HUMAM REALM- ALDERAN
CAPITAL- EL'GOROTH
FULL MOON
I trudged through the deserted corridors, my body wracked with shivers despite the warmth of the castle. The sound of laughter and music drifted through the halls, a stark contrast to the misery that gripped me. It is Maisie's wedding today, and the entire castle was alive with celebrations. But I couldn't join in the festivities because my body was consumed by a debilitating illness.
Every step felt like an effort, my legs heavy and uncoordinated. My head spun, and my vision blurred, making it hard to focus on the path ahead. I stumbled, catching myself on the wall as I made my way to Maisie's chambers.
As I entered the room, I caught Maisie's eyes sparkling with excitement, her face radiant with joy. She was resplendent in her wedding finery, the delicate white ball gown accentuating her beauty. The maids bustled around her, carefully adjusting her dress, makeup, and hair, while Flora oversaw the proceedings with a critical eye.
Maisie's smile dropped, her expression morphing into a frown as her eyes locked onto mine. "Hurry up!" She yelled at me sternly. "Bring the jewels here. Now!"
Oh God! I struggled to move closer, my legs trembling beneath me. I held out the jewels, my hand shaking slightly as I offered them to her. "I..I brought them," I stammered, trying to keep up with her demands despite my weakened state.
Maisie's eyes flashed with impatience, but she took the jewels from me, her gaze lingering on my frail condition for a moment before she turned back to the maids. "Let's finish getting ready," she instructed, her voice firm and detached. "The prince will be here soon. Make sure the clasp is secure, and don't forget the veil."
I stood by, watching Maisie with heavy eyes, my body screaming for rest as weakness washed over me, exhaustion threatening to overwhelm me at any moment. I'd been battling a raging fever for two days, unable to take medication or rest properly. Everyone seemed to overlook my struggles, except for Lexi, who offered what little support she could, but even her efforts were limited. My body throbbed with pain, and the heat of the fever consumed me.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Queen Elisabeth glided in, her regal bearing exuding an icy chill. Her face was a picture of haughty disdain, her eyes flashing with a warning that brooked no disobedience.
"Quickly, girls! The prince is on his way! We mustn't keep him waiting. Downstairs, now!" she barked, her voice stern and commanding.
With the final touches applied, Maisie's maids assisted her in gathering her elaborate gown, and the group began to file out of the room. Queen Elisabeth led the procession, her regal presence commanding attention, followed by Maisie, her maids carefully managing her dress, and then Flora, leaving me alone in the suddenly quiet space. Great! A good time to rest.
I slid down the wall, my back gliding against the cool surface, until I reached the floor, where I sat with a quiet thud. I took a few deep breaths, the slow inhales and exhales helping to calm my racing thoughts. After a moment, I slowly got to my feet, using the wall for support, and made my way out of the room.
Meanwhile, Deva strode confidently towards the grand hall with Deacon trailing behind him. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and music, a stark contrast to the darkness that was inside him.
His presence always commanded attention. He earned admiring glances from the partygoers, who couldn't help but be drawn to his charismatic aura. A few giggles and whispers followed him, but he seemed unfazed, his focus solely on the wedding ceremony ahead.
Deacon walked behind Deva, his gaze sweeping the crowd with a wary intensity, his instincts on high alert as he surveyed the diverse assembly of guests from the five realms.
Just as Deva was about to step into the grand hall, a gentle voice drifted through the air to his ears, its serene and calm tone momentarily halting his steps.
'Help me.' The voice carried a hint of desperation, and Deva spun around, his eyes scanning the crowd behind him as he searched for the source of the pleading tone.
Deacon's eyes widened in surprise as Deva suddenly stopped and turned, and his hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword, a habitual gesture of caution, his fingers wrapping around it with a practiced grip. "Is something wrong, your Highness?" He asked.
Deva's eyes clouded with a dark intensity, but he remained silent, choosing to push aside the mysterious voice and proceed to the grand hall. However, before he could take another step, the voice echoed again, its desperate whisper piercing the air.
'Help me.'
Without hesitation, Deva changed direction, his strides long and purposeful as he walked away from the grand hall, drawn by an unseen force towards the source of the voice. Deacon's eyebrows shot up in surprise, but his loyalty and instincts kicked in, and he fell into step beside Deva, his eyes scanning their surroundings with heightened vigilance, wondering what had prompted this sudden change in direction.
Deva's footsteps carried him through the dark, deserted corridors, the mysterious voice's pull growing stronger with each step. His demons had taken hold, clouding his judgment and driving him forward. His eyes, once shining gold, had darkened, and the aura surrounding him had turned suffocating.
Deacon followed closely, his voice low and concerned as he asked, "Your Highness, is everything alright?"
Deva didn't respond immediately, his gaze fixed ahead. His voice, when it finally came, was low and menacing, his words dripping with an otherworldly intensity. "Behind that door." He pointed, his finger extending towards the door as if drawn by an unseen force.
Deacon took a deep breath before his hand grasped the door handle, his movements deliberate as he slowly turned the knob. The creak of the door echoed through the hallway, and he stepped inside, revealing a dimly lit room that seemed to belong to the castle's servants. The flickering light from the fireplace cast eerie shadows on the walls, illuminating the three simple beds. On one of them, a figure lay curled up.
I lay huddled on my bed, consumed by the fever that ravaged my body. The distant chatter outside the door was a muffled hum, barely registering in my foggy mind. The door creaked open, and footsteps approached, but I was too weak to muster the energy to look up. A fresh, earthy scent wafted in my nostrils, like the sweetness of dew. Could be Lexi....
I felt the bed gently dip beside me, and an expectant silence fell. It was broken only by the gentle caress of fingers lightly brushing against my hair.
A gentle caress? That's not Lexi.
My eyes flew open to find a man sitting beside me, his piercing gaze and dark eyes locking onto mine, sending a jolt of shock and terror through me. A scream rose in my throat, but his hands clamped firmly over my mouth, stifling the sound.
What the....???