Book 2 Chapter 36

The sound tore through the darkness sharply and abruptly; A scream, one which was raw, guttural, and soaked in despair

Yalda’s eyes flew open on hearing the sound. Her heart jerked violently into her throat as she bolted upright, she was completely disoriented, she thought the villa was being attacked or something.

“Ioannis!" She breathed.

“Calm down,” he muttered, already moving, he was already fully awake already. “It's Mariah.”

Before she could process anything, he was out of the bed and moving toward the door. Yalda scrambled out after him, pulling on a robe draped on a chair in the corner. Her fingers fumbled, they were literally shaking, but she managed to tie it around her waist and hurry after him down the dim hallway.

Her heart felt like it would leap out of her chest from how frantically it was pounding. And the fact that the screaming grew louder and more urgent made her think about the worst case scenario.

What if Mariah was hurting herself? What if it was really bad? What if they didn't get there on time?

She didn't sound human at this point, she sounded like someone being ripped apart from the inside.

Yalda struggled to keep up with Ioannis who was striding down the hallway quickly, he was almost running at this point. And she was breathless when they got to Mariah's room, Ioannis pushed the door open immediately and she froze completely, her breath hitched and her eyes widened in horror.

The room was chaotic, it was a complete mess.

A lamp had been knocked over and the glass was broken, a pillow was ripped with what seemed to be pieces of glass, drawers were yanked out and thrown around the space, and the large vanity mirror above the dresser was completely shattered, glittering shards scattered across the marble floor like they'd been deliberately spread out.

But the worst was Mariah.

She was on the floor, her knees were scraped raw, and her hair wild and tangled around her face. She was clutching broken glass in both hands, squeezing until her palms bled. Blood dripped down her wrists, smeared across her nightgown, staining the ivory lace which exaggerated the redness.

Yalda felt faint. She'd never been able to stand the sight of blood, it always made her dizzy and lightheaded.

Mariah was screaming so much, she felt she'd choke and pass out or something. Alina was in the corner, sobbing and speaking frantically in Greek, her voice trembling so badly, Yalda doubted anyone could make sense of what she was saying at the moment. The four housemaids hovered behind her, terrified and unsure what to do.

Then Ioannis rushed forward, not minding the fact that he was barefooted and the floor was covered in shards of glass. Yalda wanted to reach out and stop him but couldn't, she was completely frozen.

“Maria," His voice cracked as he dropped to his knees beside her. “Maria, stop. Calm down."

He reached for her wrists, but she fought him with a strength that came only from madness or heartbreak. Yalda wasn't even sure anymore, she seemed crazed at the moment, or possessed rather. She seemed like she would hurt herself and anyone who tried to stop her.

“No, no. I can’t....I can’t..." she screamed, her voice breaking in every possible place. “Let me....just let me go. I can’t live like this anymore.”

"Listen to me, Mariah." Ioannis tried to get to her.

"Afisé me na fýgo!" She screamed at him at the top of her lungs.

"Ákouse me, Mariah!" Ioannis roared back, causing her breath to hitch for a second. "Den tha se afíso na káneis allo kakó ston eaftó sou, arketá echeis pligotheí ídi. I won't!"

Ioannis grabbed her hands, prying open her fingers despite the blades slicing into her skin again.

Blood smeared across his palms, staining his white shirt, streaking down his arms as he finally got the shards out of her grip.

“Someone call the doctor." he barked, never looking away from Mariah.

One of the maids ran out immediately and it was only then that a shuddering breath left Yalda.

Mariah thrashed in his hold violently, sobbing and shaking uncontrollably. Ioannis pulled her against him, wrapping his arms tightly around her, pinning her against his chest to stop her from hurting herself again. She screamed some more as she tried to wriggle her way out of his hold to no avail.

Yalda could only watch.

Her throat clenched tightly, and her knees felt weak, they felt like they would give out. Her pulse drummed painfully loud in her ears.

Mariah looked… broken beyond repair; her eyes were hollow, red and swollen. Her face was pale, almost gray at this point. And Ioannis held her like she was shattering in his arms, like she was something he just couldn't let go of.

“Maria… listen to me,” he whispered against her hair, his voice shaking despite his efforts to calm her. “I’ve got you. You’re safe. I’m here. You’re not alone, do you hear me? You’re not alone.”

He rocked her slowly, still whispering in greek, still trying to ground her.

Yalda’s heart twisted with something she couldn’t even name, she thought her emotions were a bit sorted out after Ioannis had reassured her earlier, but she wasn't so sure anymore.

There was fear, compassion, shock, jealousy, and they were all mixing into something sickening. She hated herself for the jealousy most of all.

Because how could she feel that while watching a woman bleed and scream and crumble before them? How could her chest tighten at the sight of Ioannis holding Mariah so tightly, so desperately, when Mariah was clearly drowning in pain?

But she felt it anyway. And it made her stomach churn. What kind of a person was she?

She wanted to go to her, she wanted to comfort her too, to say something, but she couldn’t move. Her legs refused to cooperate. She stood there like a ghost, frozen, unable to breathe properly, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on her chest.

Alina stepped closer, still crying softly, mumbling prayers under her breath. “Oh, Maria… oh, koukla mou… ti ekanes… ti ekanes…”

Mariah whimpered in Ioannis’s arms, clutching the fabric of his shirt with bloodied fingers.

“I can’t sleep,” she sobbed. “I can’t stop seeing how stupid I've been all my life. I can’t breathe, Ioannis. I....i...”

“I know,” he murmured. “I know. It’s okay. I’m here.”

His voice was a mixture of fim and soft, gentle and authoritative. Comforting in a way Yalda didn’t think she could ever replicate.

She wasn’t supposed to compare herself, she knew that. She wasn’t supposed to feel threatened by a woman who was clearly suffering, who could barely hold herself upright. But the image of Mariah in his arm, their history, the intimacy, the familiarity…..

It clawed at her, dragging old insecurities to the surface.

Especially when she remembered how empty she felt at dinner just hours earlier. How forgotten she had felt. And how, despite everything, Ioannis had still been the one she waited for before sleeping.

She didn't realize so much time had passed till a doctor rushed into the room moments later, carrying a medical bag. He muttered something in Greek to Ioannis, who nodded and gently scooped mariah in his arms, a maid cleared the bed quickly and he set her down gently.

The doctor settled beside her and took her hands carefully, examining the wounds, disinfecting the cuts, stitching the deeper ones with practiced speed.

Maria remained hysterical at first, trembling violently speaking incoherently, and ioannis stayed right there beside her, holding her free hand, whispering reassurances to help keep her calm.

Yalda’s chest tightened again.

The doctor finished treating Mariah’s hands and injected her with something, likely a sedative. Slowly, her trembling eased and her breaths steadied. Her eyelids drooped tiredly.

Ioannis waited a couple of minutes to ensure she was asleep before he gently scooped her into his arms once more, he stood, holding her as though she weighed nothing.

His shirt was ruined, smeared with streaks of red across his chest and sleeves. But he didn’t even seem to notice.

Alina wiped her face with trembling fingers. “We need to… clean… everything…” she told the maid, her voice cracking.

Ioannis murmured softly, “I’ll take her to the guest room. She'll rest better there.”

He walked out, Mariah limp in his arms, her head resting against his shoulder.

And Yalda still couldn’t move, she just watched quietly while her body tremble. She stood there even as Alina turned to her briefly, eyes red, expression apologetic. Even as the maids began sweeping glass, gathering bloody towels, trying to restore order to the room.

Yalda remained rooted in place, staring at the doorway where Ioannis had disappeared with Mariah.

She was dazed, completely dazed. She couldn't believe this has actually happened, she couldn't believe she'd just witnessed this.