Chapter 100 : Unmasking Shadows

Maya

That man had heard it all. Seeing the knowing glint in his red gaze that he directed at them, there was no doubt in her mind that he knew, and somehow that scared her. Why that was, she did not know. Her partner in crime was none other than her savior, and he had given her a purpose, something she never had before. But, a cold premonition warned her that something bad was about to happen.

Surely, Nathan had come to kill the girl she loved.

A chill ran through her heart at the thought. Goodness, please don't!

"Nathaniel-" Maya started in a thin, tight voice.

"Nathan! What are you doing here?" Karen interrupted, not sensing any tension between her enemy and her maid.

******

Karenina

Twisting her body, she moved from Helga's lap and hurried to her feet. Facing Nathan, whose gaze seemed to be full of dark humor, she took a defensive stance, while inside her mind she felt worried. What if she used her spiritual energy and her wolf aura energy interfered again? At the thought, she broke out in a cold sweat. Certainly, she would start to shift if that happened, and Xavier was not here to help her through that shift. She would die.

But Nathaniel Visconti was here, and there was no way he was going to save her, and Helga was no match for that vicious rogue. All this time, she had been afraid of becoming something else, of becoming someone else, but now, at the thought of not being able to go through the change, of dying, she realized that she wanted to live, even if it meant living the rest of her life as a full-blooded she-wolf. She did not want to die. However, if that was her fate, then she would fight. She only hoped to see Xavier one last time before she...

No, she must not think like that. That her death was the only outcome of the inevitable fight that was about to begin.

He chuckled. "You surprised me again, Karenina. A mere hybrid with the power of the wolf lord aura of the sacred moonstone huh? Looks like you and I aren't much different. I started out as a hybrid with the power of a dark witch in my blood, and soon, you won't be a hybrid either if you let yourself live."

"I'm not like you, Nathan!"

"You're not? Is that because you won't start out as a rogue like me? There are many people who would say I don't belong in this world because of my mixed blood. You're such a hypocrite for choosing Rylan over me."

"How dare you compare yourself to Rylan?!" She shouted, clenching her fists angrily at the man. "He's nothing like a murderous monster like you, you destroyed my pack a few years ago and my father is dead."

Once again he chuckled as if she was a naive little kid, which made her even angrier.

"Really?" Nathan muttered, the word filled with doubt. "Have you forgotten? That dear friend of yours used to kill humans by sinking his claws into their blood, he just like his brother despised humans and hybrids. But, that was before he met you again, right? Oh, wait. There was one time when he tried to kill you as revenge because he felt betrayed at the first meeting. Why is he so different? Why do you still want to be with him? Forgive him but curse me?"

That left Karen speechless. "He... it was... a misunderstanding. He thought... he thought I was Carolina because we looked alike..."

"But death is on his mind, whether it's you or her."

His logic - twisted as it was - was undeniable, but she was trying. Rylan was a good man. He wasn't here to defend himself, but

Karen sure as hell was!

"He thinks Carolina betrayed him! You're the one to blame for this whole mess. If you're trying to turn me against Rylan, you're doing a terrible fucking job. You're just reminding me why I think you're evil! You don't just kill people, you destroy lives. Even worse, you enjoy it." She whispered the last word, disgusted. There was no way he couldn't see how she loathed him. It was plastered all over her face for everyone to see.

"A very beautiful expression of hatred," he commented bluntly. "And here I thought you taught forgiveness and acceptance everywhere you went."

"Don't mock me. Enough talk. If you want to fight, then shut up and deal with it."

Trying not to arouse her wolf aura, Karen let some of her spiritual energy into her hands until they glowed pink, warning.

"No, wait, Nathan!"

Helga ran over between them, startling Karen.

"Helga! Get out of the way. He's dangerous."

"Nathaniel, please. You don't have to kill her." Then she knelt before Nathan and held his legs with both hands.

"Helga... what are you doing..." Karen didn't understand what she was seeing.

Ignoring her confusion, Maya looked at him pleadingly.

"She's just a... naive girl. She doesn't know that Rylan has been lying to her all this time. Rylan should be her enemy, not you. But I'm sure she'll listen if you talk to her, instead of... You guys don't need to fight," Maya whispered last.

He reached out and stroked the back of her head gently, but his red eyes held no warmth for Maya, sending chills down her spine.

"You've always been devoted, right from the start, Maya."

******

Maya

A gasp sounded from behind, catching her attention. Maya stiffened before turning slightly to look back at Karen, only to see her raise her hand to cover her mouth, horror in her brown eyes as she staggered back a few steps.

"Maya... You're Maya? But... No!"

"Karen, wait!" Maya reached out to her, still kneeling.

"Stay away! You killed Helga, didn't you? That's why..." Karen made a sound of pain. "That's why you look like her," she finished in a tortured whisper, realizing that her friend was gone - dead. That hurt. Her heart filled with pain, she struggled to breathe.

"No! I mean... yes. But! It was an accident. I just wanted to save you-" Maya tried to explain desperately, only now realizing that she had been a fool for killing the maid. The pain in her eyes, which were now staring at her, called her a monster. And she felt like a monster. What had she done?

Karen interrupted her.

"Change back."

Not understanding, her arm felt like it was going down slowly. "Wh-what?"

"Just shift back!" Karen shouted, tears falling from her eyes. "Stop looking like Helga. Change, change, change!"

Swallowing, Maya did so without hesitation. Within seconds, she returned to her original form. Even her clothes became hers, the forest green color she loved. As she changed, Maya could see that Karen was not happy to see her. She wasn't. What she saw in her beloved girl's eyes was hatred.

Oh moon goddess, how it hurt.

"Karen..."

His dark laughter interrupted her. Why was he laughing? He was always laughing, Maya thought almost madly, her mind racing with self-guilt, sick because it was obvious she had been a fool for ever thinking Karen would love someone like her.

Still, she didn't want Karen to die. Turning towards Nathan quickly, she rose to her feet, her arms outstretched in a pleading gesture. Before she could begin to once again prevent him from hurting Karen, he spoke.

"So it's true, Maya. You've fallen in love with her."

She almost cringed at the surprised voice behind her. Obviously, Karen was surprised. Was she disgusted by her feelings? Was this another reason for Karen to hate and belittle her? Maya couldn't say anything to refute his words, she didn't even try. She didn't even speak, couldn't.

"I think so too," he continued. "You really should learn to hide your feelings, Maya."

Ignoring that, she pleaded, "Please, don't kill her. She doesn't know-"

"Doesn't know what?" he cut in. "That I am the monster she believes I am?" Again he chuckled. "No, she doesn't. What is wrong is you, Maya."

"What-"

The sound of flesh being torn apart and blood splattering on the stone floor echoed around the cave.