But it didn't come out of her lips. Those words stuck inside of her that it made her cried in silence. It was so loud that she'd only wish someone could hear her unspoken words, her blaring agonies aside from her. She'd wished that he could hear it. And this stupid wishing made herself a fool, way more a fool than a drifter asking for something to satisfy his need. Minerva couldn't breathe as she kept on gazing at those silver eyes filled with numbness for her. She craved for a little love, just a little bit of it, and maybe, she might not be so wrecked within.
Asking him if he still loved her was purely insane, but she was hoping that he still was.
But he was there, silently scrutinizing her from inside of this murky cell. His bleeding hands were tied with heavy chains. The magical necklace on his neck was draining his powers, made him weaker. His body was a complete mess after the torture that they'd given to him. But still, they couldn't take away those valiant gaze and pride away from him. He was still the man that she idolized of. He was a kind of creature that after they viciously taken his freedom away, she could feel her heart swirling at his stares. He was still his brother who wouldn't let anyone stepped on his dignity. After what he'd done, after doing his crime, how could he still be like this?
So gentle. So serene. Minerva wished that there was still a chance between them. A chance to bring back what was lost and broken.
Enticing enough to help him, she swallowed hard before she spoke, "Tell me the truth, Ayden."
Minerva saw how his eyes went colder before he laughed bitterly. "I already did. You just don't believe it."
Was he telling the truth?
"Lies," she disagreed. It was hard to consider not to, when those evidences were proving that he was. "Enough with your lies! Just tell me the truth so that I can help you."
But he only snorted in mockery. "Helping me like this? Do you really think that you're actually helping me, Minerva? You're the one who dragged me here in the first place."
She sighed. Minerva knew what he was talking about. Those chains. Those bruises. Everything he had right now, she felt his torment and hatred. And it was all because of her.
"Where's your new wife?" she asked again.
"It's none of your business."
"She is Atlantean's business. After this, she will be the next—"
"Don't you dare touch her! She's innocent." His handsome face contorted with rage. It was funny to see him so overprotective over her even if his life was in danger. "Never think of hurting her," he growled.
It was a warning which made her baffled by his actions and fuming at the same time. She could feel every ounce of his wrath for her, his love for that gorgon. No doubt, he was falling so madly in love with her. A kind of stupid love that broke their connection and left them shattered into pieces.
"My god! How can you say such a thing? She turned your brother into stone."
"It was an accident."
"I can't believe this!"
He hissed like a cat before he looked away. "Well I can't believe you either. You believed them without even hearing my side. Get out of here. I don't need you, sister. I don't need your help. I'd rather die than to see my family hurt."
"But I am your family."
"Are you now? If you think I lied, then I don't want your lying kindness here. I'm tired of this game. I'm tired of being played around and be fooled. I'm tired, Minerva. So let's just get over this."
Minerva crossed her arms over her chest as he put distance between them. A kind of distance that was of the heart and it was agonizing.
"Prove to me that you're right," she sighed. Tomorrow, he would definitely be killed. If only she could get him a way out from this tragedy. A part of her heart still believed him, a part of her, too, wanted to hate him. But—"I only want justice. For Kinos. For our father. For our mother. But I didn't wish to see you die here. I don't wish to witness another death. I don't—"
"Minerva, you have to trust me. If you really want to know the truth, free me here. I only need to touch a salt water. Please, you have to trust me this time. I know you enough. This isn't you. We've been through too much ups and downs in life. You've seen me how I fell and broken. You've seen my sadness. You know me better than anyone. Just this once, I ask you to trust me."
She hesitated.
What if this was a trick? What if he lied? What if he would just escape this place and leave her again?
Like what he'd done years ago…