A Game Of Deception
1467 Words
The silence between Evelyn and I was a long one. Her eyes were all over me, looking for something, an answer maybe, a weakness even.
But I refused to give her one.
The tension in the air was a whole lot, filled with unspoken words. Everything felt heavy and like it carried secrets. I could feel Evelyn's suspension rising, her presence was suffocating.
I had to be careful.
One wrong move, one misplaced word and she would see right through me.
Evelyn folded her arms across her chest. "Forgive me, Your Highness." She said, her voice filled with mockery. "You seem... well you seem troubled"
I looked at her with a smile, despite the anger I felt in me. "Troubled?" I repeated. "Not at all. Just... overwhelmed, I guess."
She looked at the grave at my feet.
My own grave.
"It's strange." I continued. "To mourn someone I never met."
"You speak like you know her or something" she continued, her voice firm.
I laughed slightly. "I know only what I've been told. That Lady Selene was Victor's fated mate. That her loss still stays in this place." I turned to face her. "That she took her own life.... isn't that right?"
I couldn't see something confusing in her expression. She didn't like my questions.
Good, that was exactly what I wanted .
"That is what happened," Avery said, her voice shaky. "That poor girl couldn't handle the rejection."
I was filled with fury
Lies... all lies.
"How tragic." I forced myself to say.
Beside me, Victor remained silent, but I could feel him staring at me. He has been watching me all night. I had no doubt he was trying to make sense of me, make sense of what I had become.
I couldn't let him, or Evelyn see through me.
I turned to Victor, as I signed. "I think I've seen enough. Can we go back inside?" I asked.
He paused for a moment like he was thinking about it. "Ofcourse"
As we turned to leave, I felt Evelyn's eyes on my back, it was filled with more suspicion.
She didn't believe me.
She didn't believe me one bit.
And I knew she wouldn't stop until she discovered the truth.
But I wouldn't let her.
I couldn't.
Not now. Not ever.
*******
The halls of the Moonlight Estate felt both familiar and strange to me as I walked through them. I had played in these corridors once before, years ago. I was powerless, wolfless, a mere shadow. I was an inconvenience to be dealt with in every plan made.
Now, I walked the same halls, but different, I now walk as a queen.
But the ghosts of my past still hung on to me, frightening me with each step I took.
I couldn't escape them, no matter how much I tried. No matter how many times I told myself I was someone else now, at least for this moment.
Victor walked me through the corridor, but his eyes didn't leave me. He was watching me, though he said nothing since we left the grave, but I could feel he had a lot to say.
I couldn't hide from them forever
"Are you feeling alright?" Victor asked, his voice low. "You don't look well."
I faked a smile, trying to allow the uneasy feeling I had in me slide. Since my resurrection, my body felt different. On some days, I felt strong like the air around me was filled with power. But on other days, like today, I felt like I was like I was breaking down. It was strange. Almost like I was sliding away from something I didn't really understand.
"I'll be fine," I said, my voice firm, like there was tension I couldn't really understand. "Thank you for your concern, but I'm......adjusting."
Victor didn't seem convinced. I caught the worry in his brows before he had it with a neutral expression.
"You don't have to hide it from me," he said, his voice soft. "If you need time to rest, I can arrange a room for you."
I shook my head. "I'll be alright," I said again. "Let's focus on what's ahead.
As if on cue, a strange silence filled the pack. The soft sounds of the wind outside seemed to disappear. It sent a chill down my spine and I unconsciously moved closer to Victor.
Something was wrong.
And before I could make sense of it, I heard a voice, a voice I hadn't expected to hear.
"It's you."
The words, almost like a whisper.
I turned slowly, as my stomach dropped. My heart skipped as I saw him.
Elijah.
My childhood friend, the one person who had always been there for me, even when the rest of the Moonlight pack had turned their backs on me.
Elijah was the one person who knew me before. The one person who had never forgotten who I was.
His blue eyes looked directly into mine,and for a moment, it felt like the entire world stood still. After a moment, I saw a hint of recognition on his face, his face showed shock and immediately after, it showed disbelief and then turned to something I couldn't picture, something that felt like hope.
"No," Elijah whispered, his voice cracking as he stepped forward. "It can't be....."
I felt panic through me. I had no time for this. I couldn't let him see the truth. Not now, not when I was so close to my goal.
I forced my face to remain normal, my heart pounding in my chest as I stepped back, maintaining a distance between us.
"I'm sorry," I said, keeping my voice low. "Do I know you?"
Elijah stopped, he squinted his eyes, as he looked into my eyes, looking for something, a sign that this was still the same person he had known all those years ago. His eyes were intimidating, and I could see the doubt in his eyes as he tried to understand what was happening.
"Sorry, you sound like someone I once knew," Elijah said, his voice filled with emotion.
I couldn't let him find out. Not now. Not in front of Elijah.
"I fear you must be mistaken," I said, trying to make my voice calm, smooth. "I am Queen Emily of Silvermoon."
Elijah paused, still trying to process my words. The disbelief on his face slowly turned into something dangerous. It was suspicious. He wasn't buying it.
"Maybe," he whispered. "But you remind me of someone, someone very dear to m4e."
I could feel Victor beside me now, his presence was intimidating. I wasn't sure if he sensed the danger in the air, but I could tell he was active, his eyes moving on Elijah and me.
I stepped closer to Elijah, my voice softer as I spoke. "You were a friend of the late Lady Selene, Weren't you?"
His expression became stern. "I was."
I reached out, and placed my hand on his arm. "Then I'm sorry for your loss," I said.
His whole body was filled with something I couldn't read. For a moment, I thought he might say something, anything to rat me out.
But before he could speak, I heard a voice interrupting.
"Well, Well. Look who we have here."
I paused. The voice was too familiar. I knew that voice too well.
It was Jake.
My betrayer.
I turned slowly, I was furious. There he stood, leaning on the wall, his arms were crossed on his chest like he was watching a movie.
He looked between me and Elijah, amusement dancing in his eyes. "It's an honor, Your Highness , to have you here in our pack." Jake said, his voice was filled with politeness..
But it was fake. It was all fake.
I could feel the fury in me. I wanted to slap that laugh off his face. All these were caused by him. I wouldn't be here if he had just stood with me like he had promised. But I held back, forcing my expression to remain natural.
"The honor is mine," I replied coldly.
Jake moved closer to me. His eyes looked directly into mine. "I look forward to getting to know you better." He said.
I had to resist the urge to hit me. He had no idea who I truly was and I had to keep it that way.
Jake laughed. "I think we're going to have lots of fun here together, Queen Emily."
I had to play this game no matter how much I hated it.
But as I walked away from Elijah and Jake. I realised I wasn't just here to reclaim my power. I was here to make them all pay.
And nothing, not Jake, or Elijah, not even Victor would stand in my way.
- Writer
