My vision burned from the hot tears streaming down my eyes, as I clutched my hands to the stones on the wall trying to support myself from not falling to the ground.
''Ava slow down!'' Brian's voice echoed through the halls as I hurriedly navigated my way out of the party that brought back my years of trauma like it just happened yesterday.
I dashed into my car immediately and left the crowd. I drove to a quiet spot my father used to bring me to when he was still alive.
When I got there I laid on the floor unable to speak, not because no one was there to talk to but my lips fell under a spell of quietness.
I sat there shedding tears that I wished I could control, and I no time Brian's car tyres brought me out of my thoughts.
Why on earth would you drive that fast Ava? Do you wish for death? He yelled as he approached me gently, Brian fell on his knees immediately he caught the sight of tears streaming from my eyes.
He took me into his arms stroking my hair gently without asking me what the problem was, would you like some drinks? He asked, breaking the thick walls of silence between us.
I nodded my head in agreement, okay let me get the whisky in my car, he said while he broke the hug that seemed to comfort me.
Here, there are no cups here Ava, so we would have to drink it from this bottle he said, replying to a question he wasn't even asked.
I grabbed the drink out of his hands and gubbled it down my throat, it came with a feeling of hotness and sadness.
I drank and I gave to Brian himself.
We both sat there in silence drinking and staring into the clouds for hours, I am sure the party should be over by now Lucas said while he passed me the bottle of whiskey that he just sipped from.
Yeah I guess too, it should be over by now I replied while taking a sip out of the whisky, what made you run away from the party you organized?
Brian asked but this time with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, I could tell that he was already tipsy just like me, but I don't care.
I want to jump off this cliff Brian, i said without replying to him or staring at him. You shouldn't he smiled at me before grabbing me with his hands.
I would call the guards so they could come pick us up because we are both wasted and can't drive. Don't call any guards I can drive myself home I replied with a frowning face.
He scoffed at me then it turned into a huge mockery of laughter, let's not do that Ava I still love you and you know, so I prefer you alive he said while reaching out for his phone that's in his pocket.
Do you truly love me? I stared into his drunk and red eyes, while I scooped his hard and structured face into my hands, yes I do Ava and we both know that.
Kiss me then, I smiled mischievously, kiss me Brian if you actually mean what you are saying. He smiled awkwardly; hello, yes this is Brian.
I am at the scot vallion hill, come pick i and Ava up immediately he said with a commanding tone before ending the call. Heyy! Those are my guards not yours.
So you don't get to command them that way I said while I hit his laps, I want to kiss you Ava, I have been wanting to do that since we were kids.
So what is stopping you Brian? I asked him with a huge smile spreading across my face, you have been stopping me Ava, he replied while he held my neck and drew my body closer to his chest.
Hmm, I heard someone scoffing at our back when Brian was about to place his lips on mine and behold it was our stupid guards interfering in my alone with Brian.
We both got up on our feet, and Brian? He never stopped looking at my lips, he held my hands and guided me inside the car.
The car door was shut behind us and silence settled like a heavy blanket. The air felt to thick to breath in, and I became nervous.
I stared outside of the window, while pretending to be interested by the city lights, but every nerve in my body was tuned to him.
My mind screamed at me to calm down but my heart couldn't forget how he looked at me some minutes ago, like I was the only thing that ever existed in his world.
The rest of the drive was silent, but it wasn't the kind of silence that soothed.
It was thick and suffocating, full of questions neither of us dared to ask. And as the car rolled to a stop at the palace gates, my heart was still racing like we hadn't moved at all.
I went inside my room and Brian followed me, we were both wasted but somehow we still managed to feel the awkwardness in our presence.
Mr Brian would you be sleeping in the queens chambers chambers tonight? One of my maidens walked in with hot towels in her hands.
Brian looked at me with a smirk on his face, no prepare the guest room for me he replied without talking his eyes off me.
I couldn't help but breathe a fresh and warm air, I would like Brian to stay with me tonight but I can't ask for that so I had to be strong as a queen and not invite him in.
Brain broke the silence and gaze he had kept on me for some minutes while he made his way out of my room.
I laid on the edge of my big luxurious thinking of how to get myself into Brian's paints but I couldn't find a way so I reluctantly stormed into my bathroom and sank into the warm, scented water of my tub.
The heat should have soothed me, but instead, univited memories crept in.
Lucas's laugh echoed in my mind, that same charming sound that used to make my heart flutter.
I saw his face leaning close to mine, whispering sweet promises… promises that had all been lies. And then Cynthia's image appeared, her smug smile etched into my memory as clear as the day I caught them together.
My chest tightened as the betrayal replayed itself like a cruel play. I gripped my hands to the edge of the tub, forcing myself to breathe.
"Never again," I whispered to the empty room. "I'll never let them hurt me again."
But even as I said it, the sting of their betrayal clung to my heart, mixing with the steam rising from the bath. And somewhere, deep down, a quiet, dangerous part of me vowed to make them both pay.
Warm steam surrounded me as I slowly rose from the bathtub, the water clinging to my skin before dripping down to the polished tiles with soft splashes.
My legs felt heavy, my body aching from more than just the heat of the bath. I took a steadying breath and pushed myself up, the cool air prickling against my damp skin and raising goosebumps along my arms.
The towel was only a few steps away, I reached for it, dragging the soft fabric across my face, then my shoulders, before wrapping it loosely around myself.
My wet hair stuck to my back, sending cold trickles of water down my spine as I padded barefoot toward the door.
The bathroom door gave a faint creak when I pushed it open.
The bedroom's light was dim as I crossed the room heading straight for my wardrobe, already thinking of something light to slip into for the night.
Just as my hand brushed the wardrobe handle, a flicker of movement caught in the corner of my eye.
I froze. At first, I thought it was just a trick of the shadows. But no, the darkness in the far corner seemed too still, too deliberate.
My heartbeat stumbled, then raced, pounding in my ears. Slowly, my eyes adjusted, and the outline of a figure began to take shape.
Someone was there sitting and watching.
The towel nearly slipped from my fingers as I stood rooted to the spot, naked beneath the thin fabric, staring at the unexpected intruder in my room.