Secrets in the Shadows

Chapter Ten

" Can you please for once stop acting like an animal and give me an honest answer?”, Maev said raising her voice.

Kramer's expression changed, the smirk that had appeared on his bottom lip suddenly disappeared as his jaw tightened. He narrowed his eyebrows and looked at Maev with a serious face. Maev walked towards the fireplace and put the deer on the floor. She put the blanket over him making sure that he gets the maximum warmth possible, who knows how long it's been out there in the cold. The small animal looked up at her as if he was looking for some assurance that he will be safe in this unknown environment and then closed his eyes probably relieved that he was no longer in pain and freezing out there.

" If only you were gentle with people like you are with that animal then people wouldn't be rude to you", Kramer said.

" Even if I was walking around with a halo of gold on top of my head and long white wings on my back, you will still be rude to me because in your eyes I'm your brother's murderer!", Maev answered snapping back at him.

Her words were like a slap to his face and he clenched his fists. In a way what she had said was true, for him Maev's father was the main suspect for the murder of his brother. The thought that her father's men could be the ones out there observing their every move crossed his mind. There was special magic around this cottage that keeps any species away and just in case one of them did manage to make it through which would probably be the werewolves because they could change into an animal, there were silver barriers that will burn anything that comes next to it. With that thought, he glanced at the deer which had probably fallen victim to those metal barriers. So since no one could come close to the cottage, he couldn't make out who was out there observing them.

The maid walked into the sitting room and whispered something to Kramer. Maev noticed that his face lit up like he was waiting for whatever the maid had told him. He walked away following the maid and Maev watched as they walked towards a door that was closer to the dining room.Maev waited for the door to close and for the maid to disappear like usual. Then she looked around the room before walking up to the office door and leaned her ears against the door. She hoped that she could hear something, she was curious to know why did Kramer hurry away like that. If snooping around was the only way that she could discover something in this house, then that's the way it will be.

" I can't hear anything!", Maev whispered to herself as she tried to listen again. The thick wooden door suddenly opened and Kramer had to grab her to stop her from falling. He looked at her and she tried to avoid eye contact with him. She quickly pushed herself away from him and walked back towards the fireplace, Kramer followed her closely behind.

" So she likes to eavesdrop as well", Kramer said with a smirk on his face.

" Well, I have the right to know what is going on! My life could be at risk as well", Maev replied.

" Who said your life is at risk?", Kramer answered as he crossed his arms and stared at Maev.

" Well... it's because you said that we are being watched", Maev answered with her back turned toward him. She was ashamed that he had caught her snooping around, she wished that she could turn herself invisible or that he will just leave her alone.

" Go to sleep Maev", Kramer said as he walked to the stairs. Then he stopped and looked at her with a serious face.

" By the way. Have you ever heard about any issues in your Kingdom? I mean any recent disagreement or conflicts between your dad and Nadia?", Kramer asked.

Maev turned and glanced at him with wide eyes, she was surprised by his question, why her Kingdom? And her father? she asked herself.

" Not that I know of. Why do you ask? "Maev asked nervously. She didn't like that she was being left in the dark.

" No reason. .. go to sleep", Kramer answered coldly already making his way upstairs.

Maev stood there and stared blankly at the spot where Kramer had been standing.

" What is going on? It seems like drama doesn't come to an end in the Underworld", she whispered to herself.

Maev checked on the deer and then walked to her bedroom. The logs had finished burning and the room felt chilly. She quickly closed all the curtains and then sat down on the edge of the bed thinking about what Kramer had asked her. She didn't even care that she was cold, so many things were going around in her mind. She couldn't believe how someone's peace could turn upside down in the blink of an eye." What is going on... ?why so many mysteries?" she softly said. She softly yawned and she glanced towards the bathroom. She needed to try and stay awake, she couldn't sleep knowing that her life could be in danger. Until they figure out who is watching them, she wouldn't be at peace.

Maev entered the bathroom, she turned on the tap and the warm water started to fill up the tub.

She removed her clothes and stepped in the warm water and sat down in the tub. Maev sat there staring blankly at the single droplets of liquid from the tap dripping into the tub. She was lost in thoughts. " I have to find a way for Kramer to tell me what is going on. He can't hide things from me especially if it's something to do with my home and my life !", Maev said as she scrubbed herself.

Maev got out of the bath and grabbed a towel and put it around her. She quickly walked to her bag and look through it. She grabbed her pajama and put it on. She looked through the wardrobe and was glad when she spotted another thick blanket, she pulled it out and put it around her. She needed more logs for the fireplace and she remembered that she had spotted some in the sitting area. She walked out of her bedroom and made her way to the sitting area.She walked slowly making sure not to startle the poor little animal and she bent to grab some logs when she heard what sounded like something hitting against the window. The noise startled her that she almost dropped the logs. Maev glanced towards the windows with wide eyes. She slowly put the logs down and put a hand to her heart as she exhaled deeply.

Heart beating fast, she glanced around the room as she hurried towards the stairs. She looked up towards the top of the stairs wondering if she should go find Kramer. Fear clutched at her heart with cold fingers as the thought that whatever was out there had managed to get closer to the house. “I have to go and find him, regardless if he will be upset”, Maev said as she quickly made her way up the stairs. She wondered which room was Kramer's, she saw a door that was slightly opened and soft music was coming from inside. As she grew closer to the opened door, the music also got louder." He listens to opera!", Maev softly said with raised eyebrows.

Maev knocked on the door and then she stood there and clasped her hands together. She didn't hear any response, she knocked on the door again this time a little harder. The door opened wider and when he saw her standing there his soft expression hardened.

" What do you want Maev?", he asked annoyingly.

Kramer didn't like the fact that she disturbed him from his rest.

Maev looked up at Kramer, she nibbled on her bottom lip not knowing what to say when she saw the sour expression on his face.

" I need to talk to you", she finally said.

" This better be important Maev !", Kramer warned her as he walked back into his bedroom and Maev followed him. He walked up to the old gramophone and stopped it, silence filled the room. Since she had gotten his attention, she wondered if she should tell him what had happened a few minutes ago or ask him why he had asked about her Kingdom. Both were important, but blood is thicker than water she needed to know if her father was in any sort of danger. What do I do? She asked herself as she realized that time was running out in her hourglass as Kramer stared at her with an annoyed face as if her presence was irritating him.

" It's about what you asked me earlier, about my Kingdom. Please Kramer I need to know why you asked me that question?", Maev pleaded with him and she noticed that now he looked more than irritated as anger clouded his face.

" Are you kidding me Maev!? You came here to ask me about that?", Kramer snapped.

" Yes, because for me it's important! It's my home that you were referring to and if something is going on there, I need to know!", Maev said in a serious tone looking straight at him.

Kramer approached her and grabbed her arms, she flinched as she felt his grip tightening. Kramer bent his head and looked down at her.

" Listen Maev, you are not here to ask me any questions. Around here I ask the questions and I will even start telling you when you are allowed to speak because you irritate me. Do you understand?", Kramer said. The tone of his voice gave Maev chills but she wasn't going to show any fear.Maev bent her head and didn't answer. Kramer released her arms and put two fingers under her chin and made her look at him.

" Did you hear me Maev?", Kramer asked again staring straight at her.

" You are so unfair to me! You treat me like I'm your enemy when you don't even have ...", Maev started to say instead of answering his question and Kramer placed a finger on her lips to stop her from talking.

" Maev I didn't ask you to make a speech. I asked you a question and all you have to do is answer yes", Kramer said walking away from her.

" I will not do anything you ask of me if I feel it's not right!", Maev replied as she crossed her arms and looked at Kramer." I am not here to obey your every whim Mr. Grand!", Maev said and then hurriedly walked out of his room.

Kramer turned to say something to her and he noticed that he was alone.

" Damn that woman! She always wants to have the last word", Kramer whispered.

Maybe you should have listened to what she had to say, his conscience said to him and he looked at the door. Kramer walked up to the door and slammed it closed. He walked towards his bed, then he turned around glancing towards the door. He ran a hand through his long hair and tied it up into a messy bun. Without giving it a second thought, he walked up to the door and yanked it opened. Kramer made his way downstairs and stopped when he reached the bottom of the stairs. He stood there looking towards the fireplace where Maev was sitting down on the floor caressing the animal. He noticed that she was crying, for a moment something moved inside him as he stared at her wiping her tears with her hands. For a fraction of a moment he felt bad that he was taking all of his anger out on this entirely innocent woman, but then his heart hardened again when the thought of his brother’s death crossed his mind. He tightened his grip on the handrail, shook his head, and then walked back upstairs to his room.

Kramer walked into his room, closed the door, and leaned against it as he closed his eyes. He couldn't erase the picture of Maev sitting by the fireplace crying from his mind. " I will not let myself be fooled by her tears! Never!", he whispered as he walked to his bedside table, pour himself a glass of whiskey and gulp it down. As the liquor touched his palate he vowed that he will never have any pity for anyone from the White Kingdom, especially the daughter of Alanon Whitmore. With that thought, a smirk twisted on his lips as he pours himself another drink and walked towards the windows which overlook the forest. Whoever is out there … I’ll find out soon, he said to himself as he stared straight towards the woods. If only he could see that they were also being watched, in four corners of the house shadows of men stood there staring at the cottage.