Drake looked down upon listening to the truth. Well, I should not wonder why he knows my name. Perhaps, one of the soldiers who tried to kill me.
Or, he would be a Knight from the Kingdom of Ashes who will redeem the Princess he wanted to be his beloved wife.
But, everything was impossible to happen.
"I shall go by now, Thalia. See you around!" Drake clamoured abruptly.
To my surprise, I shook my head.
I never wanted to look back to see him, but I couldn't control myself from not doing it.
The moment I turned my back to see his face, a howling and loud wind sounded off. I felt cold and... and hungry.
As I crave for something to drink that I should not have to. "Drake," I murmured when he was gone at the place where he was standing earlier.
"Huh! Wh–who are yo–you, Drake? Why do I'm feeling this odd way?"
I touched my chest while listening to its loud heartbeat. Things became different the moment I woke up in the forest!
The longing to see him hurled me to look around. "Hey?! Where are you?!" I screamed as if I own the night and place.
My voice was loud enough until I heard footsteps coming nearer to me.
No! It can't be!
I suddenly remembered the greedy and cruel Queen. As I always sense that she would hurt me whenever she wanted to.
"Thalia!"
I cursed out into the wind when I heard someone called my name.
Why is it that anyone who sees me knows my name? Where in fact, I am a Phoenix Princess who live in a wide and mesmerising palace.
As I looked around the darkness, a tall white man appeared. I couldn't deny the fact that he was a good looking and attractive man.
But, I was left dumbfounded when he added. "You're always here! I know that this is your favourite spot in the forest, but would you come out and have fun with us?"
"But, I don't know who you are Mister!" I told him.
And I began to step backwards when he gave me an abrupt laugh. "Come on, Thalia! Emilia told me that someone grabbed you out from the crowd. Who is he, then?"
To be honest, I wanted to curse and push him away. But, I felt like there's something in him that what makes me afraid and uncomfortable.
I chuckled silently and replied, "Who are you? And, why would I come with you?"
He looked at me intently into my eyes. He said, "It seems like you are not the Thalia that I've met, a hundred years ago. You look different tonight."
Things became clearer and empties. I know who I am, and my name is Thalia.
But I don't nonetheless know the truth, why they all know my name!
"The best part of the night will come sooner, would you like to be my partner in crime?" He offered his hand as what the most Knights usually have done.
Especially when they like a noblewoman.
"I... I am apologetic, but I have already a partner." I said. But the truth was, I am unaware of what's going on.
Yet, he mentioned the name Emilia. She must be the beautiful woman that I saw earlier.
"But, y–you c–ca–can ask Emilia to be your partner!"
I added.
I've tried not to be suspicious and careless. Every word that I say must be precise and accurate enough to deceive them.
Suddenly, the man before me stopped as he saw a ghost behind me. He was gaping until he grabbed my arm without saying a word.
A loud, horrifying wind carried away the dried leaves. It looks like a dream which only happened in a fantasy, but at the moment, I could tell that it was all true.
The trees flickered.
Preys whimpered.
And the moon was wrapped by thick, gloomy clouds.
"Werewolves are here! We must leave your favourite tree for now."
He told me that made me surprised. "Werewolves?!" I asked him as he pulled me back to the open meadow.
From the start, he walked slowly but as the loud noises coming from the trees, the man runs as fast as he could without thinking that I'm behind him.
"Why are we running out from the woods, Mister? Why are you afraid of werewolves as they are only a fantasy creatures?"
I asked him as hard as I can.
We both breathing heavily but he didn't stop from running. "They are dangerous creatures, Thalia. You must be very careful sauntering around the forest."
"But, why?"
Abruptly, a huge and frightening bear appeared from nowhere. The man halted from moving as I ended up smelling his back.
"How would be a bear showed up out of nowhere?!" I took a long sigh as I was more bothered when I found out that he was too fragrant than the bear.
He said, "Come out from my back, Thalia. As I know that you are a great fighter amongst all the woman in th–!"
"Grrrrrrrowl!"
The huge creature growled horribly. Thalia has nothing to do with it. But the man said, "He is a werewolf. The greatest and strongest amongst others."
"A we...werewolf?!" I couldn't believe that the creature before me was truly a werewolf.
He looked like a beast as its sharp fangs displayed. I barely looked at the werewolf as it was walking towards us.
My knees were trembling.
My lips were shivering, and my heart beats too fast that I wish to vanish and woke up in the palace. In the place where I am not a stranger and an intruder.
Without a warning, the werewolf jumped off as its paws were too sharp and deadly. Fortunately, the man beside him run fastest, but I'm wondering why he fought against the werewolf.
Both of them floats into the air until I saw the man's teeth. "Why does he have fangs?!"
I asked as I was embracing myself– frightened and alarmed.
"Get out from here, Thalia!" The man clamoured but, why I couldn't move my feet? Why I can't say even a single word?
"I... I don't know the way back to the meadow!
I told him.
However, as he looked at me the werewolf howled awfully and bite his arm. I saw it.
I saw the blood flows from his wounded arm.
Without doubt and qualm, I narrowed my eyes and glared at the beast angrily.
I run and jumped off until I ended up on the werewolf's back. "How defiant creature you are!" I clamoured upon clawing the werewolf's back.
It roared remarkably that brought me back to my senses.
"Hold tightly, Thalia! You will be going to fall back!"
The man warned me.
However, I did not follow him. I stopped scraping its back until I fell into the ground, enduring the pain on my back.
"THALIA!"
"I'm fine! But, my ba...back hurts!" I said.
The man looked disgruntled while watching me. He seemed furious and dismayed as what he had seen.
"Leave my forest alone, if you wish to live longer!"
He clenched his fists.
His calm, hazel eyes turned red.
And, he was snarling like a critter.
I hurriedly stood up, putting aside the pain on my back. I've strived to walk slowly as they are both howling and growling with each other.
"Who Am I? Why do I end up in the forest where full of werewolves and peculiar beings?"
For the countless times, I've asked myself for a question which I do not know the answer.