Secrets in the Shadows

Chapter Twenty One

Maev pulled a chair in front of Kramer's desk and sat down. She hesitated before she spoke since the look of anger on Kramer's face indicated that he was not about to take any nonsense from her. She took in a deep breath to control the cocktail of emotions brewing inside of her, but as she tried to speak, no words came out.

" So... What do you have to say before I carry out the death sentence ?", Kramer asked staring at her.

" I...I want to know what proof you have.. that we are responsible for your brother's death! I just can't believe that anyone from my home will harm a Bloodworth, it's impossible!!", Maev said trying to stay calm.

Kramer laughed, " Why should I tell you? so you can run to your father ! Isn't that what you were doing .. spying on us?!", Kramer asked.

" No, I wasn't spying!!... I just wanted to know what was going on!", Maev defended herself.

" There is no need to spy anymore.. my people are waiting for my order and then your whole Kingdom will be destroyed .. including you!", Kramer said anger flashing in his eyes.

Maev got up, she was perturbed by his words that her body shivered, she didn't know what to say to Kramer so that he would spare her people's lives.

" Why can't you tell me what you’ve found out!?!, Maev raised her voice .

Kramer narrowed his eyes and looked at her, he could see the look of desperation on her face even if she was acting so tough.

He stood up and walked towards the window, stood there looking outside. He took in a deep breath and then he looked at her.

" The day Oliver died he was not alone. His best friend was with him, whoever killed Oliver thought that Lucas was dead as well but our people got to him on time and took him somewhere safe. Yesterday he spoke for the first time since the incident and he mentioned the name of someone who works for your father !", Kramer said trying to stay calm. He stared at her to see her reaction, she brushed her hair back shaking her legs anxiously. She was in shock and she had to swallow the lump that had formed in her throat before she spoke.

" My father? !who was it.. tell me Kramer!", Maev pleaded as she stood up.

" Does the name Olur any bells?", Kramer asked not taking his eyes off her.

" Olur... Olur..", Maev kept repeating the name, and then she looked at Kramer and smiled.

Kramer looked at her and wondered why she was smiling and she made him even more upset.

" Do you think this is funny!", Kramer asked angrily and in a wink, he was in front of her and he grabbed her arms tightly.

" Kramer let go of me.. listen ..", Maev said as she tried to pull her arms away from his grip.

" Olur used to work for my dad, it's true but last year he was banished from the Kingdom because he wanted to overthrow the Queen and he tried to gather some other witches and wizards to join him but someone went to report him to the Queen... I'm telling you the truth!", Maev said to Kramer staring straight at him.

Kramer looked at her and could feel that she was being honest. Her eyes were begging him to believe her but he couldn't, he tightened his grip on her arms and glared at her.

" Why should I believe you?!", Kramer asked.

" I'm telling you the truth! Olur was banished from the Kingdom! He couldn't be working for my father, he will never order anyone to kill your brother or anyone from your Kingdom! Please believe me!", Maev said raising her voice a bit. She was desperate for Kramer to believe her.

Kramer pushed her backward, she stumbled and hit her hip against a chair. She winced in pain, but the pain suddenly disappeared with the touch of her fingertips.

" Then, why were your father's men spotted in the FrotStol covert that night ? What were they doing there?!", Kramer shouted at her.

" I don't know! Why don't you ask my father yourself? I'm sure he wants to clear up his name with you and you will see that it was nothing but a misunderstanding", Maev said with much confidence. Kramer looked at her and walked over to his desk and let out a loud growl and with one swift movement, he swiped everything off his desk in anger. Apart from him wanted to believe her, but he just couldn't bring himself to trust her. He was angrier because somehow Maev had gotten under his skin and he couldn't hurt her and that was killing him inside, mixed with the anger of his brother's death he felt he was about to explode!

He had his back turned to her and he was breathing heavily as his claws dug in his desk.

Maev walked up to him, she didn't like to see him suffering and wished she could help him. But first, she had to make him believe her and learn to trust her. Maev slowly reached out and touched him lightly on his shoulder and he growled softly.

Maev didn't move away she stood there and she called his name softly. She noticed as his shoulders relaxed and he turned around and looked at her.

Maev went down on her knees and looked at him,

" Kramer, I'm telling you the truth! Please spare my people and speak to my father!", Maev begged him on her knees.

Kramer grabbed her arms and made her stood up.

"No need to beg me … yet! I accept your request, I'll speak to your father and he better tell me everything!", Kramer said staring at her with a serious face .

Without thinking, Maev hugged him tightly and thanked him. For a moment Kramer closed his eyes and smelled her hair. The smell of wildflowers brought him back to that night in the cottage . A night that every time he would smell wildflowers he will remember her. Not letting himself be fooled by her smell and that night pushed her away. Maev looked at him and he looked away from her as he walked towards the door.

Before he could make it to the door, the door opened and Octave walked in with another young man.

" Olur was spotted by the hunters! Are you coming?", Octave asked and he looked around the room when he noticed the mess.

" Of course! Let's go!", Kramer said and walked behind Octave.

" Kramer you can't go out there!", Maev said behind him and he could feel in her voice that she was worried.

He stopped and turned towards her,

" Why because I might find out that you are lying and I'll find out that your dad was involved in Oliver's death?!", Kramer said walking closer to her.

" No! Because ... I care", Maev said looking straight at him.

Kramer was surprised by her answer, he took a step backward-looking at her with narrowed eyebrows, he turned glanced towards the door, and without uttering a single word he walked away quickly slamming the door behind him.

" Be careful!", Maev whispered as sadness and fear surrounded her.

" What happened in there !?", Octave asked Kramer as they climbed on their horse.

" I'll tell you on the way", Kramer answered and at the back of his mind, he was thinking about what she had said before he left.

" Because I care", her voice echoed in his head and he shut his eyes tightly pushing those thoughts away. He has to stay focused on what they were going to do.

" Olur will pay dearly for the death of Oliver!", Kramer said to himself as he clenched his fists.

Maev made her way to her bedroom. She was worried that something could happen to Kramer. Olur was a dangerous wizard and he had turned towards darkness. He only had the greed for power that's why he was banished from the Kingdom.

" I didn't even get the chance to speak to him about that which they saved. Could it be my mother? Who were they were referring to? I have to ask him, he has to come back! I want him to come back!", Maev whispered as she stood on the balcony and looked towards the mountains.

Beyond those mountains, is where her people live, her father, and all of her memories. All that she was hoping for was that she could find something to save everyone from this big misunderstanding. It was clear that her father had nothing to do with the death of Oliver, but like Kramer said, what were her father’s men doing in that place

that night?