THE UNBREAKABLE PIECE (FIRST BOOK OF THE HIDDEN WORLD) English version

CHAPTER SEVEN: TO THE ROOT.

I woke up again on the same white silks. But this time in a different world, one where the light of knowledge touched me, and the darkness of ignorance could be missed. Now I knew that the protagonists of fantasy stories walked among us throughout the world, like any other. Stories of witches, angels, and demons, of which I was a part. I opened my eyes and kept my gaze fixed on the wooden ceiling, knowing that I was not alone. I could perceive each one of them. My father breathing peacefully by my side, Gemma's soft hand on my left arm, and at the end of the bed, Ben and Evan with their gazes fixed on my skin like a difficult thorn to remove.

Although my small walk outside the infirmary had been refreshing and renewing for my body, my mind was exhausted and totally confused. The more I tried to process all the information I had received, the more my head hurt. And I began to believe that every time I tried to remember pieces of my life before New York, it was like hitting myself with a baseball bat at the base of my skull. If that's how magic felt, I never wanted to experience it again. However, at that moment, what hurt me much more than the spell was knowing that I was surrounded by liars. My father, Gemma, Ben, even Evan, all had contributed to pulling me away from the person I used to be. I knew their intentions were good, but even so, I couldn't even contemplate them without thinking that they saw me as a naive and foolish child.

I tried to raise my torso to sit as far away from them as possible, but gravity was against me and kept pulling me down. As if Evan could read my thoughts, he anticipated my movements and ran to get a container, handing it to me before I threw up the little that was left in my stomach, while Gemma held my hair.

"Go ahead, Amy, let it all out." Gemma gently stroked my back, but her touch felt like the claws of an animal to me "There must still be some of the blue liquid in your body."

"Amity ingested blue demon?" Tones of anger colored my father's voice. "When was this?"

"Last night, your highness." Ben commented, lowering his head in shame.

Flashes of memories flooded my mind: the party, the blue liquid, the captivating music, and Evan's lips just inches from mine.

"It was a mistake, sir. It won't happen again." Evan replied.

A completely different guy from the one I had met days before stood inches away from me. Hands behind his back, standing tall like a soldier, his jaw tense, completely tamed by this new character he was playing.

"So be it." My father's words were short but severe in their intent. "It could have killed her. Her body is not accustomed to that type of alcohol."

"I took care of her, your majesty" Gemma placed the container on the floor. "She only suffered from it like a hangover."

"Please, don't talk about me as if I'm not here. I haven't died or become invisible yet."

I pulled my legs towards my chest, protecting myself. Trying to form a shield with them. I focused on the tip of the bed. Its edges were carved wood and had some inscriptions in Latin. The sun entered through the window to my right and played with the glass covering the floor with rainbow colors. I could feel the breeze passing through the white curtains. And for a few seconds, I longed for winter in New York.

The four of them watched me as if I had suddenly materialized in front of them. A flow of energy crossed my body, and I dug my nails into the palms of my hands. A thread of blood oozed from them. I wanted to scream, I wanted to cry, I wanted to run home with the stench of garbage that characterized New York.

"Why? Why hide the truth from me?" I placed my bloody palms on the thin sheets, Gemma's hazel eyes following my movements. "Why not tell me who I am?"

Tears left my eyes as fast as a lightning bolt touched the ground.