.....
"Hello! Hello! W-w-who's there?" Elen called. Her feet and wrists were tied to a wooden chair. The room was dimly lit and she couldn't see a thing. Even if she manages to escape, how would she find her way out?!! How did she even get here in the first place?!! She remembered laying on her bed and then everything became dark. She couldn't remember anything more than that. Who brought her here? And why is she being tied like some hostage?
A gasp made it's way to her mouth and that was when her brain started processing everything. Oh no! She was kidnapped! But who'd take her captive. There were many guards outside her chambers. They would definitely notice if someone was secretly walking behind them. How did it even come to this? What does this person want from her?! She's not wronged anyone before so why does it feel like this person that kidnapped her is her mortal enemy???
"P-p-please let me go. Who are you and what do you want from me?!! Why can't you show your face?!!" She yelled, she knew she was not in a favourable spot but her anger was taking control of her mind. She knew that one mistake from her side might cost her life but how could she control herself when the monster lurking within her is starting to take control of her mind???
"Why are you not answering?!! Take me out of here and face me like what every mortal humans do!! You brought me here! Don't be a coward and show your face!!!!" She said screaming at the top of her lungs.
"Didn't you hear what I...."
"Oh please, shut your mouth!! You're disrupting my peace and quiet!" The voice yelled, cutting Elen off.
"Can't you be a good and obedient girl and just stay still?!!" The voice said again. Elen could see a slim and tall figure approaching her but because of the darkness and the hood covering her face, she couldn't see who it was.
"Aren't you scared for your life?" She asked, this time in a soft and calm tone, but a tone that spoke of envy, hatred and pure malice.
"What do you want!" Elen said in a cold and emotionless tone.
"If I tell you what I want, it's just as good as spilling the beans to you right?"
"So I suggest you sit back, relax and watch." She added and chuckled devilishly.
"Don't worry. I won't touch a single strand of your hair if of course, you behave and stay still."
"You expect me to stay still when you held me captive in this strange place?? You expect me to 'sit back, relax and watch'?? Do you expect that I'll stay still and do nothing??"
"Well, I'd love to see you try doing something." She said and walked towards the almost invincible door. Not long after, huge figures could be seen approaching behind her and Elen creased her brows. .
"Phillip, Morris. I want you to keep a very good eye on her. If at all she tries to act smart, serve her with a warning slap and if she still is proving stubborn then..."
"Then you kill each of her family member for any attempts she tries to make." She said with an evil grin on her face.
Elen was shocked with the devilish words she just spouted out that a gasp escaped her lips. What does this woman want from her??? She so badly wanted to ask her but how could she do that when she just spouted those evil words out?!! She needed to stay put for the sake of her husband and family. She wouldn't act rashly and then her decision would end up taking someone's life. She would never do that!!
She watched her figure disappearing into the darkness. If only she could see her face. If only she could see her face, maybe, just maybe, she might be able to recall if she ever had a clash with someone. But as far as she knows, she's always indoors and she never had a female friend, so who's this person???
When she was sure she's out of the room she spoke to the guy whom she recognized as Morris.
"Please, what do you guys want from me?!! I won't escape, just p-p-please don't hurt my family. Tell me what you want and if I can give it to you people...." She paused for a moment before she continued. "Then I'll give it to you guys. I'll give it to y'all as long as I'm capable of doing so." She pleaded and it seemed that the man's aura blazed like cold ice.
"Just because I'm being nice, doesn't mean I can't hurt you. Just shut your mouth or else what our lady instructed, we'll do it perfectly without batting an eye." The man said heartlessly but Elen didn't flinch in fear. She didn't know why she was not scared but she knew this her courage was dangerous right now and she needed to tame it before it made her spout out things she's not supposed to say.
But once again, her lips betrayed her mind and it spoke again. "Please just tell me what you want from me!!" She said and this time her voice was getting louder.
"There's no need to rush. You'll know in the near future." Phillip calmly said and somehow, everything turned pitch black.
...
Elen was gasping for air. Her face was drenched in sweat and she looked like she ran a thousand metre race. Looking at her that moment, one would conclude that she participated in a race competition. Little would they know that she had a dream. No, a very bad nightmare.
It was a dream. It was all a dream, but why did it feel so real??? It was as if she was transported to another world and just returned back to her own world. She held her wrist for a long time because somehow, it felt like it was aching. She stared at her wrists and a loud gasp echoed the room. It was because they were marks on both her wrists. It was as though, she was tied for real. But how is that even possible?? It's just a dream right? She thought, but no matter how she thought about it, it didn't feel like a dream to her. It felt like she was teleported somewhere for real and only came back with the illusion that it was all a dream.
'No. It's just a nightmare Elen. You're thinking too much. Stop thinking like an old granny. It was just a very very bad nightmare.' She tried convincing herself and thankfully, it seemed to ease the fear in her heart a bit.
This dream. This nightmare was another sign. A sign that meant that she needed to take action. But how would she know when she could barely even see her face. What could she do to prevent this disaster from approaching?? How would she be able to stop that woman? Maybe she had a connection with her previous nightmare. Maybe she was the cause of that fire!! 'Oh gods, what to do?!!' What should I do?? Would it be wise to tell her husband about it? She didn't want to add more to his worries. But won't it be foolishness to keep this matter away from him? He's her husband and he deserves the right to know! Okay then, she would tell him when he returns. They needed to do something, and fast!! This dream must never prevail!!
"What to do? What to do? How do I stop all of this? I need to take action fast! But how would I do that when I couldn't even see her face. I couldn't even remember the faces of those two men anymore." She said, talking to herself.
"Oh well, all I need to do for now is to be wary of any woman. I shouldn't trust any woman. That is the only way to get out of this situation, temporarily." She added.
"Alexander where are you? Please I need you now."
Her thoughts were clearly a mess. She wasn't thinking straight anymore. She couldn't figure all of this out on her own!!
She climbed out of her bed and went to pull open the curtains and it was then she realized it was not dark yet. Just how long had she been sleeping for??
Now that she had this nightmare, she wouldn't be able to sleep anymore. No matter how much the sleep is calling for her, she'll try her best to fight it. She was now afraid of falling asleep. Afraid that she might have another bad dream.
Alexander wasn't by her side and she didn't know if she would pass out of shock next time, so she would try her best not to fall asleep. It was midnight already, and it was only a few hours till morning. She would think of something to do to pass out time.
She heaved a sigh and took out a long robe before she stepped out of her room, heading to hers and Alexander's chambers. Once she's there, she would oy focus and think of the good times they've spent these short period of time. Well, thinking of her husband had always made her pass out more time without her even realizing it. So, this should be a good solution to avoid falling asleep soon.
She stepped out of her personal chambers and a guard dared to stop her. All of the guards that had been guarding her never stopped her even if she went out of her chambers in the middle of the night. They'll simply ask her where she's heading to, and if need be, they do escort her. So who was this man that dared to stop her from leaving her chambers??
"And what do you think you're doing??" She asked but the man simply stared at her without saying a word. Elen found this guard a little bit strange. He exuded such confidence and he had a kind of aura she couldn't ignore. He had this kind of aura that spoke of much authority.
Was he a soldier? But if he was, he shouldn't be wearing these clothes. And she hadn't even seen his face here before. Was he a new guard?? Well, he better be, else she wouldn't forgive him for stopping her.
"Didn't I make myself clear enough? Why are you stopping me?" She asked again and the man's lips curved a little bit. If Elen had not been intently looking at him, she wouldn't have seen that slight smile. Though, his face was extremely handsome. She couldn't focus on his face because she had other important things to sort out.
"My lady, I'm the soldier assigned to stand guard outside your chambers." He straightforwardly said.
'So he really is a soldier? But he called me 'my lady'. Doesn't he know I'm a princess? Well, it doesn't matter anyway but I'm usually addressed as princess, so this feels a little awkward.' She thought silently.
"Okay, what's your name??" She asked and for the first time, his face suddenly turned contemplative which made Elen narrow her eyes in suspicion.
Is this man here really a soldier or he's just impersonating as one?? What if he's a dangerous person?? Or what if he's one of those men in her dreams?? The last thought made her brain shut down and a silent gasp passed through her lips.
W-w-what if he's trying to lure me out of here and take me to that woman? But if he had any intention if doing that, wouldn't he had done that minutes ago?? She thought and for some reason, she felt relieved. Not because she thought he was not after any ulterior motives but because the things she was thinking didn't happen.
Few minutes had passed and the man still didn't say a word, causing Elen's fear to rise again. Was this man trying to scare her or what?!!
She asked him one last time because of the thought that he might not have heard her first statement, but she was very sure he heard her.
"I'm sure you heard me loud and clear. What. is. your. name??" She asked loud enough for him to hear this time. There was no escaping now. She would definitely know what this man is up to. Tonight!!