“What do you mean by Adam is here?”
My incredulity rang loud in my question, so much so that my thoughts on the long white hair strand were forgotten.
I stood up from the bed then, and started pacing wildly in my room, not understanding why Adam was like a leech that refused to get away.
Was he that desperate for my pussy?
Well, wouldn’t that be the same tactic which he had employed before? Show enough desperation to bed the girl.
He had expected me to fall into the trap when he had mentioned the cave, thinking I was a different girl. Too bad for him. His desperation wasn’t going to thaw the ice. If anything, it was making me annoyed, and more revengeful.
“He has been here for the past thirty minutes. Mother had tried sending him away, knowing from your attitude in the party, that you don’t have a good relationship with him. But he has been persistent. And not even Dad threatening thunder and brimstone, and I vowing to cut his balls had managed to fend him off. Dude is determined to see you. I think you are the only way that can send him away.”
I hissed, hearing Diana’s words. Of course he wasn’t moved by their lofty words! He knew they wouldn’t touch the future king of the community.
“Where is he?” I asked, picking up the mask and situating it rightly on my face.
“He is outside. Outside the confines of huts.”
**
Adam was sitting on a heap of hay when I stepped out of the mini gate that completed the low grade fence which surrounded the huts that belonged to Laura and Peter.
When he saw me, he got up from the hay quickly, and walked a few steps toward me. “I seem to be a nuisance now, but I just had to see you.” He started, meeting my angry gaze without wincing.
“What do you want, Adam? Why are you here?”
He inhaled, and exhaled, as if what he wanted to say was too heavy on his lips. “I don’t know, Dora. Can we go for a walk? Perhaps I can prepare my thoughts well.”
I laughed out in unbelief. Go for a walk? This guy was really out to kill me in this community. What would people think when they saw us walking together? What would the queen do? What would Rachel do?
I had hoped to have a peaceful life here, but I was beginning to see that it might not be possible. The peacefulness of my life these past days has been threatened by the presence of Adam, and I was sure that he knew it. He mustn’t be that dumb.
“I am sorry..”
He must have read the feeling off my face. “I seem selfish now. I am sorry. I should have thought of your reputation. We can sit here, then.” He gestured at the hay, but I shook my head. I was sitting nowhere near him.
“Just say what you want, Adam, and get out of here.”
He sighed, hearing the stern undertone of my voice. “Daniel mentioned that you had forgiven us…” He paused now, then started again as if remembering an important fact.
“…Before I forget, Dora, my father is working on arranging your marriage to Daniel. I don’t think your aunt has let you know..”
I saw the guilt that rode his face for a second for betraying his brother, before dissolving in the boisterous laughter that had Adam gazing at me weirdly.
Marry Daniel? I would rather die.
The king must think so highly of me though. He must have thought that because I was related to Laura and Peter, I would have strong magic, in addition to the mystery that the mask had bestowed on me.
That man. Hadn’t he considered for one moment that the reason for the mask was because I might be disfigured or something. Or had the queen sponsored this affair, with the hope that I would stop stringing Adam along?
Whatever. I wasn’t interested.
When my laughter receded, I looked at Adam properly. He was facing down, probably still feeling guilty. He knew that he had just spoiled his brother’s affair. He had budgeted that telling me would make me against the proposed union. He was right.
That would be why Daniel had tried to make amends with me then. He had liked me enough to propose to me? That’s crazy. I was sure though that Laura wouldn’t want me to be engaged to my tormentors. No way.
“Thanks for the heads up, Adam. But I am sure you know it won’t be possible. I have no plans of being mated with any of you three. Is that the reason why you are here?” I queried, taking a step back when he took a step toward me.
“Are you in anyway related to Maya Holins?”
I stilled, making sure not to give off any signs that I knew what or who he was talking about.
“Maya? Who is that? And why would you think that I am related to her?”
I saw the wistful longing in Adam’s eyes at my question, and for a second, I allowed myself to wonder if he ever loved me.
But if he had, why would he beat me to near death. Was his ego more important than our love?
“Maya is an old friend of mine who had suddenly disappeared without a trace. Your mannerisms are just like hers. When I see you, it’s like she’s right before me.”
I forced myself to nod nonchalantly to his statement. A friend of his that had disappeared suddenly without a trace? He was more evil than I thought.
How could he say that without a trace of guilt on his face? He had almost killed me for christ sake!
“Well, I am not related to her, neither do I know her. Although I wish you luck in locating her. I can see that you miss her.” I said through gritted teeth “But I need to go now. Have a goodnight, and a safe trip tomorrow.”
Making an attempt to be at least civil, when all I wanted was to blow that faux sorrow out of his face.
“Tonight. I am going back tonight. There is nothing much to see here. You are the only reason why I am here.”