Athena
I have walked into the kitchen for the first time since I was brought into this mansion, however, only to distract myself from the thoughts that only roamed around Sebastian. The encounter I had with him early this morning was still unnerving me in some manner and the last thing I wanted was to let the fear be alive within me once again.
I prepared the cookie dough, my eyes absentmindedly focused on the scenery outside the window, it allowed me to look at the beautiful garden outside but that eye-catching view did not help me forget. I absentmindedly began drifting into the thoughts of Sebastian once again.
Was it worth it to keep fighting or all of it was directing me to turn into a whole different person whose heart will be as cold as Sebastian's?
No. I was not going to give up.
What will giving up reward me? Nothing but regrets and a life that might be without pain but that wouldn't hold any meaning as well.
There was nearly a pin-drop silence in the kitchen. No maids were working here at this hour because according to their schedule, they have already finished their duties and this allowed me to pass my time in comfort.
It was strange how silence has become my biggest companion.
The baking took fifteen minutes and the aroma of freshly baked cookies spread all around the kitchen. But, I felt no appetite whatsoever. Putting the plate down, I walked towards the window, resting my palms on the white marble counter I analyzed outside at the garden through the open windows.
There were butterflies dancing around the colourful mass of flowers. Even though I wanted, I knew I was not allowed to step outside...and it reminded me of my childhood— Today, as I stood here, looking at these beautiful butterflies yet not being able to step outside of this invisible cage....It all was a visible reflection of how I used to see other children through the window of the room my parents use to keep me locked in, I used to see those kids of my age playing among themselves and having the best time of their life while I suffered in a way that nobody deserved.
Everything was still the same as before, just the situations are different.
Suddenly, the loud clicking sounds of heels distracted my attention and I whipped around.
Celina walked inside the kitchen, all glammed up in a ghastly purple-coloured dress. Her purse and shoes matched the colour of the dress at some point. There was heavy makeup on her face.
"Here you are," She spoke, her voice stretching at the end, "I did not know Sebastian has put you in for a job as a maid as well. Regardless, it's a good decision, at least you are becoming useful in some way since you are a waste of time and money, anyways."
"Oh really? From what I see, it's you who's a waste, or may I say garbage," I chuckled, "He picked you up from the streets, didn't he? I can't exactly call it a good decision on his side since dirt is meant to stay on the ground. Also, you were fucking free. He didn't even need to spend anything on you to get you here. Cheap and easy, whore to own."
Her eyes widened for a second, the shade of anger covered her face and her hands fisted to her sides. Her ego was too huge to be struck with the truth, "Listen you piece of..."
"No you listen to me, you fucking whore," I cut her off, "I have once told you, my weakness is only when it comes to my mate. Just because the situations are not on my side, don't let yourself live in a delusion that you have got any authority over me or I have even a vestige amount of fear of you. So next time you dare to speak to me, make sure you do it with respect. I won't allow a shitty woman like you to walk all over me."
I could see the rage burning in her eyes, she looked furious.
"This attitude...." She ground her teeth together, "This attitude does not suit a woman like you, Athena. What are you so proud of? Despite being Sebastian's mate, you still hold no importance in his life. He treats you like a slave." She paused for a second before a laugh escaped her lips, "How can we even blame him, right? Anyone would be ashamed to have a mate with no wolf."
This time her insult hit me. Knowingly or unknowingly, she hit my weak point for sure.
"Cat caught your tongue?" She mocked, noticing my silence, "It's obvious. No matter how much you run your mouth, you can't change the truth."
"He's not ashamed of me and he never was," It automatically left my mouth, "He'd have never brought me here, or even looked back at me if he had even the slightest bit of disgust stored for me because of who I am."
"That's your misconcep—"
"He definitely pours all his hatred for me, he makes me go through hell each and every day, he hurts me, bruises me.....but he is not disgusted with me. He is not ashamed to have a mate like me, it's his hatred for the bond that makes him act this way to me." I found myself saying, "You are saying what you'd like to hear and I am saying what is truth"
"You can't make every lie a truth." She spat.
"You can't mess with my beliefs no matter what you say."
My response stunned her. She looked speechless and flabbergasted, confusion wavered in her orbs.
"And one more thing, you can't keep your truth hidden for longer," I spoke, taking a few steps towards her, "Even without trying hard, it has only taken me a few weeks to learn about your secret...which apparently includes Sebastian's biggest enemy Vincent too. So just imagine, how easy it'd be for Sebastian if he starts becoming observant....how easy it will be for him to figure out your plan."
She seemed horrified. The hesitation and fear were evident on her face and she tried to hide it. However, she did not succeed.
"Talking to you is just a waste of time," She blurted out, attempting to cover her expression underneath a plain sheet of blank, "Just keep being miserable, this is all you can do."
She turned on her heels and exited the kitchen as fast as she could just like a thief escaping on the verge of getting caught.
******
Sebastian's familiar footsteps sounded once the evening advanced. The door of the room opened but today, not with a slam. He walked into the room and moved to the closet, not even for once his stare moved to me whilst I was just in front of his eyes, on the bed.
Something felt really weird. It was as if I did not even exist for him. He changed his clothes, putting his keys, watch and rest of his belonging in their respective places before he, at last, walked inside the bedroom after he'd freshened up.
Still, he did not look at me. Not even from the corner of his eyes.
He looked very calm today. Truly calmed. And this calmness was not alike the ones that only gave away the omen of dreadful storms, it was real. But ironically this scared me even more than before because bearing his torment was not as hurtful as the thought of being invisible to him was.
I knew I should feel sick of myself reckoning by the fact, even a few days ago all I wanted was to stay away from his gaze and now all I was craving for was this very same gaze of his. But I couldn't help....I did not want to be invisible to him.
He sat on the chaise lounge that was only a few feet far from the door of the balcony and began working on his laptop.
Why was he working at this hour? This wasn't the usual time for him to work.
Or was it?
I looked at the clock for my assurance.
No, it wasn't.
Then why did he decide to occupy himself with this office work at this time?
Confused and disappointed, I hugged my knees and rest my chin on the back of my hand as I stared at him as tried to calm my mind and heart.
In the next few minutes, the cold breezes began rushing inside the room from the open door of the balcony and I clutched the blanket tighter to myself feeling the shivers running up and down my spine.
It astonished me how unaffected Sebastian was, he was completely comfortable under his skin, not at all disturbed by the cold winds despite being shirtless and directly exposed to the source of the fierce cold winds.
"Do you need a sweater?" I asked out of concern, for some reason I thought he could be feeling cold.
"No." Came his response. It was not harsh and heavy with suppressed rage like all the other times and this shocked me.
He was certainly acting differently even if it did not indicate any danger but it did not make me feel a good way.
This behaviour didn't make it look like he hated me, it made it seem as if I meant nothing to him.
"Oh." My voice dropped, effortlessly carrying my mixed emotions with it.
The time came passing, and the pondering thoughts inside of my head began washing away as my eyes began feeling heavy on their own until Sebastian's voice buzzed through the room.
"We have to attend a party tomorrow night. There are going to be a few of my business associates and the leaders of a few potential packs in the UK," He spoke, his stare fixated on the laptop and fingers typing something into a document, "I want you ready on time."
He fell silent once again and got busy with his work once again.
"Okay," I spoke, somehow hoping for a response or a glance my way but...I got none.
What was really going on with Sebastian?