Chapter 7 Guilt

"Thank you and please protect our child" Morrigan stammered thankfully with a weak voice, Mother Lina nodded carried baby Maze from her hand and exited the cell, she knew there was no way she could save both mother and child, her only choice was to protect one of them and that was Maze. As soon as she exited the cell, the heavenly realms guards took away Morrigan's weak body for execution. Luckily no one saw when she broke into the cell, she carried the infant to her chambers and locked it behind them, she gave her a warm bath and tucked her to sleep. Being born prematurely, she had to keep her alive, she was preserving her with her powers when a knock came in her door, she knew it was Maximus so she opened up. 

"How did you let a thing happen?" She questioned him angrily 

"I couldn't stop this from happening Lina, it was too late and the Lord's came unexpectedly" Maximus defended 

"Now Lucien is dead because of your incompetence" she cried 

"Let's not worry about that, I know what you did" he said walking towards sleeping Maze 

"You are not allowed to hurt her" Mother Lina yelled 

"I would no such, she's my best friend's child, I just want to help" Maximus said 

"How? She is weak" 

"The prophecy that led to all of this claims her spiritual core is too powerful and dangerous" Maximus said looking at Maze "if we must keep her alive, we need to lock her spiritual core to avoid her powers from surfacing and attracting attention in the realm

"What if she doesn't survive without her powers?" Lina asked 

"We would be here to watch over her and ensure nothing happens to her but for now that's the only way to keep her safe" Maximus said 

"Okay, I will do anything to protect her and if locking her spiritual core is the only way to keep her then do it" Mother Lina said as she rubbed Mazikeen's soft milky hair. 

Mother Lina cried as she remembered all of this, she had done this thirteen hundred years ago but now with Mazikeen growing stronger and more perceptive, Lina feared the decision would come back to haunt them all.

She moved to her desk, her fingers brushing over a small, worn locket that held a faded picture of Mazikeen as a child. Lina's eyes softened, and she whispered into the empty room, her voice filled with sorrow.

"Oh, Maze...forgive me. I wanted nothing more than to protect you. But now, I fear I've been part of something that may hurt you more than I can bear."

As she stood there, the candlelight flickering around her, Lina felt a tear slip down her cheek. She knew that when Mazikeen returned, she would not be the same. And if the truth ever came to light, their bond, her love and all the years she had spent caring for Mazikeen would be shattered beyond repair.

The thought weighed heavily on her, and for the first time, Mother Lina prayed-not to the gods, but to Mazikeen herself, hoping that, somehow, the girl she had raised could find it in her heart to forgive her.

~~~~

"Thorold!" Annabelle called walking towards him "why are you all alone? you seem distant lately," she said further when she got no reply from Thorold 

"I didn't ask for your presence" Thorold said calmly but with an irritated voice "what brings you here?" 

"I came to see a friend, aren't you happy to see me?" she asked and walked behind him, she squatted down to his reach and ran her fingers on his chest but Thorold caught them immediately and gently took her hand away from him, he knew Annabelle very well, she was cunning and scheming 

"You are thinking about her" she said smiling. He was irritated, this was the same thing he was avoiding, Anna has the power to read people's mind, all she has to do is come in contact with your skin and she has her way of getting in contact with anyone she wishes 

"You are not supposed to be here Anna, just leave me alone" Thorold said, he was sitted on a rock in a mountain, where he watched all the activities in his realm and as well have a private time for himself, he wasn't expecting Anna to be here, she was from the Dean's tribe 

"I decided to pay you a visit since you have decided not to visit a friend" she said sitting next to him 

"We are not friends Anna, watch your tongue" 

"Ohh easy! but for how long will keep being upset with him, I only said I was going to break her bone but I didn't even touch her" Anna defended 

"And that's because I warned you to never hurt her" Thorold said standing to his feet 

"Ohh please Thorold, you can't hurt me, we are both from the royal clan and just because I guide the Dean's tribe doesn't mean you can hurt me, besides I heard your love bird is out there in the wild cultivating" Anna said 

"What have you done?" He asked getting to his feet with a sharp look on her face

Annabelle chuckled, unfazed by his anger. "You're so protective of her," she teased. "But what's the point? She's out there, alone in the wild, cultivating her powers. She's far from your reach." 

"If you're here to annoy me Anna, then I suggest you take your leave" he said looking into space 

"How will you protect her now?" Anna asking "she's far away from you Thorold, you didn't let me hurt her back then but I believe someone out there will do it for me now" she said smiling mischievously 

Thorold stood, his towering frame casting a shadow over her. "Annabelle, leave. Now." he yelled, he hated being reminded that Maze was far from him, it's been fifty years and she hasn't sent a word, he worries about her well being.

Annabelle's grin faltered, but only slightly. "Fine, I'll go. But don't think for a moment that your little lovebird is safe. Her realms are watching her, Thorold. And so am I, so don't even think of doing anything stupid" Anna said and left. Thorold was upset, he took a stone and threw it into the thin air and furiously kicked kicked his foot against a stone 

~~~~

Mazikeen paced her room, her thoughts swirling like a storm. It had been fifty long years since Lord Xandros had visited her, but his words still echoed in her mind. For half a century, she had buried herself in her cultivation, pushing her limits and ignoring the questions gnawing at her soul. But no amount of discipline could erase the lingering doubts or the yearning to understand her past.

She stopped in her tracks, her breath catching in her throat. Enough. She couldn't ignore it anymore. She had to know the truth, no matter how painful it might be. Steeling herself, she stood in the center of the room and called his name, her voice trembling with determination.

"Lord Xandros," she said softly at first, but then louder. "Lord Xandros!" She repeated it a third time, her voice resolute.