The Scarlet Scepter

Chapter Five (Revised)

"Annaliese! Don't go into the water!" My mother called after me. We were on a day out on the beach. But I was too excited to heed her voice.

I turned around. "Don't worry, Mommy! I'll stay here!"

My father smiled as he watched me. I sat down on the shore and picked up seashells. I loved the colorful ones. But then something caught my eye. A few feet from me lay a big violet shell, glistening in the sunlight. I squealed in delight and walked to my awaiting prize. It was getting deeper, and the water was already to my chest, but I didn't care.

"Annaliese! No!" my father cried out. I looked up, clutching the shell in my hands, and the water rose above me. The tide swallowed me up before I could even scream.

My father jumped into the water and found me unconscious. I woke up in the hospital.

I was six then and I never forgot that day. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't see. The water was crushing my body. I thought I would die.

That's what I felt now. The water was pulling me in. If I'm not going to drown, I'm going to freeze to death. I kept my eyes open, even though it hurt. I saw two figures above the water. My body slowly began to feel heavy, so I had no choice but to close my eyes and prepare to meet my father and my mother.

"Princess! Wake up! Please!"

I felt myself coughing and spluttering water. The first thing I saw was relief in Cyrus's face.

"Are you all right, Your Highness?" I heard Cepheus ask.

"I-I'm fine," I replied, still coughing.

"You gave us quite a scare there," Cepheus said as he let out a sigh.

"I'm sorry." That was the only thing I could say. I didn't have to look at Cyrus to know that he was angry.

"Next time, follow orders," Cyrus said harshly as he stood up, and then he dashed to the woods.

I glanced at Cepheus and he looked confused as I was. I ran after Cyrus.

"Cyrus! I'm sorry," I pleaded. He spun around to face me, and his eyes were ignited by anger.

"You almost died! What are you being sorry for?" he shouted furiously at me.

I didn't have the energy to retort or shout back. "I . . . I'm sorry," I whispered. He shook his head, climbed his horse and then rode away.

"He's mad at me," I said miserably.

"No. He's mad, but not at you. You should have seen his face when he saw your horse without a rider," Cepheus said behind me. "He doesn't hate you. Because if he does, he wouldn't have..."

"Have?"

Cepheus pointed at the ground. I followed his gaze and saw wet tracks, disappearing where Cyrus's horse had been.

When Cyrus came back he had already changed his wet clothes. I also changed into my spare set. Cyrus put on the rest of his armor, and I could tell he was trying not to look at me. Even as our eyes met when we mounted our horses, he just scowled and pretended he didn't see me.

The three of us continued on riding, and the mist was again getting thicker. Cyrus was in front of me, but when I stopped and looked behind me, Cepheus wasn't there.

"Cepheus!" I cried out, but no one answered. I got down from the horse. Cyrus halted and got down too.

"Where is he?" he asked.