Hey, guys! Sorry, it's been so long, but I've been on a twelve- day vacation. My updates will be more consistent from now on.

Enjoy! "Words can lie. See beneath them."

Mare

I decide to not respond to his comment. "What happened?"

"Well, you were about to electrocute a large number of my palace guards, so I saw it fit to put you out for awhile, before you could do more harm."

"Where's Cal? What have you done with him?"

"Quit your worrying, I didn't kill him," Maven drawled, appearing bored. "Instead I've decided to use him as leverage. As long as you follow my orders, no harm will come to him."

"What do you want from me?"

"You know exactly what I want."

"Maven…."

"I don't expect you to fall in love with me, not anymore. What I did tonight, even I admit, was ridiculous. It was impulsive, I saw you two together, and I realized who you were, I was angry, and I was jealous. I admit it. At the time, I believed the quickest way for me to have you back-"

Before he gets the chance to finish, I slap him across the face, with enough force to jerk his head to the side, and leave a ghostly white mark on his right cheek. "Bastard. I was never with you. I was in love with someone who wasn't real. A walking lie," I spit my words.

Maven closes his eyes for a couple of seconds, appearing in deep thought. "You're right. My mother created the boy you loved. But in that process, I fell for you, so hard. My mother, she taught me a lesson, where she explained the only way to get something- or someone," he amended, "is to manipulate, lie, cheat and steal. But, you're right, whatever I get out of that method, It'll be a lie."

I slowly bring my head up from staring at my nails, and look him in the eye. "How do I know what you're saying to me right now isn't a lie? Another one of your games? What made you decide to tell me this right now?"

"My mother is still controlling me from the grave, you're right."

"That was just a metaphor," I say, taking a song breath out, and glancing around my room, attempting to keep my eyes focused on anything but him. Anything else.

"She's dead, and for a long time I didn't realize that her hold on me was gone," he takes a moment to think over his next words. "But what you said tonight, makes me realize that I've been acting the way she would want me to."

"Then why are you still keeping me here? Using Cal as leverage? If you have truly become good person, you have to let me go," I say these last words with barely any emotion in my voice, hiding the hope I have for my and Cal's freedom.

"I can't," he whispers.

"What do you mean you can't?"

Maven shakes his head slowly, and turns his mouth slightly upward, revealing a bitter smile. "I never said that I have changed. I want to, but I haven't yet. I'm selfish, and I don't want to lose you again. If I let you go, I'm going to predict here and now, that you'll never come back unless given a life or death reason. Answer me truthfully, Mare. If I were to set you free right now, would you ever come back?"

I bring my eyes back to meet his, previously staring at a bland piece of artwork fixed to the wall left of me. "Of course not. You're right, the only situation in which I'd come back to this wretched palace is if someone I cared about life was in danger."

The king nods slowly, processing the information. "I don't why it's such a shock for me. After everything I've done, I don't blame you," he turns to leave, shutting the door behind him. But for once, I don't hear the familiar click of a bolt.

I paced the room for what felt like minutes, but in reality was a couple of hours. By the evening, I sank to the floor, and stared at it for awhile. The way Maven acted reminded me just a little bit of the old Maven. He seemed to feel bad about all the things he's done, as if he really wanted to change. I found myself wandering into Mareena's closet, still filled will gown upon gown, training gear, and white paste. Just the mere sight of it made me want to scream until I couldn't any longer. I turned to nearly the same shade as the sheer white day dress behind me. Why did I believe him for a split second? If he wanted to get better, then he would, and he'd let me go. A mentally healthy person would let me go. One sentence out of my mouth isn't going to undo damage that has been going on since he was a baby. He's always known exactly how I feel about him, and he hasn't attempted to change in the past, so why would he now? This is merely another sick game of his, where the goal is to make me fall for him, by giving me just enough freedom and by pretending to be a just good enough human being.

I won't fall for it.

I make myself busy until his return. He hadn't bolted the lock, leaving me to roam freely around the palace, but I never was one for silver courtiers. Instead, I stayed in my suite, pouring bucket after bucket of the creamy paste down my bathroom sink. The liquid was fairly thick, most likely to clog the drain, but I continued pouring, even after the thought occurred to me. When I finished, I tossed the buckets out of my window, and about a second later, swear I heard the sound of metal against head and a grunt.

I walk over to a bookshelf, and notice the shelves are filled to the brim with the same books I read in my time in captivity. Running my fingers over the spines, I faintly smile to myself, remembering how these publications were the only things that kept me sane from the fine line dividing it from insanity. I continue around the room, glancing over the knick knacks and the paintings that held no meaning to me. This caught me thinking of home and my family, and how much I missed them. When was the last time I had even seen them? Weeks? Months? I couldn't even remember anymore, that's how long it's been. I ended up sinking to the ground once more, whispering my siblings and my parent's names.

At the peak of my mental breakdown, Maven strolls in through the door, with a warm smile plastered upon his face and opens his mouth to say something.

"Please don't speak," I whisper. "I will do whatever you need, but right now, I beg of you. Leave."

For the first time in a very long time, he follows my wishes. He leaves without word.