~~Ashley’s POV~~
We had not even gotten fully into the house when my mom sent two hard slaps across Maverick’s cheek. For a second, I felt a pang of guilt but who cares? Like a frightened snail, I just curled back into my shell, standing behind him without a word. Apparently, my mom had returned and was waiting patiently like a hungry lion for us.
“I know I asked you to turn the car around and come back! How dare you disobey me!” She was furious. I could hardly remember when last she was in such a mood.
I waited patiently for him to spill the beans and tell her just how we’d have ended up in the mortuary thanks to my craziness. On second thought, his silence proved he may be too ashamed to admit a vulnerable girl like me could bring his huge self to nothing. Or he probably didn’t want me to tell my mom how shamelessly I caught him making out with a girl in the back seat on the first day! Turned out Maverick was nothing but a womanizing jerk who only appeared decent before my parents. His nonchalance however spared me those eyes that would otherwise hover around me. So if there was anything I wanted, it was definitely not to fire him.
“I’m sorry ma’am,” he simply said, keeping his head buried.
“And you!” my mom intruded my thoughts when she veered suddenly to me. “I have been calling you all day! Why in God’s name did you switch your phone off?!!” she scolded. The concern she had in her eyes didn’t match her furious outburst. There laid my answer: my mom was worried sick about me. She couldn’t successfully mask that anxiety with anger.
“I ran out of battery. I’m sorry,” I replied timidly. I was usually nonchalant in cases like this but my mom’s temper warned me to tread with caution this time. I took advantage of her underlying feelings. You could call me a sly wench. And more than anything, I needed to go to bed. If only I’d get some sleep. An argument was the least on my mind right now.
Later that night…
Never had I so desperately begged for sleep to run me over like I did tonight. I rejected dinner to hit the bed early but whenever I closed my eyes to sleep, only disturbing memories of Makayla flashed through at light speed. Miss Antonia’s headphones proved utterly ineffective this time. I sneaked in some sleeping pills for the first time in forever and even took an overdose but it didn’t work. I somehow worried I’d be doing something bad to my health but at that point, all I could think of was shutting my eyes in sleep. I wanted these heart throbbing memories out even if it was only for a second.
Heaving sighs after sighs, taking one deep breath after another, I kept rolling from one end of my bed to the other, frustration taking the better part of me. My pounding pulse didn’t help one bit. I quaked beneath my duvet, overridden by fear and anxiety. ‘What’s going on? ‘It felt like the episode earlier today was only halted and didn’t go away completely. Strange.
My episodes usually came, and lasted for a long while, but once passed, they passed. Even though the aftereffects remained with me for life. Something felt different this time. This episode wasn’t violent enough to make me go crazy, it was just unsettling and annoying.
‘I give up!’ Looking at the time, it was already past 3 am and I had school tomorrow.
** “Did he look like this?” she nodded mildly, looking at the painting I showed her.**
I immediately recalled my visit to the hospital. Fortunately for us, the girl was conscious and disposed enough to give us gestural replies. She indeed confirmed it was the same blue-eyed guy who drove her to a corner.
Like that memory touched a sensitive spot, I just laid with my head down and my face upward, letting the bitter memories flood in with ease. The pain I felt in my chest whenever I thought of Makayla was still as good as new. Shortly, I found tears seeping through the corner of my eyes, vertically onto my pillow.
I cringed slightly when my mind suddenly drifted to Carson. How could he have seen that far ahead? More than anything though, I hated how my weakness came bare before him. I sniffled and thought to go out to get some fresh air. ‘Maybe that’d help.’
I got out of bed at once and headed straight outside.
~~Daniil’s POV~~
After enduring several disgusting eyes and hands around me today, we finally returned to my castle-like mansion. My cheeks and temples were already hurting from all the fake smiles I was compelled to put on. And it was fucking annoying! All I wanted now was a warm bath, and dinner before heading to bed. Ignoring the courteous gestures that greeted me on my way in, I flung my bag to Andrei and strode in all majesty.
I went to my “chambers,” changed up, and came back out for dinner. Of course, I had a special dining table reserved for just me whenever I didn’t feel like using the one on the ground floor, not too far from my room, on the last floor.
I crossed my leg sitting on one end of the dining table enough to contain eight people while a maidservant set the table.
I monitored her precise movements from over my phone – held in my hand doing nothing in particular – as she put the dishes neatly next to each other. My eyeballs fell on her hands and noticed them trembling slightly. I expected that. Who wouldn’t get nervous knowing my eyes were watching closely? She bowed respectfully before turning around to leave.
Meal times for me were always like feasts that ended in a lot of waste as I didn’t have a big appetite. The best chefs were hired to make me the best of Russian delicacies. The princely treatment bestowed on me knew no bounds.
I immediately picked up the enticing glass of orange juice intending to gulp it down in one go but only sipped a bit when my tongue felt something funny. I heaved a sigh, not out of relief or satisfaction, but out of exasperation. I was furious.
I immediately sent the cup flying with a diagonal swing of my right hand across the table, shattering it before maidservants standing around me, in wait. The cold air around me dropped a few more digress. In abject fear they all fell face down on their knees, uncertain of who was at fault this time.
“Young master,” Andrei who observed silently all this while, finally reacted to my sudden outburst, rushing to me. I’d felt something thin, smooth, and flexible in my juice. It was hair! ‘For fuck’s sake!’
I clenched my fists so tightly that I could feel my fingers boring through my palms, gritting my teeth. “Why was there hair in my juice?” I drawled. My stare was dead, the expression on my face rather plain, not matching the fiery aura I exuded.
“I’m sorry, young master.” While kneeling only a few paces away from the dining, she bowed her head to the floor.
I stood up, ready to exterminate someone’s child when…
“Amelia still lies unconscious,” Andrei spewed, bowing slightly.
Like what he said was meant to take any effect, I paused, looked at him, and then glowered down at the pathetic fool quivering like a puppy left in the rain to die. Pretty sure if I paid closer attention, I could have heard her thumping heart.
Assuming it was the girl from earlier he spoke of, I stepped on the brakes. I swear I would have sent another bitch out of my house in an ambulance if Andrei’s reminder – of something I entirely forgot about – didn’t come right on time. I wasn’t sure what my dad would do if I caused two accidents at close intervals. I exhaled sharply. Putting up a really hard fight, I managed to restrain myself.
A dead silence engulfed the scene, the sound of a pin drop could be heard with zero effort. “Get lost,” I whispered through gritted teeth and got them all racing in the blink of an eye.
Having lost my appetite, I walked away in a fury.
“Young master,” Andrei called, overtaking me but staying off my path. I knew he wanted to stall for whoever was in my bedroom at the time. While I had my dinner, my bathtub was to be set up. I never wanted to run into anyone still lingering in my room. At the same time, nothing should be amiss – all hell would be let loose otherwise.
“Fuck off.” I simply walked past.
Late into the night …
I had my bath and simply sunk into the loneliness that existed within me in a mansion full of people.
Embedded in one of the towering windows was a door leading to a balcony outside my room. The balcony had a telescope situated at a strategic point, perfect for viewing the constellations; a weird hobby I had since I was a kid. The skies were dark, the perfect timing to catch the stars and moon. Unable to sleep, I just sat out there and stared at the dark sky. I had a love for this aspect of nature more than I had for people, to be honest. Except for one though. My friend. You’ll meet him soon.
“The stars are beautiful …just like her.” I smiled, remembering Ashley for a second there.