A man dressed as a knight is dragging after him the tired horse. It is Filip, the king's most trusted guard. He is heading toward a public fountain to get over his tiredness and thirst. Just as he walks, he sees a girl with red hair being carried by a blond guy beside him an old man shorter than him. She doesn't seem to be awake.
With fast steps, he grabs the old man by the hand. The grandpa flinches.
"Where are you taking the girl?" Filip glares and tightens his grip. It is usual to take and rape girls that faint or feel sick with the premise that the boys will help them.
"We are taking her home. She fainted in the bread shop." The old man looks up at the tall man that had a big sword in his scabbard and armor that fitted well on his trained muscles.
Filip frowns and observes the boy and the old man. Nothing shady about them but still the girl can be in danger. The guilt he felt when his daughter was raped because he left some friends to take her home is pushing him to act more prudent now.
"I will come with you. Lead the way!" The guard is behind them as Otis and his grandpa are walking before him with worried faces.
"What are we going to do now? He thinks that we are after the girl?" Otis whispers to his grandpa that seems less fazed. He looks at the boy and smiles.
"We are honest people. As long as you act normal, he will understand us." He turns back and looks at the man in armor.
"What brings you here sir? You must be a king's knight." In truth, the man had on his armor a sign. The red rose growing on a sword is the symbol of the royal family. Also, the crest at the base of his shirt confirms his origin.
"I am indeed a knight," Filip observes the old man and wonders if he should ask or not. "Have you seen a boy having straight hair, black to be more precise and taller than me? "He hopes that the two people know so he wouldn't have to go to the cabin to search for the teen prince.
"We didn't see anything like that …" Otis is glancing at Filip and then at his grandpa. He smiles innocently." Who is the man?"
Filip stares at his back as they walk toward Ilona's house. He is on an undercover mission. No one outside the palace needs to know that the price is missing.
Ilona feels her body heavy and she opens slowly her eyes. She glances around and from the shock, she just stays like that for a while, not believing what is in front of her.
"Why is Filip in my room along with Victor, the grandpa, and Otis? Why can't I move?"
Ilona is sitting in her bed and observes the men as they realize she is awake. Victor is having a bad mood from the glare he gives the knight. He approaches the girl with small steps as his dark look is watching her.
"You fainted." Victor's voice deepens as he sits on the bed. He takes her hand and brushes it as he frowns.
Ilona doesn't understand his gesture. Why was he having that pained look?
"Let's go!" Victor stands up and looks at the knight. He glances at Ilona for a moment." Thank you for everything you did."
Ilona wants to talk but she just moves her mouth as he turns his back to leave. She stretches her fingers as her weak hand is placed next to her.
"Where do you think you are going?" She wants to scream so bad at him! After turning her peaceful life upside down, now he leaves. What will Grandpa and Otis say? What about that knight? She saw the symbol of the castle. She knows it too well. A knight like this put the rope around her father's neck.
She grits her teeth. The knight looks over the shoulder at her and Victor diverts his attention.
What if the king finds out that she is the daughter of the traitors? She was sure that the king forgot about it. But if he remembers, what will it happen? Victor's face is messed up badly. What if Victor is someone important and the king will kill her and her sister? Peasants are having no value.
Victor closes the entrance door and glares at the knight that flinches.
"She helped me. Some thieves beat me up. Don't tell my father about her. I will visit again and bring her some gifts later. Let's go !" The knight is nodding and follows the prince.
Filip swallows his words and watches the prince that is in a bad mood. Was it because of the girl? He saw someone similar to the girl somewhere. A boy that fought in the war for a short period. He was the best soldier. The king offered the red-curly boy the offer to be a knight but he refused. Maybe Filip confuses them. But her body structure reminds him of that boy that he fought along with.
Ilona is sitting in bed as her mind is a complete mess.
'Filip will catch on …that I am the boy …I don't want to lose the freedom and Anise. 'She thinks of a solution for not being recognized.
Otis is glancing at the girl that frowns. She is staring at the ceiling as if she is thinking hard about something. He approaches her.
'Do you want some water? 'The girl flinches and looks at the blond boy. She nods and he brings a glass of water.
Ilona gulps and glances at the grandpa who is watching her nonchalantly.
"I thought that you were a serious girl. From now on don't think of marrying Otis. You are like your mother …"The old man frowns. He is speaking in a mocking voice. Ilona gathers all her power and whispers in a cold tone.
"I know what you think but …never speak badly about mother in front of me. Thank you for carrying me … I will take care of myself." She concentrates the energy that is left and pulls the blanket off as she rises. Not sitting too much on the edge of the bed she stands tall and strong as if she had superpowers. She had a superpower: her love for family.
The grandpa wanted to continue but Otis interrupts him. Ilona is looking at them with a cold look. No need to wear a mask anymore since they showed their true nature. She knows that all of the villagers probably think the same. They profited lots of times giving her a small pay. But Ilona needed money. She chose to have a mask and win as much money as possible. As long as her sister was not treated badly and the villagers wanted to help even for their profit, she didn't care. Their voices at the corners of the street will never wound her heart, because her heart exists just for Anise.
She smiles subtly as her cold expression meets Otis' eyes. Like he even meant something to her.
"Don't be mad. Grandpa meant no harm…" He closes the distance but stops when she moves toward him too. Now they are face to face.
Ilona raises her hand and slaps him lightly.
"Go …" Ilona knows that he doesn't know her situation, so hitting him will be no good. Just a subtle warning is needed.
Otis is surprised and nods. His grandpa is glaring at the girl who dares to hit his nephew.
"How dare you! Bitch .." He is dragged out by Otis.
She turns towards the bed as she feels her power drain more and more.
"What is it, that I feel so weak? "She falls on her side and the bed bounces. Her eyes close and she sighs. She can't get sick!
Ilona raises her palms together as she turns on her back.
//Heal with ..// She coughs. Her body curls and she spills blood. Her magic is at fault. But why?
No book and nothing she found since her mom died. She needed to teach her more. Now Ilona is covering her mouth and the blood on her hands makes her frown.
"GO! RUN!" Her mom's voice is ringing in her year. Before she died she looked in the crowd and saw the two girls looking like they wanted to come closer. Her panicked eyes and sharp voice still reside in Ilona's memories. One last memory of her mom. She used to have nightmares of hearing her mom crying as her soul left her body.
Ilona wipes the tear that traces quick her cheek. No need to remember. She will get her revenge and she will take care of Anise.
Blood is on her cheek from her hand and her palms are hot as a purple color is painting them.
Ilona rises and goes to the bath to clean herself. She drags her legs and puts herself in the water as dressed as she is. The girl feels in her body a slight change as if her energy deposits increase if her body is covering her body.
She smiles and looks at her hands.
"Good that I know …but the hands are still purple …" After regaining her energy, she goes to take something from her mom's closet. She opens it and frowns when she sees the thing she is looking for. A pair of leather gloves are going in her hands.
"They fit me so well …" She used to try them on when she was younger and her mom would smile sweetly telling her that one day she will wear them.
Ilona is having a pained smile on her face. "I will have my revenge mom …."