Chapter 167: Chapter 167

Chapter 168

"You only told me what had already happened. I thought your visions gave insight to the things that were to come. How come nothing regarding my future was revealed to you?"

"I am sorry that I have no control over my powers and the things I see or say, sire. I am sorry to have failed you this time, but the only things I saw were the things that came out of my mouth, nothing else."

He scrutinized her sharply with his eyes, "are you sure about this, Maggie?"

"I am very sure, sire. May I be excused now?"

He placed his two hands on his head in frustration, trying to make sense of the way she'd just acted.

When she got tired of waiting, "Sire??"

"You may."

**********

Maggie shut the door after running into her room, panting. She'd forgotten to pick Emily on the way coming back here, but it was probably best because she was not in the right state of mind to be with her daughter right now, not after what she'd just seen.

Ever since Jeremy's death, she'd never thought that the goddess would give her a second chance at love and happiness with a different man. Her mind had never even wandered in that direction, not until now.

Her vision... The one she couldn't bring herself to tell Walden was the one where she saw their paths not just cross, but join together forever. It's no wonder she'd seen it in his eyes before now. She was destined to be his lover after her former one died, and she was destined to bring light and happiness into his life, to bring him out of darkness and to help him defeat the nightmares he was currently facing.

But how can she? She is a homeless single mother for gods' sake! How can she help a man who has so many problems?

Maggie held onto her chest, trying hard to find air in such a spacious room. It's hard to even breathe! No! She cannot keep staying here. Emily was safe with her now, and so long as the both of them didn't return to Turnal territory, they would be far from danger. She is no longer on medication and has overstayed her welcome here, it's time to leave now.

**********

It was the early hours of the next morning, and as usual, Walden sat on his bed, wide-eyed and staring into an empty space. There had been no sleep for him last night, and the little few minutes of shut-eye he'd gotten were filled with nightmares.

This spirit refuses to leave him alone, no matter how much he begs. It's just like Maggie said, the spirit doesn't want to be appeased. It wants blood, and had it not been for the life of Maggie he saved that day, Conor's spirit would have gotten exactly what it wanted.

Maggie told him that there was no way out of it, he would just have to keep suffering and hope that the spirit goes away one day, or proceed with taking his life, but why is it that unlike that morning he travelled to the neutral grounds, that morning he was bent on killing himself, he seems not to want that anymore like he'd found a new purpose. Now, it seems as if he wants to live, even despite the torturous nightmares he's facing.

Is it because of Maggie? Did she somehow have anything to do with the fact that he now wants to get more out of life, he wants to live through the past, and build a better future for him and his people.

"Guard!"

"Yes, sire?"

"Tell Maggie that I summon her."

The guard bowed, proceeding with the order he'd just been given, "yes, sire."

She is hiding something from him. She didn't give him sufficient information yesterday; he is sure of that. He might have let her off yesterday but today, he's going to find a way to get the truth out of her, one way or another.

After taking a shower and a change of clothes, he was finally ready to meet Maggie, but still she hadn't come. She had never delayed like this before. Maybe it's because of her daughter?

About half an hour later, the guard he'd sent returned, but not with Maggie. With the look on his face, Walden knew that something had happened. His heart could only wait for the answer.

"What is it? Where is she?" He asked him.

The guard shook his head, "I searched everywhere for her, sire. It seems she's left."

Walden rose a confused brow. "Left? What do you mean by that?"

"I mean... She is no longer in the packhouse, sire, and neither is her daughter. It seems she ran off with her without telling anyone."

"Maggie ran away with her daughter? Why?"

"I don't know sire."

"Gather some men, let them search the entire town. I just saw her yesterday evening. If she left in the night, then she must not have gone too far."

"Okay sire."

After the guard left, Walden sank down on his chair, trying to comprehend Maggie's actions. Why would she do something like that? Of course, she should be free to move as she likes but why would she leave him without at least saying goodbye?

Her strange behaviours after seeing the vision yesterday could only answer this question, and with the way she left, Walden knows something is up with her. He'll find out what it is, no matter what, he'll make sure he does.

**********

Walden's guards spent the entire day searching for Maggie and Emily. Following his instructions, none of them returned until the job was done and Maggie was safe again in the packhouse.

By the evening time, Walden received some reports.

"Yes. What is it?" He asked his guard, trying unsuccessfully to hide his exasperation.

Good news. "We've found them, sire."

**********

"Mommy? Can I have a blanket? I'm cold mommy..." Emily cried as she tumbled on the hard bed uncomfortably.

Maggie feels bad having taken away her daughter from the warmth and comfort of the fine packhouse, but it's better than having to deal with what she knows she's about to face. She will try to avoid it at all costs even though it might come for her later.

"I am sorry, honey. I promise that this is just for tonight. I will buy you a blanket with the money I receive tomorrow."

She was able to get a small job in the restaurant of a downtown motel in exchange for a bed in a small room where she and her daughter would have to sleep. The food they ate today was gotten from the little she'd managed to stuff in a small bag from the night shadow kitchen. They both had nothing, and Maggie couldn't wait until the morning when she would try hard to find more jobs to take care of her and Emily.

Her wolf was mad at her for the path she'd chosen to take, and she is mad at herself too, but the reason she did this was that she needed a break from what was bound to happen. Was that too much to ask?