The Mated Princess

Chapter 14: Birth f*****g Day

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**Amyra**

Something was different about today's morning.

I was feeling differently happy.

I lazily stretched my hands.

Aaron had kissed me yesterday and it had felt so good, I melted at the moment. His kiss took away all my worries and sadness.

It happened so suddenly, I couldn't react. My heart stopped beating for a moment until he asked me to breathe.

But I like the feeling it gave me.

Thinking about it, I was out of bed and moved to the mirror making my hair.

Suddenly my friends rushed into the room hugging and wishing.

After a few minutes, I left for the bathroom to freshen up.

I couldn't stop thinking about Aaron in the shower.

Does he have feelings for me, or was it an urge to kiss me?

I had observed his broad shoulders, I want to run fingers on his plain chest and through the sculpted cuts. I want to run my tongue all over it.

Gosh! Am I fantasizing about him?

I bite my bottom lip...I have to stop, I say to myself.

What if he doesn't feel the same for me?

when I got out of the shower, I see a gorgeous off-shoulder peach color wrap gown on the bed.

Wearing it, I dry my hairs quickly, curl the ends of it. With mascara and a light shade of peach on my lips, I head out.

When my friends take my look, their jaws drop practically.

You look stunning, they say in unison and I chuckle and say "Thank you".

Alex came to pick us.

"Did you like the dress?" he asks glancing at me.

"Did you get it?" I ask raising my eyebrows.

"I and Aaron got it, he selected the color. I haven't gifted you all these years" he says smiling.

"I love it, thanks," I say reflecting his smile.

As we reach the place, I see a big crowd has gathered.

Why so many people have gathered here? Has something happened here? My heart starts racing.

But Alex grabs my hand "They are here for our birthday" he says looking at my confused expression.

"So many..." I trail off when I hear "Princess..."

I turn to see dad, he jogs to me and hugs me.

"How are you my princess?" he asks his voice trembling.

"Missed you, dad, very much" my voice wavering and tears pricking the sides of my eyes.

"How are you here, Dad"? I say breaking from the hug.

"Aaron and Alex requested me to come here," he says eyeing at Alex and thanking him.

"Jeremy got me here," he says calling Jeremy and gesturing him to come.

"Jeremy, How are you?" I say hugging him.

"I am fine. I had to come, you left me and came here" he says grabbing me for another hug.

Jeremy was my childhood friend and neighbor.

"Did you get Dad here?" I ask looking at Alex in surprise, he smiles and holds my hand "Anything for my sister" he says.

I couldn't believe Alex and Aaron could do something like this.

Alex's mother Sameera comes in and looks at my dad, I introduce them, but they just sigh.

Did they know each other?

Alex and I glanced at each other in confusion.

Meantime Aaron walks in, he wishes Alex first and takes my hand and kisses the back of it "Happy birthday, Amyra" he says glancing at me.

I thank him.

When we turn around to see the crowd, everybody wishes us in unison including Aaron's father and mother.

We both smile and thank all.

Later we move for the cake cutting.

Suddenly there will be a rush of wind, gusting over in full force.

I stop in my tracks, my smile fades immediately.

Alex stops, looking at my face. He turns back to see from where the wind is blowing.

I hold his arm tightly not looking back.

My face becomes serious in no time.

"Take me back," I say in a low voice so that only Alex listens.

"But..." he trails off looking at my serious expression.

"He is here," he says and before he turns, once again the wind gushes through, and this time it makes everyone fall on the ground and drag them to a place, a little far leaving me alone.

What was Alex telling? Who was here? and when I saw what happened to others. I started feeling that this all is happening because of me.

How come I'm standing, when everybody has fallen on the ground?

Alex screamed my name followed by Dad and Aaron.

I tried to run towards Alex, but I was stopped by people wearing black hooded long dirty gowns, my eyes went wide at the sight of them, they were flying.

Fuck! what are they?

I gulped.

I will never celebrate my birthday ever again in between the crowd, I cursed under my breath.

Alex and Aaron start to run towards me but a black hooded person shoved a hand in the air towards them, they flew back with force.

Were they magicians? witches? ghosts?

They can be anything, this world is weird and filled with supernaturals, I thought to myself.

And the ghost draws a half circle where all people had been dragged to and a transparent shield forms in front of them.

Aaron and Alex start to bang the shield. I look at them in horror. I try to run, but those ghosts are in front of me again.

I step back slowly, they are slowly coming towards me.

They are six in numbers, standing in triangle format flying actually few feet above the ground, one in front of me, two behind him, and three behind the two.

Their hood has covered 75% of their face, only their mouth is visible to see the smirk.

I scream "Alex! Help me".

"Hold on, we will try something" Aaron, shouts back.

Thank god shield is not soundproof, I think to myself.

I scan them, they were discussing something.

Are they serious?

"Dad" I scream.

"Princess...Sorry honey, we are stuck here" he says apologetically, his eyes concerned.

I hate to see him like that.

"I don't wanna die..." I say tears start running down my cheeks.

I look at Aaron, our eyes lock. His expression is unreadable, maybe a mixture of all the emotions.

I look back at ghosts, who are near me now.

Sun has already set.

No sign of singing birds, no chirping of crickets, no hooting of owls.

It seems like the whole universe is silent, watching us horrified.

The first black hooded ghost leaned in close smelling the scent, I leaned back standing in my place.

Alex and Aaron were shouting behind..giving ghosts, the warnings.

"Who are you?" I ask the ghost fiercely, to keep him engaged as Alex and Aaron think of something.

I eye them in the meanwhile.

They start banging the shield again with the tree twigs and stones.

Aaron shifts and Alex follows him and everybody shifts and starts hitting the shield, but the shield doesn't even crack.

Shit! What is it made up of?

"We are called Dark Whisperers", the one in front of me speaks up.

"What do you want from me?" I shout at them.

"My Lord wants to see you, my princess," he says calmly.

"I'm not your princess" I spat back showing a finger at them.

"Who is your lord?" I ask almost feeling like emitting fire from my mouth.

"He is the lord of Dark world, his name is Manus Constantine," he says.

"He wants you to be his Queen, my princess" the second ghost spoke up. I gulped and scan at all the horrified faces on the other side of the shield.

"What if I won't come?" I ask them, my voice sharp.

"Then we have to forcefully take you" they replied sharply.

I shake my head and steadying myself I ask "Why didn't your lord come to take me?", I eye at Aaron and Alex, they look shocked.

"Because he trusts us," the first ghost says.

"Tell him if I should come, he should pick me up" I spat back.

"We don't have orders, to take your orders," the second ghost says.

"You have to come with us now", the third ghost speaks up.

"I will not" I shout now.

They start moving slowly towards me.

Aaron shouts back anxiously "Stay away from her".

"Amy try to shift!" Alex shouts.

Those ghosts look at each other in confusion.

I shook my head.

I look at the ghosts, they were gazing at me.

I look at Aaron, Alex, and Dad and nodded in a direction to say 'No'.

"Can I meet them, before I come with you?" I ask the ghosts.

They look at each other.

"Okay," the first ghost says.

I run to them. "Can you open the shield?" I ask them in the pleading voice.

They look at each other again.

I roll my eyes but won't show them.

"No," they say.

"If I come with you, will you leave them safe?" I ask the ghosts.

"Yes," one of them says.

I reach Dad first..."I love you Dad" I say tears start running down my cheeks.

"Oh my dear, I'm sorry. I'm such an unfortunate father who can't protect his daughter" he says, tears in his eyes make my stomach twitch.

"Faster..." one of the ghosts screams from behind.

I move to Alex still eyeing Dad.

"Amy...Shift" Alex says in a low voice, but I shook my head, a fresh round of tears fills my eyes.

"This is not the time to test your fate...you need to protect yourself".

"She is inside you Amy, you need to call her," he says giving me a concerned look.

I keep my hand over the shield, he too keeps his hand over the shield in the same place.

We both feel the link even through the shield. I look up into his eyes.

"I pray for you, nothing will happen to you," he says holding back his tears. Sameera and my dad hold him by the shoulder, calming him.

I move to Aaron, his eyes are still unreadable.

"Thanks for being with me," I say looking at his eyes, our eyes lock for a moment.

"You were a good friend," I say not knowing what to say, his eyes so clumsy...seems deep down he has so much pain.

He doesn't say a word to me.

Then I give a final glance at everyone inside the shield, my friends crying continuously.

I turn to look at the ghosts.

"Are you ready?" one of them asks.

I close my eyes, taking a deep breath.

"Oh Goddess...help me," I say internally.

Then I hear loud howls of wolves.