The Destined Queen

Chapter 3

Rose and I got out of the car and the owner walked towards us. She wrapped me in her arms and murmured, " I'm sorry, Kid. We mourn for the loss of her. " I nodded and hugged her back. She gave me the keys and told me that she has to pick her son up from somewhere, I was too busy to listen to all the details. I was looking around. No trees. Buildings and Buildings, only a small garden in front of my house, that's what hooked me and my Maw in buying this particular house, it had greenery, though little, it will help me a lot. It would have helped US a lot. So, I stared at the garden. Then the surroundings. Rose nudged me and I sighed. I entered the keys in the lock and it opened. The smell of the house was magnificent. Because of all the flowers. Yes. The owner loved plants, too. So, she has so many flowers inside her house and a garden outside. There were so many flowers inside the house. But no furniture. I motioned the men to put all my stuffs inside the house. The house was Barbour and white in color. But the rooms had different wallpapers. I chose a room which had floral wallpapers, I will put up some lights and it will look breathtaking. So, I told the men to put my stuffs inside this room. The furniture were kept in the living room. And in few minutes, The house was full with all of my things. The men and the truck went away. Suddenly, Rose's phone started vibrating. " Hello. " Rose answered the phone. I couldn't hear all the things that were said but I could hear that the person on the other line was panicked. Rose frowned and turned towards me. " I'm sorry, Winter. But I have to go. Mom is panicking. There are so many people at the cafe, some workers didn't come and she has to be at the bakery. " Rose and her mom together managed a bakery and a cafe. She has responsibilities.So, I nodded and let her go. She hugged me and sprinted outside. I told her to take my car as it will be faster. Then, I started unpacking. Best way to keep me distracted. I am going to the job from tomorrow, So, I had to get ready. For everything. I can't be late on my first day. I unpacked all the things for the kitchen. I shifted the furniture, so that they are where I like them to be. I unpacked all other things. Then, I went to my room to unpack my personal things. My room was in the second level. I picked it also because, I can see the sky and be not too far away from the ground. I started to unpack my clothes first, then shoes and jewelries. After that was done, I turned to adjust the bedside table a bit and the mirror. After all was ready in my room like I wanted, I got started with the bed. It was dark outside. So, I tried to do everything as fast as I can. But I hated to do my bed. The only reason was that I wasn't good at it. I fumbled with the sheets trying to figure out which head goes to where or how to stuck it. I felt a tap on my shoulder, so I turned. The apartment was empty, It was definitely my imagination, I thought. But when I started to put the sheet on the bed, a voice said, " I don't think you can do that. " I screamed. Like hell. All the breath gushed out of me. I screamed and I screamed. I turned around with my hands fisted. But There was no one to hit. I frowned. " Here. " The voice said. I turned towards my bed and a boy no.. A spirit? A spirit was sprawled on my bed. My breath got caught and my heart stopped. I shivered. My hands trembled and then I closed my eyes and fell on my knees and I screamed tugging my hair. I don't know for how long I screamed before that spirit or whatever he was, shouted, " I won't do any harm. Stop screaming. " But I shook my head and continued screaming. " Stop screaming. Your throat will hurt, Winter. " The voice said over my screaming. And I halted. The spirit knows my name. How? I peeked between my trembling arms that were folded before me to cover myself from any harm. But I knew nothing could stop him if he wanted to hurt me. So, I looked. The spirit was a guy. I carefully looked at him. Worry was etched on his face and he raised his hands as if to show me that he means no harm. He was concerned and he knew my name. I stood from my place and kept staring at him. A faint light. A faint light looked like a person. His face clear. A handsome one at that. His black hair was messy and his grey concerned filled eyes looked at me. His jaw sharp, his shoulders broad, and muscled body was stiff. He was afraid that I will scream? " What are you? " I breathed. My raspy voice filled the silence room. " I am a damned soul. But don't worry. I won't hurt you. " He shook his head. " How do you know my name? " " I will tell you everything. Just please calm down first. Sit and drink water. I would have bring water if I would have been able to touch things. Oh wait. Here. " A glass filled with water floated in front of my eyes. " It isn't poisoned. And I have powers. O can't touch anything or anyone. But I can control them. Come on. Drink up. " He tightly smiled at me. I eyed the water again and then took it and emptied the glass. I rubbed my mouth and stood quietly in front of him. He patted the bed far away from him but his hands went through it every time he did that. " It's your bed. You can sit down." he chuckled. It felt like music brushing my skin. I sat to keep the trembling hidden from him. " Hi, I am Emerson Leslie." He offered his hand for me to shake. But I just stared at it. " I am sorry for your loss, Winter. " He said, withdrawing his hand. Again, He knows my name. And I'm not sorry because if I would have shaken his hands, it would have gone right through it. " How do you know my name? " " I... I actually was at the cemetery when your grandma was buried. I was visiting my mother. She is at the same cemetery. " His voice lowered an octave when he talked about his mother. " You loved there? " I asked carefully. He just nodded. " You witness everything? Or just the part where everyone was there? " " Everything. " His voice thick with emotion. So, he saw me crying. He saw me crying. A stranger. " You could have just left. " " When I cried, I wanted someone to be there for me but no one was. As my mother and I were the only ones of our family left after the attacks started. So, I stayed. I knew you couldn't see me u til I want to reveal myself. I was there. Its okay you know. To not be okay all the time. " He looked at me carefully. I nodded and sighed. " So, that's how you know my name. " He nodded. I felt a presence that night. Maybe that was him. " Yes. That was me. " My face revealed everything to him, I guess. " You can't read minds, can you? " " No. That is the blood sucker's gift. " He said with low voice. " What do you want from me? Why are you revealing yourself to a stranger? " I asked him, my brows scrunched because I would not have revealed myself to a stranger without a cause. He shrugged. " I need a friend. And I guessed you need too. " He grinned, a friendly one. " I don't. " I got up from the soft mattress. He winced from my cold tone but quickly hid it. " Go away. I have work to do. " I said, looking away from him. " What? Like theses sheets that were supposed to be on the bed right now, but you keep stressing about how to put it on the bed? " He chuckled lightly. " I said, go away. " I bared my teeth for him. I don't want anyone's company now. I am better off alone. For now. And he is disturbing my peace. " I can help you with those and the cooking. " He said, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. Maybe about if I would let him stay here. " No. I don't need help. Get out. " He stared at me for a while, I could sense his stare but didn't look his away. " Fine. " Then he disappeared. I released my breath. A soul. No. A damned soul. Bark. What does that mean? I shook my head. I don't need to know that. I started to arrange the sheet properly on the bed. After a long while, I figured it out. I tucked the corners very carefully and Grinned when I perfectly did the job. My stomach grumbled to warn me about it's limits to stay empty. I walked to the kitchen to cook something.

Wait. Rose and I ate all the food yesterday. I didn't come with food. it got out of our mind. I slapped my forehead. I went to my room to find my phone. It laid on my bed, dead. It needed to be charged. I out it on charge and sat on the bed. I can do it with water. For now. I flopped on the bed and at the same time, a pizza box appeared on my bed beside me. I scowled at it. " Eat up. " Emerson stood at the doorway, leaned over it, his arms crossed, wearing the same clothe. He is a damned soul, he doesn't have to change. Good Lord, Winter! I shook my head. I stared at the box and then opened its lid carefully and jumped out of the away in case it would burst. But nothing happened, only Emerson's laugh filled the room. His body shaking due to his laughter, his hands placed on his stomach. I narrowed my eyes at him. " I'm sorry. You... You looked.. Funny. " He said, continuously laughing. The delicious smell of the pizza reached my nose and I sniffed. My stomach growling in response. " Eat up. " He nodded at the pizza. I slowly sat down and took a slice out from the box. I inspected it carefully, like, I sniffed and then stared at its contents, which earned a fit of chuckled from Emerson. Whatever. I don't want to die now. Especially now that I know there are damned souls. I cant promise that I won't be a damned soul. Whatever that means. When I was satisfied that the pizza was legible enough to eat, I bit into it. I moaned when the flavor filled my mouth. The spices, the crust, the veggies, the chicken. It was yum. I dug into it. Forgetting totally about the fact that a stranger, a damned souls is in my house, in my room and staring at me while I eat my food like an animal. After I finished eating, I burped and licked my fingers. My stomach was filled. And then, coke appeared in front of me. I looked at Emerson. " How are you bringing this? Do you steal? Is that why you are a damned soul? " Something flickered on his face but he hid it well. " I can bring anything with magic. " " Did you pay after you take? " He shook his head. " Then, the answer is yes, you are stealing. " " And you ate the stolen food. You will be damned too. For the rest of your life. " He whispered in a dangerously low voice. I was horrified. Would I? His laugh roared in the room and I knew he was teasing me. I narrowed my eyes at him. " Very funny. " Then I drank the coke. What? I will not be damned. He confirmed it. So, what's wrong in drinking it? I shrugged and emptied the can. After I finished it, the box and the can disappeared. " Where did you send it? " I asked. " To the dustbin that is in your kitchen beside the sink. " He smirked. I nodded. " See, I can help you. " " I didn't need your help. I could have gone outside to eat. " " Yes. But you didn't want to. " I looked at him. How can he know everything? " I was like that too, for several months after my mother passed away. "He was frowning at the ground. That's when something inside my mind whispered to me. KEEP LIVING AND KEEP LOVING, WINTER. I sighed. He needed a friend as much as I needed one. It would be worth it. " Yes. I want to be your friend. If the offer still stands. " He looked up at me, eyes beaming with hope, and a smile slowly crept on his face. " Really? " I really needed a friend. So, I nodded. And that was the beginning of our friendship.