14 - Truth Pill

Maya

I kicked my legs quick, faster, more rapidly. I did it till I was gasping and just when I went out of breath, I collapsed on the floor with a glare at Delilah.

“Why did you stop?”

I cleaned the sweat off my forehead, with a frown. “Why am I even doing this? I mean, I came here for something entirely different.”

“Thought we went over this, Maya.” She drew nearer, bending down with a pat on my back. “Nobody’s your friend here. While you wait, the best form of attack, might be defense.”

Her words sounded meaningful. Whenever I remembered how I was compelled to marry Javier, however, it fumed me.

“I-um, have to go.” I murmured, standing up and walking out hurriedly, pacing my footsteps.

“Maya!” she called after me. “Maya, wait!!”

I groaned when her hands brushed my shoulders, the minute I was outside. “What??”

She stared at me astonishingly, “You can’t give up, yet. We’ve barely begun anything.”

“Why do we have to begin anything? I didn’t fucking ask for this.” I seethed at her. “I really hate that I’m accustomed to a damn blood bag and can’t even control my desires and craving these days!”

“I understand you…know where you’re coming from, but being grouchy won’t solve anything--"

“I’m not being grouchy? I just want to wear whatever I want, whenever I feel like. Being confined isn’t any of what I’m used to, I shouldn’t be telling you of all people that!”

Her expression dimmed, from her previously lit up face.

“F-fine.” she stuttered. “Was just t-trying to help… I had no idea.”

“Now you do,”

I scowled those words, under my breath, forgetting that she was a vampire and she could hear that. It was too late to tell her I didn’t mean to, as I walked away from the Fronter’s entrance.

I walked for a while, thinking about the uncontrollable outburst I gave poor Delilah. She didn’t even deserve it. If anyone deserved to be yelled at, it would definitely be Javier. For deceiving me… he made me marry him and forcefully stay.

“I hate you, Javier.” I seethed, with a glance at a nearby pond. I could stare at my reflection in the water. “I hate that you make me feel this way…”

My lips parted, trailing, as I tried to figure out how to get out of this mess, he put me in. I looked around, then back at the little pond which held my reflection in it.

Something about the water, had always made my thoughts synch…

It more like rejected me, yet, accepted me. There was an incident at the orphanage when I thought I heard the water speak to me…

“Lost in thoughts?”

“Who are you?” I glanced up, asking without wasting any sort of time. After the meet with Javier’s father and step sister, I had been more on guard around anyone in the palace.

“Your brother-in-law, Rufus.” he snorted, sitting down on the grass just beside me.

“I shouldn’t be talking to you. I have to go.”

I stood up, with the intent to go, when I felt a cold hand grasp mine. “Wait, Maya.” he uttered.

“Please wait,”

I swallowed, holding back all sort of emotions I had earlier. Looking strong in front of your enemies, pissed them further…

“Why? Do you have anything to say, Rufus?”

I mean we just crossed path for the first time.

“I want to share something, just sit and give me a chance to.” he spoke.

I nodded, sitting back on the grass and observing his red hair which was shaven low as a soldier’s would. His under eyes were filled with freckles, and his eyes were dark-silver, in a piercing way.

“I don’t want the crown.”

I blinked at his words, looking at him weirdly. “I’m being compelled to want to want it.”

As he added those words, I eyed him. “Who’s compelling you to?”

If he was telling the truth, I deserved to know at least.

“Queen Zoraida.” he stated. “My mum’s a beast and there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“I-I don’t understand.”

My eyes searched, as I replied Rufus. He had just said things I could never have guessed. I hadn’t met the Queen yet, still, could he be telling the truth? Or was this their scheme…

“She whipped Katherine 50 strokes of the cane, the other day she came to see you.” Rufus continued in a sad tone. “My mum made my sister promise never to reveal her intentions like she did that day. She wants to ruin everyone; she hates that your companera is the Crown Prince…”

Rufus stood up from the grass, dusting his long, expensive jacket. While I sat, though on guard, I thought of why he would think of telling me this.

“I have to go now,” he said.

“Wait!” I stood up too, stepping right in front of him. My hands outstretched to him.

“Huh??”

He stared at me like I was a freak when my mouth curved into a smirk. “Let’s be partners from today on.”

“Partners?” he repeated after me. I only made this move because he reminded me of Julian who held a special place in my heart.

“Yes, partners. Let’s tell each other any danger being prepared for the other.”

Rufus looked around, then back at my hands outstretched at him. He took it with a brief smile which turned into a blank expression the sooner it was there.

“We don’t betray.”

As I walked back to my room, I sighted some twins playing, just at the entrance of the palace.

A guard shooed them away, and they frightfully ran towards their mum who pet them. She had a brown curly hair which reminded me of Kathleen, the friend who gifted Delilah to me, when she was just a doll.

“Someday,” I said, to myself as I walked. “I’m gonna have kids, a happy family and an adorable pet--”

“My Princess,”

Someone dashed me out of my thoughts.

“The Crown Prince summons you to his chambers,” The maid added.

“I see.” I retorted, motioning to follow her to see him.

About 6 maids rushed by my side, as we walked.

“We’ve been looking for you, Princess!” One rushed out saying.

“We thought something happened to you. We could have gotten into so much trouble!!”

“I’m safe, aren’t I?” I said, winking at them.

…

By the time I arrived at Javier’s room, I felt gladdened to see and scent him. Something about his scent made me go nuts these days.

However, forgetting the sadness that lurked in me could be an overstatement. My body felt entirely different which could be infuriating…

“Javier?”

“You called for me.” I added, stepping inside his large room which was full of dark prints, pictures and grey furnishings. The room was silent as a graveyard.

“Why the fuck do you smell like another male?” he angrily asked, sniffling my neck.

“Why do you care? It’s my body.” I replied him. “The fact that we did a fake marriage doesn’t make you entitled.”

I forced those words out, ignoring the burning sensation just at the pit of my stomach. The butterflies seemed to turn to curiosity.

“Delilah told me how you felt about me. Is it true? Would you prefer leaving here, while you revive your parents?” Javier, drew nearer, asking.

“Y-Yes…I want to go back. I don’t want to stay here. Knowing I could be ambushed by anyone in the palace scares me.”

Javier’s dark eyes reddened at my words. His hands wandered to my cheeks, the other at the crook of my neck. I closed my eyes to the sensations, gulping when I felt his lips brush mine.

It was a brief kiss, that didn’t involve tongues and the sooner he untangled himself, I wanted more. He stared at me, while I panted softly.

“W-What was that for?” I asked gingerly.

“I’m letting you go,” he said. “You’re free to go from this moment, Maya.”

Did he even mean that… or he was playing with my mind?

“Are you serious?” My brows cringed as I asked him. Javier walked away from my eye’s view, taking slow strides, hands in pocket.

“I’m driving you back.”