Chapter 21: Silent Observations Anna POV

As I stood motionless in the doorway, Lucas's penetrating gaze cut through the curtain of my thoughts. I didn't want to express it, but his presence felt more weighty than the silence that hung between us. I pushed myself to let go of the door handle as my fingers shook a little against it, and I stepped fully into the corridor.

“Excuse me,” I muttered, keeping my voice as level as possible. As if attempting to get out, my heart pounded against my ribs as it raced. 

Lucas didn’t move, his arms folded across his chest, his expression unreadable. I briefly hoped he might say something, but he remained silent. Instead, when I passed him with purposeful steps and a raised chin in a show of confidence I didn't feel, his eyes followed me.  

Behind me, I could feel him slipping into place, his shadow hovering closer than I would have preferred. Refusing to look back, I maintained a steady pace while swallowing the uneasiness that threatened to rise in my throat.  

The air between us was tense, crackling like a tempest about to break, and the corridor seemed to go on forever. The only sound was the faint reverberation of my footsteps on the stone floor. Breathing became more difficult due to the weight of his silence, but I continued until I arrived at the main hall, where Maia was waiting.  

She was huddled close to the stairs, cleaning the floor with a fierce determination that betrayed her attempt to keep her thoughts to herself. The repetitive sound of the brush scraping against the stone was almost soothing.  

"Anna!" She looked up, blotting a flyaway hair from her face, and her voice was a refreshing relief. "Why did it take you so long?"  

I took a quick look back and saw Lucas still observing, leaning against the doorway. My chest constricted.  

I said, "Later," as I picked up a bucket and knelt next to her. With my hands shaking a little, I dipped my brush into the soapy water.  

Maia didn’t let it go. She rarely did. "What's happening? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”  

Scrubbing harder at the tough dirt as if it could wash away my anxieties, I bit my lip. "It's nothing. I just—”  

"Anna, don't even try that with me." Her voice grew softer yet still sharp. "Come on. Spill.”  

The words stuck in my throat as I paused. I finally let out a breath and came in closer, lowering my voice to avoid Lucas's ears. “I was in Oliver’s room.”  

Her fingers froze in mid-motion, and her brush clattered against the stone. She growled, "What...you meant it? Have you gone completely insane?"  

"I had to!" I didn't care if my voice sounded harsher than I had intended. “Leo said he saw a sign in there—something connected to me. I needed to see it for myself.”  

"And?" With wide, incredulous eyes, Maia pressed.  

"I didn't find anything," I said, my voice laced with frustration. Lucas, however, caught me. He simply stood there and stared without saying anything.  

She glanced at Lucas, who was still standing in the doorway, his arms folded, his eyes on us. "And ever since, he's just... been following you?"  

I nodded and resumed my vigorous floor scrub. "I have no idea what he's thinking, but it's making me shiver."  

Leaning closer, Maia scowled. “You need to be careful, Anna. If he tells Oliver”  

"I understand," I said. It made my stomach turn to think that Oliver might find out.  

When Lucas finally got close, his footsteps reverberated, and his presence cast a deep shadow over us. I didn't look up as I tensed up, my hands clenching on the brush. But Maia was less nuanced. Her lips curled into a frown as she gave him an open stare.  

"What are you looking for?" With a tone colder than I had ever heard, she snapped.  

Lucas took a while to respond. Rather, he squatted, his gaze darting between us. There was something in his eyes, maybe curiosity, or something deeper, but his face was still unreadable.  

Eventually, he stated in a quiet but distinct voice, "You're protective of her."  

Maia's jaw tightened as she straightened. "There must be someone. Maybe you could let us finish our work now that you're done hovering over us.  

He turned his attention away from her and onto me. His tone was neutral, but it carried a weight that made my chest clench as he continued softly, "You shouldn't sneak into places you don't belong." 

For the first time since leaving Oliver's room, I forced myself to look him in the eye. Despite the uneasiness that was simmering beneath the surface, I shot back, my voice firm, "And you shouldn't follow people around like a shadow."  

Something flickered across his face, perhaps amusement or surprise, but it vanished before I could tell. His presence became abruptly overwhelming as he straightened.  

"You'll get yourself into trouble you can't get out of if you're not careful, Anna," he whispered.  

Then, as abruptly as he had appeared, he turned and left, his footsteps disappearing into thin air.  

With a sigh, Maia relaxed her shoulders and sagged against the wall. "Why in the world was that?"  

With my thoughts buzzing with potential, I shook my head. "I'm not sure," I said. "However, I don't trust him."  

"You shouldn't," Maia firmly stated. "Anna, he's up to something. I sense it.  

My heart thumping, I glanced after him. Regardless of Lucas's motivations, one thing was certain: this was far from done. By no means. Furthermore, I'm not sure if he intended to tell Oliver.