Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Chapter 24- Losing My Mind

MAIA'S POV

For the next couple of days, I secretly investigated the growling sounds I heard a few nights ago. As I asked more people, I started to think I had lost my mind. None of them heard the growling or felt the shaking of the ground.

I dragged myself back to my room, feeling defeated.

'Am I really going crazy, Avi?' I asked.

'You are not, Maia. You want to know what I think?' she said, asking if I wanted to hear her theory.

'What?' I asked.

At this point, I did not care anymore.

'I think that this is your trauma,' she said slowly.

'What trauma are you talking about?' I asked, laying down on the bed.

'The trauma that your body endured when you were kidnapped by Uriah and lost your baby,' she said.

I stopped for a second as my mind brought back the memories of the past.

I shook my head, hoping the nightmare would disappear as well.

'I disagree,' I said firmly.

'You disagree, but the memories just flashed in your head. Who are you kidding? Yourself? Because I'm not falling for that shit,' Avi replied.

I just ignored her and blocked her from my mind.

I let out a sigh and stared at the ceiling.

'Is Avi right? Is this due to the trauma that Uriah has caused?' I asked myself.

I was lost in my thoughts that I did not notice Lucius' presence until he laid down next to me.

"Are you thinking of painting the ceiling?" he asked.

I almost jumped out of shock.

"When did you get in?"

I asked, sitting up.

"A while ago. You seem to be very focused on what art you are thinking about that you didn't seem to notice. Well, what are you thinking about?" he said, asking about what was in my mind.

"I don't know. I feel like I'm going crazy," I implied, laying down on the bed.

"How so?" he asked, turning on his side.

"I'm starting to hear things that nobody else does. It's already driving me insane. I no longer know what's real and what's not," I confessed.

"What do you mean? Talk to me," he asked.

"Just like now. You are here acting sweet and like you care. Then, when Pamela arrives, you ignore me like I don't even exist. If you don't want me, what the hell am I still doing here? Why not just let me go? Being in here is already driving me crazy," I complained, sitting up.

"I already told you. I am dealing with it. Just give me time, Maia. If you're starting to become bored, tell me what you need, and I'll have somebody buy it for you," he replied.

"Don't you get it, Lucius? I don't want to be here anymore. How long are you going to keep me here? If you can't let Pamela go, then please let me go," I begged.

He sat up on the bed and looked at me.

"Why do you keep asking me to let you go? Don't you really want me? Is it something that Uriah said?" he asked.

"Don't you see it? I don't belong here. I never did," I said, holding back my tears.

"Why do you keep saying that?" he asked.

"I am not cut out for this. Just let me go!" I said, slightly raising my voice.

"No! You are mine!" he growled.

"I am not yours, Lucius!" I yelled before storming off the room.

I let my feet drag me away from the castle.

"Damn him! Does he think he can just keep me as his prisoner? Huh! That's where he is wrong. I don't belong to anybody and will never be. No one makes decisions for me except me. So, he can kiss his ass for all I care," I muttered under my breath.

The only time I stopped walking was when I tripped on a root. I looked at my surroundings and sniffed the air for clues.

"Shit! How am I supposed to go back now?" I cursed under my breath.

I was about to ask Avi for some help when I heard twigs snap. I quickly turned around and was on high alert.

"Are you lost, or are you trying to run away?" a very familiar voice asked.

A growl escaped my lips as I turned around to face him.

"What the hell are you doing here, Uriah?" I asked.

My voice was filled with anger.

"I could ask you the same thing," he replied, taking a step towards me.

"Stay where you are, asshole!" I exclaimed.

"Last time I checked, you couldn't stay away from me," he said with a light chuckle.

"What the hell do you want?" I asked.

"The same thing you want – revenge," he said with a smirk on his face.

"That's where you are wrong! I don't want revenge; I want justice," I spat.

"Oh, come on, Maia. Haven't it come across your mind why my dear brother hasn't announced you yet as his Queen Luna? Do you really believe that he is still trying to find a way to tell his dear Pamela about you?" he asked.

I simply growled at him.

"Did you really think that he is going to name some sloppy second of his brother, his Queen Luna? He is not who you think he is, Maia. I bet he is only keeping you there to be his sex slave. Rather than finding a young woman to use as his sex slave, his mate would do just fine. He will beat you, use you, and then kill you once you are no longer of use to him," he said.

"Are you really that bored, or do you just have nothing better to do so you are trying to ruin somebody else's life? I asked.

"I am not trying to ruin something that's already broken," he said.

"What are you implying, Uriah?" I snapped.

"Let's face it, Maia. You and my dear brother never really had any sort of relationship. Getting you pregnant was just a bonus for him. If it weren't for me, you two would have never met. He would have never known you existed," he said.

I could feel Avi trying to push through the barrier. She was definitely getting mad.

"Is everything that comes out of your mouth a lie? I mean, are you not tired of it because I certainly am," I spat.

"Think, Maia. Did you ever think how he ended up in no-man's-land, hundreds of kilometers from his castle?" He asked.

When he mentioned it, it pondered my thoughts. He was right! What would Lucius be doing so far away from his castle on his own?

I glared at him and said, "He was running after a rogue. Besides, you don't have the brains to orchestrate such a plan."

"Maia. Maia. Maia," he said, clicking his tongue.

I took a step back as he took slow steps towards me.

"The rogues that he was trying to catch were the same rogues that were after you," he said.

Shit! He was the person behind it all.

"Why are you even doing this? What do you want from me?" I yelled, asking.

"I want you to work with me and get our revenge on Lucius," he replied.

"I already told you. I don't want revenge from Lucius!" I explained.

"Come on, now, Maia. Let's not get worked up. Listen to what I am about to tell you because I will only say this once. You will not go anywhere, but instead, you will have to stay with Lucius. You will not get your peace until I get my revenge. Since you ruined my plans, you will suffer in his hands for the rest of his life. You will come begging me once you see the true color of Lucius," he warned.

I felt my back hit the tree before falling to the ground. I think I heard someone call my name before I lost consciousness. Was it Lucius or Neal?