𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅

chapter twenty-seven

Unknown POV

"Where is she? I thought you said she was there?"

"We weren't able to get her. She got away."

"I need you to get her. She's a threat to everything I fucking worked for."

POV switch to Emriana

"Mommy, which one do you like better?"

"This one matches your eyes, so I would pick this one," she gestured to the green flower in the small wicker basket I was carrying.

"That's my favorite one too!" I grinned happily as I carefully took it out of the basket to avoid breaking any of its baby green petals. I gently slid the flower behind her ear when she looked away, trying to be sneaky. She laughed at my failed attempt as she caught me red-handed.

We were picking flowers in a small clearing next to a river as the sun shined with no cloud in sight. Birds chirped as they brought to the silence a melodic touch. Herbs softly brushed against my legs as I ran toward another flower I had just spotted.

"Emriana, careful sweetie," she smiled down at me as she walked over to where I was. Her red dress flowed with the wind, making her look like a princess. When she saw me staring, she did a little twirl, and I giggled as I did the same.

"Mommy, what about this one?" I pointed with my index finger to a lonely little rose while crouching down to get a better look.

"This one is lovely. Look how she still managed to blossom surrounded by the bad weeds," She pointed out, and I nodded, looking at the weeds around the small flower.

"She stands out amongst them, don't you think?" She remarked, and I grinned in approval.

"That's what you are to us, sweetie, a beautiful flower amongst the bad weeds," she said, tickling my side, and I giggled, squirming away from her. I tilted my head and looked back at her.

"If I am the flower, who is the weed, mommy?" I questioned her curiously as she kneeled next to me. She sighed before taking my small hand in her bigger one. She slowly caressed her thumb against my skin.

"It's no one you should worry your pretty head about," she smiled, placing a soft kiss on my forehead.

"It can't be her! It doesn't make sense!?" A voice echoed from afar as I began to regain consciousness.

"I don't know. I thought they'd gotten all of them. I think it's best if we leave."

My eyelids fell so heavy I could barely open my eyes. I could feel a soft material under me, hinting that I was currently lying on a bed or maybe a sofa.

"Let's go. If they know, we'll be in so much trouble."

The voice was followed by footsteps walking away and the heavy silence returned. I groaned, trying to move my body, but I was surprised at how weak I felt. What's wrong with me?

I gasped awake as the memories of last night came back to me in full force. The last thing I remember was being dragged outside by Nokon before everything went blank. What had happened? Was I sick? This clearly wasn't normal, and the unfamiliar voices close by telling me I wasn't back at the castle and this was just a bad dream.

A subtle headache replaced my thoughts, and I squinted my eyes as it felt like somebody was squashing my head between their hands. The sunlight from the window was coming directly above my face.

I was in a small room, not much bigger than my bedroom at home. Everything from the walls to the dusty furniture seemed to have been there for a while. I was lying across a simple bed with dark blue covers. I didn't recognize this place, and the sight of a bowl with dirty towels covered in blood on my bedside had my eyes widened.