'You have come to gloat, haven't you?' Cathania said as soon as she saw us approaching her cell. 'Well, you do not need to. State what your punishment is and I'll gladly serve It. I'll have you know that I am not afraid of you nor your punishment!'
'Keep quiet Cathania', Alpha Sylvester ordered. 'You need to apologise to her for trying to kill her and for speaking to her this way'.
I shall do no such thing!' Cathania shrieked. 'It shall be over my dead body to apologise to a maid even if her status has been glorified', she looked condescendingly at me and then, looked with disgust at Sylvester. 'Sylvester', she called, 'you do not cease to marvel me. You are still going round with her, patrolling her as your future Luna when you know she wants another! Ha, ha ha!' she laughed like someone who was insane. ' State your punishment already, mighty Luna and be done with it because I need you out of my sight!'
'Cathania!' Sylvester thundered.And I touched him lightly on the arm, shaking my head to indicate that he should not say anymore.
'Cathania', I began, 'no one will be punishing you. I forgive you and have requested of Alpha Sylvester to release you from detention and he has magnanimously agreed', I said.
I didn't expect her to be grateful and I was not disappointed. ''I forgive you!' she mimicked me. 'Who are you to forgive me? Is this act intended for the pack to consider you Luna material? You have always been a maid and that is what you will remain!'
'But you know that's not true', I said, feeling my temperature rising in anger. This woman was really impossible! 'My status has always been higher. I was a princess and you know it!'
'Was, being the operational word', she said bitchily. 'You were a princess and got demoted to an Omega maid and that is why you are trying too hard to become a Luna but the title does not become you at all. I assure you, when all in the pack look at you, all they see is the Omega maid that served them in the past. Ha,ha,ha!'
'Cathania! if you do not stop this rubbish, this instant, I shall show you that I am the Alpha of this pack and you are under my custody!' Sylvester thundered.
'Oh, please, spare me!' she said, her eyes wild. I was sure her jealousy had gone into her mind and unhinged something, what she doesn't seem to get is that she was fighting the wrong person. 'You are not the only Alpha of this pack and your brother is a better option, I tell you. Little wonder then that this maid chose him over you!'
'Cathania!' Sylvester howled, furiously. 'If I didn't hate hitting women, I would strike you this instant!'
'Is the truth bitter? You cannot bear to hear it?' she mocked. 'But that's the truth and you have to swallow the bitter pill. I was doing you a favour by choosing you but you are an ungrateful element! Howl and roar all you want. I am not afraid of you!'
'Alpha Sylvester', I called gently. 'Leave well alone. She is frustrated and is just hitting back with her words. Don't let her get to you nor dignify her words with a response. Go on ahead, I shall be behind you'.
'Why?' he asked, looking at me and then at Cathania. 'I don't think that's wise', he said.
'Little maid', Cathania laughed at 'You better heed his words. He knows what he is talking about!'
'Sylvester, please!' I implored.
He hesitated but shook his head on second thoughts, but before leaving, he said, 'I want you behind me in the next three minutes! Don't make me wait!'
'I won't!' I said. Then turned to Cathania.
'So sweet and touching!' she said. 'But I am not buying it. Both of you are just deceiving each other. You do not love him and he cannot love you. So why the pretense?'
'Why can he not love me?' I asked, curious to hear what she would say.
'He cannot love you, my dear Millicent, because your father murdered his parents. If you were in his shoes, would you love such a person?' she asked and then burst out laughing. 'Oh, sorry. I forgot. That is the same reason you cannot love him and accept him whole - heartedly, now, isn't it? He murdered your own parents too, in cold blood! Ha,ha,ha, ha! You both deserve each other, I must say. I'm imagining a marriage based on mutual H - A- T- E'.
'What she said pierced my heart as it opened fresh wounds. But there was something else that got my heart thundering. I had heard something like that before. Where? My mind worked furiously, searching... Oh, at the garden.
'Why would he think that my father could possibly murder his parents? My father was not like that!' I said, my thoughts in shambles.
'I thought you were wise but you never found out how deep his hatred for you is and why. You just served him thinking he would let you go someday. I'm sure he still wants to make you suffer for his loss. And you? Do you really want him to get away with murdering your parents? I bet you have a vengeance plot ready to be executed, at least you should, if you have any sense in that thick skull of yours!'
I looked at Cathania and was shocked. I had to admit that she was really wise and had deduced at least my feelings perfectly.
'All that is in the past, his murder of my parents, that is. I was too young and have forgotten about it. And why should I hatch a vengeance plot against anyone? The Moon goddess has elevated me and I shall soon be the Luna, what more could I possibly ask for?' I asked, not wanting Cathania to guess at my thoughts. She would most definitely expose them to all, especially, Sylvester.
'But why did you say, my father murdered his parents?' I asked, wanting more information.
'I am not in a position to answer that', she said, smiling wickedly and the crazed look on her face caused me to take a step backwards. 'Ask your cheating Alpha, he will tell you all about it'.
'There will be no need for that!' a voice said and I swirled round to find Alpha Christopher walking towards us.
'Darling, what are you doing here?' he asked, looking at me appreciatively. 'Come away, immediately. This is no place for you'.
'I came to give my punishment to Cathania.
'Fickle minded!' Cathania spat. 'Didn't you say you were releasing me without punishment?' she said. 'Or was that just to impress Sylvester?'
'What's she talking about?' Alpha Christopher asked puzzled. 'She can't mean what I heard her say, can she?'
'Cathania', I said again. 'I forgive you and your punishment will be to be released without any punishment. Let your conscience do the rest!'
'Are you sure?' Christopher asked, looking at me with his eyes very round, sounding so uncannily like his twin.
'Very sure! Guards, release Cathania immediately', I ordered.
'Wait!' Christopher shouted, raising his hand, palms up to halt the movement of the guards who had started coming to obey my order.
'Can you see how kind and selfless, Millicent is? She has the qualities of the goddess herself', he said, smiling fondly at me and then looking at Cathania with irritation. 'She has done what even you cannot do. If you ever do anything to hurt her again, I shall personally see to it that you do not live to tell the tale!'
Cathania scuffed. 'You really love her don't you?' she asked and without waiting for a response, added, 'better make hay while the sun shines. If you delay, then your brother might just mark her before you do!'
'Forget about that!' Christopher said. 'Are you turning against your own lover? And you want to use us as your pawn? Oh Cathania, it won't work!' And he signalled the guards to release her.
'Believe it or not but if you do not get smart, you will lose her to your brother!' Then she shook her head, 'Perhaps, I am mistaken and you do not love her well enough to go against fate on her account, in which case, feel free to lose your beloved mate and you, 'Maid Luna' I said something to you before poisoning you. If you love yourself, heed that advice or not, it's your business and won't pull a hair from my head! she said, as she stepped out of the cell.
