The Hidden City

Chapter 7

Aspens pov

I watch her sink to the floor, her red hair cascading down her back. I quickly look around me, staring at everybody with shock etched onto their faces. Only then do I realize that Seraphine is laying on the floor, her full lips twitching. I reach down and pick her up, carrying her to the sofa across from us. I walk in silence, questioning why she had done that. No matter. I have wanted to kiss her like that since the first time I laid eyes on her.

Flashback

I sped into the apple orchard, dodging the trees that flew by me. I continued to run from the creature that pursued me. A dryad. I struggled to remember what I had learned about them in lessons." A special class of nymphs born in specific trees, forming a special bond with that tree and developing a very close relationship. This tree will become their residence, and if the tree dies, then the dryad does as well. Harming a tree is a call for serious punishment and possible banishment." He pondered on the teacher's words, her words running through his mind. He began to panic and in turn pushed his legs even harder, ignoring the burning sensation that coursed through him. He almost didn't see the harpy that quickly ran in front of him, gaining speed and using it's wings to lift him off the ground.

I ran beside it, narrowly avoiding crashing with it. I almost made it. Almost. I tripped on a thick branch that the dryad had whipped out in front of me, the moss on it incredibly moist. I spun around onto my back and watched as the dryad bound my hands and feet together in her wooden locks. Fear laced through his heart as she began to tsk. She stared at him, and he suddenly felt exposed and degraded. Her face remained impassive but her eyes gave away the dark revenge that she held within her heart.

"P-please don't hurt me. I didn't know that you were there. I didn't know."

"And I didn't know you were there until you cut my beautiful tree. But you still cut it. I'm sure if you knew I was there you still would have cut it, thinking you could possibly steal a few chips and run off to show your friends. But now you're only running off to save you're life. Interesting how irony works, isn't it?" she spat out, tightening her branches around his body.

"No, please, please! I wasn't lying, plea-" His cries were cut off as the ropes of death coiled around his neck, tightening beyond not being able to breathe. His fingers grasped the branches desperately, and his legs began to kick out in a weak attempt to hurt the dryad. Just as darkness began to envelop him, the branches suddenly fell to the side, and he heard yells around him. He felt his body being shaken, until he felt air rush into his lungs. He breathed in deep quantities of it, finally opening his eyes. He gasped and flew back in fear at the sight of emerald green eyes peering back curiously at him.

"Who- who are you?"

"My name is Seraphine. This here is Nane, the protector of the forest." He looked up and saw a beautiful woman, with black hair cascading down her back and over her shoulders. She looked up at him and silently greeted him with a friendly smile. Her smile seemed to make her beautiful beyond reasoning, and her eyes held a wisdom that made her seem older, although she looked to be no older than thirty, perhaps.

Seraphine began to speak again. " I heard you crying for help. I ran to get Nane, but you wouldn't know where to find her. Only me and my family." She said with a slight smirk adorning her face.

"And why is that, may I ask?" He said, not bothering to hide his annoyance. "Because I am a part of the royal family, that's why. "

He smiled at the memory, and how she had saved his life. Or maybe it was Nane. Who knows? He moved her hair gently to the side and looked at her, truly looked at her. The way her long eyelashes fluttered against the thin skin beneath her eye, her clear complexion and the apples of her cheeks. Her mouth was parted slightly, allowing more air to move between her full, rosy lips. Her neck was long and slender, like the rest of her body. Truly beautiful. He brought his gaze back up to her face, and his eyes locked with the open pair of hers. She seemed to be in a daze, staring at him, motionless. And then the most beautiful smile he had ever seen lit up her face, breaking the intense stare that had come over his body after he had laid her down. He sat up straight and looked around the room, blushing slightly. He quickly stood up and cleared his throat. " Mr. Mulberry, would you please explain why she acted this way?"

"Yes, Aspen. The separation period causes extreme behavioral changes within the body, such as the need for power, and also... lust. The host can become greedy and violent, seemingly acting normal and then bursting with rage or sadness. Keep in mind that the separation period heightens what the host is already feeling, no matter how small. If you don't mind, I'll be leaving now. Goodbye, royal family."

King Arod cut in. "How long do you think this behavior will last, Adam?"

"Only a few days, your highness. "

"Thank you" He added stiffly, whispering to Queen Cora before leaving. Aiden knelt before her and began to shoot a string of sentences at her, only with which she responded "Please go Aiden. I understand you're concern but I wish to be alone with Aspen." He grumbled to himself and padded down the hall with Ebony, who glanced back at me and winked before skipping down the hall.

My heart swelled.

She stood and led me back to her room, leaving me in the hallway for a few minutes. She came back out, her thick hair hanging in two ropes down her back. She was wearing a blue dress that challenged the green of her eyes in a flattering way, hugging her curves. She seemed so.. regal. Elegant.

She led me to the lake, the suns rays dancing on the fragments of water. They leapt into her eyes, making them look like glass. She sat down and we watched a siren begin to argue with a mermaid. She looked amused at this. I chuckled and she looked at me, leaning her head against the tree. I felt exposed. She seemed to peer into my soul, not a single secret hidden. The intensity of her gaze unnerved me, making me shift uncomfortably.

She glared at me, sending me daggers through her eyes. I felt a chill run down my back and I licked my lips. She smiled and kissed them quickly. When I opened them, she was no longer sitting in front of me. I looked round, confused. I saw her running to the lake and jumping once before diving in, coming back up and smiling at me "Come on! Let's go for a swim!"

She quickly went back underneath the water, swimming away. I smiled and took off my boots before running after her and diving into the chilly water, only to hear a sweet singing. It was the most beautiful sound I'd ever heard. I came back up for air and the singing stopped. This for some reason made me unbearably sad, so I took a deep breath before going back under. The singing continued, angelic like. I smiled dreamily at the sight of three beautiful women swimming in front of me.

Some part of me told me that they were not to be trusted, but the singing became louder and I pushed the thought away. They got closer and I let them touch me, but as they did, their eyes turned black and fins popped out of the sides of their heads. Sirens. Fins popped out of their backs, their bodies becoming littered with sharp scales. I see a bright flash of red as the sirens pull me down to the middle of the lake. Please don't be dumb enough to go down to the bottom of the lake, we'll die!

I scream, wasting air before the sirens grip on my leg loosens. I see blood flow around me, before I start to panic at the lack of air. How ironic. I feel my body being pushed up to the surface, and I see Seraphine looking at me, concern etched into lines on her forehead. I look behind me and see two of the sirens looking at me with fear on their faces, their true forms revealed. I snarl at them and they quickly dive back into the water, leaving me on the edge of the bank with Seraphine. I look up at her and stand, pulling her up with me.

"I suppose we should head back, or am I wrong? I've had quite the day." She laughs and takes my arm before we begin our journey back to the kingdom.

A/N

UGGGHHHHH wattpad is so stupid and I hate it and I hate summer school and my teacher and I want to go dig a ole and stuff my head in it until dirt gets up my nose and ugghghhhghg cross country practice started today an I don't even have my athletic clearance and I'm kinda scared to run in 116 degree heat because my lovelies it is literally 116 degrees like every day and also um please don't forget t o vote please it only takes a couple seconds. If you guys have any recommendations for characters please feel free to tell me cause I rally need help with that also if you guys have any of these apps you can follow or not follow me that's okay too

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