The Wings of the Beautifully Fallen

Chapter 22: Illiana

Chapter 22: Illiana

My back ached painfully as I walked out of the room, leaving the woman alone. It hurt to move, like small little needles stabbing between my shoulder blades mixed with the muscles tensing around me. Was this normal, this pain? This suffering?

"Princess Illiana!" A voice shouted from the other end of the hall and I turned to see Princess Rebecca waving at me, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Your wings!" She rushed up to me, her hands grabbing at mine. "They really are so beautiful! I knew they had to be." She giggled loudly, her hands tightening around mine. "Do you think we can fly together later? I would love that so much!"

"Maybe another day, Rebecca." His voice sounded behind me and I swallowed nervously, turning slowly to look see Prince Reginald walk up behind us. He smiled at me gently before turning his gaze back to his sister. "Princess Illiana is most likely exhausted from her lessons and wants to take it easy for now."

"Lessons?" She questioned and glanced between the two of us with confusion. "What kind of lessons?"

"Nothing that you need to worry about, Rebecca." Prince Reginald sighed as he stepped beside me, his hand reached out and caressed my hand. "All you need to know is that Princess Illiana is going to be sore for a while."

"Well, if she is sore, can you not massage her?" She questioned and I tensed, my eyes looking away, my shoulders tensing in fear, the pain spreading further. The idea of his hands on me, touching me, terrified me. How could I let that happen? I could not, I could not let him touch me.

"We are not married, remember?" His voice echoed in my ears as his laughter rung. "It would be inappropriate for me to touch her like that."

"So then, when you are married, you can?" She questioned, her eyes full of innocence. She really did not understand, or was she really that naive?

"As for now, I would like to borrow Princess Illiana for a short while." He turned to me, his eyes watching me for a moment before turning back to his sister. "So, how about you go do your reading?"

"Very well."Rebecca pouted slightly as she turned around and walked away, her figure retreating towards the other end of the hall.

Reginald tightened his grip on my hand as he turned me around, guiding me towards the other direction, leading the way down the stairs. Silence developed between the two of us and I tried my best to stare away from him. What did he want from me? At least, this time?

"If I may ask, is there a reason as to why your wings are still out?" Prince Reginald questioned, his voice was soft as if he was attempting to be careful with what he said. Like he was hoping that I would not be as frightened around him.

Yet I said nothing, unable and unwilling to answer. All I wanted to do was to get away from him, to not be near him, not like this, not while I was hurt and vulnerable.

"Princess Illiana, please, talk to me." His voice was soft and pleading, like he really wanted me to talk to him, to trust him, but could I? Could I really trust someone who was only going to hurt me? His hand squeezed mine gently, his eyes studying me and I knew that I had to tell him, that he would not let it rest until I did.

"The woman, Helena, told me I had to. That it would help my wings." I muttered softly and I saw him nod from the corner of my eye. He did not seem surprised, not in the slightest, but like he had already known. If he did, then why did he ask me? What was the point of it?

"And how long are you to have your wings out?" He questioned and my cheeks flushed, my eyes casting away from him, watching the walls drift by as we strolled down the hall.