Chapter twenty four

Maisy

I sat alone in the courtyard-almost alone if you count the maid assigned for me. I ignored the fact that  I wasn't a free bird and gave my attention to Ria. I had instructed that she be brought to me even if I didn't have the will to ride her.

We shared this connection and just watching her graze made me think of mother. It was the last moment I had of her. The wind and the silence, It was perfect but apparently it wouldn't last for long. Someone coughed to inform me of their presence and even when I ignored them, they didn't give him up.

"I see you're still upset." The priest acknowledged taking a seat close to me. He signaled the maid to leave us be. The maid bowed in respect of the Cleric and disappeared. Not far enough, so she could still attend to me when needed.

"I have something to tell you."

"I don't want to listen to anything you have to say. Even if you are a man of God, I know you have in on this."

The man snickered and licked his lower lips before speaking,

"Truthfully, I play a small role here. Do you know what that is? Not stopping this facade."

"Then stop it."

"I might be of influence but I am not God."

"So why are you here? To make me feel better?" I quizzed.

"To give you this." He reached his hand into his breast pocket and pulled out a small black book.

That was a red light. When someone brings a suspicious black book, you question everything.

"What exactly is that?" I quizzed, threading with caution.

"This... is your sister's journal."

"What!" I exclaimed, snatching the book from his hands. I instantly scrolled through it. It was inked.

"Where did you get this?" I demanded.

"Tatia handed it a week before she took her life." He replied.

I noticed his eyes were teary. The sadness was there. I looked back at the journal then asked.

"Why are you giving me this?"

"If you want to survive a Clarke, You need to know the stories."

The way he said those words implied he knows what Tatia went through before she was driven to take her own life.

The priest took a sigh and got to his feet.

"It was nice meeting you Maisy."

I looked up and said,

"Thank you."

I didn't know if he was doing this for selfish reasons and honestly, I didn't care. This was something I could use to know Tatia. It was something.

When the priest took.his leave, I buried my eyes into the book. It instantly caught my attention.

"Today, I know I'm not alone or maybe I am. I can't tell grandfather what I see. It's  torture to know who will die next."

Did Tatia have those weird voices in her head? We were twins so It wouldn't be far off. I scrolled to the next page.

"I don't love him. Why would grandfather do this to me? The Clarkes took my family away and now they want me."

That part was unsettling. I remembered Father telling me grandfather had betrothed mother to Eric's father, Did he do the same to Tatia? The thought of that made me sick to the stomach. It waa repulsing how he believed he had total control over how people's life should go. I flipped to the next page angrily.

"There's something wrong with Eric. I don't think we share a connection. I can't keep holding on."

The last part sent me to the brink of tears. Tatia begged for help but she never got it. She was surrounded by selfish and manipulative men who only wanted their way. Grandfather wasn't giving me the entire properties to amend his most. It was the guilt. He was a murderer!

Eric

Anthony rushed into my study looking ruffled and disturbed.

"Are you okay?" I quizzed, dropping the quill in my hands.

"No, and neither will any of us."

"What happened?"

"The chimera attacked a pack member during watch hours."

I sucked in air.

No... This was bad.

"Do you think Reece knows already?"

"Of course he does. He has eyes everywhere."

I could already guess what he would do. Maisy was in danger. Reece treated each member like his own son. I got goosebumps remembering Maisy was in the open garden with nobody but a human maid to protect her. I immediately called for a guard and instructed him to get Maisy. He dispatched immediately.

"Is he dead anyway?"

"Not yet. The chimera's venom hasn't killed him yet."

I could picture Reece angry at the world. Could that mean the Chimera was closer? The strange thing was, we were never attacked by the monster on our return. If it wanted Maisy, It had the opportunity to do that then but... It didn't. Something didn't seem right.

The guards hadn't returned minutes after I sent him and I was beginning to get anxious.

"Where is he!" I snarled, my wolf gaining temporary control.

"You need to calm down." Anthony cautioned.

The guards returned soon after with Maisy. She looked angry... And beautiful.

"You're safe," I muttered and tried to enclose her in my arms.

"What are you doing?" She resisted.

I took a step back remembering we were not the power couple.

"Sorry I just wanted to be sure you were safe."

"Well, I'm not." She solemnly replied, looking like an angel even if untold horrors resided on her tongue," I mean I'm living with a monster himself. What else could be dangerous?"

I frowned,

"I'm sorry Maisy. I'm only looking out for you."

"I know honey. Is that all? You're just looking out for me or is it some dark secret you're keeping yourself."

"What do you mean Maisy? You're always picking petty fights with me. Sometimes I wonder what goes on in your mind."

"You're such a good liar. It all comes out so effortlessly."

She turned to leave. My heart could bear the heartbreak so I held her back.

"I know I lied Maisy but I want you to know that I truly loved you."

She pulled me even closer, so close that I could see my reflection in her bright brown orbs.

"Really?" She slurred, "Was that before or after you ruined my life."

She broke free from my hold but stopped one more time.

"Ah.. I forgot to say this, I won't be leaving you any of my inheritance even if you keep me tied to you for eternity."

"You do know that's bad for both of us." I retorted, hoping the fear of spending her life with a terrible man like me would somehow make her change her mind.

"I know it won't but I won't let you win." She sent back.

I huffed, "you need to stop this...  What has gotten into you?"

"The truth." She replied.

I stood there confused. The truth? These were pieces I couldn't put together by myself but then she waved a black book in my face.

Tatia's journal.

***

Unknown

I scampered the pathway like I was being followed. One could never be too safe. The bucket of rotting meat made me gag but It was for love.

I would never let her suffer.

   I arrived at a wide glade and the blood-stained earth informed me this was my stop. I had the feeling I was being stalked so I did what I did each night.

I dumped the meat on the ground and waited for it to catch the scent. It saw the red meat and poked its head out of the shadows, the head of a lion with a dark mane that looked like it was covered in blood, the body, and hooves of a horse, and a serpentine tail. It immediately lunged for the treat on the ground, crunching away. I bent down and stroked its mane. It resisted but it would never hurt me. My daughter would never hurt me.

"You did well today but That's not all the Clarkes will face. There is something that matters to him and I want it!"