the girl. His movements calm and slow, eyes focused on how she seemed so damn nervous at spotting his company.

"Don't you know better than to barge into a Prince's room without an invitation?" Jax asked, reaching out with his right hand. He lightly placed it on her shoulder and then gently squeezed it as he pushed her back towards the opened doorway. His eyes slowly glanced down towards the magazine. "Give me." He said as he held out his free hand for the magazine once he had pushed her to the other side of the door. "There better be something important in there if you find yourself more important than my privacy." He slightly repeated himself. Then shoved the Princess lightly to get her farther from the door so that when he slammed it shut, she wouldn't get hit by the door. Later, he'll have to remind her that he may be a nice guy, but he wasn't a normal guy. He was a freaking Crown Prince and he was not to be trifled with.

@ FallenHope95

Arielle's eyes only shifted from the strange company to Jax when he was standing right in front of her. What she was seeing was suddenly hard for her to process. Why were these men here? Why would Jax want to spend any time with low lives like them? The prince was so warm, so kind. He was... well he was so easily loved by so many and these people certainly were the opposite of that. But even so, her eyes shifted to the prince once he was on top of her.

As he laid his hand down onto her shoulder, although it was light, the young woman immediately tensed up. She was uncomfortable and this situation certainly wasn't sitting right with her. And when Jax asked her why she would just barge in, Arielle was at a loss for words. And she had little time to find them as the man was suddenly pushing her backwards, out of the room. When he demanded the magazine, Arielle hesitated before setting it down in his hands. Although the prince didn't show it much, she could tell he was upset. And that was proven true as he shoved her again and slammed the door shut.

Once the door was slammed in her face, Arielle hurried down the hall. Her heart was beating hard now. There surely could not be a good reason Donte, James and Sparky into the castle. No, Arielle knew there was no good reason for it. But it didn't align with what she knew about Jax. He had been so... well as close to perfect as one could hope for up until this point.

When Arielle arrived in her room, she locked the door and took a few minutes to catch her breath. Though in that time, she was grabbing her phone and the number she had hidden away. It took her a few moments to gather her courage but soon, the princess was calling Gio.

@ Sweet.Persephone
The feeling of Arielle's erratic heartbeat's been driving Giovanni insane. For the past few weeks, he's had to endure watching on tv as she falls for Jax's fake self. His pretend to smile and pretend acts of kindness. No one but Gio seemed to notice that everything was set up? Staged to make him look good! It was driving Gio insane and it really irked him that no one would listen to him. He was certain that Arielle would have noticed, but she looked just as smitten with Jax as the world.

Walking into the small apartment after his morning run, Gio's erratic heart almost leaped out of his dead chest at the sight of Arielle's number. He'd not dared to contact her, for fear of what could be done if anyone found out that they had contact. So, seeing her number now meant that something had to be wrong. As there was no way that she cared about him, right?

"Ari, are you alright?" Giovanni asked as soon as he grabbed the phone to answer the call. He didn't care to give formal greetings now. He could sense her fear, her anxiety. It wasn't as rough as when she woke up and remembered being bit, but he could still sense her being shaken. "You're not in danger, are you?" Gio asked, worry filling his voice as he asked starting to feel his own heart beating at a thousand beats per second as well in fear and anxiety as well.

---

Once the door had slammed shut, Jax turned back towards his friends and moved back towards his seat. A small sigh escaping from the young Prince as he leaned back in his seat and threw the magazine into the trash. He didn't give a fuck what the press thought, they were just pawns in his little game, and Arielle, she needed to be taught a lesson. Unfortunately. It's a little soon for Jax's liking, but it's best to keep the pawns on the board before slowly knocking them off one by one.

@ FallenHope95

Arielle was a little surprised when Giovanni immediately asked if she was okay. He didn't even take a moment to say hi or ask why she was calling. Though, of course it made sense. Gio could sense what she was feeling. He knew something was wrong. The young woman ran a hand over her face, feeling a bit stressed out. The vampire world was just... it was a lot. "I'm okay." Arielle said softly into the phone, doing her best to calm herself down.

The woman glanced around the room for a moment before heading over to her closet, walking inside and closing the door. It seemed weird to take a phone in the closet but there was a reason she hadn't contacted Giovanni. Doing so was dangerous for both of them considering the current state of the vampiric country... Though she still had taken the steps in getting Giovanni's new number. It took a few days for her side to get it but they managed it.

"I just... Gio, I just saw something and I- I'm just freaked out." She took in a deep breath. "I don't think so... I don't think I'm in danger- I don't know." Arielle could feel herself getting more stressed at the thought. Was she in danger? Jax hadn't done anything to her besides shoved her out of a room. But that didn't change who he had in that room. It didn't make sense. None of it made sense with the person she thought he was.

"Giovanni," Arielle said his name gently. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't call you before this. I was able to get your new number but I was just afraid of what would happen if they found out I contacted you." Her voice dropped quieter. "They told me not even to talk about you. It's like their trying to erase that you were ever the heir."

@ Sweet.Persephone
A small relieved sigh escaped from Gio as he listened to Arielle. He raised a hand and ran it over his face. His head shaking back and forth for a moment before he headed towards the little couch that he'd become accustomed to over the past few weeks. "Good, glad you're okay." He murmured ever so quietly as he sat down and sank into the soft material. His mind going back and forth over things as he listened to Arielle's soft voice. His lip twitching up at the corner on the right side ever so slightly. Arielle was stubborn but foolish. She had a lot to learn in this world.

Then, a small chuckle escaped past Gio's lips as he leaned back on the couch. His gaze moving up to the cieling as he spoke to Arielle. "Yeah, that sounds like my father's doing right there." Gio mused quietly, his dark eyes just focusing on the cieling. "Don't talk about a problem and home that the press brushes it under the rug." Gio's voice was soft as he spoke. His own heart aching as he spoke, realizing how cold that sounded. His father was a good man, but, he often put his country over his family. Which was why he was so easily swayed to ignore Jax for most of his life. A bastard had no place in a castle of the King, nor did he have a place in the succession.

"Anyways, what did you see Ari?" Gio asked quietly. "I should only be on the phone with you for a few more minutes, in case someone catches you on the phone with an unknown number." A small frown appeared upon Gio's lips as he said that, worried that it might freak her out more than she already was. "What caused you to feel the need to reach out? Not that I'm not happy about that, but. You just feel panicked."

----

After wrapping things up with his guests, Jax dismissed his friends and showed them out. Making sure that no one else saw his company. Arielle was enough, and if she told anyone, he would have to make her seem like a crazed fool. And who knows what the public will think about that. The prized Crown Prince engaged to a crazed woman? Terrible. So, once he could Jax headed towards Arielle's wing. Her scent becoming more potent as he walked.

Eventually, Jax arrived at Arielle's bedroom and feel like he owed her the same courtesy, he just walked in. An she was nowhere to be seen, yet he could hear her. A small smirk playing along Jax's lips as he listened to her voice, she was trying to hide from him Amusing. Deciding that waiting her out would be best, Jax moved towards her bed and laid down on it. Propping himself up with her pillows. His arms behind his head as he stared in the direction her voice was coming from.

@ FallenHope95

It brought some calmness into her as she listened to Gio's voice. He was the same as always, even in a situation like this. A man who was easily amused in life. Even when it wasn't good for either of them. It was either that or the seriousness that seemed to overcome him at times. Gio so easily switched between the two. So she started to feel like she could breathe easy again. Even when he talked about how his father handled problems... It was sad but at the same time, almost reassuring to know that this was the norm for the man. That nothing out of the ordinary was occurring, at least. "I'm sorry, that must be really difficult." Arielle whispered into the phone. "Its so...unfair."

As she was about to tell the man what she had saw, her voice was suddenly catch in her throat. She heard someone lay down against her bed. It was the only time that the Princess wished she had a closet with shutters to see who had entered her room. Though, no matter who it was, it couldn't be good. There was no one in the castle that Arielle wanted to know she had a phone call with Giovanni. There was little the King would do to her because of it but it would clearly defy what he wanted. "Don't call me again," Arielle hissed into the phone, on the off chance that the person was listening in. With that, Arielle hung up, deleted the number from her call history, and completely shut off her phone. She'll have to connect with him later... and hopefully Giovanni would understand since she was the one who had called him.

Arielle hid her phone in the walk in closet before turning to the door. She took in a deep breath before opening the door and stepping out. It was her room and whoever was in there was probably waiting for her. There was no waiting this one out, especially if they heard her on the phone. Though it was extremely bold of someone to come into her closed bedroom and get onto her bed.

As her eyes stopped on Jax, she swore she could feel her heart stop beating for a moment. He was definitely the last person she wanted to see after seeing who he was with. And, more so, it worried her that he walked in here and laid on her bed. Usually, she wouldn't think him so rude. Arielle's grip tightened on the doorknob for a moment before closing the door to her closet, trying to give herself a moment to think of what to say. She had a feeling he was going to lecture her about what had happened.

"I'm sorry about disturbing your game." Arielle said, her voice quiet. She wasn't all that sorry as it revealed something worrying but... well Arielle hoped if she just apologized, the man would leave with little hassle. "One of the servants had told me you were alone and... I am afraid my excitement about the news got ahold of me. I promise it won't happen again."

@ Sweet.Persephone
A small jumble of thoughts ran through Jax's thoughts as he could hear bits and pieces of Arielle's conversation through her closet. His enhanced hearing allowed him to pick up on her being anxious and nervous, but her closed closet door muffled the ability to figure out what she was talking about. His lips pursed at the realization. All he got from eavesdropping on Arielle's conversation was that she was talking to someone she wasn't supposed to. Someone who she felt she could trust if she was so freaked out by being a bad girl.

"Are you really sorry?" Jax asked, his voice calm as he sat up and slowly tilted his head to the side. "Because judging by your tone, you're really not." His lips purse into a tight thin line. "You'd think that a girl who's so well put together would know how to hold in her excitement and remember common courtesy. Especially one who's of Royal blood." Jax slid his legs off the bed and stood up. Brushing his shirt down to get rid of any invisible lines or dirt before he headed towards the young Princess. Stopping a step away from her, his light-colored eyes looked down at her.

Reaching out his right hand, Jax slowly ran his fingers through Arielle's hair and slowly pulled it towards him. Then watched as the strands slipped through his open fingers and fell along her shoulder. "I want you to apologize and mean it," Jax said as he raised his gaze and looked Arielle into her eyes. "Properly." He instructed as he crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze turning hard. "On your knees, and address me properly as well. Now." Jax said as he waited for her to listen to talk back to him. Either way, he wasn't going to be done with her.

@ FallenHope95

The princess' eyes lifted up, surprised that he would call her out for not really being apologetic for the situation that had occurred. Though it was hard to be when the prince clearly had been up to no good. She would think it was bold of him to push her when clearly he was doing worse than her but... Well Arielle was all too aware of where she was living. It was not her country. Not where she had more leverage.

"I am apologetic that I lost my manners, Jax. Though I am more concerned than sorry and I am sure that is coming through in my tone. I had thought you were alone and simply wanted to show you something. Not burst into a meeting that you were having with well known criminals. I think you should be more worried about that than me right now." Arielle folded her arms, beginning to get annoyed with the man in front of her. "And you speak of my lack of common courtesy that occurred for a mere moment. Which I did with no ill intention. Into a random game room. You came into my bedroom without invitation with bad intentions. You are more in the wrong here than I."

The woman immediately tensed up as Jax started to demand that she get onto her knees and apologize. Anger was quickly filling her up but as much as she wanted to smack him, she knew that was a horrid idea. "I will not." Arielle turned away from him. "I am not some commoner or noble that you can push around. If you do not accept my apology, then fine, do not accept it." Arielle headed over to the door to open it up for Jax to leave. "I shouldn't have walked in but you can not treat me this way. Now please leave."

@ Sweet.Persephone
It was hard to keep the dark amusement out of Jax's gaze as he listened to Arielle. She was such a stubborn fool. So headstrong and a lack of fear. She was going to get herself in the worst danger one day, possibly even killed if she kept that attitude up. "Who said I was done talking with you, Princess?" Jax simply asked as he smoothly followed her towards the door and easily reached out quickly to grab the hand that was on the door and pull it towards him as his other hand reached around her to slam the door closed.

Using his strength and speed, Jax pulled Arielle to face him as he pushed her back against the door. "As a Prince, I rank in the royalty hierarchy is already higher than you, especially as you're just a visitor from another country." Leaning down slightly, Jax ran his nose along Arielle's neck, opposite of where Gio had bitten her, marked her. "I do not appreciate that tone of yours, nor do I appreciate the attitude, Princess," Jax murmured against her warm skin. His fangs extending a bit as he felt the urge to bite Arielle.

"Who I have as a company is of no consequence of yours, as long as they help me reach a goal, I will play with whoever I choose. I will speak with whoever I choose and you will keep that pretty little nose of yours clean." Jax ran his tongue lightly over her pulse point in her neck. Then grinned as he felt it quicken. "You are the one in the wrong, so stop pushing your shitty manners onto others."

With that, Jax didn't wait for anything nor say anything as he sank his teeth into Arielle's neck. Sucking lightly as the blood started to flow from the puncture wounds. His hands held her wrists in place as he fed. A small groan escaping from Jax as he drank from Arielle. Savoring the warm life-giving essence from her veins. Only once he was done and fill, only a couple of minutes later, Jax pulled away and licked the wound to speed up the healing. Then, he pushed her aside lightly like he had done earlier and stepped towards the door. "Don't poke me again, Arielle." He murmured as he walked out of the room.

@ FallenHope95

"I said you were." Arielle responded back, her tone growing harsh now. Now at the door, Arielle grabbed onto the handle to open it up for the man. Though she was only able to get halfway before Jax suddenly grabbed her and slammed the door closed behind her. A loud gasp left the princess as he flipped her around and shoved her back into it. The woman's eyes went extremely wide as she looked up at him. Her heart was beating hard in her chest. "Jax, stop!" Arielle commanded, trying to put some authority in her words. Though the fear was easily creeping into them. Especially as his nose started to run along her neck.

"You rank the same as I. You being a man means nothing. And I am a visitor of a country that you need. An ally of yours. Do not think for a moment that pushing me around will not have consequences." Arielle put her free hand against the man's chest, trying her best to push him away from him. Though the vampire was like stone. Steady and unmoving from his position. "Jax, get away from me." She hissed, pushing on him harder as he ran his tongue along her neck. Her heart quickened and the fear was really setting in. Her voice was beginning to shake. "Jax, I'm serious. Get off of me. It was only advice. And if you are worried that I am going to tell someone about your company, then don't. I'm not here to tell others your busi-"

Arielle's words dropped as Jax suddenly sank his teeth into her neck. The unadulterated fear overcame her as he started to drink from her. The tears were running down her face in an instant and Arielle immediately started to fight against him hard. Her hands trying to pull away from his. The way her body thrusted this way and that to get out from under him, to get Jax to stop drinking from her. And she tried her best to scream but her sobs and her heart made it much too difficult for the princess to get much air. Anything that came out of her was weak.

It felt like forever before Jax pushed her to the side. Though instead of catching herself, Arielle allowed herself to fall to the ground, just wanting to be away from the monster. He walked out of the door like nothing had happened and left her on the floor. Arielle started to pull on the fresh bite, hating the feeling of helplessness it brought with it. Hating the sensation of being bitten. Though she didn't try to tear her neck out like last time, still able to vaguely remember what happened last time. She didn't want to go back to that hospital again. Didn't want to be tied down. If she was there... If she was there she was completely helpless between the restraints and the drugs. But that was all Arielle was able to stop herself from doing as she sobbed on the floor, cursing the prince's name. Why were these vampires so horrid.

@ Sweet.Persephone
Fear was the ultimate way to teach someone to behave. Rather they were trying to blackmail, give advice, or just someone you needed under your foot. Add a little bit of fear and they were close to becoming a puppet. Sure, there were chances of drawbacks, but if you show them that which had caused their fear once more. PTSD shows up and they will resort to how you want them to be. Like good little puppets, ready to listen to their masters and do as they are told. One wrong move and the masters were more than ready to snap their strings and move along.

After visiting Arielle, Jax moved towards his wing. He needed to clean up before he went to meet with his father. He needed to plant the seed into his mind that the Princess wasn't quite fit to be a Queen. That her priorities and sense of self wasn't quite right, that her mind wasn't fully there anymore. They were monsters after all and being surrounded by them for so long could ruin one's mind. Especially when once grew up in a sheltered world like Arielle's where weak humans didn't need to fear the things that could kill them in a matter of seconds.

Showered, shaved, and changed, Jax made sure that he looked presentable before he headed to see his father. His back held straight as he walked, holding that air of confidence he was told he needed to have now that he was the heir to the Kingdom. That he needed to start to show people that he knew his place in this world. That he was a ruler who was ready to take charge at any moment.

@ FallenHope95

It was the middle of the night when Arielle finally managed to get herself off of the floor. Her hands and body were still shaking, her mind still torn to shreds. Though it was time to get up and do something. The princess moved to the door locking it and barricading it, in an attempt to feel safer. She didn't want Jax coming back. Didn't want his-his- him back on her. She reached up and rubbed her sad face. The tears had stopped awhile ago as she had nothing else to give. Though her eyes were red and puffy... Her face felt dried and gross from all of it as well.

Though she slowly shifted her way to the closet, getting her phone back from her hiding place. As she turned it on, Arielle slid down the wall until she was sitting back down on the floor. She felt as though she didn't have the energy to do much. She was torn apart and this had to be the end of it. Surely this was enough for her parents to think it's time to bring her home, to end this nonsense of trying to marry her to some vampire. She called them as she curled up, waiting for the palace to answer the call. And, once they did, Arielle demanded that her parents wake to speak to her.

While it did take some time for the staff to wake the two up and get them to the phone, Arielle was willing to wait. This couldn't be done in the morning, it had to be cared for now. And once they both answered, Arielle started to sob once again as she told them what had happened... but they didn't believe her. And when she spoke of the bite, they just insisted that was what vampires did with their mates, that she was blowing this out of proportion. That she was lying to get out of the marriage and that this wasn't the first time that it had happened. Before they could finish the rest that they were going to say, Arielle hung up the phone. Her head pressed down against her knees, feeling her heart getting ripped apart at the news. How much worse could life get here before they realized? What more could Jax do to her... clearly he was not the man she thought he was.

It took some time but eventually Arielle lifted her head back up and used her shaky hands to call Giovanni. Who knew if he was up but at least he would believe her.

@ Sweet.Persephone
Something was going on with Arielle, Giovanni could just feel it. Figuratively and literally, the bond that they shared was bothering him. The teather that kept them together was wound so damn tightly that he couldn't sleep. Often times couldn't eat because he was to fucking nervous or anxious for her. Something was almost always bothering her and when something wasn't, it was Gio's turn to feel sick and anxious. He didn't want her to be around anyone but him. She shouldn't get close to others, she was in constant danger there. She was just a human in a palace full of freaking vampires for crying out loud!

Stepping out of the shower, a towel wrapped around his waist. Gio dried his hair with an extra towel. His eyes looking around for his phone as he heard its vibration. Walking towards it with his feet bare, it felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. Arielle. They had just talked a couple of hours ago, and although Gio couldn't really tell the differences in the bonds teather, he knew something else must have happaned. Why else would she call him twice in one day? Hell, they didn't talk this much when he lived in the palace and they were going to be married in a couple of short weeks.

So, rushing over towards the phone, Giovanni answered it on the last ring. Hoping to god that Arielle was still there when he answered. "Are you alright?" He answered, once again ignoring pleasantries. Wanting to get straight to the point and find out what was wrong with Arielle.

@ FallenHope95

The human's heart continued to sink down with every ring. It was late, she knew that. But that didn't change the fact that she desperately wanted Giovanni to answer. She was clutching onto her chest, just waiting to hearing the ringing stop and once it did, she let out a small sigh of relief. But in that next moment, at hearing his question, the young woman started to sob. She had thought she had no more tears left but it seemed that was not the case. "N-No." Arielle managed to sputter out as she tighten her legs against her body.

"Jax bit me." Arielle blurted out, unable to wait for Giovanni to ask what was happening. "I-I think he was- he was." Arielle took in a deep breath, but her voice was still shaking as she spoke. "punishing me. I wasn't thinking - I shouldn't have." She reached up with her free hand, pressing her fingers against the fresh bite before she started to cry harder. "I just wanted to show him something. S-So I walked into a room i-in his hall without kno-cking and I saw him playing poker with Donte Morelle, James Harper and Sparky Lucas." She let out a sniffle. "Jax pushed me out and came to m-yyyy room. He just-just walked in. Told me off. T-Told me to get on my knees and beg- and beg for forgiveness. When I refused he just-" Arielle found it impossible to get the words out of her mouth again.

She slowly slid all the way down until she was laying on the floor again. Her fingers pressing against the area around the bite, the urge to rip it out filling her again. And Arielle did pull at it but she tried her best to keep the grip soft so her neck would just slid out. "I d-don't want to do this again. Gio, I d-d-d oon't want-" She took a deep breath as she gasped for air, unable to complete her sentence.

@ Sweet.Persephone
As Arielle spoke, Giovanni could feel himself breaking. Slowly, his legs gave out and the young Prince slowly fell down to his knees. His hand that wasn't holding onto the phone moving to rest on the ground as he held himself upon his knees. His dark eyes staring down at the wooden floor. His whole world slowing down as he listened to Arielle. Each work feeling like a piece of glass as it slowly dug deeper and deeper into his skin. Jax, punishing, poker, bit. So many keywords that Arielle spoke, so many reasons that he couldn't explain in one go, but. He had to, needed to. Simplify, he needed to simplify things. Somehow, someway. He needed to protect his mate. He needed to protect Arielle.

"Ari," Giovanni said quietly, wanting to gain her attention. He could hear how broken she was, could feel it. He hated it. "Listen to me, Ari," Gio said quietly once more. "You did nothing wrong, okay? Jax isn't stable. He's never really been stable." Gio closed his mouth and gulped, suddenly feeling quite parched. "He, he is smart and cunning. Able to trick anyone and everyone, and I'm sorry to say that he might come after you again." Gio slowly licked over his lips. "You have to learn to play his game, Ari. Play the play, not the game."

Closing his eyes, Giovanni slowly moved so that he was sitting on his knees. "You need to use that info you found on the drugs, and pin it on him. You need to get rid of Jax are. It's the only way, I'm sorry I'm not there to help. I really am, but you need to be strong. I believe in you." Gio gulped once more. "He's insane, Ari. Be careful around him. He'll be nice and then switch, he's not stable. Please, don't aggravate him more than you have. I don't want to think of what he could do to you."

@ FallenHope95

Arielle started shaking her head quickly at Giovanni's words despite the fact that he couldn't see him. But it was too hard for her to get the air she needed to speak. Things were shattering around her too quickly at this pace. Jax turning out to be a monster, her parents not believing her and now with Giovanni. She didn't want to do what he was asking of her. It was such a risk and Arielle wanted to leave, not stay and play these horrible games.

"Gio..." Arielle managed to whisper out to him. "No. H-He just did this because of a small, simple mis-take." Her voice broke for a moment and Arielle swallowed hard before continuing on. "If he finds out- If I do anything more - Jax is going to do it again. Come and take what he wants... I-I think he would kill me if I plotted against him like that."

Slowly, Arielle turned slightly so she could press her aching head against the floor. She managed to slowly move her hand away from her neck to instead lightly rub against her chest in an attempt to calm herself down. At least enough to speak. "I want to leave. I-I want to see you. You're the only one I ever trusted here, please, Gio. Or please come back. I-I want you back here."

Her fingers tightened around the phone. "I-I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have been so mad at you. I-It wasn't your fault. You didn't- You didn't- I know someone drugged you. Y-You didn't mean to hurt me. I'm sorry, Giovanni. Please just come back."

@ Sweet.Persephone
Damn, listening to Arielle was bringing tears to his own eyes but he was refusing to release them. Crying wasn't going to get Giovanni anywhere. He needed to plan a way to get back into his parent's good graces. He needed to find a way to come back, back to the palace, back to the crown, back to Arielle. "Ari," Giovanni spoke quietly, his voice cracking ever so slightly. He could feel her helplessness, and she could probably feel the pain he was in as well. "Ari, please. Listen to me." Giovanni closed his mouth and gulped. He didn't like talking to her like this. He hated every minute of it.

"You need to get my father on your side." Gio raised his head and looked around. Almost like he was paranoid, acting like someone could hear him. Which could very well be true, but he hadn't found any cameras or listening devices in his apartment yet. "You need to get him to like you, you need to then plant the evidence of what actually happaned. I can't step foot in that place without possibly getting arrested or thrown back out on my ass. You know this." Gio gulped once more. "I miss you too, babe, but we both can't do anything stupid. I can't come to you, and you can't come to me. We need to plan this out. We need to work on trying to get over Jax. To bring him down."

Slowly, Giovanni stood up from the floor. He didn't care that the towel that was around his waist slipped off. This was his apartment, he could walk around naked if he wanted to. "My father enjoys his afternoon's in the garden instead of in his office. You'll be able to find him in the west garden. Under the gazebo with his laptop in front of him or if you're early and near lunch, he'll be served there." Gio went to his room to get dressed. He opened a drawer with one hand and grabbed a pair of sweat pants to pull on. "He doesn't like talking about business with women, don't talk that. Instead, talk about something you're interested in. Art, music, royal life once you're married. I don't know, talk about parenting or something. Get him to talk, ask him if you can join him for lunch or whatever tomorrow, and the next day do it all again. Make friends, Ari. It's the only way. Then, you can slip him that info on the drug scandal."

@ FallenHope95

There was a long silence that came from Arielle's end past Giovanni speaking. She was trying to allow the man's words to sink in past her own fears and emotions. And, truth be told, the young woman was having a very difficult time with it. She was horrified about what had happened and there was a large tightness in her chest as the possibility of it happening again was in her mind. Arielle wanted to leave. Wanted to get far away from Jax, from this goddamn country. There were snakes in the grass everywhere. And it seemed that even Giovanni was finally seeing how dangerous it was for her here.

But where could she go? Her parents weren't allowing her to come back. For some reason, they were taking the vampire's side in all of this. It was clear they just didn't understand but it tore at her that they wouldn't listen to her. Gio also wasn't willing to take her. At least she could feel what he was feeling. That he was torn up as well... And as much as she hated to admit it, Arielle wasn't in a position to force his hand or just run away with no where to go. With both countries much too interested in her, they would find her quickly.

Arielle reached up and started to rub the tears from her eyes. She could at least try, for the both of them. It was the better option, as much as she hated it. Though if things got worse then Arielle might just need to attempt to run away, even with no where to go. Hell, Arielle might change her mind tomorrow and do that anyways.... "I'll try your plan." Arielle said weakly. "But I... I can't do this forever, Gio."

@ Sweet.Persephone
A deep defeated sounding sigh escaped from Giovanni as he spoke to Arielle. He hated how defeated she sounded, felt. Reaching a hand up, Gio placed it gently against his chest. Right on top of his heart as he waited for the right words to come to him. So that he could help Arielle. So that he could try and figure out a way out of this shit, but nothing came. He was completely blank in his mind. "I'm sorry, Ari," Gio said quietly, raising his hand from his heart and then ran it through his hair. "Just a little bit longer, alright? So, so just hold on."

----

While the king was not much of a human food kind of guy, he did quite enjoy tea and desserts. The delicate little creatures sure did have the ability to make something that was usually quite bland super interesting to eat. Like, who would have thought that soft little sponge squares could taste so good with white frosting on it that's also sweet with the hint of vanilla in the sponge thing. Er, a cake that the human servants prepared. An don't get the King to start talking about the rosehip tea. It was quite delightful. In his hundreds of years on the earth, the king was only recently enjoying Tea as he found sugar so delicious.

It's not like sugar was a new thing in the country or to the people. The King was an old fashion person, sticking with just blood and mean when he was feeling hungry. His kind never really indulged in things that did nothing for them except appease the feeling of moving his mouth unnessacarilly. It was quite annoying to him, but as the King said, he was now starting to enjoy the sweet tastes of things.

Raising the teacup to his lips, the King took a couple of small sips before placing the cup back onto the saucer. His back straightened as he raised his gaze and looked around the garden he was relaxing in. It had rained earlier, but the staff had done a good job at making sure that things were dry for the King for his daily break outside. Putting up a light tarp around the cieling as well in case it decided to get a little windy to keep the King dry.

Then, hearing a sound to his right, the Vampire King turned his head and watched as the human Princess made her way towards him.

@ FallenHope95

It had been a difficult night for the princess and a hard morning. Though when afternoon started to come around, the young woman managed to get herself off the floor. As much as she just wanted to hide in her room for the next week, she couldn't. Gio was right, as much as she hated to think it. But Arielle had to make an effort to get Jax out of the castle as there was no good way to get out of the country. If she was going to be stuck there, then Arielle wanted to, in the least, feel like she could breath easy.

So, Arielle made her way to the bathroom and showered. She then did her best to make herself up. Makeup, curled hair, a nice outfit. Anything she could do to make it seem like she wasn't falling apart on the inside. As well as hide the puffiness on her face from the crying. Before she left the room, she tied the ribbon around her neck that she had been using to hide Giovanni's bit marks. Though now she had the bow at the back of her neck instead of at the side, wanting to hide both bites she had now.

Arielle made her way towards the garden and started to walk through it. Her eyes shifted around, taking in the flowers as she tried to relax and untense. But she couldn't relax, knowing that Jax was around somewhere. But as she noticed the King, Arielle was able to calm down in the slightest. Surely Jax wouldn't do anything around his father. The vampiric King did still had an agreement with her parents. He knew the whole truth. He knew what would happen to his people if something went horribly wrong.

"Good Afternoon, your majesty." Arielle curtsied to the King. "May I join you for lunch, today?" She asked him as she stood back up straight, folding her hands together. "I thought it would be nice to get to know my future father in law." She added, wanting to ensure the man knew she wasn't there to talk business.