Time felt as if it stopped.

The sound of scurrying feet indicated that Gianne heard it too. Thael’s eyes were glued to the table as Ivelis gripped the edge tightly, her eyes clouded with fury.

“What?” she slowly said.

“I sai-”

“I know what you said, you idiot! Hell, are you deaf? Was I not clear enough? I hate humans! Vile, cruel and selfish being humans are. Your kind has caused me nothing but trouble. It is an act of mercy to not slaughter you right on the spot. An act you don't deserve,” she spat.

Every word dripped with venomous hate. Fiery anger boiled beneath her skin as any remaining sanity clung to the edge of her mind. To her, there was no point in holding back her anger anymore when he had crossed the line.

“Staying here is out of bounds for creatures like you. And asking me is just a bigger insult, the last one you will make.”

Now, time was suddenly moving fast. Too fast for a human like him but never for her.

Thael didn’t know where to look first, at the pool of water surrounding her figure or the hand that shot out to his neck. The crystal liquid might have been beautiful if it weren’t for the current situation. Shock registered just a second after but that second had cost him a chance to block her hand. The corners of her mouth went up with predatory satisfaction, her prey was now caught. Indeed, she was too fast for him.

Her nails dug into his neck and she didn't notice that heat from her anger started to literally boil the water. It now gurgled with bubbles nonstop while his hands wrapped around her wrist, trying desperately to pry it off. Steam licked his cheeks as if tasting him to see if he was worth it.

"You're quick, I thought you said no sex?" he joked.

Even as death neared, he still had the guts to tease her? Oh, his death would be pleasurable.

The nerve of him-

She growled as she added force into her grip.

She didn’t realise her cousin had entered again by the time he was near to passing out, she was interrupted by Gianne clearing her throat. The noise seemed to pull her back as she asked,”What?”

The petite figure stood next to her with confidence, not an ounce of fear could be found in the icy green eyes as she merely said,”He’s innocent, Ivelis. I thought we talked about this.”

The smooth voice had her loosening her grip, due to the tone and insinuation She sighed, releasing her hold then backed away from the man. Gianne was right.

Thael gulped down air hungrily as he stared wide-eyed at the both of them. Relief washed over him for the interference. Ivelis however, wasn't pleased at all. She and her cousin were having a silent conversation and judging from the frown on the other one, they were having a disagreement.

You shouldn't have done that.

He asked to stay, how stupid does someone have to be to ask me that?

Stupid or not, he didn't cause you any harm.

My pride-

Physically. You made a vow, remember?

Noticing that he couldn't understand, Gianne finally used her voice. Ivelis scoffed.

"You're usually calmer, Ivelis. What happened?"

Concern was evident on the woman's face when she spoke but Ivelis wasn't paying attention. Her gaze was fixed at Thael, burning through his head. The man to his credit, stared right back even as his neck bled a little.

Ivelis wanted to rip him.

But she didn't.

Gianne grinned, satisfied when she offered to heal him and apologised. Ivelis walked over to the man and placed her hands around his neck once more, not to strangle but to patch up the marks her nails had left. Her cousin was still watching her so Ivelis had to hold back a smirk when he flinched at her touch.

Never in any realms of hell had this ever crossed her mind.

She was disgusted to say the least but her conscience seemed to agree with her cousin. Some time ago, Ivelis made a vow and Gianne had always pushed her ass to uphold it. This time was no different.

She clenched her jaw, then unclenched it again and focused on Thael.

As she was healing the scars, she couldn't help but play Gianne's words in her head over and over again. There was some truth to her words for Ivelis wasn't usually this impatient with anyone, human or not. She had been in worse situations and never once did she show any outburst emotions as she had just now.

Thael suddenly hissed in pain.

"Sorry, forgot to warn you that magic healing might sting a little for human-blooded creatures if it's not from a healer," stated Gianne. He nodded his understanding.

Ivelis rolled her eyes but continued the process.

When the silence grew heavy, he decided to break it.

"What are you, exactly?" he asked. Thael's face was filled with wonder.

A retort was at the tip of her tongue but Gianne chided her. She grumbled a complaint but gave an answer anyway.

"A Nylis. And since I'm a female, Nyliad would be more specific. Our kind just like any other magical being was granted a special gift. Ours is art,' she flawlessly delivered.

He quirked his mouth in response, tucking away the information and asked Ivelis to continue.

When the last cut was finally healed, she leaned against a table. "Each Nylis has their own tribe either by choice or by birth. The tribe we represent is called Sicilia named after the goddess who birthed the High Seater of Creations, which was ironically named Artistin. You can say the Sicilia tribe are the elites of our kind," she stated proudly.

He raised an eyebrow. "I see. A High Seater is the one who controls this world, right? I've heard of several ones, their power and authority are equivalent to the gods and goddesses themselves."

"You know something after all."

He shrugged.

She nodded and Gianne decided to add for her. "Artistin sacrificed himself a long time ago to bring his creations to life and ensure that we remained. Hence, the extraordinary gift. Our kind is known for the art we produce. It ranges from a simple painting to crafting magnificent things. I don't suppose you've heard of the Art Queen? Or perhaps Artistin's Heir?"

Ivelis held back a laugh.

"No, I've never even heard of a Nylis actually."

She hummed her response. No wonder the man didn't know anything. It slipped past the both of them that although the man claimed to have never heard of their kind, his pronunciation of the word was oddly perfect.

"So you haven't heard of my kind. Interesting."

She looked at her cousin and found a confused face staring right back.

"What's an Art Queen?"

They fixed a suspicious gaze at him, unsure whether he genuinely had no clue about it or was it just a lie. Gianne decided it was the former.

"The Art Queen,"she said, emphasising her words. "Is famous for her art across all the lands. No one does it as well as she does. She is known to be the greatest creator of her time and if we were an empire, they'd make her our supreme leader."

Ivelis bit her lip to stop a smile. "Liar," she mumbled to herself.

Gianne heard it and gave a broad smile as she went on,"And there's only one Art Queen. Which is the woman who just tried to kill you."

Thael casted his eyes upon her. She kept a blank face on, anticipating his reaction.

"Ah, I see."

There it was again, the sudden staring contest. One with the shade of solid black and the other with red wine, both encircled by spectacular colours.

This time, he broke off the stare earlier. "I thought you said your kind has the gift of art. Yet, you summoned water just now."

"It's different," she replied drily.

"But, why did you strangle me if you could've just boiled me to death?" he asked.

She opened her mouth.

"I would make a great soup," he added.

She closed it, deciding to not answer him.

Her cousin reacted differently instead. Gianne chuckled as she answered,"She can't boil water. Not with her magic, at least. It's normal for magical beings to have more than one gift. It varies among us based on our element which for her is water. Art is just part of her core that marks her as a Nylis."

"But the water started boi-"

"My element might be water," she cut. "But I can only conjure or control it. My magic can help me to drown you at best, never roast you alive like fire can."

He heard the missing words. Though I wish I could.

"Ivelis knows her magic, uhm- What's your name again?" her cousin asked.

"Thael."

Ivelis surprised both Gianne and herself by answering.

She cleared her throat and crossed her hands, "History aside, whether I want you dead or not, you can't stay."

"Why not?"

She glared at him. The woman beside her raised a brow in warning.

"Because I have to leave and no one will be home. Gianne, please pack my things, we're going somewhere," Ivelis said as she surveyed the edge of the table. There was a dent.

Her words took Gianne by surprise but she obeyed. She left the room almost immediately.

"Where are you going?"

"The Grand Court's Palace. The royal cunts have summoned me."