Chapter 9: 21st Century

**Elena**

"You what, for goodness' sake?" I screamed at the top of my lungs. Regret hit me instantly. Why did I even do that? The girl isn't at fault.

I was the careless one for having given her something so important and for not even bothering to look for it.

"I'm sorry, my Queen. I'll look for it," she said, trembling.

"You know what? It's fine. Just help me pack so I can leave this place."

"O-Okay," she replied.

"But there's something else," she continued.

"What is it?" I turned back to her.

"I'm not sure, but I've been seeing someone come in and out of the Golden Villa at night."

"Someone? At night? Is it someone we know?"

"No, it's not your Highness. No one would dare to go there to check," she responded.

"Fine. I don't want to dismiss this as a false alarm, but don't tell anyone in the mansion about this. Especially not the King. You’ll report anything else you see. Do you understand?"

"Yes, my Queen."

She resumed packing the luggage. Somehow, I felt like I could trust her.

After what felt like the longest hour of packing and silent thoughts, I found myself standing in front of the mansion.

The air was thick, charged, as if I was about to experience a rollercoaster of emotions.

Xavier didn't even bother to come see me at the hospital. My baby is fine, but I was still back to where I started again—with the mask.

"Welcome, darling," I heard a familiar voice call out from the entrance. But that voice...

"Move!" I felt a heavy push from behind me and turned to see who it was.

Confused, then froze.

"No, no, no. It can't be her." My chest tightened as I gazed back at the entrance, watching her walk toward the mansion gate. The familiar voice that called out to her belonged to Aunt Lena.

The Aunt Lena Than, Xavier's aunt. Well she's not very friendly toward my family. Technically, she dislikes us due to some issues that happened in the past, but I have no idea what they were.

“How was your trip, sweetheart?” she asked as she embraced Trisha, exchanging kisses on the cheeks.

“Oh, it was fine... but you know, exhausting as always,” Trisha replied, her laughter filling the air.

“Why don't we go inside? You'll freshen up, and you two can catch up,” Aunt Lena suggested.

I walked past them like a ghost, barely registering the disgusted stare from Aunt Lena. Although Helena and I were used to it, today felt especially harsh.

I dragged myself to the second floor, clinging to the comfort of my old room, the only place that still felt like mine.

I was done with the drama and ready to wait until Helena returned so I could leave quietly, hoping things would work out.

As I climbed the stairs to my old room, Xavier’s voice cut through the silence from the third floor, sharp as ever.

“Where do you think you're going?”

I didn't respond; I was too exhausted. I knew why he was asking, but I didn’t want to return to that room. He could burn it down for all I cared, as long as it didn’t have my scent all over it.

“I asked you a question, Helena, and I demand an answer,” he growled, his voice echoing from the hallway.

“I’m heading to my room, Your Highness,” I replied curtly.

“I thought I made myself clear about you using the room upstairs,” he shot back.

“I don’t want it,” I responded.

“And how exactly does that excuse you for defying my orders?” he asked, his voice low and sharp.

“Well, you can burn it down,” I retorted, and I exited the walls of Terris, back to my old room.

I needed to breathe. This morning, I made the decision to let Xavier go. I pulled out the spray scent I had used a little while ago at the hospital; it seemed to have lost some of its fragrance.

As I puffed the spray, its scent engulfed me, filling the whole room. I had grown used to smelling like Helena. Although it was the fucking 21st century, I had no idea how Mortina managed to pull this one off.

I had heard that some witches and seers still live in the far north; maybe we'll visit one someday, right, baby? I spoke to my baby, hoping he or she could hear me.

Just then, a twist of the doorknob caught my attention.

“Xavier!” Lira sprang into action inside me.

“What did you say?” he asked, walking towards me.

“Ooh, you’ve pissed him off,” Lira teased.

Fortunately, I had been able to fit the spray into my pocket; its small size worked to my advantage.

“What are you doing here, Your Highness?” I said, my voice firm.

“Your Highness? Glad you’re back to your senses, with the way you’ve been calling out Xavier, I was starting to get irritated” he shot back.

“I wanted to be sure I heard you right from the hall,” he continued, coming closer.

“Why are you coming closer? Stay back!” I said, moving inches away from him. But it only quickened his steps

My back hit the wall, and suddenly, Xavier was just inches from my face.

I felt his grip on my neck, tight with frustration, not force. His eyes darkened as they searched mine.

“After your little stunt, you think showing up like this will make me come running?”His voice was sharp, but it wavered slightly.

“Xavier..” I whispered.

“You think I’m that easy to break? That desperate for you to just play games with me?”

He took a breath, jaw clenched.

“If this is just another one of your pathetic tricks to get my attention, then I swear, Helena, I will.”

He stopped.

His hand dropped.

“I will fuc—”