Catching His Queen [MDM Sequel]

Chapter Four

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Chapter Four

"What the hell happened to her?" Sebastian's voice was loud, deafening even.

I clumsily stumbled over to the couch, clutching the flimsy fabric close to my bloody nose. My head pounded as I slouched into the plush cushions of the couch, allowing my body to relax and unwind.

"She didn't block herself properly," Callum answered, handing me a handful of tissues over to me.

I accepted them with a weak smile, quickly replacing the soaking cloth from my face.

"I can't believe you agreed to train with Callum," Nate muttered, his eyes trailing over my bruised and battered form.

Even though my eyes were on the verge of shutting at any given moment, I was distinctively aware of the way everyone was watching me ever so carefully.

"Would you all just stop staring?" I grumbled, sitting up straighter as my eyes opened up to glare at all the people who had decided to gather in the room and watch me as though I were an animal at the zoo.

Sebastian's eyes burned over my skin as they grazed over my feeble form. His dark brows were furrowed and I could practically see the gears in his head turning as he mulled over whatever it was on his mind.

"You used to be able to challenge Callum." Sebastian stated, his eyes boring into my own. "What happened?"

I gently pulled the tissues away from my throbbing nose, my face twisting with discomfort as their eyes continued to scorch my skin.

"He's right," Callum agreed. "You were barely away to dodge a single blow I sent your way. You used to have this ferocity within you, and now, well it's just not there."

His words sent me over the edge. With one last burst of energy, I pushed myself onto my feet.

"I used to be this, I used to do that." I spat out. "What's with the use of past tense? Oh!" I laughed, my eyes now sparking wildly. "That's right! I fucking left for ten months."

Silence was my only response as I stared at each and every person in the room. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Kate creep down the stairs, her worried eyes meeting my animalistic ones.

"Evie," Nate said quietly, "They were just pointing out that your not as strong as you used to be. No one is trying to shed more light on the fact that you left for ten months. It's just a surprise that you didn't keep up with your training. It's, it's just weird to see you like this."

My chin quivered and my mind raced, as well as my heart.

When I had left, I never intended to turn out this way. I had been so sure that I was going to become stronger. That being away from the Kings would change me for the better, and that I would no longer feel weak and inferior to those around me.

But instead, I spent those months suffering.

Let me tell you something-

Anxiety is crippling.

And when you're crippled, you don't have a chance of becoming stronger. In fact, you're forced to hop onto a one-way elevator that only goes downward.

I felt my breathing become shallower, and slowly but surely I felt the walls around me begin to grow closer and closer. I was being suffocated. I was drowning. Air was escaping me rapidly, leaving my lungs empty.

I was on the verge of a full-blown anxiety attack.

I saw Kate rush towards me, recognition flashing through her features as she began uttering unrecognizable words. I couldn't hear what everyone was saying, yet all around me, people's mouths began moving, paired with worried expressions.