Chapter 54
BRIANNA’S POV
“Leave us,” Catherine directed at Amelia as she approached the cell, her tone seeming terse and stern.
“Yes, Luna Catherine,” Amelia left my hand, stepped a little away from the cell and replied with a slight bow. Then she said something to me in a voice slightly above a whisper. “I’ll be leaving now. The maids are unpacking your luggage and will come soon to accompany you to the bathroom to take your bath. Make sure to eat your breakfast and take two tablets from the medicine pack. Don’t forget what I told you about---”
“Let me not repeat myself,” Catherine’s voice hardened impatiently. “Get out now!!”
Amelia dipped to another reverential bow before scurrying out the door. And Catherine just rolled her eyes.
She stood there, arms crossed, one leg forward, and her familiar stern glare in her bright blue eyes. I couldn’t help but wonder how and when she got injured for that thick roll of bandage to be tied around her wrist. She looked perfectly fine when I saw her in her pink crystal gown yesterday during the anniversary dinner party.
“I thought I made extremely clear to you that I didn’t want your pitiful presence and suffocating Omega scent polluting this castle anymore. How dare you go against my order?...you slave bitch!!”
She lurked closer to the cell, like a predator closing in on its prey, her fiery gaze intent on me, carrying so much hate. Disdain. Bitterness and harm in them. But I remained still, completely fed up. I couldn’t take any more of her troubles and drama.
“Well it’s not my fault Alpha Sebastian stopped me and locked me up in here,” I retorted defensively.
“If only you had the sense to sneak out quietly from the back like I told you,” she said, her voice filled with frustration. “But you’re so dumb and dull, like the illiterate you are, that you couldn’t even process and follow simple instructions. You’ll have to come up with something and leave this castle tonight. I don’t care what it takes.”
Her last words triggered an incredulous scoff from me. I looked at her in disbelief. She hated me so much that she wanted me out of her castle in the blink of an eye. How the fuck did she even expect me to come up with a plan to escape the castle in this state? With Sebastian still hurting and angry for my first attempt, If I should try to escape again and get caught, he wouldn't take it likely with me.
It was clear she didn’t know about the Alpha King’s rule for the auction. But as the Luna, I expected her to. Would she prefer me to leave the castle and risking Sebastian losing his Alpha King position? If he lost his title, there was a good chance she’d lose hers as well. If she didn’t know, then maybe Sebastian was making it all up. But Amelia said he was telling the truth. And I believe Amelia.
“You know what?” I took a step closer, meeting her expectant eyes with respect. I needed to put an end to all this without being rude or confrontational to avoid further trouble. “Since I arrived at this castle, I’ve tried my best to respect and please you. But the harder I try, the more it seems you’re suspicious of me. You think I’m involved with Alpha Sebastian and trying to take your place. But that’s not true at all. If you truly love him and he loves you back equally, then you don’t need to worry about any of that or try to rid of me. My advice to you would be to stop wasting your time on me. Focus on your husband, because your actions did hurt him a lot.”
She was caught off guard by what I said to her. Her lips parted in shock, her eyes widening and burning to the extent it could boil me. I wasn’t sure if she knew my last sentence was referring to the birth control pills Sebastian told me he found out she’d been taking without his knowledge.
She closed in and grabbed the bars, causing me to retrace reflexively. My speech had done more harm than good. Something I was trying to avoid. But I didn’t expect less from her. No matter what I did or said, she’ll always find fault in it.
“I don’t need your shitty advice,” she snarled. “How dare you challenge me in my castle and try to tell me what to?” She scoffed and momentarily looked away. As if she was thinking of what to do or searching for anything that could serve as a weapon. The moment she sighted the breakfast tray on the ground a few inches away from her, she looked back at me and smirked devilishly. The smirk I knew Hermes for.
“I’m not challenging you,” I tried to make her understand. Even though I knew it’d be pointless. “I was only telling you what was right.”
“The only right thing here to do is for you to leave this place for good,” she vented and I watched as she stomped over to the breakfast tray. With a forceful kick, she sent its contents flying, making a mess in the places they landed.
My mouth fell open in shock and a heavy gasp escaped. Instinctively, I placed my hand over my mouth to restrain myself. The last time I ate was in the evening yesterday. I had only eaten little because my mind was occupied with how best to leave the castle without anyone finding out that night. Furthermore, Amelia told me to make sure I ate and took that medication. But now I couldn’t. I’ll have to wait for the maids she said will come soon to accompany me to go take my bath. Or wait till it’s lunchtime if the food they made had finished.
Seeing my reaction, she smirked triumphantly.
“You know, it’s a good thing he hates you now and had you locked up in here. Because he just made it a whole lot easier for me. I’ll make sure you rot in there like the garbage that you are. Mark my words. You’re like a stubborn pest. But one way or another, I’ll get rid of you. No matter what heights I have to go.”
Coming closer to the bar, she held onto them and forced saliva out of her mouth. And it landed on my face to my greatest dismay. She kicked the empty tray that was on her way aside and walked out of the room like a proud peacock, leaving me in utter shock.
SEBASTIAN’S POV
The day was drawing to a close as the sun dipped below the horizon. After I had informed Amelia and the other maids about what to do for Brianna earlier in the morning, I went for a small town hall meeting and when I came back, I decided to spend the rest of the day by the garden, reflecting on everything Brianna had told me.
This garden was meant to be my antidote. My escape from the world threatening to swallow me whole. But at that moment, it wasn’t helping at all. The serenity and beauty and peace were there. But it just wasn’t helping. And I didn’t know why.
I had a bottle of tequila in my hand. It was my second choice and now my last resort since the garden wasn’t helping. But I didn’t intend to get drunk. That wouldn’t be a good idea. I just wanted to drink enough to numb the pain in my heart. To drown the sorrow threatening to shatter me from the inside.
“You’re so unbelievable, Sebastian. I don’t need your protection,” Brianna’s words echoed in my head, causing me to vigorously pop the bottle cap open and take a furious gulp.
“Can’t you see the wide gap between us?” Her voice seared me more, growing even harsher in my head. I took two more big sips, and then another, the tequila bottle now half-empty.
“Our love is impossible… It’s forbidden. So don’t tell me you love me. Never say that!” I was losing control, my head spinning. I sniffled, ran my fingers through my hair, and took another sip, choking and coughing it out.
But withstanding that, I wanted to take another sip when my phone beeped, grabbing my attention. I took it out of my pocket and unlocked it. It was a message informing me about Nolan’s funeral service, scheduled to begin tomorrow.