Chapter 31: The Resemblance

Rakiza couldn't believe what Lupe had just told her. But it was loud and clear in her ears. Nikolas had an unusual ailment that no one else was aware of.
Lupe resumed what he had begun to reveal, "That's why he can't easily get out of here during daylight. It's risky with him. And, most importantly, it's a secret. "
"Why did you keep it a secret?" Rakiza inquired.
According to the tale I've heard, that was his mother's intention for him. She didn't want her son to be exposed to another child.
"Have you seen her mother? Have you had the opportunity to meet her?" Rakiza inquired.
"No, Sir Nikolas was already a man when we met, so I haven't."
Lupe answered the phone when the intercom rang.
Lupe didn't say anything; instead, he listened closely to the other side. He kept nodding till they finished speaking. "Bye," he said as he hung up the phone, "Please stay here for a bit. He was coming out sooner to see you. There are some things in the fridge, and you're free to pour any wine from that rack. The cork opener was there, in that drawer. And please forgive me. I have an errand to run. "
Rakiza's knees were numb once more. She needed to be alone in Nikolas's apartment. She sat motionless on the couch, waiting for Nikolas to appear. In her view, she should return the red beryl ring. She examined the ring on her finger.
Then she remembered what had happened to Muriel. She was worried about what might happen to her again. She was suffering from an ailment that struck her suddenly and without warning. "How could she suffer from such severe blood loss?"
Rakiza remembered Muriel as the type of person who believed that what you eat is what you become. And she was adamant about getting her eight hours of sleep and following her wellness regimen.
She decided to leave the room after a few minutes of waiting. She sat at the long table near the glass window, which was now covered with a thick dark maroon curtain. Lupe's revelation rang in Rakiza's head. "Solar urticaria," she remarked in hushed tones.
Then she heard a door opening from above and a man's shoes descending from above the glass steps of a spiral staircase she hadn't noticed earlier. Nikolas was the one who was beaming at her. His eyes were a little drained.
Rakiza rose to her feet and apologized to Nikolas, "I'm sorry to bother you." He was dressed in a red silk robe that reached his feet. And he sported a dashing and stylish appearance.
"I'm glad to see you here, Rakiza, and I know your mission is more vital than normal," He proceeded to the wine rack and brought out a black-branded wine, pouring two glasses. He then opened a door on the wall, revealing a fridge stocked with food.
"Honestly, I'm very glad to see you right now," Nikolas said as he handed her the glass of wine. "It's red wine, which is beneficial for your heart."
"How serious is your illness, Nikolas?" Rakiza couldn't help herself from asking.
"Lupe informed you about my disease, right?" Nikolas asked, staring at her.
"Don't be upset with him; I questioned him about you and…
"Don't worry, I never get angry at him, and that secret is no longer a secret; it's my mother's request that it remain unknown to others,” he said as he drank his wine.
Rakiza was put at ease by Nikolas's calm demeanor. "I'm sorry, but my body is unable to accept alcohol."
"That's good." He took the glass from Rakiza's hand.
He placed a crystal bowl of grapes on the table and murmured, "Enjoy the fruits," as he took a seat opposite Rakiza on the long table, "Now, tell me how I can help you. It's really essential, right?"
Rakiza yanked the crimson beryl ring from her finger, and Nikolas grimaced as she placed it on the table. "I can't safeguard that ring. It bothered me a lot, so please take that back. I can't wear such an expensive ring, Nikolas. It's too unsafe to wear a ring worth millions. I hope you get my point. I already knew how much that red beryl stone was worth. And it caused me discomfort. "
Nikolas remained silent for a moment before smiling at Rakliza. He said, picking up the ring, "I'm sorry if I didn't consider that possibility; I didn't realize a costly ring could put you at risk." My mother treasured this ring; she kept it as a remembrance of her worst enemy. "
Rakiza was perplexed and inquired, "Why?" Who is your mother's enemy? "
"The queen of the south, Queen Maruja," Nikolas said, his eyes welling up with sadness.
"What? Queen Maruja? Is that The Queen in the painting above the majestic stairs below?" Rakiza exclaimed, in horror.
"Yes, Queen Maruja was my mother's nemesis and the owner of this ring," Nikolas replied bluntly. Nikolas looked at the ring sadly.
Rakiza noticed the despair in Nikolas's eyes once more. His demeanor and attitude were all too familiar to her, and she could sense his anguish. She asked him the same thing again, "What's the cause of your sadness?"
"Nothing, "Nikolas exhaled deeply and added, "Sometimes life was too cruel, that you have to suffer until the last drops of your tears were gone, and help was out of reach."
Nikolas' confession was uncharacteristic of him. He was experiencing some emotional distress. And this revelation was novel to Rakiza, and it could not be associated with the man of power, Augustus Power.
"How may I assist you?"
"Keep that ring, and I'll be happy," Nikolas stated unequivocally.
Nikolas' eyes begged her to keep the ring. Rakiza, on the other hand, is perplexed by it because of Theo. Theo knew she was at the "A Tower" to return the ring, and he was capable of fighting her if he found out she had kept the ring.
"You've given me so much, Nikolas, and this ring was too much for me to carry."
But Nikolas was certain of what he wanted to happen, so he looked Rakiza in the eyes and said, "You are the rightful owner of that ring, Rakiza."
"Nikolas, please stop persuading me. I'm not even half as valuable as this ring. And, as I previously stated, this is too much to handle."
Nikolas declared emphatically, "I don't care if you lose that ring."
"What did you say?" Rakiza inquired.
"I said, this is your ring, and I don't mind if you lose it as long as it's in your possession."
"You're impossible, Nikolas."
"I just want you to have it; it's yours, Rakiza."
"No, it's an heirloom, Nikolas," Rakiza insisted.
"It came from my mother's enemy, and I want you to have it."
"Why? I don't understand the urgency of making me a ring keeper, "Rakiza explained.
Nikolas was silent for a while, and his eyes were filled with pain. "Come with me," Nikolas said, grabbing Rakiza's hand and pulling her out of the room. They followed the lobby until they came to a small elevator. It was smaller than the typical size of the building's elevator.
Rakiza was creeped out because Nikolas was silent inside the elevator. Where was he taking her? She reflected.
After a few minutes, the elevator stopped and opened, and they stepped outside the elevator and into a CCTV control room with several monitoring TV screens. When the men in charge saw them walked in, they immediately exited the room without saying anything to Nikolas. And Nikolas ignored his men.
"Is this where you monitor every corner of the building?" Rakiza inquired softly.
"Yes, including the lobby. Take a seat, "Nikolas motioned to Rakiza in one of the chairs beside him. "I want to show you something, Rakiza. Proof that that ring is yours. Those are the video monitors." He was referring to the several TV screens in front of them, and he held the switcher of the lobby camera.
"Look at that screen," Nikolas said, as he maneuvered the lobby camera. He was swiping the joystick around to find what he wanted Rakiza to see.
Rakiza saw the video on the screen shifting from the furniture to the grandiose staircase ascending, and the camera focusing on the large painting of Maruja above the stairs.
"Have you seen her clearly?" Nikolas inquired.
Rakiza replied truthfully, "I just saw her in my dreams and then this morning."
The camera zoomed in on Queen Maruja's hand, focusing on the ring she was wearing.
"Look at that ring," Nikolas said softly.
Rakiza was taken aback when she got a good look at the painting.
"How does it look?" exclaimed Nikolas.
Rakiza wondered, "It is a similar of this ring, the red beryl ring you gave me" But why?"
"Because the ring in the painting is the same ring you're wearing right now, "Nikolas confirmed." He then looked at Rakiza.
"You're right, this is Queen Maruja's ring, and I'm still not worth carrying it."
"Don't move Rakiza," Nikolas said, taking out his phone and photographing Rakiza. Rakiza was lifted from her seat and took a position in front of him. Rakiza was compared to Queen Maruja. "
After a few minutes of quick editing on his cell phone, Nikolas successfully made a picture of both Rakiza and Maruja in one shot. "Take a look at this, Rakiza." He drew Rakiza beside him, to watch the picture with him together.
Nikolas was correct. Rakiza and Maruja appeared to be the same person. And Rakiza was deafeningly silent about it. She wasn't expecting anything out of the ordinary to happen in her life, especially the unpredictability of unnatural occurrences.
"And what are you trying to prove with this, Nikolas?" Rakiza asked as she rose to her feet.
"Your resemblance to Maruja makes me believe you are Maruja's descendant," Nikolas exclaimed.
"No, that's impossible. I come from a simple family, a poor family, and it's impossible to have the bloodline of that strong Queen Maruja," She took a step back, ready to leave. "Please, take me out of here; I want to go home," she said as she removed the red beryl ring and placed it on the table, adding, "Please, get that ring back."
Nikolas was saddened by Rakiza's dissolution and wanted to make her have the ring, and insisted, "But you must have Maruja's ring." It will protect you from the others. "
"What are you talking about, Nikolas?" Rakiza asked, her eyes widening.
Please, take the ring and you'll be safe; I'm risking everything by doing this, so you must think about having it, "Nikolas said again.
Rakiza became frantic. "I told you I couldn't have it, and please don't scare me, Nikolas."
"Don't be scared. I'm telling you the truth; they were after you, and you needed the Maruja’s ring to protect yourself."
Rakiza said, as she dashed through the door and stepped outside, "I'm sorry, Nikolas, but I can't take that ring." She followed the lobby until she came to a halt at the elevator. The lobby was deserted, and she waited for the elevator with trepidation. And when the door opened, it was Nikolas who welcomed her in, saying, "Come in, and I'll show you how to get out."
"What..." She stopped asking. All she wanted was to leave the building. Rakiza entered the elevator with apprehension. They were both silent as they made their way down to the lobby. The elevator came to a halt, and the door opened.
Rakiza was concerned, saying, "You can't go outside in the sun because you have that rare illness."
"I know. Thank you for reminding me," Nikolas said, his face flushed.
"Oh no, your face," Rakiza said as she stepped outside the elevator. "You must shut the door now. Hurry! "
The elevator door shut slowly as Nikolas felt the pain.
Rakiza was frozen, facing the elevator.
And her heart was pounding in her chest as she pitied Nikolas for his illness.
"I'm going to take you home, Miss Zanier," Lupe said as he approached Rakiza from the left.
"No, I can make my way home. You should check on Nikolas. He wasn't feeling well, and the sun outside the building had turned him red. He needed your help, Lupe, " She then walked to the door through which she entered. But, before opening the revolving door, she returned her gaze. Lupe was no longer in the lobby. Perhaps he was on his way to Nikolas's room.
Rakiza's eyes welled up with tears, and she dashed out of the building as quickly as she could. However, a car followed her down the road.
"Rakiza, hurry up," Theo said from his car with concern.