Marissa
"I'm sorry, Madam, but Marissa won't be going to the auction."
Yolanda raised an amused brow and scoffed softly. "What did you say?"
"I can't let Marissa go to the devil's lair," Maria stated, warming my heart.
Even though I only just met her, she's willing to take my place in the devil's lair. She knew what was waiting at the devil's abode but she chose to go in my stead.
"You ought not to complain to me, Maria. Why don't you go to the King's palace and tell him yourself? I'm glad that Marissa knows the place now," She said, her eyes presently fixed on me.
I took my face away quickly. I was embarrassed at the turn of things. I couldn't refuse the king and now, I'm bringing Maria into it.
"I will go," Maria repeated defiantly.
Madam Yolanda's eyes were beaming with rage as she looked down at Maria who was being so defiant.
"Let's go, Maria," I whispered.
I heard her growl carelessly. Without looking back at me, Maria stomped away from the room. I had to run to catch up with her.
"Maria…" I called as I shut the door.
However, she ignored me, walking faster without sparing me a glance. I was able to walk swiftly, and I was able to stay beside her.
"Maria, why did you say that?" I whispered and tried to hold her hand to stop her from leaving.
However, she folded her palm instantly.
"Marissa?" She called and turned to me.
"Huh…" I whispered, stopping.
"I need you to do me a favour," She continued, and I forced a smile, with a slight nod.
"What is that?" I asked.
"Stay away from me. We aren't friends any more," Maria blurted.
I felt my heart break into two parts as she said that. She walked away from me before I could speak, leaving me to gawk at the space whilst trying to process her statement.
I eventually gathered myself and scurried to her.
When I got to her side, I grabbed her arm, causing her to stop. She looked at me and I saw how furious she was. Her eyes were so sharp that I almost thought they were going to cut through me.
"What are you doing right now? Didn't you hear what I said earlier? She yelled. "Stay away from me!" She barked.
I frowned heavily, refusing to leave her arm, which I gripped tightly. "What is it, Maria?" I asked, my voice sounding malicious. "Why are you so mad?"
Maria scoffed. "Are you going to act oblivious right now? You have got to be joking!" She shook her head.
"What did I do wrong, Maria!" I yelled at her face.
I want to know how I got her so pissed in such a short time.
A few minutes ago, she was willing to take my place and face the Demon King and now she's asking me to stay away from her, where have I gone wrong?
"Don't act like you don't know anything," she hissed. "Marissa, Why… Why would you agree to his invitation? Why!" She screamed with tears pouring down her eyes.
I was about to reply, but then, I noticed the girls had left the room. They stood at the far end, watching us and listening to our unfriendly dialogue.
I sighed and tightly held onto her arm. "Let's talk inside…" I whispered.
Maria scoffed and yanked her hand away from mine. "Don't talk to me," She warned and advanced to leave.
"I'm sorry. I had no choice. I could not decline it, Maria. I was scared," I quickly said, shakily. I felt tears leaving my eyes uncontrollably.
I don't want to lose Maria. She is the only friend I have in this creepy place.
"Weren't you scared that day too? Were you not afraid and anxious seeing those girls who were cruelly killed in the Arena that day? Don't you remember any more? How could you? How could you honour such a request? What if the same thing happens again? Will you watch it?" She asked.
I was dumbfounded. I just gaped at her, motionless. More tears escaped from my eyes.
I didn't understand what she meant but her anger broke my heart.
Maria shrugged her shoulders. "Well, I guess you would really watch it and even enjoy it."
"How could you say such, Maria?" I whispered with sadness in my voice.
"I should be asking you, Marissa. Why would you do such a thing? Why would you accept it in the first place?" She was almost yelling as she spoke.
Her eyes held so much anger like I've never seen before.
"If you want things to be okay with us, go back to his chamber and tell him you decline his request. Tell him you take back your acceptance." She barked.
Even though she sounded so ridiculous at the moment, I couldn't help feeling bad because I knew how much she cared for me. She is so angry because I placed myself at risk.
Goodness, Marissa! How could you agree to such a thing? How could you agree to attend an event where humans are auctioned whether dead or alive?" "Yuck Marissa, you make me want to puke." She scowled. "I can't believe that you'd stoop as low as watching innocent people die just because you want to be in the king's good book."
What?
How could she think that about me?
"What do you take me for?" I demanded. "I am not interested in the king's good book. I couldn't care less about it. How could she say that? Now she wants me to go and retract my words.
"How am I supposed to do that?" I asked, turning to meet her gaze. "Don't you think it's too late for it? How will I face him now and who knows what he'd do to me if I try to go back on my words." I remarked, shaking my head disapprovingly.
Maria scoffed, disappointed. "Okay then. Have fun, but remember that we're estranged from now on."
She started leaving again, and I felt a surge of anger inside me. Clenching my fists tightly, I let out a loud yell.
"Maria. What is wrong with you? What has come over you? If you were in my shoes, I'm sure you would have no other option but to accept the offer." I hissed, brushing my hand through my hair as I tried to lower my voice. "I was in a tight situation then. Tell me, what would you do, had you been in my place?"
She halted again and faced me. "I have imagined it over a hundred times and I'm very convinced that I would decline his request a million times. I don't care if he tries to do anything to me."
"But what is wrong with you, Maria?" I questioned as I trudged towards her. "This is so unlike you. Why are you behaving this way? Don't you think you are exaggerating?"
"Exaggerating?" She queried, furiously. "You think I'm exaggerating now, huh?"
"I'm sorry, but that is what you are doing now. You are getting too emotional right now?" I questioned, scanning her face, which looked sentimental.
Maria walked closer to me and stopped just above my feet. "You really want to know?" She asked in a whisper.
I swallowed hard as I watched her bring her face towards mine. My eyes blinked once as her lips stayed beside my left ear.
"You intend to know why I dramatically cried that day at the arena while watching those girls?" She asked softly.
I simply nodded once and waited for her to talk.
"I'm a mother, Marissa…" She let out a whisper. My head slightly turned, so I was able to capture a glimpse of the side profile of her face.
Maria continued. "And no mother would be proud to watch her child due before her."
I bit my lips as I wondered what she meant.
As if to help solve my confusion, she continued, "One… one of those girls at the arena that day is my daughter."
I turned to look at her and I met her eyes which were red and teary. Her face looked depressed, and her heart was agonized and broken.
"Maria…" I whispered, shakily, with my eyes getting welled with tears.
"She was the first to die… Number four," She murmured and I gasped. With both my palms, I covered my widely opened mouth.
"Why didn't you speak up?"