NALA POV
I woke up to sunlight streaming in
through a window I didn't recognize, casting warm patterns on the walls. The air smelled faintly of lavender mixed with wood smoke, which was oddly comforting but also strange. Blinking away sleep, I moved, feeling the cool silk sheets against my skin, a stark reminder of the soreness that ached throughout my body. Everything felt surreal, like I was stuck between a dream and a nightmare. My heart raced as I took in my surroundings.
The room looked nothing like I was used to. The bed was huge, with a headboard covered in intricate carvings that seemed to tell stories I didn't understand. Heavy burgundy curtains framed the window, softening the bright morning light. A fireplace sat across the room, the embers still glowing, while the mixed scents of lavender and wood smoke lingered in the air. Plush rugs covered the wooden floor, adding a touch of elegance. Outside, birds were chirping, their songs clashing with the uneasiness bubbling in my chest. It was beautiful but felt completely foreign.
I sat up slowly, wincing as a sharp pain shot through me. My arms were dotted with bruises from the chaos we'd just escaped. As I tried to piece together what had happened, the memories felt scattered, slipping away like sand in an hourglass.
Then I noticed him, Daniel, my brother. He was slumped in a chair next to the bed, curled up in an awkward position. His soft curls fell into his eyes as he slept. Relief washed over me, warming me inside. He was okay. He was here. For a moment, the tension in my chest eased, but just for a second. Watching him sleep left a flood of questions rising within me. Where were we? How did we get here? And who had brought us?
I reached out and gently shook his shoulder. "Daniel," I whispered. "Wake up."
He stirred, furrowing his brows and mumbling something. Slowly, his eyes opened, confusion fading into relief as they met mine. "Nala?" he said, his voice barely a whisper.
"Yes, it's me," I replied, trying to keep my tone calm. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
He shook his head and sat up straighter. "I'm fine. Just tired."
"Good," I sighed. "Now tell me, how did we get here? What happened after…" My voice trailed off as the memories crashed back, an attack, shouting, and overwhelming fear. I swallowed hard and pushed those images away. "After everything?"
Daniel frowned, concentrating as he recalled the events. "It was… him," he finally said.
"Him?" I leaned in closer. "Who, Daniel? Who brought us here?"
"The Masked Rider," he answered, his voice more collected now. "The one who saved us before. He came back, fought off the guys who attacked us, and brought us here. He said it wasn't safe where we were."
The figure of the Masked Rider flashed in my mind a shadow figure with a blade that moved like magic. I remembered how he'd appeared out of nowhere, slicing through our attackers and vanishing in an instant. Part of me was grateful; another part felt uneasy about being in debt to someone I didn't really know.
I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, testing my strength on the floor. My knees felt shaky, but I steadied myself, determination kicking in. "Where is he now?" I asked, my voice firmer than I felt.
Daniel shrugged and rubbed sleep from his eyes. "I don't know. He said we're safe here, but I haven't seen him since we got here."
Safe. The word felt empty. How could I feel safe in a place I didn't recognize, guarded by a guy whose face I hadn't even seen? I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to tame the tangles left from our escape. My dress was torn and stained, but I did my best to straighten it, trying to regain some sense of normalcy.
"I want to see him," I said, more to myself than to Daniel.
Just then, the Masked Rider walked into the room, his presence commanding and mysterious. The flickering torchlight cast shadows on his face, highlighting the sharp lines of his jaw and the curve of his lips beneath the mask. His dark eyes locked onto mine, making it hard to look away, as if he could see right through me. His expression was stoic, but there was a flicker of something—maybe concern? Compassion? I couldn't tell, but it made my heart skip a beat.
I stood from the bed i was sitting, unsure if I should thank him or demand answers. The weight of his actions, saving us twice, clashed with the questions racing in my mind. Who was he really? Why did he care about what happened to me and Daniel? Before I had a chance to voice my thoughts, he stepped closer.
"How are you feeling, Princess Nala?" His voice was calm but had an edge, like he was used to giving orders instead of asking questions.
"Better," I replied carefully, keeping my voice steady despite the worry eating at me. "Daniel mentioned you're the one who saved us. Again."
He nodded, his gaze steady. "I couldn't just leave you out there. The forest isn't safe, especially not now."
There was something heavy in his words that I didn't quite get, but it made me uneasy. My instinct was to push back against his way of taking charge, but I felt a tug of gratitude too. "Thanks," I finally said, though it felt weird saying it. "For saving us. Twice." I paused, then added, "But we can't stay here. Daniel and I need to get back to our kingdom."
His expression turned serious, and the softness I thought I'd seen earlier was replaced by a tough resolve. "That's not happening right now," he said, his voice making it clear there was no room for debate. "The guys who attacked you might've pulled back, but they're still out there. Returning to your palace would be walking right into danger."
I felt my temper flare at his words. He made it sound like I was some kid who couldn't grasp the situation. "You can't keep us here," I shot back, my voice sharp. "We can handle ourselves."
"Can you?" he asked, tilting his head slightly, his gaze steady. "You barely made it through the first attack. If I hadn't shown up when I did, you wouldn't be standing here arguing with me."
His bluntness stung, and I clenched my fists, pride fighting against the truth in what he said. My mind flickered back to the chaos of the ambush, the screams, the clash of metal, the blood. I had felt powerless. If not for this masked stranger, Daniel and I might not have survived. I glanced at my younger brother, sitting quietly by the hearth, his big eyes darting between the rider and me. The thought of putting him in danger again made my resolve waver.
The rider seemed to notice the change in me and softened his tone a bit. "I'm not trying to keep you locked up," he said, his voice calmer now but still firm. "I'm trying to keep you alive. At least until it's safe for you to go."
His sincerity made me pause. There was no mockery in his words, no arrogance, just a strong belief that what he said was true. It annoyed me how easily he got under my skin and how his presence seemed to break down the walls I'd built around myself. Still, I couldn't let him control our destiny. "You say it's not safe, but how long are we supposed to wait? Days? Weeks? Months?"
"As long as it takes," he replied without hesitation. "I'll know when it's safe."
I scoffed, crossing my arms. "And what makes you the expert on that? Who are you to decide what happens to us?"
The rider's eyes narrowed a bit, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flash of something, pain, maybe behind his mask. "Who I am doesn't really matter," he said finally. "What matters is that you're alive because of me. And if you want to stay that way, you'll listen."
The silence that followed was heavy, filled only by the crackling fire. I hated how his arguments made sense and how he put me in a corner. He was right, without him, Daniel and I wouldn't have made it. But that didn't mean I had to like it.
"You've left me little choice," I said finally, my voice colder than I meant. "But don't confuse my agreement with trust. I don't know who you are or what you want, and until I do, I can't trust you."
The rider studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable beneath the mask. Then he nodded slightly. "Fair enough, Princess Nala. Trust isn't just given; it's earned. I won't ask for it. But think about your brother. He needs you to stay alive just as much as you need him."
His words hit hard, and I looked at Daniel again. He'd been through so much already.
"Fine," I said through clenched teeth. "We'll stay. For now."
The rider nodded again, as if my reluctant agreement was all he needed. "Good," he said simply.