The Awakening of Gardenia

Chapter Four

It was two days later when the screech of my cell gate awoke me. Two days of thinking mindlessly, two days of dull conversation with Henley and two days of planning.

I still didn't have a solid plan, with the only step being do not die, but in my defense... I was defenseless. I was better at winging it anyway.

The guard smelt of freshly baked cookies that reminded me of home. I'd only been gone for a couple of days but I'd never been so far and although I wasn't homesick, I didn't want to be here. Trapped, alone, a dead woman.

He shook me, thinking I was still sleeping and the thought crossed me to play dead, but I thought better of it, not knowing if he would just pick me up and dispose of me or fully make sure I was dead. I got up and he grabbed my arm tightly, so tightly I think it might leave bruises.

He started to drag me out by my arm, and just as we reached the metal door leading to my fate, I turned behind me to see Henley. Thank you and stay safe I thought, leaving my thoughts unguarded for him to read. He just nodded and smiled.

Henley was too young to be here. And for what? Wanting to leave? It was ridiculous. The past three days have been horrible, pure misery but even just that little bit of conversation helped me stay calm and present. I haven't gone insane... yet.

The metal door clanked closed behind us and I had to fight the urge to cover my ears. Curiosity bubbled through and I wanted to know where we were going, where I was going. Was it to my death or freedom?

The silence stretched and I marked every step we took. The first turn was a left, and the walls were a velvet red, ten steps later we took a right and then we went down a flight of stairs. The walls then turned a royal blue and the floor changed to tiles. We went behind the stairs and down a hallway before taking two lefts and a right.

We're now standing at a wide, golden door. Nightshades are engraved down the sides and dust is yet to be created, looking like it was recently made.

As I studied the door, the guard took his right hand, his left still holding onto my arm and knocked. One. Two. Three times. I heard the sound of footsteps coming towards us and the sound of locks, bolts and chains all being undone before it opened.

Before me held a room, bigger than the fields I used to dance in. It was decorated with gold and nightshades. The walls were painted purple, while the floor turned into black carpet. Only three people were present, five if you include the guard and I.

A throne took up a lot of the space and the person sitting on it looked young. Not like Henley young, but maybe my age or a bit older. Their eyes were piercing, glaring at me like I killed their family. He looked like darkness and shadows.

The guard placed me right in front of him and walked away, while I raised my head to look at the man sitting on the throne dead in the eye. I wasn't backing down or showing my fear.

"State your name and power." His voice was deep and sounded like a lullaby. Comforting and soothing. But then his words sank in and I laughed.

"You kidnapped me and don't even know my name or power? That's stupid."

His jaw ticked but he didn't seem that affected by my behavior. "I do, it's just a courtesy." His smile looked vicious.

"For who? You? Because if anyone should show courtesy it's not me."

"You are in my Kingdom."

He was the king? He looked young, but like my mother always said, looks can be deceiving. Him sitting on the throne should have been a dead giveaway but I wasn't really focusing on anything else except surviving.

"Not with my free will."

"Look, you're only going to make this difficult for yourself. So make this easy, Clara." He added emphasis to my name. "State your power."

His words sounded like an order. "I don't know."

His eyes narrowed, searching for a lie. "What do you mean you don't know."

I felt the urge to roll my eyes. "Exactly what I said. And why do you look so young? I thought the king of Nightshade was like fifty." Apparently I still have the same blabbering problem I had as a kid. I just didn't know when to shut my mouth.

"I'm not fifty, I'm nineteen and that is because your King doesn't care about anyone else except himself."

"That's why you started the war? Because the king doesn't care about you?" I questioned, a laugh threatening to burst out.

"No. It's because your king," he spat the word out like it was poison, "hides and denies the truth."

"Like what?" I probed.

"It doesn't matter," he dismissed my question immediately, "so you don't have a power yet, correct?"

"Yes." His change of subject made my heart sink and my eyes immediately dropped to my shoes. This could possibly be the last words I exchange with someone.

"Okay, then you're free to go."

My eyes instantly go to his face, searching for a joke or lie but there's only honesty... and disdain. "Really?" I ask, still not convinced.

"Yes, but you may not speak of this to anyone. Ever. If you do, I won't let you go next time."

I nod once, staring directly into his light blue eyes and then he waves at the guard, instructing him to take me away.

We walk back around the castle until the main entrance is insight. The same man that walked me to the King stands next to me looking like I'm nothing but dirt. He no longer is holding my wrists and my lips twitch at the sudden freedom I feel.

I survived. It wasn't because of my brains but I actually survived. Alissa would probably yell at me before she starts asking what the Castle looks like. She's always loved architecture and royals. But in the same second that thought crosses my mind, it disappears.

I can't tell anyone. And I intend to keep that promise. I won't risk my life or anyone else's and I will not put my Kingdom in more danger than it already is.

Not to mention the fact that the Gardenia's king will find out and I'll be called in for questioning. Although our kingdom is less corrupt, the king is said to be ruthless. He could think I'm a spy and that's why I got away uninjured.

Either way, no one could find out. Not my mom, not Alissa and especially not Jasper.

As the guard directs me on where to go from here I started coming up with a story on where I was. That's one thing I've always been good at.

I trek through the rest of the forest until I make it to the border. Home has never felt as odd as it does now.