Hiding

Clove carefully tried her best to ignore Azazel's presence as she focused on what she was doing, she just needed to clean and ultimately get out of here.

Clove was busy sweeping when she turned around to notice Azazel staring at her intently as she shrieked internally and stylishly turned around so as not to face him.

"Why is he looking at me like that?" asked Clove to herself as she was so scared right now, she felt as if she was in a lion's den, which she was.

"Does he remember me?? I doubt so" said Clove to herself as she shook her head slightly.

"No, he cannot remember me, I look totally different now…" said Clove to herself, she was sure that Azazel could not recognize her.

"Maybe he just has a problem with staring at people" said Clove as she assured herself that that was it, that was the reason he was looking at her like that.

Azazel just watched Clove, it was clear that she was battling with some internal conflict, that was very obvious, she wrote all of her expressions on her face, he could tell that she was uncomfortable, which made Azazel smiled.

It further solidified the fact that she had something to hide, why else would she be so scared for no apparent reason.

Azazel could tell that her fear was much more than just fearing his presence, but it was something else, something deeper.

Clove sighed in relief when she was finally done sweeping everywhere, except the area where Azazel was sitting at his desk, but she doubted that he would mind, she did not want to go near him or disturb him.

"My lord… I am done…" said Clove as she turned to look at Azazel who just looked at her and waved her off as she nodded and made her way quickly to the exit until she heard Azazel's chilly voice call out to her as she stopped right in her tracks."

"How long have you been in this camp Sage?" asked Azazel as he looked at her, while she thought of how to answer him.

"Umm I…" said Clove as she was thinking and Azazel cut her off.

"Look at me when you are speaking to me" said Azazel in a low tone as Clove quickly turned around and decided on an answer as she wanted to get out of here as quick as possible.

"I have been here for some months now… my lord…" said Clove.

"When exactly did you join the camp?" asked Azazel.

"Forgive me my lord, but I cannot remember" said Clove as Azazel just looked at her, not believing a single word that she said, but she hoped that her quick, somewhat honest answers would make him have no reason to continue asking her questions.

"You can go now" said Azazel.

"Thank you my lord" said Clove as she bowed her head and she left as the door closed behind her.

"She is lying" said Azazel to himself, he could tell, it was obvious that she was lying.

Azazel was certain that she was the same woman he met last night, even though she had a different face, hair colour, and different voice.

The woman he had met last night had a somewhat tender light voice, while this woman's voice was a bit deeper, but ultimately, Azazel was sure that they were the same person.

His only question being, what her reason for hiding was, but he was sure it was nothing good, he would have to kill her soon.

…

"What's wrong Maddie?" asked Annie as she looked at Maddie who sighed.

"I just miss my mom so much right now, I am worried about her" said Maddie.

"Well did you send her a letter?" asked Annie.

"I did, and she hasn't replied yet, which makes me even more worried" said Maddie.

"I am sure she is doing alright Maddie" said Annie as she was trying her best to make Maddie remain positive.

"No, it's not just about that Annie, I can't stand that man, I don't feel at ease when I know that she's next to him" said Maddie.

"It worries me, Azazel is dangerous, he almost killed me, and he can kill her" said Maddie as Annie patted her on the back.

"That man is just so horrible, I can't even imagine how my mom lived with him all these years, he's a brutal man" said Maddie.

"It just makes me so angry to think that she stayed with him because she had no choice, she was stuck with him because he was the only one she looked up to" said Maddie in anger.

"I understand what you mean Maddie" said Annie.

"But why don't you try and take your mind off this?" asked Annie.

"You are right, I'm going to go find Matt, let's see if he will spar with me" said Maddie as she stood up.

"Alright, have fun" said Annie as she smiled.

"I will, you know I love sword fighting, I always win" said Maddie with a smile as Annie laughed.

…

"Dude, I really still don't get how the security system set up didn't work" said Matt as he looked at Ollie as they were walking.

"Well Azazel got in using a blood link, and on top of that he sealed off the library and we did not even notice, that's how" said Ollie as he walked into the lounge as he saw the person he least expected to see siting down on the couch.

"What are you doing here?" asked Ollie in a tone of tiredness, of course he couldn't stay away from home for long without him being called back.

"I am here to see you Ollie" replied Christina with a smile as Ollie sighed and Matt looked at the mother and son pair.

"Good afternoon your Majesty" said Matt as he greeted Christina.

"Good Afternoon Matt" said Christina with a smile.

"I will see you late dude" said Matt as he knew that they both needed to talk, so the simply left the room as Ollie sighed.

"Come on Ollie, come sit next to me" said Christina as she patted on the empty space on the couch beside her as Ollie sat down.

"I am not coming back home" said Ollie simply.

"I never said that you had to" said Christina.

"I just wanted to know how you are doing, this is the longest time that you have stayed away from home my son" said Christina as she smiled.

"I am fine mother, how are you, and how are things in the Castle?" asked Ollie.

"Good, and good" replied Christina.

"Ollie, your father… he…" said Christina as she was cut off.

"He wants me back home, but I am not going, he doesn't respect my wishes, so I won't bother him with them" said Ollie as Christina sighed.

"The both of you are so stubborn" said Christina, neither would bow for the wishes of the other.

"I am not stubborn, he is, he refuses to see my view on thing, he doesn't value my opinion, he treats me like a child and I am done" said Ollie.

"You know how your father is Ollie, but that shouldn't stop you from coming home, I miss you" said Christina as she smiled and patted Ollie on his cheek.

"You know that you are always welcome here to see me, I am just not coming home, not until there is a change" said Ollie as Christina sighed.

"Hey blondie, have you seen Matt?" asked Maddie In a rude tone as she heard Ollie's voice and walked into the room, only to be surprised to see Christina there.

"Ohh… your Majesty… good afternoon" said Maddie as she saw Christina.

"Good afternoon Maddie" said Christina with a smile.

"Matt isn't here, I don't know where he is" said Ollie.

"Ahh I see, I will just take my leave now, sorry for disturbing you, I did not know that you were here" said Maddie as she quickly turned around to leave as Christina stopped her.

"Wait Maddie, how do you feel? I heard about what happened, and it was truly horrific" said Christina as Maddie grimaced and she turned around as she glared at Ollie who in turn sent her a look that read he was not the one who told her about it.

"I am alright your Majesty, thank you for asking" said Maddie.

"Oh but your neck is still wrapped in bandages" said Christina.

"They should get better soon your Majesty" said Maddie.

"Come over here, let me have a look" said Christina as Maddie sighed internally, cursing her luck, just why did she have to run into Christina here.

Maddie did not want to refute the Queen, so she walked over to where she was as Christina stood up and she removed the bandages to show how Maddie's neck looked red and covered in rashes.

"Poor thing, look at what that man did to you, it's horrible, he destroyed your beautiful neck" said Christina as she could not believe what she was seeing, Maddie was badly hurt.

"It's not that bad your Majesty, really" said Maddie as Christina tisked and rubbed her hands on Maddie's neck as she whispered a spell under her breath.

"There, now your neck is back to being very pretty" said Christina with a smile as all the rashes and redness was gone and Maddie's neck was back to normal.

"Pretty?" asked Maddie as she was weirded out.

"Yes my dear, you have a beautiful neck, you don't you know?" asked Christina with a happy smile as Maddie looked at Ollie in total confusion.