The Girl Underground

Chapter 21: The Cruel and Beautiful Tricks of Nature

"I was there that night in the woods," Malia said. "When you and Denning were arguing. I heard you and I hid."

"And you were there, no doubt, because you were returning from bedding my husband."

"I was not bedding him then," Malia didn't know why that was important. "But meeting him was the reason I was there that night."

"A cruel trick of fate, wouldn't you say?"

Malia did not reply to that.

"There is no doubt that you heard everything that night," Abigail continued, sounding like she was trying to fix a shattered mirror grinded to dust with mere words. "Wonderful. So now we are both inclined to keep silent."

"I should think so, if the Magistrate ever found out about your-"

"Oh, he knows," Abigail said, silencing Malia. "And forgive me if I find you a culprit in that given this new information."

John knew about Abigail and Abigail knew about John. In less than ten minutes, this whole scene was going into the gutter, and Malia's life was spinning out of control. "I didn't say a word of this to him."

"How am I to believe that?"

"Do you not think that this case would have been over and done if I had? That your husband would have tied you to Arthur Denning? That Cromwell wouldn't have had reason to ask you anymore questions because he had all the answers?"

Abigail said nothing.

"Please know that I said nothing to your husband about what I saw that night. I cannot tell you how he found out, but it wasn't from me."

"How am I to know that you are not lying to me right now?"

"You have every reason to, and I cannot change that."

The two women stood there for a time and stared at one another. Malia still wanted to turn and run, but there was something about the both of them knowing each other's secrets that kept them in place. Abigail's would ruin her more than Malia's, so there was a sense of reassurance.

"My husband will tire of you," Abigail finally said, as though she was now trying to convince herself more than she was trying to convince Malia. "As I did with Arthur... Soon you will return to the shadow in Dawn-Bridge you once were, without worth, means, or a man of power to latch onto. Oh, how I relish to see you wilt, Malia, I will savor every second of it."

"I would be lying if I said that I don't share that same feeling right now, watching you wilt."

Abigail smirked. "Enjoy him, in that time. But know that it will not last."

Malia said nothing, but felt her heart thudding hard in her chest. She didn't want to believe Abigail. John loved her! She knew words were seldom enough, but when they were together, she felt it. He loved her, and she loved him. Abigail was wrong, John would never tire of her.

"Go," Abigail waved her away. "Heal. You are no use to this house as a servant and I would not have anyone of note know that you are here. You are free to roam about as you please, but stay out of sight. When Arthur is caught, you will fade from memory. Mine and John's both."

Malia still didn't trust her. "Why are you so comfortable with the knowledge that your husband is being unfaithful to you?"

"Because you know my secrets as well," Abigail said simply, sounding calm but her eyes betraying the hatred. "If you didn't, I would tear you apart."

XXX

"What distracts you?"

Malia turned to look back at John and smiled. "Nothing, I'm content."

He sat up in the bed and drew her into his arms. "Does it not feel miraculous to be together without the oppressive walls of the underground?"

Malia sighed and rested her head back on his chest. "I don't know, maybe."

As of the moment, they were in Malia's room. The night was young and there were many scented candles lit, giving it the romantic illumination that they were still hidden away, far from sight from anyone that could catch them.  This was their first time together since Malia had come to the Quincy home, and she was happy to finally be with him, but thought of Abigail under the same roof caused her skin to crawl all the same.

"I didn't think you would miss it," he said, kissing the side of her head. "But you do not deserve to be hidden away under dirt, Malia."

"It was our haven," Malia whispered. "A small piece of the world hidden away just for us. Somewhere we didn't have to worry about halls filled with secrets and homes rank with dark desires. It wasn't the place but rather what it meant to both of us that I miss. But it's not bothering. I love being with you."

John placed a hand on her chin and turned her face so she was looking up at him. "Alright then, my love, tell me what is bothering you?"

Malia wondered if it was worth it to tell him. "Nothing, honestly."

"It's not nothing," he insisted. "Malia, you don't have to hide anything from me. I said I would take care of you, now I can't do that if you keep things to yourself."

She said that I would be a passing phase for him. That he would soon lose interest. What if that is true?

"Malia?"

"Do you think we humans were meant to fall in love just once, John?" She asked. "That we were wired to find just one person to love that loves us back, or doesn't?"

He chuckled. "Where is this coming from, my love?"

"I'm just wondering is all," she said. "My mother once told me that animals don't mate for love, they mate for survival; offspring. What if humans are the same, and love is an illusion? I know I love you, but what if it's a trick from nature?"

"I hardly think so," he assured her, running his thumb over her lips. "And if love is a trick, then it is either very a cruel or very beautiful one."

"But can one man love more than one woman? Can his feelings for one fade with time, and then the other soon after?"

"Really, Malia, why these questions all of a sudden?"

No secrets, remember?

"Abigail called me to your study today," Malia finally said, feeling her stomach erupt in a nervous storm as she did. "She just wanted to talk. She told me that you knew about her and Arthur... And that she knows about us."

John tensed and cursed under his breath. "What else did she say?"

"That she would leave me alone simply because I could possibly ruin her with talk of her affair with Arthur."

"That's relieving," John still sounded trouble. "What else?"

Malia gulped and surrendered to her common sense. "She said that you would tire of me, and I was allowed to be with you until that happened."

"I hope you didn't believe her."

"Of course not," but Malia failed to convince herself with those words, for she had for a fleeting moment thought Abigail to speak truthfully. Even now she feared it. What reason did John have to stay in love with her?

But John didn't hear the doubt in her voice, and kissed her deeply, lowering her back down on the bed as he did. "Good. Because I love you, and that is never going to change."

For some reason, Malia closed her eyes as he made love to her, because she wanted to imagine that they were in their haven underground rather than in the comfort of her room in his house.

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Author's Note: Thanks for reading, we hope you enjoyed! The drama never really ends, does it? :)

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