CHAPTER SEVEN
760 Words
Kingdom of Sakhalin, One year before the selection…
A groan slips out of my lips as thundering pain explodes in my skull when I tried to lift my head, slowly putting it back down I open my eyes to find a blanket tucked securely around me.
The feeling of a warm hand resting upon mine makes me turn my head and I’m surprised to see the man with sapphire blue eyes seated on a chair beside my bed.
Releasing me, he looks over his shoulder and says out loud. “She’s awake.”
Hurried footsteps drew closer and the sight of my parents reminded me of everything that had happened. “Oh my God Valerie, I’m so glad you’re awake.”
I stare at the woman I used to call mother and frown when she hurriedly settles beside me on the other side of my bed. Tears are streaming down her face as she took my other hand in hers and brought it close to her face, whispering. “I thought we might lose you.”
Seeing her be so emotional, my heart softens a little and my anger towards her dissipates. Glancing around the room my eyes settled on the fake princess, and I didn’t miss the pained look in her eyes as she stared at her mother, even though her expression appeared blank.
Turning my attention back to my mother, I give her hand a little squeeze to reassure her before pulling it away. “I’m okay.”
“Valerie,” I look up at the sound of my father’s voice and found him standing at the foot of my bed with a worried frown. “What happened, when we sent someone to search for you they found you passed out and bleeding in the woods.”
Thinking back, I try to recall what happened after I stormed out of the dining room but only received a sharp burst of pain in my brain as a result.
Holding my head in my hands, I cry out in pain, and instantly everyone drew closer in panic. I faintly hear my mother call out for someone but at that moment I lost consciousness once again.
“Do you think she’ll remember seeing him when she wakes up?” I hear a familiar voice ask in a low whisper, fluttering my eyes open I’m greeted by nothing but darkness.
It feels like something has been placed over my eyes to cover it and when I tried to raise my hand and remove it, I’m surprised to realize I’m completely immobile, paralyzed for a better word.
“I don’t think so, Grey ensured me he erased her memory of what happened in the forest before she woke up. We can relax.” Someone else replies, a male to be specific, and judging by the sound of his voice he’s probably only a few years older.
“I told that i***t it would be best if he stopped trying to communicate with her but he won’t listen. If he carries on this way, he could put her in imminent danger.”
Frowning, I wonder who these two strangers conversing in my room are. I mean, the female sounds very similar to the fake princess, but I can’t be too sure she’s the one. As for the male, he sounds like a stranger.
“I just hope that accident didn’t hurt her too much,” I hear slow shuffling as if the person is moving from their position, and the next time they speak their voice sounds a lot closer than before. “Should we call Alex and inform him she’s all right?”
“No, it’s for the best if we cut off all communications with that moron. Since he gave her the elixir before she was found I’m sure he wouldn’t worry too much, her wounds are already healed now that she’s completed her transition.”
“Today’s incident just warns us that we have to hurry our mission along—"
That statement alone is enough to clue me in on their identities... or at least one of them.
“We need to bring back her sisters before the portal closes. Do you think we should just take her?”
My breathing hitched in fear, every inch of me ready to fight if they even dared make a move towards me, but I relaxed in relief when the male replies. “No… that would only cause her to panic. How about this, I’ll convince Grey that we need to leave a lot earlier to bring back the other two, you stay here until she recovers and wait for us.”
“Alright, be careful on your journey Victor.”
- Writer
