By the time I wake up, the space bside me where adrienne layed has gone cold. The sound of the shower turning off catches my attention. I think back to last night. Adriennes proposal was interrupted by the guards frantic announcement.
My family.
Father i couldnt care less about what happened to him, but my siblings and my mother? What if something happened to them? What if somebody hurt them? It would be my fault. THey thought i was the target so they sent me off but what happens when we find out that i wasnt the target? Who is trying to attack my family? Do they want the same thing that adrienne does?
My thoughts spiral and I fall deeper and deeper into a state of anxiety. Everything feels so constricting. Not enough air. Clothes too tight. Lights too bright. The silence is too loud. My eyes are pinched shut as I try to take deep breaths but the overstimulation is so overwhelming that I want to claw my eyes out. I grip the sheets until im white knuckled to prevent myself from creating more half crescents on my palms from my nails.
As much as I wish I could hold the tears in, they dont listen. Through my gasps for air, tears slide out the cracks and crevices of my shut eyes leaving a warm salty trail down my cheeks. Everything around me is muted. Im in a bubble and only hearing muffled noises.
Why is all this happening. I need to get to my siblings and make sure theyre okay.
"Annalise"
More muffled noises. I cant hear them over my gasps for air but then I have hands on my shoulder and I flinch. My head whirls up and eyes snap open to see adrienne looking incredibly worried.
"Annalise can you hear me"
It still sounds like I have earmuffs on but i can read her lips. Her fingers grip my shoulders tightly and her eyes hold genuine concern.
I nod my head once at her, trying to see only one adrienne over the three im looking at now through sparkly vision. Black and white dots flood my sight and fill my vision with dizziness.
"Princess I need you to breath for me. Take a big breath in through your nose- good just like that. Out through your mouth. Good, do it again. In. And out."
She moves a hand to my back and it rubs circles in a soothing pattern. False security feels pretty good. I follow her words and obey by doing my best to breath in and out. Her presence grounds me and I feel the tension of my panic attack slowly release itself from my body.
"Keep going. A few more for me okay? Ive got you."
I nod my head at her, now only seeing one adrienne. Through blurry tears I watch her lean in until her face is hovering over mine. Instead of kissing me on the lips like I thought she was going to try to do, she gently presses her lips to my cheeks where my tears fall. Every single one of them is kissed away until they stop flowing. She cups the side of my face and leans her forhead against mine. My eyes fall shut as this act of affection and she murmurs lowly,
"Were going to figure this out annalise. I promise you."
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After my panic attack she doesnt ask any questions. She brings me downstairs for breakfast and we sit in quiet until she breaks the silence.
"So, ive sent guards over to the palace. It seems like it usually does with no signs of infiltration. Still to be sure, im going to send guards to the gates and request to speak with a head of security. Is there someone i should specifically request them to talk to?"
The coil in my stomach slowly unwinds as I hear that. The palace most likely detained whoever was responsible for last nights issue.
"Yes. Request to speak with Randal. He is the head of our security detail."
YOU ARE READING
angel of darkness (18+) WLW
FantasyPrincess annalise is 19 years old and living the life of a sheltered royal child 2nd in line to be heiress. Before she knows it, she is taken and brought into an enlightened world of darkness. She finds out about her families wrong doings. She reali...
