Dragon's Love with Dangerous Letters

Chapter 28

The ballroom was beautiful lit, chandeliers hung on the ceiling having the light gleam off of their diamonds and tall cakes and other pastries were aligned along the tables and there were many colors that drifted throughout the room thanks to all of the various colors of fabrics each dress was made up of. Artemis's dress was quite different from the others, not as puffy as the other dress which she knew would happen since her ball gown wasn't quite like the traditional one. Her heels clicked against the tan marbled floor as she watched the ballroom dancers switch off partners every now and then. Her eyes caught onto one of the dancers and realized that it seemed to be the same girl who she was chasing in the garden a few days ago but since she was moving around to quickly for the brunette to see her there was no way to see what she fully looked like.

She moved herself a crossed the floor careful not to disturb any of the dancers while the music played in the background. She found herself next to one of the banquet tables and stood there isolated. She wasn't used to social event and to be perfectly honest the ball back at Magnolia was the first one she had ever been to making this one her second one. She remembered the way that one was; she could tell the differences now in the scenery and in the atmosphere. It seemed so much more joyous here and the ballroom back home in the magnolia castle wasn't as huge as this one plus it wasn't as round. She wasn't trying to criticize her kingdom's small palace but the one here in Sabertooth, heck all of them that she's been too lately were a lot more elaborate than the one back home.

She smiled softly watching everything play out. A few people passed her, their eyes looking her over like they didn't know her even if that's actually why they were looking at her. She assumed most of the upper class citizens here must've known each other well at least if she was earning looks like that but she simply ignored it. She was entertained and satisfied watching everyone dance until her eyes caught sight of something that twisted her heart into a frenzy of pain.

Minerva and Sting dancing together.

She felt her nails dig into the cloth that was set over the long tables when she spotted them. He didn't look as joyous as the other guests but she seemed even more thrilled than the others dancing around them. They were like opposites in a way, at least from this angle it seemed that way to Artemis. She turned around to look down at the food on the tables not wanting to look at the engaged couple. She got herself a beverage from whatever they had set out and quickly drank it all down. A sigh escaped her lips once the glass was placed back down onto the table, her free hand running through her hair carefully so she wouldn't mess up what the maids took extra careful to curl and put her diamond hair clip into.

"Again with the banquet tables? You seem to be fond of these at balls."

The brunette froze. She knew that voice anywhere. She quickly spun herself around and her guess was confirmed. Her olive toned eyes widened in delight as she smiled wider than she had in a while upon seeing the pink fluff and onyx eyes, his outfit as dashing as ever with a red jacket that had intricate gold trimming and it suited his element well. A pair of jet black pants to match his jet black footwear was what finished off his outfit. His well known face-splitting smile lit his face showing he was just as happy to her as she was.

"Natsu! You're ok!" She shouted and threw her arms around him hugging him tightly before letting go.

"Of course I am! What'd you do doubt me? I feel insulted." He pouted playfully and crossed his arms.

"N-No I never doubted you Natsu!" She stuttered trying not to laugh too much from his pouting.

Seeing him again really put her into high spirits. There was always something about him that would just make you smile; it always kept you from feeling down. The pinkette smiled once more hearing her answer; a small blush coated his cheeks making him look like a small child even if he was about eighteen, almost the way Artemis would imagine having a little brother.

Brother.

Her smile dropped slightly as the thought repeated through her mind. Realization hit her as she was jerked back into the big whirlpool of feelings that came along with this love triangle, well it wasn't so much a triangle anymore and to her it seemed as if it was finally calming down now that she was noticing the solution to it, the most trivial and idiotic thing that made this whole thing settle down inside of her. She watched him cock his head to the side giving her a look as if to ask what was wrong. She simply took his hand and pulled him away to the edges of the ballroom, in a slightly private area. She could've sworn that she felt someone burning holes into the back of her head and her heart ached when she thought about who could be looking at her in such a way in that exact moment.

'Sting'.

Natsu turned his head in both directions trying to figure out what was going on. The brunette stood there for a moment in silence with him trying to figure out how she could put this together for him easily and without hurting him too much. She knew saying that she wouldn't have to hurt him at all by saying this would be a complete lie.

"Artemis what's the matter? Why'd you drag me over here?" The pyre prince asked placing his hands onto his hips.

Taking a deep breath helped to calm her before she started on the awkward topic. "Natsu . . . about what had happened the day Pyre was attacked . . . in the bedroom. . ."

It was awkward as she tried finding out a way to put it. The pinkette caught on rather quickly though and frowned knowing what she meant. The rejection she gave him. His hands went from his hips to being folded with his arms along his chest. He obviously wasn't ready to talk about it now but he didn't say anything to her about stopping the conversation.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you back then . . . it just didn't feel right to me and . . . I think I'm ready to explain it to you if you're ready to hear the explanation you deserve."

Natsu nodded slowly."It was because you liked Sting right?"

She felt her face heat up. It wasn't that he was wrong, to be honest now that's she had figured everything out he was right. The one she fell for was Sting, that feeling she had gotten when they were back at Cait Shelter, it was all because she really like Sting, not Natsu. There was more to the whole thing than just that though. She did have feelings for Natsu and as lame as an excuse as this may sound it was brotherly feelings that she had to the pinkette.

"Partially." She muttered, "But it was also because I couldn't see you in that way or at least now I know I can't see you in that way. I had feelings for you Natsu but . . . they were more of the feelings you would have towards a sibling."

"Sibling? So you saw me as a brother?"

"I do now at least. I know it isn't much of a reason but it's the truth and I guess because you act like how I'd picture a brother to be or at least have those kid like features it's the only thing I could see. I also didn't have much of a family growing up, being a single child and then losing my mother at a young age only left me with my father who is no gone as well. I don't have any family anymore that I know of being close to me so I guess because I'm so lonely now and I've always pictured having someone close to me and being able to call them my sibling you just seem to fit into that puzzle." She explained her voice soft and low as she was embarrassed to give such a lame explanation.

She watched the pinkette smooth his hair down the way sting had earlier today which only made her want to go and find the blonde even if he had Minerva clinging to his arm. It was killing her that he wasn't saying anything and only let out a long breath of air, his eyes widening for mere seconds before going back to normal like he was still trying to digest the information. When he let his hand dropped it hit his leg making a sound reach the brunette's ear. He then did something she thought he wouldn't do.

He smiled.

"Well it wasn't what I was expecting no and I am hurt by it but if I can still make you happy by being your brother then I will because I still care about you. I'm sorry to hear about your father Artemis and I'll do anything to help fill a space in the empty part of you right now even if it's not the desired spot I was hoping for. You're smile is really all I need."

The brunette looked at him in disbelief while she felt herself flush slightly. That was definitely not the reaction she was expecting from him, not at all."W-Wow, you took that better than I thought you would."

"Yeah well it's better than taking it in a worse way and ruining both of our nights." He mumbled back.

She nodded her head in agreement. An awkward silence fell over both of them as she shifted in her dress and turned to face the dancing guests again.

"Artemis there's just one more thing I want to say to you before we end this completely." Natsu said standing straight and that's when she knew he was being serious even if he was smiling.

"What is it?" She whispered.

"Make sure that idiot Sting leaves with the right girl before tonight is over."