"I want to go back to my house," I said as I try to find my way out of here. But all I can see are hallways no matter where I look.
"You're in the heart of the castle, Princess," my uncle said as he walks towards me again, and before I can even walk away, he held my hand tightly and pulled me towards him.
He put me in a tight horrifying embrace, I can even feel my bones shattering from fear as I hear him sniff my hair.
"My, aren't you delicious," he whispered then he went silent for a while.
I thought he was going to let me go, but no, that's not what happened.
I felt his hand touching my back, moving downwards to my hips.
I wanted to push him away and scream, but I was too frightened.
Forest, help...
Wait, who's he? Why did I call for his name? Forest... why does that name sound so comforting?
"King Sorin," I heard my mother's voice, "I thought we already talked about this. Do not..." I heard her footsteps moving towards us, and the next thing I saw was that I'm standing behind her, "...touch my daughter."
I saw my uncle, named Sorin, smiling like a devil while staring at my mother.
"I can't help it. Power arouses me," he said then he threw me a glare.
I wanted to puke, what does he mean? I'm his niece for apple's sake. We're blood-related. Can I put him to jail? This is a crime.
"She's my daughter," my mother said with a strong voice, not showing any fear to my uncle.
"And she'll be the Queen, " Sori said and smirked like a demon, "Are you angry that I'll marry her? Or are you angry that you will not be the Queen?"
My eyes grew wide, he said it, he wants to marry me. My knees grew weak, but I still tried to keep my stance. I can't show him I'm afraid. I can't.
I have to get out of here.
"Meteor," my father called as he and my brother go down the staircase.
My brother's eyes were huge as he stares at me, as if he just saw some horror, "Are you alright?" he mouthed.
I tried to force a smile and nodded.
He was just about to kill me earlier, and now he's asking me if I'm alright. But at least, someone cares about me.
Kai walked towards me and hid me behind him. He's only thirteen but he's already this tall. His back is also wide enough for me to lean on as I try to keep standing. He reached for my hand and held it tightly, telling me that he's there, that I have a brother that will protect me. I just wonder why he was looking at me that way earlier when in fact, he's this sweet.
Father pat my back as he gazes over my psycho uncle who's mocking my mother.
"I am never interested in being a Queen. I already brought her here, but why do you still insist on marrying your niece?"
My mother's voice was shaking from anger, I can even feel that she's about to cry, but she's keeping it at bay.
"What?" My father's voice roared, then he moved towards my mother, "We already gave you what you want. You promised to never touch my family if we remove her---"
"Atticus," my mother suddenly spoke, then she shook her head.
What was my father about to say? Remove what?
I wanted to ask, but I saw Kai shaking his head, making me stay behind him.
"Just imagine, if she bears a child stronger than those Gathrins, we'll be able to conquer the whole world," Sorin maniacally laughed, "I'll be the ruler of the world."
That's it, I finally lost all my strength and fell on the ground. My brother bent his knees and worriedly stares at me.
I want to scream, I want to run, I want to burst.
I don't understand what's happening? Why am I suddenly thrown into a disgusting place?
I felt my whole body burning up, especially my chest. I want to burst from anger. I hate this. I hate everyone.
"Sis, no," Kai whispered as he held my hand tightly.
What does he mean 'no?'
I looked at him, his ocean blue eyes were reflecting red firey light. Where did that come from?
I looked around, but there was no fire.
"Breathe," he whispered as he inhales and exhales for me to follow.
The burning anger inside me slowly vanishes as I follow my brother, and that's when my mother and father picked me up.
"We already talked, you can't have her," my father said as they brought me upstairs.
I glanced over my uncle, but he doesn't even look bothered. He was smiling at me as if he didn't do anything wrong.
"Meteor, never go near him," mother instantly spoke the moment we entered my room.
The girl with them earlier was nowhere to be found, and it's only me and my family in my room.
"We already did what he wanted, why does he still want to take her?" My father shouted as he put me down to bed.
My brother hurriedly poured water and gave it to me while frowning.
"We shouldn't have done it. I knew he's going back on his words but it's the only choice we had," mother answered as she walks back and forth in the room.
I don't get what they're saying, but I don't have the strength to ask. I feel so drained.
"You're so weak, you really got into the trap," my brother clicked his tongue and stared at me with sharp eyes, "If only you're smart enough, then you wouldn't fall into the trap. You shouldn't have fallen back into the human world and forgot about your memories."
"Kai," my father screamed, "Why are you telling her that?"
"She's supposed to know, father. You knew she'll be fine with Prince Forest, he can protect her. But this dumb sister of mine fell for Princess Tellusia's trap and now she's a dead girl walking. Sorin will use her to do his plan, and guess what? He'll marry his own niece too. I wasn't born here to watch my sister get ruined. I didn't fight for nothing. I thought she'll be able to save us when she gets married to Prince Forest, but guess what? No. She's a mess. She'll die with us."
"Kai," mother softly called, but her face frozen with fear when my father punched Kai on the face.
"I didn't leave her alone to be that fucker's wife. I didn't roam around this world to find you and your mother to watch everyone die. I didn't betray my King and see that Queen Elena's sacrifice will go to waste."
Father glared at Kai who was sitting on the floor with his hand on his swollen cheek.
Father bit his lip with frustration all over his face, "I know what we're doing. We'll find a way. I know Prince Forest is looking for her now."
"And you think Sis will remember him? No, she won't. That means Sis will never save us. She was sent back to the human world to remove her memories for Sorin to use her against the Gathrin Kingdom."
I was just staring at everyone's terrified faces, what they said doesn't make any sense. But hearing Forest's name suddenly made me feel uneasy. Who is he?
"The ball next week, Sorin invited everyone. I'm not sure if the Gathrin Kingdom will send anyone after all that Sorin has done to their village, but we have a chance," Mother said.
"What if no one goes from the Gathrin Kingdom?" Kai asks as a father helps him stand up.
"Princess Tellusia or Prince Marin are sure going. They're under Sorin's power for now, they won't do anything that will make him unhappy," Father pats Kai's shoulder and gave him an embrace.
I wanted to smile after seeing how close they are, but loneliness arrived at my door as my eyes came to shut for a rest.
They continued talking to each other as I sleep.
"Prince Marin and her mother were sent back after Princess Tellusia sent Amy back to the human world. I can't imagine how difficult it was for her to betray her friend," father sighed.
He saw how much Princess Tellusia was crying when she was tasked to betray Amy for her loved ones' safety. It was heartbreaking to see. She's been carrying heavy weights all this time for Sorin and her father's plans.
"What's more concerning is Prince Forest's reaction to what she did. I wonder if he found out? You know what he does when he goes berserk," Kai spoke as he heals his swollen cheek using his fire.
"We just ruined everything," mother said as she sits on the bed and brushed my hair, "If only we let her know everything from the very beginning."
"But you know why we had to run away. You killed Queen Elena, Tana," father bitterly looked away, "Even though you were under a spell, it was still your hands that spilled the Queen's blood."
"I know," mother softly spoke, "But Queen Elena knew that it wasn't me. That's why she didn't fight. She knew she'll kill me if she did."
"And she knew she'll kill me too if she did fight back," Kai muttered, "I just can't stand to see that my sister's this dumb to be easily played with."
They all stared at me while I was slipping into a dream.
A dream where I was in a lake, diving deeper into the cold dark waters. I was looking around, and every stone lighted up with images that were unknown to me.
"Welcome back, Amelia," a small fairy suddenly appeared in front of me. She smiled as she swims around my head.
"Who are you?" I asked as I follow her move around with her beautiful flowing hair.
"Dewdrop, we met before, but you can't remember. Anyway, to make this quick," she flicked her tiny finger and then I saw myself standing in a hall with a line of ladies waiting for something.
"You first came in this world after you were taken by the Gathrin Knights, and that's where you met Forest, the heir to the throne of the Gathrin Kingdom."
I felt my chest tightens when I saw myself standing in front of a beautiful person, his dark fluffy hair, and violet eyes were breath-taking.
I saw myself sneezing even though he was in front of me, but he just smiled at me.
"You two grew fond of each other in a short period of time," Dewdrop's voice went soft as we shift into a different time.
I was walking in a garden with Prince Forest, he was holding my hand while it was in his pocket.
Then, I saw another memory, I was in the library, staring into his sleeping face.
"You love him, and he loves you. I don't know if showing this will help you remember, but Marin just wanted to make everything right, that's why I am here."
I stared at the last memory I saw, I was hugging Prince Forest tightly while both of us were crying.
It pains me that I still can't remember anything.
It feels like I'm only watching a movie right now. But there's a painful yet joyful feeling lingering.
"Now, just remember, Sorin is the enemy. The truth will unveil someday, so be strong."
Dewdrops' voice echoed around my head before I woke up from the light that suddenly greeted me. Carol and Joy opened the windows with their grumpy faces.
But for a second, I thought I saw three young maids smiling at me.
Was that part of my erased memory?
I have to find out more. I can't just sit here and watch as Sorin does what he wants.
And I also have to meet Forest, I'm sure he can tell me everything.