EMPIRE: The Rise of A Queen

Chapter 15

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KENDRA

Why did I think that my life could ever be normal? It never has been so why would it start now? Things were still weird with Marcel after our fight but we were working on it at least so that was something. But the fact that he didn’t tell me the truth about his parents made this feeling creep up on me. If he lied about that, what else was he lying about? I did my best not to think about it but on some level it was always there in the back of my mind and it made me question every little thing he said or did. I heard him turn on the shower so I pulled on a shirt and a pair of shorts from my dresser and my fuzzy slippers from the side of the best before I walked down the stairs to make some coffee. The smell of the newly grinded coffee beans woke my senses to life. That first sip tasted like heaven and it actually made me believe that everything would be okay.

My mind was distracted by the hard knocking on the front door. I put my coffee cup on the counter and walked over to open. It felt like a flashback with Maya and the same expression she was holding earlier. I knew she was still on the whole ’Marcel-thing’ and I hated it.

”Maya, I hope you’re not here to push anything more about Marcel. We talked about it and he explained. So just drop it.” She wasn’t dropping it, it was in her eyes. She just pushed through and walked inside.

”Sorry, can’t do that Kens.” I would have reacted to her new choice in nickname but the fact that Nick and Edward followed behind her took most of the shock. I hadn’t seen or even spoken to Nick since our kiss, a minor (major) detail I had kept from Marcel.

”What are you going on about now Maya?” I hate that I sounded harder than I intended. I knew it was because they cared for me. If I hadn’t seen the look in Edward’s eyes I would have pushed them out the door, but I had never seen him filled with so much worry before.

”I don’t care what lies he’s been telling you Kens, but it’s probably as far from the truth as you can come.” She was determined, I had to give her that at least.

”Who his parents were doesn’t make him the same.”

”He’s father killed my aunt Kay. And he’s the f*****g heir to the royal black magic throne. Don’t tell me that he’s turning that down? I doubt it.” Nick spoke for the first time since they invaded my home.

I was about to respond but at that moment everyone’s attention was brought to the top of the stairs, there he stood in only jeans that hung low on his waist. Marcel. He looked surprised at our guests, my guests?

”What’s going on babe?” He asked and I didn’t need to look at Nick or Maya to see how they were filled with hate at the sight of him.

”Oh, you should know what you’ve been lying about.” Maya practically spit the words out.

”Like I said to Kendra, I’m not my parents. I left that life behind me.” He was calm and walked down a few steps as he spoke.

”Does the rest of the world know that? Cause from what I heard you’re taking over the throne within the next year..” Edward smirked at Marcel as he spoke and I saw that Marcel was taken back by what he had said, like he wasn’t expecting that.

”Wha.. I know nothing about that. It’s probably his way of trying to get my attention.” You could hear it in his voice that he was unsure of what to say. It made my heart break and it felt like he was trying to figure out which lie to tell me this time.

”You lied to me.. again.” I said in a low voice with tears in my eyes.

”I’m sorry okay. But my father is insane, he has been for years. He’s not the father I grew up with.” He was now standing at the bottom of the stairs, just a few feet away from me.

”No Marcel! You told me just an hour ago that we weren’t gonna keep anything from each other anymore. You can’t stop lying, can you?!” I raised my voice and backed away from him, knowing that if he touched me I would be weak to his words. It made me wonder if his skin was poison to me, a drug.

”I’m not the only one with secrets Kendra.” His voice was dark for the first time ever, it made me shiver.

”What are you talking about? I’ve talked to you about my mother and the fact that we both lost our parents was what connected us so much. Was that a lie too? What else did you lie about? Is your name even Marcel Walden?” There was no stopping the tears anymore at this and the shame in his eyes told me everything. Everything he had told me was a lie, he was a lie.

”It’s Ashwood, not Walden.” At a small moment it felt like he was truly sorry and that it broke off a part of him for lying. A very small moment.

”That’s just great..” I had almost forgotten that Maya, Nick and Edward were there, witnessing everything. ”Why should I believe anything you’re telling me?” Having them there kept me from falling for more of his lies.

”Because I love you.” I almost believed him. Maybe he did love me, at least a part of him did.

”I’m not sure I believe that anymore..” I muttered and he took another step to me, this time I didn’t move away from him.

”I’m not my father, he isn’t the man I grew up with.” I had picked up on his small slip ups through all of the.. fighting?

”Isn’t? Oh my god.. he’s not dead is he?” I put my hands to my face as the tears flowed even more.

”No.” He looked down as he said it but soon turned to me, took another step forward and tried to take my hands in his but Nick pulled me back, away from Marcel’s touch.

”You should probably go now.” He said as he kept me sturdy in his embrace. His eyes found mine and I could swear I saw a tear in his eyes and the next second he was gone. Like he disappeared into thin air, out of my life.