In spite of their fight and even with the nasty statement that RAfael had just made about Isabella and the baby dying by his hands one day, Niko's head was still clear a bit,
He paused for a bit while he and Rafael lay on the floor and he began to analyze a bunch of the things that had been happening in recent times, the mystic, Anastasia, and the uprising down at the north of new port and he knew without a spec of doubt that something was definitely wrong
He looked up at Rafael "brother, something is not right…all the attacks against Isabella and the uprising in recent times, what are we missing?"
Rafael also responds "I have wondered the same thing…I need you to get to the bottom of this for me, while I hold off on killing your precious lover and my child in her whom I have not much use for" he smirked.
Niko nods in agreement as he decides to get to the bottom of all of the things happening.
As he's about to leave, he turns back at Rafael, "brother, would it be okay if I took Isabella out for some air, she'll be protected the entire time"
Rafael looked at him and began to laugh "you must think I'm an idiot…no you may not" he said.
He then moved closer to him and held his shirt "just in case you've forgotten, she's MY bride, I didn't bring her here for you, she is MY property and it's in your best interest to deal through whatever emotions you have for her, if not, it'll hurt you a lot more when I decide for her to die brother"
Isabella was standing right by the stairs and she heard Rafael make this statement, her heart beat incessantly, she didn't understand what was going on, first he took her in forcefully to be his bride? And now he wants to kill her even if she's carrying his child? She wondered what kind of psychopath Rafael was, she was losing her mind, what does this mean for her?
Things were getting VERY real for Isabella and she was ready to risk it all, in that moment, she decided within herself that she would do anything and WHATEVER it took to keep herself safe…she wanted to depend on Niko but she could see how tightly Rafael's hold over him was.
Although she is still so confused and overwhelmed, she knew it was important for her to keep herself safe because now she wasn't worrying about herself anymore, she was now also worrying about her child whom she has found herself being so completely in love with.
While she's sitting on the staircase and thinking about all the stuff on her mind, she heard Rafael's footsteps, he was approaching the basement, she immediately left the staircase and ran (tiptoeing) to her room and she lay on the bed, pretending she was asleep as tears rolled down from her eyes, she was overwhelmed with shock and confusion and hatred for Rafael.
As Rafael entered her room, he told her to get dressed because they're headed somewhere, she was so scared, especially considering everything that she had just heard him say, she told him "I don't want to go anywhere with you"
Deep down, she didn't trust him, in her head, for all she knew, Rafael was taking her to get her killed somewhere in the middle of nowhere and it didn't help that she had just heard his conversation with Niko while they were upstairs.
"I wasn't giving you a choice Isabella, get dressed" he said as he threw a coat on her body. "Get dressed" he added.
Isabella didn't want to but the fear she had for Rafael was enough to get her on her feet, she stood up and walked over to the wardrobe ready to get dressed but he was still standing there, she looked back at him and hinted that he should step out so she could have privacy to change but he laughed and said
"you're carrying my child, I believe we have moved past the point of privacy…get dressed"
He watched her take off her silk pajamas, she had on a cute matching set of pink pant and bra, she put on a black body dress and wore the coat that Rafael had just tossed to her, she brushed her hair and ensured she looked put together enough…she wondered that if he was about to kill her, at least she'd want to die looking pretty.
While Isabella is in her head, thinking and delegating, Rafael kept staring at her, he wondered how a person could be so so beautiful, and he caught that intoxicating scent of hers again, all he wanted was to grab her and hold her tightly but this affection he was feeling for her irritated him even more to a point where he genuinely wanted to kill her in that moment, he didn't want to fall in love with Isabella or the child and he sure as hell did not want them to become his weakness…again.
His biggest fear was that history might repeat itself and the thought of that, sent shivers down his spine.
In spite of the deadly thoughts RAfael was having, he still kept a very straight face.
Isabella was done dressing and Rafael ushered her out of the house and into the car, she sat in the passenger's sit right beside him as he drove, the drive was quiet.
For a whole 30 minutes, he drove while they both were completely mute and there was no music playing in the car either, it wasn't awkward for either of them, for Isabella, her hatred for him was keeping her company enough, while for Rafael, the thought of all the things happening in New port and the incidental attacks against Isabella was enough to keep him company.
They finally arrived the destination and Isabella was stunned to find that he had just driven them to a diner, "seriously?" She scoffs in irritation.
"Figured you were bored at the house so here we are…you're welcome" he said to her.
They come down from the car and walk into the diner, Isabella sees a lot of people, people that are not Rafael and Niko, she is a bit relieved, it felt like she could scream for help and someone could actually helped, right in the moment when she imagined this, Rafael grabbed her and pulled her closer to himself
"don't do anything stupid or I swear, I'll kill you and nobody will be able to stop me…let's just have a nice dinner and be on our way back home" this was enough to keep Isabella in check.
They find a table and sit tight waiting for their food, they're both still so silent and she asked "why are you such a horrible person?"
"Horrible? That the nicest word I've ever heard anyone use to describe me" Rafael smirked.
"I think you're just broken, you're so hurt and broken, that's why you derive pleasure from hurting other people, I don't think you're cool and I don't think your uptight bravado is real…I think you're just a good looking insecure man wolf who happened to become leader of a notoriously respected pack…without the alpha title, you'd just be an…insecure man" she said to him in anger.
"You think I'm good looking?" He smiles
"Why do I even bother?" Isabella remarked as she rolls her eyes.
in the midst of their back and forth, the waiters arrive and begin placing food on their table, they're both still began to eat when all of a sudden, the air grew cold, the trees slowed down and the lights in the diner began to dim…LITERALLY; both Isabella and Rafael notice this occurrence,
"What is it again this time?" Isabella remarked in frustration and fear as she anticipated what attack was next.
Rafael's senses are heightened and he's scanning the area for possible threats,
"healers" he whispered under his breath as he continued to scan the area, looking for who exactly it was trying to get his attention.
"Come on out will you? we're just trying to have a nice meal" he says out loud, loud enough for the healer to hear but not loud enough for the humans in the diner to hear, he could tell that they had been compelled by magic which means they aren't conscious of what's happening and will not remember after it's done.
Rafael notices a shadow by the door, behind Isabella and he moves with unnatural speed and grabs the neck of the shadow, it was a woman, he pinned her to the wall and throws a punch to her face, the woman bled from her nose and right as the punch was thrown, Isabella screamed and when he looked back at her, Isabella was bleeding through her nose as well.
Rafael turned back to the witch in anger and began to strangle her "what did you do?"
Isabella's neck also tightens and she begins to gasp for air as well, Rafael notices what is going on and tightens his grip on the witch "I said, WHAT DID YOU DO"
"I bonded…myself…to her, if I die…she…dies…too" she gasped for air as she spoke, Isabella is also gasping for air.
Rafael lets go of her and drags her to the table, he seats her beside Isabella and he sits opposite both of them, talk or I'll kill you and you'll both die, I really couldn't care less.
The witch's eyes flushed with fear and the began to talk immediately.
"Please, I don't want any trouble" she said
"You asked for my trouble the moment you interrupted dinner, TALK" Rafael threatened.
Isabella just sat there quietly, trying to catch her breath.
"VAMPIRES" the healer said "they are back"
Rafael was irritated "you disrupted my evening to tell me that vampires are back? News flash healer, they NEVER left, they've been in new port for centuries now, they all know that they are subject to my leadership, that is why
I don't expect any trouble from them…that's your news? VAMPIRES?"
"No you don't understand" the healer said as she pleaded
"Then you better do well to explain because I'm one step away from ripping your heart out" he replied in anger.
"They have upset the balance of nature, they have tempered with black magic that hasn't been used for thousands of centuries" she said in fear,
Rafael now looks flustered, Isabella was just outright scared.
"what is it they want? why are they tempering with age old black magic?" Rafael asked.
"They aim to wipe out the entire Voss bloodline" she said "including him" she added as she pointed to Isabella's stomach.