Diana palmed her face first with her free hand. She wasn’t entirely pleased with being the center of attention this way.
I felt bad, biting my lips. What the hell was wrong with me? Why was I laughing? What was funny?
Okay. Seeing Claire faint was really funny. But my laughter had gone over the board.
Laura seemed to think so. The expression in her eyes told me that, and also told me that she knew that I had lied to her. She now knew I had my memories back, or at least some. If not, why would I be laughing?
Queen Aliana was still smiling, her hands tucked in her white clothed thighs. And this time around, my mind latched onto that action. Why was she laughing? Was I looking hilarious? Was I looking like a clown? Did I just give her comic relief, or was it something deeper than comics?
However, in all, I could see that my laughs had gone overboard, and might draft in consequences that I couldn’t imagine.
My heart began to race then, within my chest, pounding like a relentless drum, each beat echoing my mounting fear. My brain was beginning to access my perilous situation; I had just interrupted the king’s meeting.
Why hadn’t I thought of that before laughing?
The consequences of disrupting the king’s meeting now loomed ominously in my mind, casting a dark shadow over my thoughts.
How dare I laugh, how dare I interrupt a gathering of the most powerful individuals in the realm? The repercussions would be palpable.
Oh Maya! I pitied myself, feeling the onset of a trigger.
As I stood there, my eyes on the podium, on the Lycan King, my breath quivered, as the fear coiled around me like a vice, squeezing at my very soul.
My mind barreled, my thoughts entangled in a web of uncertainty. What would be my punishment for this audacious act? Would it be a reprimand, a public humiliation, or something far more severe? The unknown was a terrifying abyss that threatened to swallow me whole.
The murmurs of disapproval that rippled through the assembly only added to my distress. The elders of the pack, including Lourdes and Dim, those who stood with the king under his canopy, shot me with withering glances, their expressions a mix of disdain and disapproval.
Dim for one, had a disgusting pout on his lips.
As the seconds ticked by though, I could feel the noose of consequence loosening around me, and the fear of the unknown consequence disentangled from me.
In that moment, I knew that the two pills I had swallowed earlier had been the right choice, the nudge that had pushed me to take them was fated. I would have been a hyperventilating mess by now if not for those two pills.
I shrugged my shoulders then, feeling better, acting nonchalant about the situation whilst inside my nerves were raging-although not like before-especially with Adam staring at me, staring at me intently, like he could see past my mask, like he could see me.
“Who is that? Take off your mask now!”
The order came from the Lycan king.
The eyes of the king, those regal orbs filled with authority, had locked onto me. His gaze was an unyielding force, and I could sense the weight of his judgment pressing down upon me. He was furious at being made a fool of.
And for the first time, I didn’t quiver under his roaring voice, I didn’t quiver under his scorching gaze. Instead, I snickered.
Diana grunted her disapproval; her face was free from her palm now. She did not like my boldness.
Me? I was impressed. I almost downed another pill, but for the fact that I was the object of attention now.
The King huffed in anger, fisting his hands, especially as it dawned on him that I was rebellious. I could see the simmering rage in the widening of his eyes. No one has acted that rebellious to him. Not even Queen Aliana.
I felt so good.
I turned to walk away from the hall-Diana was ever so eager to get away from the curious gazes- when the guards came to stop in front of me.
Wow. Forced obedience? I was not surprised.
“I say take off your mask, stranger! Don’t be a coward now, girl.” Mr Brekan ordered. I couldn’t see him now, since my back was facing him, but I was sure his eyes had widened the more in incredulity.
“Guards apprehend her and take off the mask!!” He shouted this time, seeing that I was making no movement to take off my mask; instead I had turned to stare at him deep in the eyes, my lips turned up in rebellion.
Even Claire was wide awake. I saw her looking at me, wondering too who I was.
For a second, I wondered if this would be the ahh moment when everything would be out in the open, when everyone would see Maya, the lost but found.
Not until Queen Aliana spoke.
“Fret not Damien. She is with me. She is nothing to worry about, just a bit strong headed.” She tapped the king gently on his arm.
Damien was his name? Not bad. I thought as I watched the angry facade slip off the king’s face slowly. He had a soft spot for Queen Aliana, and the woman knew it; she reveled in it.
I wondered how fast the progress had taken, since they had been tied in a communal conflict some years ago. Did they just forget the past or what?
“Very well then. Let her be.” He said to the guards, sparing me one more annoyed glance before returning his attention to Rachel, the girl I had seen at the queen’s office, the queen’s only daughter, and his son, Adam. An Adam that was still staring at me.
A knowing flickered across his eyes, and I shivered, deciding to look away.
It had been easy to tough up around Noah and Daniel, because their hands never went past my shoulders, but Adam…Adam was a different story. He went so far, he even touched my heart.
It took a while before the attention was drawn away from me to the couple that was on the podium, their arms entangled with each other.
Adam still wasn’t looking pleased with the situation. He hadn’t even spared a glance to Rachel, to the girl’s dismay nor to Claire who was still fuming within the embrace of her mother which I prayed will not comfort her.
Claire deserved what was coming to her now. They will all have a taste of pain by the time I begin and end my revenge. A plan I was still not sure how to go about.
The only person saved from Adam’s indifference was me. He was still staring at me when I returned my gaze to him, and worse, it was now getting obvious to the people. I needed to get out of here.
“Diana, you should go to your mother. I want to take some air alone outside.”
Diana furrowed her eyebrows, not sure that was a good idea.
“I will be fine. I promise.” I said.
She was still unconvinced, but she finally gave me the bottle of pills, which I put in my bag, before walking away toward her parents.
I released a deep sigh as I watched her stroll the path that led to Laura. I saw Peter staring at me then.
I am fine. I mouthed, before turning around.
The lycan was beginning to speak again but I could care less.
I was walking out of the hall, aware that people were paving the way for me, more because I was a stranger, and they didn’t know what to do about me since the queen had stood up for me. In other words, no one wanted to be on my bad side. If only they knew I was some powerless girl.
“Hey, excuse me…” I heard someone call out to me, a familiar voice, a voice belonging to my best friend.
I turned swiftly, more swiftly than I would liked, for I didn’t want to give off more suspicions. I kept a blank face as I watched her approach me.
Naomi. She was still the same as I left her, only more beautiful.
“uhmm, I saw you from over there, and I don’t know. I am impressed? Those boys can be so full of themselves. I am Naomi.” She introduced herself, stretching her hand out, and as much as I wanted to grasp her hand in a shake, I didn’t.
I feared that she would find out that I was the one. I didn’t want that. I felt the time wasn’t right.
“I’m who I am.” I replied, holding back a chuckle when she furrowed her eyebrows before letting out a sigh. I expected that she would call me a snob and walk away, but she didn’t.
Instead, she stared at me for a full minute before speaking again. “You remind me of an old friend, that’s all. I just wanted…I don’t know… make an acquaintance or something. But clearly you prefer being alone, or with your sister.” She said, and I shrugged my shoulders.
She hadn’t recongnsed my voice. Why was that?
“Is Noah your mate?” I tried again, needing to be sure.
She looked at me, an expression I don’t know, crossing her eyes for a fleeting moment. “No, he is not. Just a friend of my brother. I haven’t found my mate yet. Are you interested in him?”
She asked the last phrase slowly, like she didn’t want to, but she had to to know.
“Now, why would I be interested in shit?” I asked, before I could stop myself, almost palming my face when she looked at me like I had knocked a blow to her heart.