Anamaria

Chapter Eight

Anamaria

It's easy to forgive but hard to forget.

I was trying to look for my sister but instead instead I saw my aunt. I tapped her shoulder and she gave me a signal to wait because she was talking to the duke. Then she turn to face me, "Yes, Anamaria?"

"Have you seen Anabeth?" I asked.

Aunt was shocked."Oh-she didn't tell you?" I was confused, what did Anabeth do? "She went home because she is sick." Aunt said and turn back to talk to her duke.

"You're disappointing mother and father."

I can remembered her saying those words. The ball is getting wild. The baroness was arguing with the butler and some people break into a fight. The knight took them away. The king companion whispered something in the king's ear that caused his eyes to widen.

"There's been a murder!" One of the knight yelled loudly. People were terrified and whispering to each other.

Aunt grabbed my arm and took me outside. "We should get going!" Aunt said as we walked out of the ball. I kinda want to know more about the murder.

Aunt didn't say a word when we got home. She just walked straight into her chamber. I waited for her to slightly faded before knocking on Anabeth's door. She didn't answered. "Anabeth," I said softly. She didn't answered again.

I got tired of waiting. I opened her bedroom door to see that she wasn't there. I froze in shock. She might be hiding like last time. I checked every corner of the room, there were no sight of her. She didn't come back home. Her bed sheet and blanket are still folded. She's gone. Sometime, I wondered who exactly is Anabeth. She was a sweet innocent girl and she's a -

I couldn't find the right word to described her. I exited Anabeth's room and silently went down the wooden stairs without making any sound. I grabbed a cloak and take off my head jewelry and gown. I put on a white dress and black hooded cloak. I went to the stable to get my horse, Lighting. Lighting was a pretty white horse, she was fast like a lighting and thunder storm. That's why I called her lighting.

I slowly ride my horse around the town. Where possibly could Anabeth be? Instead of seeing Anabeth. My eyes caught a group of black cloak men carrying a dead body. The cloak has a sign on their back, the symbol of star and raven. I gasp in fear. I was about to turn my horse but they noticed me. Three men were chasing after me.Lighting was fast luckily but we were trapped in an dead end.

The only way to escaped was the forest.
Anamaria, live or die. I went inside the forest and regretted that I ran off at the first place. I don't know this forest. A wolf howl and Lighting whimp. "It's going to be okay." I whispered softly into her ears to calm her down. I stroke her ear as she slight calm herself.

I quickly hide behind the tree when I heard voices coming from distance.

"Do you want to kill him?" The voice was coming closer. I gave a signal to lighting telling her to hide but she didn't. She look at me and look back at the person who was getting closer to us. "Lighting! Come!" I half yelled, half whispered.

"There's a horse," a voice made me froze. The men footstep was coming toward Lighting. I gave a signal for Lighting to ran but she didn't.

"She's beautiful," the other voice said.
I swear I heard that voice before.

Lighting look over at me. Although, I can't see the men but I can see his hand patting Lighting. Lighting look at my direction and neigh.

"Someone's behind the tree!" A voice said, I froze in still. This is my last day of living. The men started coming closer and I turn to run off but tripped on a stone. Surprisingly, an muscular arms caught me. I looked up to see the face of....Prince Garrett.

"Anamaria," he said with wide eyes.

"Your highness," I said back ignoring his eyesight.

"The maiden you were talking about?" A voice behind me spoke. I turn to see the Prince of Lancaster. Prince Lucifer.
He raised his eyebrow at his brother.

"Mind your own business," Prince Garrett answered back before facing me. "What are you doing here by yourself at night?" He asked. I pull away from his arm gently.

"I was looking for my sister, your highness." I said as my head face the ground.

"Anamaria," he said again. I look up to see anger in his eyes. He walked closer as I slowly walked backward. Until, I was leaning against the tree. Prince Garrett was right infront of me few inches away. "Don't call me 'your highness, '" he said. "Where's the old Anamaria?"

Prince Lucifer cleared his throat loudly until we both broke apart. "You two should save that for later," he said causing my face to flushed.

Prince Garrett look at me before speaking, "why are you looking for your sister in this forest?" He asked.

"I didn't came here on purpose. I was chased by three men in a black cloak." I spoke softly causing both prince to become interested.

"And do you know what the cloak looks like? Perhaps there's a sign?" Prince Lucifer asked.

I nodded, "it was a sign of a star and eagle." Prince Lucifer turn to his brother then look at me. "The Eastain robber are back. Then, the guy who killed the Duke of Bavaria at Chadwick ball tonight must be the Eastain."

Prince Garrett frowns, "we're their next target." Eastain.

The Eastain, I think I heard that name before. I can't get my mind right. Then it hit me, I heard that name at my parent's funeral. I just can't get it right. I don't remember a lot when I was a kid. All I know, the word I've heard at my parent's funeral are 'Eastain' and 'Ravernica.'

Anamaria