Dangerous Lycan: Claim Betrayed Luna’s Second Chance Mate

“What’s wrong?” I heard Kieran’s voice and I turned to face him.

“Nothing, it’s just that. She looks familiar.”

“Who? The maid?”

“Yes. Do you know her?”

“I haven’t seen her around but I can’t possibly know all the maids.”

“Maybe, she is a new one.”

“Well, there hasn’t been any recruitment of new maidslately.”

“Are you sure?” I kept staring as she walked out but she didn’t look back at me.

“Oh God Clara, I select the maids in the palace myself. So chill, shut up and eat with me.”

“Oh God, you don’t understand. She actually looks like someone from my past.”

“I don’t get, why are you so concerned anyway?”

“You know what? Never mind, maybe she isn’t the one.”

“Who do you think?”

“It can’t be her. Just forget about it.”

“You know, if you are so worried about it, why don’t you just ask the head of the maids. She’ll be in the better position to answer you.”

“No, it’s fine. I guess she’s not the one.”

As much as I tried so hard to wave it off, I knew deep down that I never forgot a face. There was something about her, I just couldn’t place a finger on it just yet. Talking about it to Kieran again might push him off the edge so I kept shut and began digging into the food. Deep down, it bothered me but I still tried very much to hold it back. I didn’t want Kieran to think that I was worried about a maid so he wouldn’t see me as paranoid. Or worse, weak. So I knew, that I would have to face it myself. If there was something I didn’t want at all, was anyone from my past spilling trash again about me to the people.

“Are you okay?” He asked.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Yes… why?”

“Ever since you saw that maid, you have been distant.”

“Nah, I’m fine. Just random thoughts on my mind.”

“Okay. I wanted to tell you that I would be going for a trip.”

“A trip? You are leaving me here?”

“Hey come of it, it’s just for a day and besides you will be in safe hands.”

“Last I checked, the people still didn’t like me.”

“Don’t say that. I mean they might not embrace you but they certainly wouldn’t hurt you. All you have to do is stay in. Avoid walking alone. You never know who might be lurking in the dark,” He chuckled.

“Stop that. That’s not funny. But I’ll be fine. I’m not afraid of the dark.”

“But seriously, don’t walk alone. I can assign as many guards to you as possible.”

“Hey relax. I am not a kid and don’t act like you actually really care about me. You and I know the reason why you are doing of this. So, just relax. Speaking of which there is somewhere I need to be.”

“Where? Maybe the guards can take you.”

“Oh no haven’t you been listening? I am fine. I’ll just be in and out. I don’t need any babysitting.”

“Yeah, I get you. No one is babysitting anyone. All I am saying is that you should just be careful.”

“Yeah sure, I’ll make sure I watch my back,” I chuckled.

And so I left the dining room as Kieran prepared for his trip. As I walked down the hallway past the kitchen, I sighted the maid again.

Just let it go. She isn’t the one.

But my instincts were never wrong, perhaps a few words would clarify me off what I was thinking. I walked towards the kitchen and as soon as she sighted me from the distance, she turned away.

“Hey, wait!” I hurried towards her.

But she didn’t stop to listen.

“Can you just hold on for a second please?”

I reached out to her and pulled her and she turned to face me.

“Hey, my lady,” she said avoiding my eyes.

“I have been calling out to you for a while, you seemed not to want to stop.”

“Oh no, it’s not the way you think. I’m so sorry I didn’t hear you clearly the first time when you called.”

“It’s fine.”

“What can I help you with?” She asked.

“Nothing, I just wanted to talk to you.”

“Talk to me? Am I in trouble?”

“Not at all. It is just that you look very much familiar. I was wondering if I had see you somewhere.”

“Familiar?”

“Yes, like someone I had met before.”

“A friend?”

“Not quite.”

“I’m not surprised that you think that I have the face if someone you know.”

“What do you mean? Everyone would be surprised.”

Well, I get that a lot.”

“Really?”

“Yes. In the eyes of people they always see me like a lost relative or a friend or acquaintance they met once.”

“Oh I see. Perhaps your face is having that effect on me.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” she said and made to leave.

“Hold on,” I called back and then she turned and faced me again.

“I’m sorry for all the questions but I wanted to know if you were newly recruited.”

“Newly recruited? Of course not. The palace doesn’t just recruit maids. We are specifically picked.”

“Oh I see.”

“I have to go now,” she said immediately and made to leave. But I just stood there watching her walk in those familiar steps. Maybe she might be right, she just had the familiar face. I needed to let it all go so I don’t start sounding paranoid.

“I need a good long nap,” I said as I walked back down the hallway.

The only thing on my mind was to get to the room, wrapped up in the duvet and sleep with the dim lights on. There were only a few people on my path by the time I had walked up to a mile through the hallway. It felt strange, I glanced through my watch at intervals wondering why the palace suddenly felt so empty and quiet.

“Maybe, they have a party I wasn’t invited to. Who cares anyway?” I muttered. And just then, I heard a sound like a thud just behind me but when I turned, there was no one there. I kept on walking again. But this time, I heard shuffles like that of the sole of a shoe being dragged against the tiles. Iturned sharply but still, there was no one. I began to hasten my steps hurrying for my room. I could hear footsteps, someone was approaching me and really fast. I quickened my pace but did not dare to turn back again. My feet felt too heavy like it had failed me and my mind raced.

It seems whoever was behind knew just when I wanted to turn around because I saw no one, not even a shadow. But I could feel it, a presence so strong that my heart pounded. Someone was behind me. I was so sure of it but I did not wish to find out who. Not after the dream and the occurrence in the town. Kieran was right, I shouldn’t has wandered out alone. Now he wasn’t there to play the hero for me.

Every time I turned, there was no one there only the dark shadows from the lights. But then the footstep got closer and so I ran and locked the door just as I got into the room. I peeked through the door and saw a part of a person’s clothe right before the person walked into the dark. It was clear now that someone was really following me. And it creeped me out the more as I thought about it. As I headed for the bed, the door bell rang.