CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE.

(Martha's POV)

I followed them quietly, not wanting the issue to escalate, but I kept on looking at the back and wondering if Liora was going to be safe while I was gone. She would be putting herself in utmost risk now because anything could happen while I was gone.

But this seemed really disturbing. I wasn't even allowed to change my clothes, it seemed more like an arrest, or probably I had been suspected to have a hand in Meliora's escape.

I just needed to calm down and make sure I didn't ruin things just like Meliora would always say, I knew that overreacting might cause accusing fingers pointing against me, and that was the least I wanted this early morning, that would definitely make Elder Morris search my house thoroughly.

As we got closer to Elder Morris place, they withdrew their hands from me, as they urged me to go inside alone, it seemed like it was a private issue.

The guards who had brought me stood at the front of the gate as they watched me walk in slowly.

Elder Morris sat on a wooden chair close to the table. it was exactly those old-fashioned chairs that my mother had described whenever she was telling us a fairytale.

My feet trembled as I walked closer to her, yes, I was scared, knowing fully well what happened yesterday, I just hope the matter wasn't taken very seriously.

“Good morning Martha” Elder Morris' voice sprung up the moment she saw me walk into the room.

She dipped a little of the tea on her cup as she raised her head to talk to me.

“Good morning Elder Morris” I responded, bowing my head as a sign of respect.

I just wanted to leave here immediately, I didn't like the fact that I was summoned for reasons that I do not know, and I just hoped that I didn't allow my emotions to take over me here again.

“Beautiful morning Martha, You can have a sit” she said pointing to one of the chairs close to her in the room.

I managed to act comfortably, as I sat on the chair which she had instructed me to sit on, before raising my head to look at her face.

“I'm sorry to have called you this early, it was really an emergency, I hoped the guards didn't treat you bad” she asked staring at me with a brief smile on her face 

“No, they didn't” I summoned the courage to talk.

“That's better, at least fair enough” she said, nodding her head and taking another sip from her cup.

“Meliora escaped yesterday, and a guard was found dead this morning” Elder Morris said, staring directly into my eyes like she was searching for answers. I could see her long and straight face, she wasn't even smiling just like she did earlier.

My heart pounded really fast as my eyes met with  hers, this statement caught me unaware, this was literally not a question, what was she even expecting me to say., my eyes blinked as I stared back at her.

“Meliora escaped, and a guard died!? I exclaimed loudly, acting like I was really shocked at it and I hadn't heard about it.

“Yes, And you know Meliora had a hand in Brian's sickness just like I had told you” Elder Morris continued.

“I hate her so much, how dare she escape after hurting my husband, she was supposed to pay for her atrocities, why didn't anyone see her when she left?” I yelled as I stood up from the chair shouting out loud, making it seem like I was aggressively mad at Meliora.

This was actually the best I felt that I needed to do, at least this would be convincing that I had no hand in helping Meliora escape yesterday night.

“You should sit Martha, I know how you hate her as much, and that's why I had brought you here.” She said, staring at me again with her piercing hers.

“No something, must be done about this, Meliora must be found” I said walking across the room as I stared at her with one of my eyes slightly opened.

It somehow seemed like she was fed up with whatever I was doing for no reason. I probably thought I needed to put in more effort and make her believe that I didn't see Meliora. Suddenly she stood up from where she sat and walked towards where I was standing as she shook her head.

Hell, no, I really didn't understand what was going on, this sudden act by Elder Morris was beginning to surprise me.

“You were the last person to walk into that room yesterday, so how come Meliora escaped?” Elder Morris asked as her voice roared like a thunderstorm ready to strike.

My heart raced again as I heard these words, What on earth was this?  Who on earth had told her that I was the last person to see her? If I was right no one saw me that night. 

“I don't understand this Elder Morris, I was only instructed to give her some food” I said trying to defend myself and obviously making her seem like she was accusing me of what happened.

“You heard me Martha, You left that room and Meliora escaped” Elder Morris said. 

“This, I still don't understand, are you saying I helped Meliora escape ?” She asked.

“I never said so, but it's just baffling to see that you were the last person to go there, and probably might have helped her out” She said directly now 

“Elder Morris, Why would I even try to help her? She hurt Brian. Why would I help her ?” I questioned with fury.

“Exactly, because someone saw you yesterday, Well she didn't exactly see you with Meliora, but you acted suspiciously, and to make you understand, all this happened by midnight when the pack was asleep” Elder Morris broke the silence.

What on earth was this ?Who dared play this with me? 

“That's a lie” I thundered. 

“But unfortunately, I saw you, and that's the truth” a female behind me spoke as she walked towards me 

Her steps were deliberate and relaxed, she walked like she owned the whole universe, it was clear to say, she wasn't just an ordinary, but it seemed like a setup to me, probably playing with my intelligence. I was sure that no one saw me yesterday while I had escaped with Meliora. I patiently waited to see the face of the person approaching.

As she stood close to me, my eyes moved from her feet to her face immediately, behold lady Selene, This was surprising to believe, I didn't know what to say.

This wasn't right, lady Selene had been away for weeks, how was she even there yesterday? my head was obviously being played with

“That's not true Milady,” I responded, staring at her.

She didn't say a word to me even if I spoke to her, she turned again to Elder Morris and smiled.

“Bring her along, we are searching her house now!!” She ordered.