Hiraeth

Chapter 20

Samara Shaw

I woke up in a place different from the cold ground.

It was in soft warm sheets. Just my head was exposed as they covered my feet up to my neck. I felt strands of my hair attached to my face and sweat drip from my forehead down to my ears. I felt hot all over with all the energy in me drained. My limbs and arms felt like every cell in it was dead. They were numb and sore like they were meant to after running for minutes.

I couldn't remember all that happened the night before or how I ended up where I was but I could remember vividly the things I saw before everything suddenly stopped. I couldn't say Accius lured me outside before those things happened but my curiosity pushed me to it. I did see his eyes glow but I was in control of my body unlike the times I said things that came out of my mouth without my power. What I did was to quench the burning urge to see what would happen after so everything that happened to me, was as a result of my actions.

What I saw that night, although was something out of the ordinary and if I could control, would be in my advantage, but was also something I never wanted to see again. I ran faster than an average human being and while it lasted, it didn't feel like I was slowly loosing my energy. I felt stronger than ever, powerful and confident, every feeling I'd never experienced but at the same time, wasn't human.

"Quite improper for a lady to stay asleep at this time of the day"

"Mother?"

Swiftly, my body jolted off the bed in fear and all the soreness I felt before suddenly bounced off with it. There I was in the room I lived in all my life, back at home with everything the way I left it. my mother stood close to the door like she always did when she came to tell me things my opinions really weren't needed for and sometimes, she would be there to scold me or to give a punishment.

I looked down at myself, I was in the same clothes I had the night before and I remembered I didn't have them on anywhere close to home. Everything stopped the moment I realised I was running on four paws and that was in the walls of Thorne but there I was back in the room I spent most of the years of my life.

It was frightening I was taken to a place where the weirdest things became possible, worse when I realised I wasn't the person I thought I was but even after all I'd seen and been through, I wanted to be anywhere but back in the prison I called home. I was back in the life of perfection and would most probably be once again put up for sale and to someone that would make me live with rules even worse than my mother's.

"You really thought you'd leave so easily, didn't you?"

In a split second, she turned to the door behind her and slammed it shut. The loud bang echoed and the impact made my bed vibrate. When she turned back to face me, she had the biggest frown on her face and from where I layed, I felt that anger and rage radiating off her body.

Truly, I'd seen my mother angry before then but what I saw was worse than I ever thought she would be. It made the little wrinkles she had on her face more evident and her eyes look darker. In the few seconds it took before she started marching towards me, I knew something bad was going to happen and my mind slowly started to embrace the worst possibilities. It was something I'd never seen her do but It looked like she was going to hit me.

I hurriedly jumped off the bed to run as far away as I could from her and that was when everything changed right before my eyes. I was no longer on my bed or on the floor like I thought I would be but in somewhere I'd never seen before. The walls were covered with white paint and little golden designs on the walls and edges. Right in the center of the wooden floor was a small carpet, red in color and covered one third of the whole room. The bed I layed on was elegant and more fancy than the one I grew up on. The stead was made of pure gold, or so it looked like, and the sheets were made of thick white and red clothe. There was an armchair, made in the same design as the bed, and a table right in front of it. Two doors were at each side of the room and engraved on them were words in a language I didn't understand. A huge chandelier hung from the ceiling and on it were candles like the ones I was familiar with in Thorne.

A wave of relief immediately washed over me. I didn't know where I was but I was glad it looked nothing like home. The atmosphere and the scent in the air was enough confirmation I was back where I left buy definitely not on the cold ground where I passed out.

"Samara, you're awake"

Then, I noticed someone had been standing next to me and the scent in the air wasn't of the school but of him. Accius was in a white shirt and black leather pants as he stood at edge of the bed, right next to the window. His eyes had a slight shade of red like he had been asleep too. Seeing him brought back all the memories of the night we ran. Along with it came a clear and vivid image in my head of what I saw myself turn into.

"Accius, what is this place? What am I doing her_"

"Shh" My sentence was cut off when his hand went over my mouth "Just keep quiet, okay?"

Then he looked around the room and slowly detached his hand from mu mouth "Okay, but why?"

"I just need to ask a few questions and I was your honest answers. Don't worry, it's for your own good"

"Wha_"

"Did you have nightmares when you were younger?"

"No, not really"

"Did you ever show any physical traits that you considered impossible?"

"No"

"Were you very strong?"

"No"

"Did your hair ever grow white?"

"No"

"Were your eyes always the color?"

"Yes"

After that, he stopped and for a few seconds paced around with his hand on his jaw. Whatever it was, it looked very serious and my curiosity kicked in almost immediately. What could it be that made Accius look so serious and willingly have a conversation with me? "Is everything okay?"

"Listen Samara, whatever Vince or anyone has told you is a complete lie. You are not reincarnated, okay?"

"What do you mean? Lucy sai_"

"It doesn't matter what Lucy said. They lied to you. Reincarnation doesn't exist in Bellum or anywhere in Anel. I don't know why they're feeding you these lies but trust me when I say this, it's not true"

"But, how do I believe you?"

"Meet me behind the school by twelve midnight, I'll be waiting for you. Be as sneaky as you can, don't tell anyone where you're going or what I have told you."

I didn't get a chance to reply cause immediately when he was done with his words, he jumped out of the room through the window. I jolted up in fear and hurriedly ran towards the window. It took only a second or less to realise I was no longer in the world of people with normal capabilities. When my head peeked through the glass windows, I saw no sign of Accius. Neither on the wall or the ground. I also realised the room I was in was at the highest floor in the building, even higher than the female's dorm.

The fresh morning breeze hit my face and sunlight was warm on my skin as I pushed my face further out the glass. The thick forest surrounding only reminded me of how far I was from home. Although the view showed the tall green trees and a single lake alone, it was breathtaking. Something I wished to see everyday, just to keep me sane.

"I see you love the sight"  I heard Vince's voice behind me followed by the click of the door as he closed it."It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yes" I said "Is this your room?"

My question was left unanswered and I felt Vince's presence moving towards me when I turned around. His normal warm expression had morphed into a frown as he looked around as if searching for something. Out of confusion, I left his way and stood a distance away from him, just in case what was happening could affect me. It took at least a minute before Vince's hands found the window and it then I finally understood what was going on. Before I could do anything, he let out a low growl and jumped out just like Accius did. I immediately grew worry and in panic, I ran out of the room even when I had no idea where both brothers were.

I was running through the narrow passageway of the male's dorm with my naked feet tapping against the floor.  I was just a few feet away from the exit when I spotted a boy leaving one of the rooms. When he spotted me, he began to make his way back into the room.  I didn't pay any attention to who he was or why he ceased whatever he was going to do but held unto his arm and pulled him out.

"Take me to Accius!"