Chapter 31

Maris' heart jumped up her throat and stayed there when she realized he was actually dead.

"King?" Maris tilted her head to the side and poked his arm, but he didn't respond.

His fat nose became even more pronounced as he laid lifelessly on the bed with his mouth ajar. Irritation laced her voice as she tried to call him again and it was immediately replaced with fear.

"No, no, no." She panicked, tapping his cheeks rapidly with her hand. "Okay, I know you're not dead and you're just playing games with me," she said with a rictus grin then laughed. "Get up, this isn't funny anymore."

No reply.

She sat on the edge of the bed and rocked on it with her elbows resting on her laps and her fingers interlocked under her chin.

There was a knock on the door, jolting Maris' spirit out of her skin. Immediately, she jumped up and tried to push the king to lay properly on the bed.

"Oh my!" She grunted, pushing him and breathing heavily. Maris thought he weighed the same thing as a trailer.

She gave up by slumping on the bed, breathing heavily as she answered the door, saying, "Just a minute!"

Maris pulled up the sheets and placed a fluffy pillow under his head. She dusted her hands and straightened her lingerie before going to get the door. It was the maid in a black veil once again.

"Hey," she said nervously, forcing a weird toothy grin. "I was-I was busy pleasing the king."

Maris crossed her legs and tried to maintain eye contact. The fact her body was shaking wasn't helping her to cover the sin she might have just committed.

"You should see yourself in the mirror," The maid said between laughs and Maris casted a skeptical look at the maid.

"Excuse me?" Maris squinted her eyes and rubbed her sweaty palms on her clothes. "Do I know you?"

"Yes, you do." The maid pulled her veil open and Maris gasped with excitement bubbling through her system.

"You came back!" Maris ran and enveloped her in a warm embrace with her eyes closed and chin resting on the woman's shoulder.

Instantly, something clicked in Maris' head and she unlatched from the hug with a scowl on her face, saying, "What do you want?"

"I came to save you," the woman said, showing off some teeth and Maris noticed she had gotten a black eye.

"After letting him to almost shift my cervix." Maris rolled her eyes and walked away, turning her back and folding her arms.

"Keyword, almost." The catfish of a woman pinched the air to demonstrate almost. "You killed him right?"

Maris' eyes widened as she remembered the king wasn't breathing. Her pulse increased and her muscles tensed at this remembrance.

"I-I didn't kill-kill him." Maris shook, getting to her feet with a lump in her throat. "All I did was kick him where-"

"It's okay, I poisoned his drink." Linda laughed then swiped a tear away from the bottom of her eye.

"You did what?!" Maris exclaimed, Linda shushed her by plastering her palm on her lips and Maris swiped it away then whispered, "You just murdered their king and we're so dead."

"Not when you serve the king of cunningness." A devilish grin was etched to Linda's face as she stared blankly at the wall.

"Does this mean I'm a widow now?" Maris asked and Linda turned with half open lids to look at the queen of sirens like she was bored to death.

"Tomorrow is supposed to be the day you legally become his wife. He likes to taste his wives a night before the wedding day and if you're not good in bed, he'd throw you to the sex prison, where the most prominent men go in to get wasted and pleasured." Linda explained, trying to push his body so he could lay properly on the bed. "Help me."

Maris joined her and by the time they were done tucking him in bed, they were both breathing heavily, trying to regain the strength they had lost.

"Betrayer." Maris spat and cut the eye contact when she locked gazes with Linda.

"Wanna escape or die for killing their king?" Linda asked and Maris got to her feet, visibly irritated by Linda.

They tiptoed out of the room and got into the dressing room. Afterwards, Linda made Maris dress in a maid's clothing before they reached a hallway filled with half doors. They got on their knees and crawled past them.

Finally, they were out of the cave and into the dark forest. Maris took in a lungful of the air outside and heaved a sigh of relief.

"Why did you trade me up for something I don't even know about?" Maris asked, taking slow steps beside Linda.

"We had a deal a long time ago," Linda started, stopping to gaze upon the sky that had a blanket of stars, hovering over them. "Jeremy almost died and he saved him in return for him to be one of them when he reaches eighteen."

"What's with this world and strange things?" Maris frowned, "Is this a dream?"

"No, it's reality." Linda answered with sadness in her voice. "He turned eighteen and I refused to give him up. Blabla to cut the story short, I traded you for my son."

Maris blinked once then twice before sitting down on one of the stones to rest her weary legs.

"I get you now." Maris muttered under her breath, but could still be heard. "I guess soaked buns was right, I'd do the same for my son."

"I'm sorry." Linda apologized, becoming teary once again. "I just want my son back, he is all I have and all that's left from Dickson."

Linda pulled her shirt up and used it to wipe her face–Maris felt bad, she didn't know what it felt like to be a mother, but she knew what it felt like to lose a loved one.

The memory pricked her heart a thousand times as she closed her eyes, feeling her heart cramping up.

What was worse than watching the one that had a big portion of your heart being killed in your presence?

Absolutely nothing!

She sobbed, feeling like a grand piano had just been dropped on her. Her breathing increased and her nose became stuffy with the color red, framing her oval face.

"What's wrong?" Linda asked, voice as calming as the flowing stream.

"Nothing." Maris croaked like a frog and cleared her throat so she could sound more better.

The weight of the world was definitely on her shoulders. She hated her existence even more and wondered if she was a cursed child or a hero like the main characters in legend of the seeker and Merlin.

Her mother had died and it was her fault, so she had thought and maybe it was actually true.

"Don't blame yourself for the plot twists life is throwing at you," Linda said, hugging her side ways and letting her head fall on her shoulder.

She had missed the motherly touch of her mother. Maris hugged Linda, crying more on her chest.

"Everything is always my fault. I'm a cursed child, possibly a witch!" Maris breathlessly cried and Linda just listened, raking her fingers in her hair. "I can't keep one good thing in my life."

"Hey," Linda held Maris' chin, raising her head up so their eyes could meet. "You kept your work, you kept Jeremy and-" Linda wiggled her brows with a smirk and a subtle wink. "You have Logan."

"Bullshit." Maris and Linda shared a laugh, bonding more. "Can I ask a question?"

Linda nodded and Maris proceeded, "Did you actually enjoy Dracula's stuff? I'm sorry... I know how this is sensitive and you don't have to answer it."

"I didn't at first, but eventually did. I've been celibate all my life after Jeremy's dad died." She explained. "I know Dracula would pay for this, I just need your help."

"I promise–" Maris held Linda's warm hand and squeezed it a little. "–I'll help you get your son back."