Chapter 36: Chapter 36

He wasn't bothered about the punch. He kept laughing like a lunatic. I sometimes wonder if he was normal. "She's mine and mine alone. You lose, Damien. You lose" he boasted. That awoke my anger to its full length. The fact that he lied to me about mating with her. And now, he claims to be responsible for her pregnancy. Isn't that enough?. He still has the guts to claim her?. I growled and walked towards him.

"What did you say?"

He laughed. "You ain't daft, Damien. You heard me. But just in case you don't. I will say it once more. She's mine, Damien and so is the baby"

I lift him and punched his face continuously until he began to bleed. Mom rushed out. "Drop him done, Damien. What has come over you?"

I hissed and shoved him aside. He groaned. Mom walked up to him. "You should leave, Arden, and never return. You've done enough harm already"

I couldn't understand what she meant by enough harm. But those words, made Arden leave. Although he promised to come back. Mom turned to face me. Her eyes depicting sadness. "Is everything ok?" I asked

She smiled wearily. "Yes, it is. You should come in. Elmira is awake"

I shook my head. "I don't want to. I'll just go for a walk". She nodded and I left. As I walked through the wood, Arden's words kept replaying in my head. Could he be saying the truth?. How did he find out about the pregnancy and none of us knew about it?. Why is mom's countenance depicting sadness?. Has she found out about Arden, been responsible for the pregnancy?. She didn't say anything about it. Maybe Elmira isn't pregnant. Or maybe... I groaned.  So many thoughts running through my head. I punched a tree angrily. What If she had been seeing Arden at the back?. Is that even possible?. I could still remember a guard claimed he does see her leave. If she was leaving the Island territory like he said, who then has she been seeing?. Could it be Arden?. Are they still having an affair?. I needed answers to all my questions. I felt like I was losing my mind, with so many unanswered questions in my head. I left the wood in search of the guard.

He was at the gate. I called him aside to ask him a few questions and from the answers I got, Elmira had been seeing Arden. I concluded, she must have told him about the pregnancy. That's how he found out about it. I left him and went to my room. I was in there all through the night, until the next morning. My mind wasn't at rest. I felt a part of me had been betrayed. Even when the sun was fully out and the ray was entering into the room, through the window, shining directly to my eyes. I was too devastated to want to stand up. I remained on the bed until the sun was down. The door opened and someone walked in. It was Maya. From the scent, I could tell who it was. "Damien?". She walked close to me and sat down. "Are you ok?". I nodded and she sighed. "I've been worried sick about you. I wanted to come to see you but the Queen said I should let you be. She said you needed time to heal".

I rolled my eyes and sat up. "There is nothing wrong with me"

She chuckled. "You don't look, ok. The Queen said it was due to Elmira's stress"

I rolled my eyes. "There's nothing wrong with me"

"The Queen said you are tied to Elmira and will be feeling her pain". I hissed. Wished I don't have to.  "Why didn't you visit Elmira. Are you disappointed?"

I rolled my eyes. Of course, I am. Why would she get pregnant for Arden?. I'm so disappointed but I can't let Maya know that. "I'm not. Why should I be?"

She batted her lashes. "You ain't?"

"No, I'm not"

She sighed. "I was. I thought she was pregnant. The Queen thought that too. I have always wished for a baby sister or brother"

I rolled my eyes. What's Maya talking about?. She thought Elmira was pregnant?. "What do you mean by thought?"

She sighed. "When she fainted, we thought she was pregnant. But it turns out she fainted due to stress"

Wait!. She isn't pregnant?. "Are you sure about that?"

She nodded. "Wait, you don't know?"

I nodded. "Nobody told me anything. The Queen didn't tell me anything"

She rolled her eyes. "I thought you never came to see her because you are disappointed, she wasn't pregnant"

I rolled my eyes. Maya won't understand that the main reason I couldn't come to see Elmira was that I thought she was pregnant for Arden. I never knew I was just worrying when everything is fine. "But why is mom sad?" I thought. Is it because Elmira wasn't pregnant?. She had always wanted a grandchild. "Damien!!" Maya yelled, jolting me out of my thought.

I rolled my eyes. "What?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing"

She chuckled. "I've been calling you for a long time now and you didn't reply"

I rolled my eyes. "I didn't notice"

She chuckled. "That's because you were thinking"

"I wasn't"

"You are"

I groaned. "Whatever"

She chuckled. "You see I've been wondering what your reaction will be if Elmira gets pregnant. I know you never wanted babies"

I rolled my eyes. "Will you play games with me?" I asked changing the topic

She chuckled. "Are you trying to change the topic?"

I rolled my eyes. "No, I'm just bored". She giggled. "So are you in or not?"

She nodded. "Yes, but not after you've taken a shower"

I groaned and stood up. "Just tell me I stink and I will know"

She chuckled. "I never said that"

"You don't have to say it. Your action did"

She chuckled. "Come on, go"

I left her in the room and went into the bathroom to take my bath

**

After playing games for a while, I decided to visit Elmira in her room. Maya offered to follow me.  She was seated reading a book when we got in. It was her usual book. The beauty and the beast. "Maya" she cooed when she saw us. Maya ran up to her.

"How are you now?" Maya asked

Elmira smiled. "I'm better"

Maya smiled. "Damien is here to see you" Maya whispered

I rolled my eyes. "Are you ok now?"

Elmira nodded and Maya stood you. "I think I should leave you both"

I batted my lashes. Is this girl kidding me? Before I could say a word, she ran off. I sighed. "You should sit" Elmira offered

I rolled my eyes and sat down. There was an awkward silence as we were both lost in our thought, waiting for the first to speak.