Can’t Trust Anyone

I jolted upright, heart pounding, breath caught in my throat.

I was back in the soft guest bed, warm layers tangled around my legs. Moonlight filtered through the glass roof. No queen. No marble gallery. No dripping veil. Just sweat and memories rushing in. My fists still clenched around the shimmering green stone.

I could’ve sworn Ishara looked right at me. She knew. Not Raiona. Not a shadow of a past self. Me.

Kicking the sheets off, I slipped barefoot across the chilled marble floor. The arched doorway gave way to a silent corridor. No Marik. No guards. Just moonlight gilding the stone, making everything too beautiful and dangerous.

Why did I forget the details?

Everything made sense finally. I remembered everything. I was taken by the scorpion army, to be killed by the queen. Marik’s mother. Not Raiona’s mother. That was the nagging feeling. That I had forgotten something. I couldn’t believe I had been relaxed the whole time.

It was probably the soldier with the priest looking robe. My forgetting about the queen only serves his purpose. He did attempt to throw some potion at me but Marik deflected it.

I thought of throwing the green rock out of fear, but I also didn’t want to alert Marik that I was awake. I held it onto my chest with a light cloth, so it wasn't touching me directly.

In any case, I can’t stay here anymore.

I turned a corner, and then another.

I already did a sweep earlier. I should know this.

Every door and corridor not lit by the moonlight looked the same. No windows to climb through. No breeze to guide me. Just the suffocating silence.

Marik won’t trap me, right? Didn’t he save me from being transported to my certain death? So he’s not bad right?

A faint glow of light was seeping through a closed door. I remember it was locked earlier. I pushed gently to see what was behind it. It opened.

What if I am already in Queen Ishara’s territory? What else has she seen through Marik when she detected my presence?

I found a wide stone opening to the upper ground, lined with dark pillars and moonlit vines. A staircase spiraled upward. I bolted for it.

Yeah nah I was delivered to the wrong queen. Someone take me to Raiona’s one.

Someone was already there. A figure at the top of the steps, arms crossed, more clothes than his usual, hair slightly tousled like he’d run to catch up.

Marik…

‘Ina,’ he said gently. ‘Stop.’

I did. I froze on the spot at the sound of Marik’s voice. He took one step forward, hands raised in peace.

‘You saw something,’ he asked with concern.

I was speechless. Marik hesitated. His usual confidence faltered.

‘She saw you, didn’t she?’

I finally nodded, and my voice cracked. ‘That wasn’t just a trip down memory lane. She looked at me. Like she knew I was there.’

‘She might have,’ Marik admitted sadly.

I tensed again, ready to bolt. Marik stepped down the stairs to meet me halfway and he caught me. Hugged me.

’I am very sorry.’ He said with a muffled voice, as he buried his face into my neck. He was sorrowful.

‘What do you know about all this?’

’At first, I thought my mother was after you because of me, her son, the prince, fell in love with someone not only outside of our kingdom, but the rival one as well.’ Marik pushed me away to look at my eyes and searched for understanding. I couldn’t give it to him. Not right now.

’Then recently, I found out that she had been trying to kill you in the other world. By sending you headaches, nightmares, or any sort of accident.’

So that’s her doing all along? Even my “accidental” balcony fall wasn’t very accidental afterall? Why me?

‘It doesn’t make sense. If I was on earth and living my life, no way of coming back here, why did she want me dead? Did Raiona do anything to her?’

Did Raiona’s soul go to me and Ishara wants it back? What’s the endgame of this all?

I try to recollect the nightmares I had been having. Child running, potentially Raiona. Definitely Marik’s mother chasing her down and pining her to the water. Raiona was a victim in all this.

‘You’re not alone.’ His voice was steadier now. ‘I swear to you, Ina. You’re safe with me.’

Not convinced. I did not feel safe enough to hug him back. Yet he continued hugging me. Hoping I would change my mind.

Then why am I with the person this queen doesn't want to see me with the most?

’Marik, why am I here?’

’Cause your kingdom summoned you.’

’No, not that. Why am I with YOU?’

‘Do you have plans of handing me over to your own mother eventually?’ I trailed. ’Am I not safer with my own people? I mean Raiona’s people?’ I added, returning his gaze.

Silence from Marik. His eyes were there but not there. He looked like he was weighing all the options.

’The truth. That is the only option I want.’

I took a step down on the stairs and looked up at him. His mighty silhouette covering the moonlight outside made him look like a prince ready to save the princess. His eyes were full of regret and longing. In another world, not this one, not the earth, this could’ve been a romantic scene. But it isn’t.

‘Tell me Marik. Tell me why I am here with you. This is more than just a simple love confession isn’t it?’ I pressed on.

Marik stepped down the stairs to close our distance. He gently pulled my waist closer to him and on the other hand, took the green gem and lightly tapped it to my cheeks. His gaze burned with longing and regret. Sleep swallowed me moments after. Marik gently and securely carried me back into his lair.

’Cause I wanted to kill you myself.’