The Deceiver

Chapter Two

 Roya

Still stuck in whatever void I had been sucked into, I can feel the pull back to reality like tiny tingles running through my body.

Roya

This grogginess is something I have not experienced for years. My limbs are each a hundred pounds, dug into the earth and buried under another hundred pounds.

Roya

Maybe it won't be so bad after all as long as some flowers are planted over my buried body.

"Roya!"

"What?!" My scream a bit harsher than I had planned. I look around. I am in my bed, so that is a good thing. I draw my hands to my face, cupping my forehead in deep confusion.

"What happened?" my mother asks, her eyebrows pinched in worry. "You look like you walked all of Oneria and back."

"What?" I clucked again, the words from her mouth still blurring together.

"It's time for you to get out of bed. I've been trying to wake you for two hours."

It is only then that it comes to mind that my mother stands over me, her hands on her hips, and her words harsher than I would have expected from her.

I blink, hoping that something she says will bring me back to an understanding of what must have happened.

"Get yourself together. The Council is here. We mustn't be late."

The Council? I scratch my head trying to remember anything of importance. Oh, the Council. I have forgotten all about it. Of course it had to be today. Today of all days just for the council of civilians to come together and make sure that everything is in order.

"Clean up this room, and make sure to brush your hair. You know how important this is to me."

"Yes." Finally able to understand words and use them myself, I am able round up my thoughts. Just then, my mother's words come in louder than ever. 

"How important this is to you," she finishes.

I know these meeting are important to her, and its the only reason she would ever be this anxious over anything. Peering down at my bed, I note the blanket and pillows all askew, even my night table beside me. My pictures are every which way. I pick up my clock. 4:30. No wonder the alarm didn't go off.

"I love you. You know that." 

For a moment I had thought she left. She stands under the threshold grasping the doorway. 

"Just please, please get ready," she pleads.

"I'll meet you down there in ten."

"Wonderful!  Don't forget to wear your fancy gown. Edward will be there." Another wink, and she is out of my room, closing the door behind her.

Great. My mother and Edward's father had arranged our marriage since we were little. There's nothing wrong with him, he's pretty average, but I have only seen few of his dreams. His soul's whisper is dull every time I am near him as if he never really cared for much. He seems nice enough, and he has never done anything that is of any disrespect, I just don't find him that interesting.

Hoisting myself out of bed, I am lucky that my feet don't stumble over all my belonging which are now on the floor. The bookshelf at the wall stayed standing, but all the books that were stacked in it were thrown out. All of the files that I keep of people's dreams are spread all over the floor leaving no piece of wood showing through.

Hurriedly, I drop to my knees scooping as much paper as I can. 

Amber Skyward. S...S...S...

Putting them in order is just going to have to wait. I skim my way over to the mirror, and almost scare myself. Just like my mother had said, my shimmering white hair is matted on top of my head like a rats nest during Holiday.  Reaching for the brush, I slowly start to untangle it making my scalp ache.