A dark room like a dark cage, my head spun as my eyes fluttered open slowly. My eyelids are damn heavy and hurt but I'm determined to open my eyes.
I adjust my vision to the darkness around me and I press my hand against my under and realize that I'm laying on a soft mattress.
I turn my head slowly and I catch a glimpse of light coming from my right. It's a yellowish light which I presume to be a lamp or candle.
Why will my maids switch off my room lights, besides, where's my window?
I can't help but ask myself as I push myself into a sitting position.
I crawl with my hands and reach my legs down and shivers run through me when my bare feet touch the cold floor.
I shut my eyes tightly and get used to my feet being on the floor.
I remove my hands from the mattress and straightened myself.
I feel light-headed and I place my left palm on my forehead.
Gosh! What's happening?
This is another dream, right? I can't wait to wake up from it because I'm getting suffocated with each passing minute.
My legs move slowly toward the direction of the light. I stop when I notice I've arrived at a door.
I lean my side against the door frame and dart my eyes across the room. It looks very old and ancient, compared to my study which convince me that I'm actually in a dream because I don't have such a room with cold floors.
I exhale slowly and carefully walk into the room. I expected it to be warm because of the oil lamp that sits on the wall but it's more colder than the room I came from because I'm shivering right now.
I stop in what I assume to be the middle of the room and look around carefully with my arms wrapped around my body.
A big lump suddenly developed in my throat as my gaze landed on the black sitting figure at the desk that is two feet away from me.
And, is that hair I'm seeing?
Why didn't I see this person when I first came in or did he suddenly appear?
I can't help but ask myself these questions.
I push the lump in my throat down slowly and open my mouth to speak but no words came out as the figure suddenly turned to face me.
Silver eyes, feminine features.
My mouth went dry and my body tremble.
" You're awake," he says, revealing perfect white incisors and my heart slam against my chest.
Should I run? Should I scream?
My mind suddenly becomes a mess as I feel those metallic eyes piercing into my soul.
" What do you want from me?" I ask with a shaky voice as I take a step back slowly.
He stands up from the chair and folds his arms on his chest. The only word that comes to my mind is tall. A tall silver-eyed man dressed in a black cloak with his hair covering half of his face.
" Don't you remember?" He asks sternly and I squint my eyes then shake my head at him. I don't remember anything.
" I helped you win the war between Brocrest and Baldish," he begins and images flash through my mind.
" And you showed me the way back home in the woods," my voice sounds like a question as my heart begin to accelerate in my chest.
I thought the war was all a dream.
I muster the courage and ask softly,
" Why am I here if you showed me the way home? Shouldn't I be at home?"
" I see that you have a very short memory," he tisk and takes a step in my direction and my heartbeat increases.
" I killed King Darius, your father, and brought you here,"
My heart slam against my chest and my throat went dry. My eyes sting with tears and my mouth opens slowly as the painful memories flash through my mind.
He killed my father with a dagger and he carried me on his shoulders before everything went blank.
Warm tears slip down my cheeks and my hands curled into fists slowly by my side.
His lips curve into a sinister smile and my heart aches. My heart bleeds and my fingers dig into my palm but it can't be compared to the pain I feel inside my heart.
This man killed my father.
" How dare you!" I yell and rush towards him.
" You monster, how dare you kill the king!" I hit his chest with all the strength in me and he just stand there and let me hit him all I want.
I take a step back and glare at him with every hate my body can develop.
My left hand fly across the air and smack him hard on his face.
His hair falls over his face completely and I take a step back.
I might have hit him physically but it didn't take the pain in my heart away.
He lifts his hand up and pushes his hair backward suavely as if I haven't hit him hard a minute ago.
" Does that take the pain in your heart away?" He asks mockingly and I feel like snapping his head off his neck.
" It doesn't, not until I kill you with my hands and put a dagger Into your belly then watch you bleed to death," I answer with gritted teeth and disdain.
" Open the damn fucking door right now you jerk!" I yell at him with veins popping in my neck.
" Are you deaf? Or do you want me to hit you? I said open the damn fucking door!" I curse and yell again but he didn't move an inch.
" What makes you think I'll listen to your orders?" He begins with that annoying and melodious voice that I hate with every fiber of me.
" Princess Valerie, I'm not your maid who listens to all of your orders, I'm Raphael, the man in your dreams,"
I gulp hard and press my mouth into a thin firm line before opening them again,
" Open the door now!" I scream at the top of my lungs.
" Your sister will kill you immediately you step your feet out of this place because you're now a criminal and the murderer of your father and guards," he says menacingly and I feel cold sweats all over my body.