Illusion and Reality

Trouble in paradise

I stood in front of a golden door, serpents carved so finely on it that they looked ready to attack whoever dared to get close to the door. I looked around myself for another door or even a window, but there were nothing just green walls around me. Realization hit me soon, it was the only door. I hesitantly turned the knob and pushed the door while I stood at my place, with a squeak the door opened slowly.

Pushing my nervousness aside, I took a small step inside and found myself standing in a room. The room was dark to see any details with only one source of light in it.

Without finding any other option I started walking towards the source of light, it was a bed of white dahlias was in the center of that room. A petite woman was sleeping on the bed wearing a cream-colored silky gown. Her face was covered by a veil. The light was reflecting on the stones of her gown.

But that was not weird enough, something around her neck caught my attention. It was the same pendant that got us into this mess.

I held my breath and with shaky hands, I tried to take the pendant. But out of nowhere, she caught my hand. Screaming I tried to free my hand from her death grip, but it was all in vain. Her cold fingers were wrapped tightly around my wrist when suddenly she loosened her death grip. 

I managed to free my hand but due to the sudden impact, I fell to the ground. I stood up quickly and looked at the woman again. I could not believe the scene in front of my eyes, the white dahlias were now red from the blood seeping through the woman’s heart. 

My breathing stopped when the flowers started burning, the angry flames kept getting higher. The darkroom was colored in an orangish-red shade of fire. I ran to the same door, but no matter how much I tried, it stayed being glued to its place.

I woke up drenched in sweat, I took a few deep breaths to calm my heavy breathing.

Soon the first rays of sunshine knocked on my window, with a sigh I went to take a shower.

I stood under the water and let the warmth spread through my skin. 

Tying my hair in a loose braid, I wore a grey sleeveless crop top with shorts and added a shrug on top. 

“You got this Sam, it was just another nightmare. Dreams are not real,” mumbling my mantra I applied some concealer and made my way to the breakfast table.

I stayed quiet during the breakfast, the nightmare was still fresh, I could not get the image of that woman out of my head. Who was she? 

Lucius and Astrid were discussing something about the neighboring kingdom, I tried to listen but lost interest after a while and went back to taking small bites of my waffle. Lily was not paying any attention to anyone but her food.

It became more important for me to know about the painting, the nightmares felt real than dreams. I needed to know about those people.

After breakfast I sat in the living room silently reading a book, waiting for everyone to leave. 

And the wait was finally over for me, Lucius went to work, Astrid and Lily went to collect ingredients. For the first time, I was happy to be alone in that gigantic house.

Barely containing my excitement I ran towards her home, before I could knock the front door opened and Valeria almost bumped into me.

“Hey Sam, I did not think you planned to visit me today?” she said slightly shocked.

I felt a little guilty after hearing her words, “Why not?”

“People are not leaving their homes alone after the attack,” she replied as if it was obvious but she did not know how important it was for me to know about the painting.

Her wavy midnight blue hair was resting on her bright pink off-shoulder top she was wearing with high-waisted blue jeans, that’s when I noticed the huge bag in her hand.

“Are you going somewhere?”

“Yeah, family dinner, super excited yay,” she grumbled.

I chuckled, “That bad huh?”

“Do not get me started.”

“You must be getting late, I am sorry I came here at the wrong time.”

“Do not worry, it is not like I am missing my coronation. Besides, they will talk about the attack and the mysterious murder anyway,” she crinkled her nose slightly.

My focus was on one word only, “Mysterious murder?”

“Yes, you have not heard about it?” now it was her turn to get surprised.

"We don't really talk about these things,” I said with an awkward laugh to cover up my lie.

She shrugged, "It is better this way we are not really allowed to talk about it anyway."

I frowned after hearing her reply.

"The previous queen died mysteriously one day and until today no one knows about the murderer. So for some people, it is a hot topic for discussion even though it happened many years ago. We were not even born at that time and they expect me to take interest in that,” she rolled her eyes, sounding annoyed.

Her reply made me more curious, “So, the queen was king’s mother or wife?”

“Neither.”

“What-” I could not complete my sentence as a bright yellow light appeared on her unique bracelet with the sun and the moon in the middle and tiny stars around them all over the bracelet.

"I am really sorry Sam I have to leave now or else I will have to endure a lecture along with kitchen duty,” she apologized and gave me a small hug then ran back inside.

She might be using the portal just like Astrid did on the night of the ball, I thought. I walked back home, thinking about her words, the place kept getting mysterious day by day. Murder of the queen, then the attack, what else were these people hiding behind the shiny walls of the palace?

I breathed in relief when I realized no one was home yet, I decided to find a book about the history of the kingdom but there were no books that could tell me about the dead queen or the king. A book fell from the bookshelf, I was about to put it back when I noticed a bruise on my right wrist.

I put the book back and gently ran the fingers on my arm, it could not be possible. The mark was on the exact same place where that woman held my arm in the dream.

I heard some sound from outside and randomly placed a book in front of my wrist to hide the blue mark.

Lucius entered and stopped on his way when he saw me standing there.

We did not get the chance to talk after our kiss, “Hey,” I smiled at him.

To my shock instead of a warm reply he gave a nod and left me standing there alone.

I stayed on my spot for a while then went to my room. I sat near my window and started looking at the sky to divert my mind from the rude encounter I had earlier. I was about to close my window when my eyes fell on Lucius. He was leaving the house with a small wooden box in his hand.

I decided to ignore it and went to the kitchen. 

While eating I decided to read a book about the kingdom that was as helpful as using sunglasses during the night. 

I was feeling tired, instead of reading another book I put it on the table and went to bed directly without waiting for Lily and Astrid to come back or without asking Lucius what was his problem, I was done for the day.

I woke up the next day thankfully without any nightmares. After a shower, I wore a turquoise hoodie to hide my bruise besides who needs a reason to wear hoodies? they are perfect for everything.

Putting my hair in a messy bun I made my way to get some breakfast, I wished good morning to everyone, Lucius muttered a morning and went back to eating his food while occasionally chatting with Lily and Astrid, completely excluding me from any conversation.

I was pretty annoyed but I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction by admitting that.

I rolled my eyes and went to my room after completing my breakfast.

"Trouble in paradise huh?" Lily asked with a smirk as she stood near the door.

I raised my eyebrow. 

“You know what I am talking about.”

"There is nothing happing between us, in fact, there is no us and there will be no us, Lucius and I are just friends,” I argued.

"I didn't even mention his name,” she laughed.

I threw a pillow at her which she ducked and ran away.