Chapter 74
BRIANNA’S POV
After Sebastian stopped me from eating my breakfast because it was poisoned, my stomach clenched tight in fear. I couldn’t understand why the maid tried to poison me. I knew her name to be Vivian. We seemed to get along well, and I couldn’t recall doing anything to upset her. I searched deep in my mind for that, but couldn't recall at all. She and Amelia took turns serving me and she also fed me with some gossip about what was going on in the castle. I was so puzzled by her sudden betrayal.
Sebastian admitted he didn’t know why she tried to poison me, but I was optimistic he’d find out and come tell me. He told me to trust him and…I did. I was a bit hesitant to say that at first, but I did. He swore to never let anyone harm me. He saved me. If not for him, I would have been lying lifeless in some morgue right now.
“Oh goodness,” I sighed, holding onto the bars and leaning on them. “Why does everything have to be so difficult in my life? Why is this happening to me?”
My stomach growled loudly, reminding me that I needed food. I winced and held my belly. I hadn’t taken anything since then and from the amount of light pouring in from the small window, I could tell it was past mid-day already. Sebastian hadn’t come back. I longed for him to come back and tell me what happened. Why does that maid want to poison me? I wanted him to tell me that everything was fine and that I shouldn’t be scared.
I turned toward the window, letting the sunlight touch my skin. I couldn’t remember the last time I enjoyed the sun or soaked in its warmth. My skin had become pale, almost as white as milk. Even at Hermes’s castle, I never went out. The only time I attempted to was when the second time I tried to escape.
The door creaked open, and Amelia rushed in, holding a tray with a glass of milk and two breakfast sandwiches. I sighed in relief when I saw her. Not only did she bring food, but I was also sure she had the answers I needed. She must have heard about the poison incident already.
I wanted to start eating as soon as she approached and dropped the tray beside me, outside the bars. But I needed answers first, even though my stomach was protesting.
“You probably heard about the poison thing,” I said, my voice tinged with hurt. “But why? Why did she want me dead?”
“It’s not her fault,” Amelia said in almost a whisper as if she was trying to tell me a secret. “Luna Catherine made her do it. I overheard her telling me what to do this morning. She wants to get rid of you. She is the one that wants you dead.”
I was caught off guard by Amelia’s sudden revelation. My lips dropped open, my breath was heavy against my nostrils and my brows furrowed deeply. Why would Catherine want me dead? I knew she hated me. But I never thought she hated me to the extent of wanting me dead.
“Alpha Sebastian has everything under control,” she said with reassurance. “He fired Vivian a few hours ago and has put measures in place to stop Luna Catherine from bothering you again. But…” she breathed out heavily and the reassurance in her tone fell. “I don’t think that’ll stop Luna Catherine from carrying on with whatever plans she has for you. I have been with her long enough to know that she never stops until she has gotten what she wants. As long as she sees you as a threat, she’ll fight tooth and nail to make sure she gets rid of you. Your only choice now is to leave this castle.”
“Leave?” I blurted out, stepping back from the bars as though they were deadly. Her words left me even more scared and confused. My heart was racing, and my head felt dizzy. I couldn’t make sense of it all, and I didn’t feel like eating anymore.
“I understand it’s tough for you, Brianna. But if you want to stay alive, it’s your only choice. Tonight, I’ll take the risk, steal the keys from the guard outside the cell, and get you out quietly, without raising any suspicion.”
How could she expect me to leave? I couldn’t leave Sebastian. What of his Alpha King position?... What if Hermes or any of those other Alpha Kings at the auction hall finds me? I could be punished as Sebastian had said. Hermes could take me back as his sex slave or worse, I might even be killed. I can’t risk all that. But she was right, even though I didn’t want to admit it. I didn’t know what next Catherine had planned for me. Now I know that she was dangerous and was capable of doing bad things to people she hated. But Sebastian said he’ll protect me. I trusted him. Can’t I trust him to keep me safe from his crazy wife?
“But…But what of Sebastian,” I turned and walked quickly to her, unable to steady my nerves. “Won’t he lose his Alpha king position…and what if Hermes finds me? I can’t go back into that hell hole to relive my past. Never again.”
“Stay strong, Brianna,” she urged, gripping my fingers tightly through the bars. “Hermes, or whatever his name is, is gone from your life. He won’t find you again. I have a cousin in a small town in another kingdom. I’ll write a letter for you to give him. He’ll take care of you and keep you safe. You can start anew there. I’ll visit whenever I can. And as for Alpha Sebastian, he’ll figure something out. He always does.”
I let go of her hand and lowered my head, avoiding her eyes. Her words hit me like a storm, overwhelming me. I couldn’t grasp it all. I couldn’t even imagine it. I had seen how angry Sebastian was the first time I tried to escape on the night of their anniversary party. Only the heavens knew how he’d react this time.
Suddenly, the entrance door clicked and swung open as a maid entered, scanning the room as if searching for something.
“Amelia,” she called out. “Luna Catherine is looking for you. She wants to see you now.”
“What for?” Amelia’s brows drew in inquisitively as she turned to face her. “The last time I saw her, she made it very clear to me that she was doing perfectly fine and didn’t need me to monitor or babysit her.”
“Uhmm…I don’t think she needs you for that,” the maid said. “She is angry. I think you did something she didn’t like.”
Amelia glanced back at me, and I saw a flicker of panic and fear in her emerald eyes. Why was she suddenly like that? Did she do something to Catherine?
“I’m right behind you,” Amelia said in a tone that was lower than her normal. Something was wrong. I could sense it.
“Please don’t keep her waiting. That will only add to her anger,” the maid added and left.
“Why are you uneasy all of a sudden?” I inquired, trying to find out what the problem was. “Did something happen?... Did you do something to Catherine?”
“No…I didn’t do anything,” she answered in a way I knew wasn’t entirely genuine. Then her gaze locked on mine. “Take your time to think about what I told you. I’ll be back in an hour or two to know your decision. Please accept, so you could leave this place for good and not die by Catherine’s hands.”
I watched her leave, after which I slid down to the floor, my face buried in my palms. This was a very hard decision to make.