Submitting novel Chapter 44

Liza. 

A shiver ran down my spine as I realized how much I miss her. The shine in her eyes every time she made her favourite chocolate filled cookies and then ate almost all of them because she loved them so much. How she always talked about doing crazy things to her hair but settled for the least ridiculous option. The way she knew her way around everything and never really failed. Oblivious of the charm she had and the light she spread. The first person who stepped into my life and made me realize that all people are not the same. That there is more to the world outside my cage. 

The first person for whom I almost opened the door. 

A girl who didn't care about why I was silent. She respected my privacy and understood boundaries better than anyone. She never pushed too hard neither did she let me get through things myself. She just always knew what to do in situations where nothing could be done. Unlike me.

I wish I could say that it was hard to remember that face or be lucky enough to wonder where I have seen that face before, but things are not always in my favour. Reality shot harder than a bullet as I sat there gaping at the man's face who so smoothly waltzed in and didn't look at my face as he poured the amber wine in the glistening crystal that shined in the candlelights.

I've known that face before and failed to realize what truly laid behind those deceiving lavender eyes. It was all a truly messed up façade in both ways. He played the violin so easily that it looked easy too. But now I knew what he was in the true light as his green eyes shined like an emerald just like the man who sat in front of me.

Ivan.

He wasn't wearing his lavender lenses any more but still pretended to be someone he was not as he set the table with warm food for Dimitri and me. I could feel the tension in the air, I didn't need to look at the man on the other side of the table to know that the same shade of emerald eyes was observing me very strictly. I didn't know what his plan was and why he would bring Ivan here, but I had a feeling I'll have to find that out for myself.

Ivan completely ignored me and didn't meet my gaze as I gaped at him completely dumbfounded. Why was he serving us in a butler's uniform? What was he doing here, and why would Dimitri want him here? The last time I saw him was still fresh in my mind as if it happened a few moments ago. I never thought that things could happen in such a way, and yet I am proved wrong like always.

I wanted him to stop pretending like he didn't know me. Like he didn't molest me the last time we met. I wanted to know that this is the same Ivan who came into the dark night and asked for shelter that I oh so blindly provided him.