Chapter 8

"Now I've got so many questions… I knew it, what has Katherine been keeping from me?" She muttered, silently, questioning herself, her chest lingering upward and downward.

"I have got some answers no matter the cost," Lucy whispered, talking to herself as she trod down the hallway of the Royal residence with haste in an attempt to see Katherine. Her hands moved swiftly back and forth on either side.  

She rattled on with a few words in a low tone as she pressed on. The sweat on her face dripped down from her face and dropped on the cloth. It looked so dirty since her face was already caked in dust. 

Her whitish shirt was already stained and becoming brown. Her hair already changed its color like they were grey. Yet, she was less concerned about that. All she thought about was getting answers from Katherine. 

She turned her head a little bit and directed her eyes on the miles of wall that surrounded her. She noticed the shadow of one who seemed to be stalking her and since it was sunny, the image was vivid. 

She had her guesses of who it might be before deciding to stop and take a peek behind her. 

"Why are you following me," She questioned and turned around to continue with her walk.

"Don't do anything stupid, Lucy," Marie hurried to catch up with her.

"I said, don't," Lucy yelled at the top of her voice.

The color of her eyes changed, displaying a different color entirely. She placed her hands on her head and pressed her palm against her forehead, tilting her head swiftly.

"This is the reason I have to follow you… you're not yourself, Lucy," Marie paused and sighed deeply.

"You might lose control… you can't be seen like this by anyone, not even a guard," Marie said with certainty.

They both stood facing each other, their emotions palpable in the charged atmosphere. 

Lucy, her face flushed with anger, clenched her fist, her eyes narrowing as she seethed with frustration. 

"This is where you turn back and face your business," Lucy furrowed her eyebrows. 

Marie stood her ground, her expression was a mixture of concern and determination. She sighed, well aware of her state as it would be difficult to calm her. 

"Lucy, just calm down," Marie urged, her voice steady but edged with worry. She stretched out a hand in a pacifying gesture, hoping to defuse the prop tension but Lucy's anger was like a roaring fire, consuming all rational thought. Her chest heaved with each breath, and her voice trembled as she spoke. 

"Calm down you say?" She yelled with a resounding tone. "You have no idea of what you're talking about and wait…, " She paused and continued, "You think you can just waltz in and tell me what to do?" She tilted her head sideways. 

Marie's gaze remained fixed on Lucy, her eyes reflecting a mix of empathy and resolve. She knew it would be difficult to get on track with Lucy, not after everything that happened. 

"I'm not trying to tell you what to do, Lucy. I'm just worried about you! You're better than this. Acting out won't solve anything, rather it will make things worse," She took a step closer to Lucy and halted again. 

Lucy's face twisted into a snarl, her hands balling into fists at her sides. 

"You don't know me and you don't understand anything, Marie! I don't even know me anymore and I don't understand myself, not after everything that happened… I'm not like you Marie, I need to know what happened," She sighed deeply. 

"Kathrine will never tell me anything if she doesn't see me this way… She has to know how angry I am at her for having hidden the truth away from me," She looked away and was about to turn away to take her leave. 

Marie's patience didn't waver as she maintained her steady gaze. 

"Wait, umm, you're right, I'm not as fiery as you, but that doesn't mean I don't feel things deeply," She discontinued and clicked her tongue. 

"I've seen what your anger can do. It tears people apart, you don't seem to know how to control it when to stop and I won't stand by and watch it consume you,"

"Imagine what you will do if Katherine fails to do as you ask her… You will unleash your wrath, who knows what is going to happen," She wagged her head and took another step closer to Lucy. 

The tension between them crackled like electricity, each word spoken a spark threatening to ignite their emotions swirling in the air. 

Marie looked up and noticed a guard who cast a curious glance their way, drawn by the intensity of their standoff. 

"Lucy, walk… just walk, we're being watched… You don't want us to get into trouble," She whispered in a low tone, her lips partly apart so that only Lucy could hear her speak. 

Lucy took a brief look behind her back and noticed the guard who stood on a spot with his gaze pressed on them. She walked away hurriedly and so did Marie, walking in her direction. 

"Why are you still following me?" You can now go your way and let me do my thing," She ceased to go on when she sensed Marie was still on her trail. 

"You know, …"

"Why do you even care? This is none of your business!" She retorted, interrupting her.

Lucy's anger seemed to escalate with every passing second, her face turning a shade redder.

Marie's eyes softened, her resolve unwavering. "I owe you a big one. Lucy and I care about you because you're my friend. I care because I've seen you at your best and I know you're capable of so much more than this anger. Let me help you, let me be here for you," Lucy's voice radiated but we're soft enough to melt the heart.

A moment of silence hung between them, the weight of their words filling the space around them. Lucy's fists slowly relaxed and her gaze dropped to the ground as the intensity of her anger began to wane.

"I'm sorry, Lucy… it all started because of me," She took a cautious step forward, her outstretched hand lingering in the air between them.

"Please, Lucy. Let's find a way to work this through together. Remember who we are in this place, we can't have our way," Her hands still held out towards Lucy, waiting for her to hold hands with her.

Lucy's shoulders sagged, the tension in her body finally releasing. With a heavy sigh, she looked up at Marie, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Slowly, she reached out and clasped Marie's hand. She shut her eyes and soon opened them. She wagged her head as her eyes looked blurry.

"What's going on with me," Lucy uttered, faintly.

She soon lost her balance and fell to the ground.