The Journal [A Sequel To Maya's Diary]

Chapter Twenty-six

"Won't you say anything?" Edward asked still tossing the diamond into both hands.

"How did you get it?" Annabelle asked fixating on the hand movement.

"I knew you were up to something, but didn't just know what. I mean you can't just arrive and then leave after a few days that's not you so I dug until I found this. What are you using this for?"

"It's a diamond and I need new sets of jewelries thanks for asking."

"Annabelle... "

"Fine! I'll tell you," she replied, walking leisurely towards the sunken sofa. Edward followed slowly and sat oppositely. Their middle was clustered with empty bottles of bourbon and some accidentally smashed glasses. The night before was a hit and a celebration of sibling reunion as they rightfully put it.

"I'm listening."

"Do you even know why I ran away and never came back?"

Edward shook his head, while she nodded in understanding.

"I was supposed to die."

"What?"

"I'll explain," she started and readjusted to a more comfortable position shifting forward, "when I was just five, I would sometimes wake up to a rattling sound in the basement or to a real conversation only one person had. One day I walked down the stairs to make sure I was still sane and to find out who it was, it turned out it was our father."

"Of course. He was a crazy person."

"That's not the point Edward. He wasn't always crazy and drunk, some people were messing with his sanity. Members of the so called cult you are a member of."

"You know about it?"

"I know everything. Probably even more than you do. I found this necklace on the desk," she drew out the necklace's end that hid between her laced vest, "I practically stole it from him, but my five year old self thought that it was a pretty one to keep because he would never give it to me even though I asked politely. I locked it away in my drawer and never wore it at home till I escaped. He started acting out, I didn't understand why a father would show some much resentment towards his children. Then there were strange visitors who always spoke in whispers whenever they came. But when I grew older, it made more sense. They visited because they wanted his own end of the promise kept. A promise to domination, continuity and strength."

"Yes," Edward began as he stood up and began walking towards the kitchen counter a few steps from the living room and began pouring himself a glass of bourbon from the fairly used up collection, "I was that promise and that's why I'm stuck in this mess, but if it protects Maya then I'm cool with it," he ended with a smile. He walked back the steps he had taken and dropped a cup on her frail hands.

"Edward, I didn't get to finish my story. You weren't dad's promise, I was. You were used as my replacement because I ran away before I could be caught. Yes it's true he didn't have any priced possession worth giving away, but there was an exception for twins; one is given away to be killed and the other gets to live."

"You weren't a twin Anna."

"I thought so too. It turned out she got killed the day she was born. The day I was born. Think about it Edward, nothing good can come from them. The only reason they are protecting Maya, is just so that they can kill one of her twins the day she is born. They are not on your side Edward, I am."

"Wait a second... What?"

"Believe it or not, it's the truth. She is only four months away and I can't let them get that power they want."

"All you've said has nothing to do with the diamond."

"On the contrary brother, it has everything to do with it. The Arch is bound by a mark. The mark of a triangle. The only way to destroy them is from the inside, a move they won't see coming. I need three paragon diamonds to insert into the warehouse's main entrance door. The hollow spaces provided there, are for the diamonds to be inserted into it and then become visible for everyone to see. It would no longer become secret and then they can be taken down. I know this might sound crazy, but that's my move against them and since you are a member, you are gonna help me."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Well, you can start by handing over that one in your hand. That would mean one out of three diamonds check. It would take another lifetime to get another one."

"Actually, I don't think so. You are looking for paragon diamonds and I happen to know someone who was willed a ton," he replied with a cynical smirk at the corner of his lips.

⚪⚫⚪

"Mia Stone just got three followers more than you do," Scarlett spoke up while scrolling down the clogged instagram feed Tess's phone displayed.

"They are just three followers Scarlett. Let it go."

"Hello? Mia Stone just got into the spotlight like yesterday. You are the queen of music. She is not supposed to have even a quarter follower more than you do," Tess rolled back into her bed and covered every inch of her body with her massive thick white blanket while Scarlett sighed in frustration, "look... I can be your makeup artist all you want, dress you up in the most exotic clothes by the most talented designers and stylists with the most expensive makeups and shoes and show you out to the world or I can actually be your friend and you can tell me what it is that has been disturbing you for the past few weeks. The trolls are increasing. Everyone is wondering what ever happened to their favorite artiste who the last time I checked, was you. Everyone is worried Tess. "

Tess peeked through her blanket with all her hair still consuming the pillow and it's straight nature turned into a nasty mess, "trust me Scarlett, you don't want to know."

"...but I do. Do you think it's fun being left out of the fun? With you and Joe whispering secrets into each others ears, it hasn't actually been fun."

"The last I checked, you were horrible at secrets."

"OK I know that the rumor about you and Joe was technically and accidentally my fault and it didn't do well to prove my credibility, but I promise you that I have my lips sealed on this one. You need someone to talk to and you are really short of friends so you need all the possible ones you can get," she replied while her index fingers sneakily pointed to herself from the corners of her jacket.

Tess laughed in amusement and gestured her a place in her bed to sit.

"I get to sit on Tess's bed. This must be important," she spoke up occupying the corners.

"Don't mess this up."

"I promise I won't."

"You know that safe where I keep diamonds?"

"Yes. You said no-one should go near the door that leads to it. Why?"

"I want to ship it's contents to my aging Nona in Madrid. I want her to have it as hers."

"But Tess that's another huge add to your net worth. If she claims ownership of it, you will decrease by a whole lot."

"It's more complicated than that. People are coming after it. People are coming after me and I don't want to have what they would be looking for when they come. You asked me why I've been staying away from the spotlight, this is why. It's not safe for me anywhere and a bunch of bodyguards won't be strong enough to keep them away."

Tess looked into Scarlett's eyes and noticed fear and worry seeping out through her weary eyeballs then carefully cupped both sides of her cheeks with both arms and spoke up, "don't be scared Scarlett. Nothing is going to happen to me, but I beg you tell no-one about this." Scarlett nodded and she did so too.