Chapter 172: 172-Pressing matter
Heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway. Maisa and Sapphire both fell into stricken silence.
Maisa heart kicked against her ribs when she realised the footsteps stopped right in front of the door. A sharp knock echoed through the room.
"Maisa, are you already asleep?"
The question forced Maisa to glance out the window and realize that daylight was upon them. She got off the bed and went to draw the curtains before the sun light hit them.
"Careful," Sapphire warned, pulling the covers over her own body.
Maisa rushed over in quick speed but they had been chatting for too long and lost track of time. Just then, the sun came out.
She closed her eyes shut as her hands shook so badly that her body trembled. Her breathing emerged in a frantic whisper.
Maisa waited for the sting of being burnt by the sun light but the pain never came. Slowly, she forced her eyes open and glanced at the sun while the bright yellow ball of light in the sky also watched her.
"What the hell?" She was beyond bewildered. Since she became a redblood, she had gotten allergic to the sun and now, the sun grazed her skin and did nothing to her.
Maisa’s eyes dropped down to her body. The fact that the sun didn’t burn her to a crisp should’ve come as a relief but it didn’t.
Instead, it was another thing she can add to the list of side effects of taking those medicines. Another sacrifice she hadn’t realized she was making until it was too late.
Sapphire snuck a peek from under the covers. Her eyes went wide with shock as she saw Maisa, a redblood, standing in the first light of dawn and not getting burnt.
"How is this even possible?" She was knocked back in disbelief. "How can you stand in the sun? Why aren’t you burning? What is going on, Maisa Loven?"
"Maisa!"
The knock on the door became impossibly rushed and hard to ignore. Maisa pulled the curtains closed and run to answer the door.
In a span of a moment, she opened the door and in stepped Addessa. The blackblood looked a minute away from breaking her apart just to avenge being made to wait outside.
"I am not sleeping yet. Sapphire and I were having a sleep over and we were just talking," she rushed to explain like focusing on Addessa would shake off the annoying feeling of her body growing numb. "Did you need something?"
Addessa’s gaze landed on Sapphire. The redblood flashed her a friendly smile that got Addessa pressing her face into a hardened scowl.
"I need you."
"What is it?"
Addessa was about to air out her problem when she was reminded of the company present and held back. "Not here," she said and grabbed Maisa’s wrist.
Her head snapped back to Sapphire and she gave the redblood a stern warning. "Don’t even dare to wander around the tower. Stay here and wait. Maisa will be back in a little while."
Maisa frowned deeply. "Aren’t you going to ask me whether I want to come with you or if I want to leave my friend here all by herself?"
"Frankly speaking, I don’t care," Addessa said and begin marching out. Her steps were like a trained soldier heading to war. They were steady, hard on the floor and scary.
’I will be right back,’ she mouthed to Sapphire.
Sapphire who had been let in on the secret of Maisa being blood bound to the fiery four didn’t mind her leaving. Infact, her romantic heart was excited to see Addessa acting so possessive with Maisa. Even if Addessa had demanded she leave the room for them to talk. She would have done so, happily.
"Go, have your talk. I’ll wait for you here."
Maisa relaxed visibly after seeing that Sapphire wasn’t offended by Addessa’s lack of manners. Now, she worried about why Addessa had called her out and what could be so urgent that Addessa had to look for her at sleeping hours.
"We have put some distance between us and Sapphire. Plus, the house is sealed with runes that prevent superhearing... why don’t you tell me what you want to talk to me about?"
Addessa ignored her and kept walking. The deeper they went, the more worried Maisa got.
The route was leading to the higher chambers that are reserved for the princess and blood lord Kayden. Since Kayden wasn’t around, Maisa could only assume Addessa was leading her to Varitreya’s room.
"Does Varitreya want to talk to me too?" Naturally she was concerned.
With how strange everyone was acting after Felor, she was tiptoing in eggshells around them. Not aware of what could trigger their real feelings towards her before they magically got friendly.
She had no clue why Varitreya and Addessa wanted to speak to her first thing in the morning. And for reasons unknown to her, Addessa wasn’t giving her a hint at all.
"Can you just tell me so I know how to act before Varitreya?"
"You’ll see when we get there. Just follow me."
That was easy for Addessa to ask of her when she wasn’t the only blindly following behind. Regardless, she didn’t argue or fight.
Soon they arrived at Varitreya’s room. Maisa remembered the room from the day that Zolani had been struck by her sibling’s poisoned arrow and Varitreya fed from her to heal her.
The memory stirred some heat at her lower abdomen. The heat coursed through her body and made her feel shy about going in.
Addessa pushed the door open. She didn’t bother knocking before hand and led them inside.
"Did you confirm..." Varitreya paused when she met Maisa’s eyes and she froze in place. "Why did you bring her here?"
Addessa went back and locked the door. "She had Sapphire over in her room and I couldn’t exactly get the job done in the hallways and my room wasn’t an option. Your room is reinforced and more secure so I brought her here."
"Hold up, you have a redblood in my tower?" Varitreya turned red with anger. "Who gave..."
"She lives here now so it is expected that her friend will come over," Addessa walked over and touched Varitreya’s arm. Her touch was soft and it calmed Varitreya immediately. "Stop focusing on that. We have more pressing matters at hand."
Maisa raised an eyebrow at that interaction. Yes, Addessa worked for Varitreya as her warden and confidant but there was always a line between them and the way they treated each other. Today however, it felt as though that line was erased and they had miraculously become best buddies.
"Alright," Varitreya relaxed. "Let’s just get this over with."
"Alright," Addessa moved away from her and motioned for Maisa to come over.
Maisa didn’t dare move. The atmosphere in the room was strange and it made the hair on her skin straighten. She gulped nervously.
"I’m okay standing right here."