“Don’t ever lay your filthy hands on me,” she snarled.
“Same goes for you, Marta!” I half-yelleld. “This should be the first and last time you ever think of hitting me. What do you think I am, stupid? If we weren’t in TCH right now, I promise, you’d have been on the floor by now.”
“Oh, spare me,” she snorted. “This is only a little warning. You can be sure to expect more if you and your asshole of a friend don’t stay away from my business.”
She turned around to leave, but I grabbed her hand, bringing her back.
I let her see the seriousness in my eyes when I spoke to her. “Like I said, if you have an issue with Jace, go settle it with him. Don’t expect me to keep quiet when he’s trying to uncover an important truth.” I tilted my head to the side. “Or isn’t that the truth, Marta? Do you think he’s lying?”
Her eyes turned to icicles. But I couldn’t care less.
I released her wrist and walked away, still hating the fact that she had the nerves to slap me and I wasn’t able to do much about it.
*********+.
JARIS
I was at the office, reviewing some files with my CMO when Kael walked in.
His presence was thrilling and enough to make me dismiss the CMO in front of me.
“I believe you have the package?” I asked eagerly as he came to take the seat the CMO had just been spitting on.
He gave me that reluctant look before slipping his hand into his pocket and returning with a small pack of pills.
He dropped it on the table.
“Went through a lot of trouble to get this. You know it’s forbidden.”
I felt a cold sensation as I picked up the pack, observing the pack like it was a pack of gold.
“If it was truly forbidden, it’d stop being produced,” I muttered without looking at him. “What about the second stuff?”
Again, he sighed, as if being reluctant with his answer. “It’s in the car.”
I nodded, satisfaction brimming inside me. “Go get the car ready, then. We’re heading home.”
He stood up and was about to open the door when he paused and looked at me. “You know you don’t have to do this, right? It’s not exactly… noble.”
I was almost tempted to roll my eyes, bored with the conversation. “When have I ever been noble? You must be confusing my status for nobility.”
“Come on, J. You know what I’m talking about.
“No, I don’t, and I don’t even want to know. Now, get going.”
Kael wasn’t a nice man. He’d done a lot of pretty bad things in his life. Yet, here he was, counselling me like some grandfather.
Laughable.
Using my landline, I called my assistant to come to the office. In seconds, she was there. I asked her to pack up my things and follow me to the car.
As soon as we reached Darkspire, I took the things from Kael and went into Lyric’s room. Of course, I’d have a spare key with me.
It took me an hour to set up the first stuff, then dropped a single pill and a note on her dresser.
I stood with my hands in my pockets, staring at the pill.
I tried. The Moon knows I tried for it not to come to this. Kael was right. This was wrong. But I couldn’t bring myself to care anymore. I’ve never been a good man. No. I’ve done a lot of bad things that doesn’t give me the privilege to be called good.
You could say I’m a good leader, but not a good man.
And maybe, Lyric deserved this for messing with my head.
LYRIC
I was glad when my shift came to an end. My day had been ruined from the moment I healed that man that all I wanted to do was get home and have some sleep.
I passed by the room of the man I’d healed, just to peep through the window.
I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ratted me out already. How was he even able to tell what I was?
I slackened my steps when I neared the door and found Guinevere outside the room without another doctor. I couldn’t make out what they were saying, but it bothered me.
What if the man had told them and they were thinking of the best way to capture me?
Oh, stop it, Lyric. Stop being so negative.
If only it was that easy.
The second doctor left before I got to the spot to meet Guinevere. I looked out for the woman’s expression. This would determine if she knows something or not.
“Lyric. How was your day?” She sounded normal.
I took a deep breath. “I’m fine, Doctor Guinevere.”
I faced the window. The man was asleep.
“Is he uh…better? I heard he was in a coma.”
“Ah, yes. He miraculously woke up today.”
“Oh.” I nodded, my stomach tightening with nervousness. “How did that happen? I mean, did we have to do something special? Or did he-“
“It’s all thanks to Marta,” she cut me off, speaking in a whisper.
It took me a moment to wrap my head around the revelation. “Wait, what?”
“The man was her patient. And when I asked her, she said she had tried something new on him this morning which was the reason he regained consciousness.”
My head spun, my mouth dropping open. What in the name of Selene? Marta was taking the glory for something she didn’t do?
Now that I thought of it, Guinevere never asked questions concerning the surgery that was performed on Mr. Owens. I never wanted her to know it was me, but she never even tried to know who did it.
“I-I see.” I blinked rapidly, coughing to clear the sudden heaviness in my throat.
“She’s quite good. And she wants it to remain a secret. Doesn’t want the whole attention, your know?”
Oh, for Selene’s sake! Marta was more unbelievable than I thought. Of course, she’d want it to remain a secret because it wasn’t her doing!
“Was she…also the one that performed surgery on Mr. Owens?” Guinevere looked at me when I asked. “You know, I’d seen her go into the surgical ward but didn’t know if…” I shrugged, wanting her to complete the statement.
I tried to remain calm, but inside, I was burning with rage.
Guinevere hesitated before nodding.
“Actually, yes. She performed the surgery alone and didn’t want anyone to know about it.”
My eyes widened like saucers.
Guinevere must think I’m shocked because I didn’t know Marta could do such amazing things. She didn’t know I was being shocked that Marta could be such a lying bitch!
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.