Ruler of the Mask

Chapter 8 - Mission In the Process

Maui felt the urge to just assassinate this man for abusing the woman who seemed to be his wife as she was calling him ‘honey’. Honey my foot. Does that man look like a sweet nectar of a flower? He looked like a bee hunting for someone to put his sting on it. She noticed the bruises on the woman’s face and arms. What did this man do to her? Should she just kill him and forfeit herself from the investigation? Well, she would love to but she should not.

The couple didn’t notice that two people were watching them like some blockbuster movie. The screams of the woman were banging in her ears.

“Sweetie pie, could you take all the belongings in the compartment, please?” Maui requested Sky. She made sure that Azrael heard them as she said it loudly. She then wrapped her hands around his waist and kissed him on his left cheek because Azrael was looking at them. The woman stopped screaming, it was replaced with silent sobs.

Azrael left the woman on the ground and went to the elevator. A jerk to just leave her in that state. He doesn’t have a heart and a soul.

Maui and Sky’s eyes met fortuitously. She couldn’t say a word. His mesmerizing eyes made her hypnotize and if only the sky would grant her wish, she would rather kiss this man on the lips. She shook her head and move away. What was she thinking all of a sudden? She would never kiss a cold and heartless man; he would be the luckiest guy alive.

In a split second Sky was dumbfounded as he was looking like a fool for staring at her. He slapped his face and crossed his arms under his chest. “You dare stole a kiss from me. You owe me that kiss, you’re such a thief kisser.”

She didn’t mind what he said. Perhaps she felt the same thing. Afterward, Maui ran towards the woman and helped her get up. The woman was still crying while holding her left cheek; the swelling of her cheek caused by the cursed and fury hand of Azrael, and the puffiness of her lips was breaking her heart. No woman deserves to live with an evil husband or boyfriend.

“Miss, was he your husband?” Worry and sadness were visible on Maui’s face. A clenched on her fists signify that she wants to avenge this woman. She has forgotten to show her Detective I.D., it would’ve been great for the woman to fully trust her.

The woman nodded her head. Her hands were trembling and the trauma her husband caused made her distressed and broken. Why do men have to beat their wives who have no strength to fight back? Maui embraced her as she thought it would ease her pain and feel the comfort of warmth.

“It’s okay. You’ll be okay. I’ll help you get through this.” She showed her police identification to gain her trust. There was only one solution to this. “I’m with the police. You can file a case against him and I’ll make sure he will live his life behind bars. Okay?”

The woman pushed her away and burst all her tears while shaking her head. Maui reckoned she fears him. In the woman’s eyes, there was loyalty and dreadfulness. But if loyalty comes with fear then it's manipulation and control. Only dogs are loyal even when they are neglected.

“No. Step out of this, detective. You must not or else he will kill both of us.” The woman rose barefoot on the icy cemented ground, with eyes that were flowing in tears to her damp cheeks; she wiped them with her bruised hands. “I appreciate your concern detective but this is between me and my husband.” She left and headed to the elevator. Maui followed her through her stares until the elevator closed.

“I feel bad for her,” she commented as she felt Sky’s presence beside her. Her heart which was in peace was slowly breaking apart knowing that there are women whose suffering from abuse.

“Her name is Anastasia Licauco, wife of Mr. Azrael. She has been enduring the same thing throughout their marriage,” Sky informed her with a serious look on his face.

“You must be feeling the same thing. Does she have a family? Once we arrest him, she must find another way to live a good life, she deserves that.”

“She doesn’t have a family based on the records. She was an orphan. Her parents left her when she was eight years old.”

“Such a melancholic life. Let’s go. We have to organize our stuff.”

They went back to their cars. Maui and Sky took their suitcases. No one could help her as he doesn’t want to. Maui has two suitcases while he only has one. He immediately left her alone while dragging his things. She placed her hands on her waist as she couldn’t carry them all, then she stared at Sky who was halfway through the elevator. Disbelief flashed on her face. The young man wasn’t generous as she thought. She brought all of her things in the hope that he would help her.

“Are you serious?!” She couldn’t contain her anger anymore. The young man heard her as he turned around.

“What?” Sky was confused as his eyebrows almost met.

“You are the man here; you are supposed to help me!” She was pissed off and every breath he took drove her crazy.

He shrugged his shoulders and smirked. Was he trying to say ‘beg to me, you woman. You have been making my life a misery.’

“We are in a gender equality era. You can do that. I know you can. After all, you are a strong woman. Women always act strong.”

“That jerk, is he testing my patience? Fine, I will not ask for your help anymore. I know I can do this!” Then she rolled her eyes at him with a whip of fury in her eyes and glared as cold as December night. “You mean equality versus chivalry?!”

She didn’t expect more from Sky after how he just left her. She forcedly dragged her suitcases even though they were as heavy as the big rocks. Truth be told, she doesn’t need jerks in her life. Before she could take another step, a young man gently grabbed the suitcases away from her. After all the things she said, perhaps it pierced into his egoistic mind and came back to help her.

“I’ll take it from here, woman. Let me help you.”

She took the handle away from him and said. “No, I’m fine. I can take it. I don’t need your help.” Then she dragged them again.

“How many things did you put in your luggage? We don’t need much. We’ll be staying here for one month. Didn’t I tell you?”

Sky noticed that he has been talking a lot since Maui came, and it frustrates him. He wanted to stay low and cold, but she was doing things he doesn’t like. He blocked her way, hoping that Maui will accept his offer and not consume the time. “Here, let me help you. I don’t like it when women have to carry heavy things. I have big muscles to do that. Let me do it, your highness,” Sky lowered his voice so that he sounded like a nobleman. He bowed his head to her highness.

Maui knows that he was sincere with it as it can be seen in his eyes even though he seemed sarcastic. She gave her suitcase to him.

“Fine, I’ll let you.”

They arrived at their apartment with the help of the manager of the apartment. Mr. Marie was very accommodating as she asked the doormen to carry their things for them. They even placed them inside the apartment first as Maui and Sky had to talk to the receptionist first. As they arrived in their apartment, Maui was fascinated and fell in love with the view outside the glass windows, the picturesque ocean that reflects the beauty of the sky, and the resting of the sun towards the horizon.

“Wow, I think I can live here for the rest of my life. It’s beautiful!” she was utterly indulged in the Rockway Beach as she jumped closer to the window like a kid.

The young man didn’t mind her for he was busy dragging his suitcase to the living room. Their new home was spacious with two rooms that are perfect for them. The living room had three sofas and bright ornamental plants arranged on each side of the flat-screen TV. Beside the living room was the island kitchen counter.

As Maui was sated of staring at the ocean view, she opened the door of the two rooms. She picked a room that suits to her liking. The master’s bedroom will be his, as she chose a small bed with a walk-in closet. She grabbed her stuff and stopped beside him.

“I shall go to my room. Have a good night,” she said but he didn’t respond.

It took him minutes to wake up from the reality. “How about dinner? I’ll cook for us.”

“No, I’m fine. I’m not hungry.”

“No, you’re not.”

Sky walked towards the dirty kitchen and checked the fridge. Thankfully, there were meat and vegetables.

“This is perfect.”