{"id":638,"date":"2026-05-22T08:06:39","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T08:06:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/?p=638"},"modified":"2026-05-22T08:06:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T08:06:39","slug":"betrayal-part-2-chapter-29-morning-coffee-and-waffles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/?p=638","title":{"rendered":"Betrayal Part 2 – Chapter 29, Morning Coffee and Waffles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The wicker chair creaked underneath me as I shifted my weight. Beneath my bare feet, the thick carpet was soft and warm. A gentle, golden glow was just starting to filter through the red curtains, their floral design only just beginning to reveal itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The light, rhythmic sound of Lela\u2019s soft breathing lightly brushed my ears as my eyes settled on the shape curled up under the dark burgundy covers. Her head was nestled on the pillow, her hair was still neatly tucked behind her ear, exactly how I had left it last night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The chair protested once again as I leant forward, my chin coming to rest on my clasped hands. With a slow, deep breath, I filled my lungs with the soft scent of the room, that delicate fragrance that was so uniquely Lela.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For once, the creatures were silent. Their eyes still glinted around the room like a scattering of rubies catching the early morning light, but they were content. They knew Lela was safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was here for her now. I would always be watching over her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My thoughts slipped back to the Kjelleren. A wide smile stretched across my lips, and a soft chuckle rumbled in my chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Memories of that night drifted back into my mind, the thudding bass of the music, the burning taste of the vodka, and the dry, crystalline grit of the crushed tablet between my fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had only ever intended on giving her a small pinch. Just enough to help her relax. Just enough to let her forget about Ingrid for the evening. But then I saw the surge of energy that tiny dose gave her. I saw how her eyes glinted with the fire it ignited within her, making her truly come to life. Seeing her like that made me want to offer her more, to help her really blossom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One small pinch quickly turned into half of the packet. Then, as soon as her glass was empty, I couldn\u2019t help myself. I tipped the last of the fine white powder into her next drink. I watched it vanish into the pure, clear liquid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I watched as her inhibitions faded away, replaced with a raw and vibrant brilliance that pulsated in the surrounding air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We had sung together. We had danced together. I can still feel her now, her radiant warmth pressed tightly against me. Even as I sit here writing this, decades later, the faint scent of her perfume lingers with me. I can still feel the hypnotic movement of her body, the sinuous, captivating swaying of her hips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then there was that kiss. The thought of it sent a jolt of electricity through me, a thrilling shiver surging down my spine. It hadn\u2019t been like the soft, sisterly pecks that we had so often shared in the past. It had been an invitation, a primal clash of mouths, the sweet tang of lip gloss mingling with the sharp bite of vodka. With the crowd pressed up against us, I had felt the walls between us collapse into dust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was the one who had been there for her that night, not Ingrid. It had been me who had clung on to her when she could no longer stand. It had been me who had sat in the back of her red Golf, holding her barely conscious body in my arms while Gunnar drove us home. Me, who had washed her, undressed her and tucked her into bed. Me, who had got up every hour to sit at her bedside, to watch her sleep and make sure she was safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sudden rustle from the crisp sheets of the bed caused my breath to hitch. A low moan escaped from Lela\u2019s perfect lips. Her eyelids, heavy and slow, fluttered open, the long dark lashes casting feathery shadows across her flawless skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIngrid?\u201d she let out a low, dull murmur. Her voice was a low, raspy whisper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scraping the chair backwards, I was on my feet and by her side in an instant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLe-Le!\u201d I whispered softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. \u201cYou\u2019re ok, I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHeidi?\u201d she said, her eyes screwing shut before straining to open again. Her dilated pupils struggling to focus on me. \u201cWhat happened? Last night, I.. I don\u2019t remember anything\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t remember last night?\u201d I asked softly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI remember the Kjelleren,\u201d she mumbled weakly, her brow furrowing. \u201cI remember playing\u2026 Ingrid, did Ingrid come? I kept looking out for her but couldn\u2019t see her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, Lela,\u201d I said, shaking my head. \u201cNo, she didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lela\u2019s breath faltered as she let out a ragged sigh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI really thought she would be there.\u201d A single tear ran down her cheek, pulling a streak of black eyeliner with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve said it before, she\u2019s not like us.\u201d My thumb brushed away the tear; her cheek felt hot to my touch. \u201cBut you were fantastic last night, and we had an amazing time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t remember anything,\u201d she repeated, her eyes screwing shut again. \u201cI feel terrible. Everything is spinning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou had one too many vodkas,\u201d I said, my index finger tracing a deliberate line along her jawbone. \u201cGunnar had to drive us home, and I helped you into bed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank you, Heidi.\u201d Lela looked at me with wide, dark eyes. \u201cWhat would I do without you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure Ingrid had her reasons for not being there last night. Perhaps something more important cropped up.\u201d I watched the muscles in Lela\u2019s cheek twitch before I smiled down at her. \u201cYou\u2019ll feel better after a shower. While you\u2019re doing that, I\u2019ll make us some breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

****<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Downstairs, the kitchen was bathed in a warm orange light, the sunlight flooding in through the large window as the gentle weight of Bella pressed up against my leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sweet, buttery smell of waffle mixture filled the room. The whisk tapped lightly against the side of the glass bowl as I mixed the yellow batter. On the counter beside me, the coffee machine gave a low gurgle while upstairs the floorboards groaned with movement. Lela was up and about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closing my eyes, I imagined her climbing into the shower, pictured the soft white bubbles covering her skin as she cleansed herself of the smoke and sweat of the Kjelleren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A low grumble rose from Bella\u2019s throat, her body shifting against my leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShhh, girl,\u201d I said softly, stroking the thick black fur of her neck with one hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steam rose lazily from the waffle iron as I filled it with the batter and closed the lid. Somewhere above me, the bathroom door opened, and moments later soft footsteps landed on the stairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWaffles?\u201d Lela said as she stepped into the kitchen, her body wrapped tightly in a cream bathrobe. \u201cI\u2019d only expected a bit of rye bread and jam.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOnly the best for you,\u201d I said with a chuckle before turning to face her. \u201cLela\u2026 did you mean the things you said last night?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat did I say?\u201d She replied, rubbing her temples. \u201cBabe, I really don\u2019t remember anything except for a few blurry fragments. It\u2019s weird.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou spoke a lot about Ingrid,\u201d I said, pulling up a chair next to where she had settled herself down. Reaching out, I let my arm brush hers. \u201cI\u2019m worried about you, Le-Le. The things you said, it really upset me to hear you talking like that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lela looked at me, her brows drawing low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was probably just the vodka talking,\u201d I continued. \u201cBut you were so upset that she didn\u2019t come. You just kept saying how lonely you feel when she doesn\u2019t support you or your music.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dry sound of scrabbling claws suddenly rose up from the darker recesses of the room. The creatures crowded together, peering out at us with their glinting eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe doesn\u2019t mean it\u2026\u201d Lela murmured, looking down at her hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, you\u2019re right. I\u2019m sorry,\u201d I cut in quickly. \u201cShe was probably just exhausted last night. Like you\u2019ve said before, she\u2019s barely left Asmund\u2019s side.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My gaze locked onto Lela\u2019s face. The slight tremor of her chin caught my eye. I could almost feel the seeds of doubt I had planted start to take root as her eyes glistened with moisture, her bottom lip trembling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI should call her.\u201d Lela\u2019s eyes suddenly snapped up to meet mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grasping the edge of the table, Lela pushed herself slowly to her feet. On unsteady legs she turned away from me, her figure momentarily framed by the kitchen door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I didn\u2019t follow her. I let her drift away while my hand remained wrapped around the heat of the coffee mug. Sitting perfectly still, I tracked her every movement as she stepped into the lounge and vanished out of my sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without her, a thick, deafening silence descended on the kitchen and thundered heavily in my ears. The only sounds were the soft hum of the fridge and the steady panting of Bella at my feet. Closing my eyes, I drew in the warm scent of the waffles and basked in the events that I had just set in motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, Lela\u2019s voice suddenly sliced through the stillness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIngrid?\u201d I heard her say, her words quivering. \u201cWhat happened last night? You promised you\u2019d be there\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standing, I made my way towards the sound of the phone conversation, my hand slowly trailing along the smooth melamine of the kitchen worktop as I went.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, babe\u2026\u201d I heard Lela continue, her voice softening to a sympathetic, velvet tone that made my jaw tighten and teeth ache. \u201cI completely understand. You\u2019ve been under so much pressure with Asmund. You\u2019ve hardly slept since he was taken in. Heidi was just saying the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaning, with my shoulder against the rough, hard wood of the door frame, but hidden from Lela\u2019s view, I listened. The muffled sound of Ingrid\u2019s voice drifted to me, like the high-pitched whine of a mosquito; it stung in my ears. I didn\u2019t need to hear her words to know that she was making excuses. Claiming that she\u2019d fallen asleep and missed the gig.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just\u2026 that it was such a big night for me,\u201d Lela whispered, her voice barely a rustle above the lingering silence. \u201cHeidi was there, but\u2026 I know you were tired, but sometimes it just feels like you\u2019re trying to keep me like your bird in a cage. You\u2019re always telling me that the Kjelleren is too rough, or the motorbike is too dangerous\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My breath hitched coldly in my throat. The creatures gathered at the very edges of the shadows, their voices silent, straining to listen to Lela\u2019s words. To listen to her repeating the things I had planted in her head, right back to Ingrid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know you love me, and I love you too,\u201d Lela said in a soft sigh. \u201cThings have been crazy. Maybe we\u2019re all just worn out and are letting things get to us. Why don\u2019t you come over after you\u2019ve been to the hospital and we\u2019ll sort everything out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood girl!\u201d the rusty voices hissed around me, like dead leaves skittering across the pavement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something deep inside my chest tingled, like frost brushing my heart. Last night, I had meticulously set and baited my ultimate trap. All I needed to do now was to sit back and watch Ingrid walk straight into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then my best friend would be free to enjoy her life again without being held back by that dreary girl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The wicker chair creaked underneath me as I shifted my weight. Beneath my bare feet, the thick carpet was soft<\/p>\n

Continue readingBetrayal Part 2 – Chapter 29, Morning Coffee and Waffles<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":570,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-638","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-betrayal-part-2"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Cover-Book-2-NEW-JPG.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/638","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=638"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/638\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":641,"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/638\/revisions\/641"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/570"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insidemayasmind.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}