Forgotten

-Chapter 28-

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I was trapped in my own mind. A deep abyss of complete silence. Shadows haunted my dreams, darkness enveloped my soul. There was no sound, it was just nothing.

I haven't left my bed in what's felt like days. I lost track of time since those words fell from Leo's mouth and he left me alone to drown in my tears. So I could've been laying here for minutes, hours, days. I don't know.

I'm assuming the search was called off. My friends were truly gone. Once again, Leo won and there was nothing I could do about it. My kingdom was counting on me. My people. And I had to be strong.

But Leo was smart. He knows I'm stubborn, but he also knows how much I care for the people I love. So, he did what any rational enemy would do, and he targeted my weakness. He succeeded.

My eyes had long gone dry. My pillow soaked in my salty tears. My body was a frigid statue. I hadn't moved since I laid down. I stared blankly at the ceiling. A part of me hoped the search was still on and soon my two best friends would come bursting through the doors and I could hug them again. But I know Leo well enough to know he would never jeopardize his own power to help two innocents.

My heart broke again and again the more I let myself think. Aries, who is so young and so full of life robbed of that youth too quickly. I can't even imagine the pain and torture she's had to endure since she's been taken. And who knows what kind of information they've forced from Ina's software. You would think Leo would be slightly concerned about that.

I finally forced myself up into a sitting position, swinging my legs over the edge of my bed. My head hung, my snowy hair hanging like a curtain over my face. I took a few deep breaths and forced myself to stand. I needed to eat. I don't know how long I've been lying here and my stomach growled impatiently. But it didn't feel fair to eat when my friends were suffering somewhere. Or already dead. At least they would be at peace.

A soft rap at my door made my head snap up and immediately walking to open it. "Hello?" I spoke softly, my throat dry from all the sobbing. "Hey, princess." Sofia spoke gently as she pushed her way into my room. "I'm sorry about your friends, I wanted to come check on you. You've been in here for two days. The wedding committee is going wild from the meetings you've missed."

My mind raced from the new information. First, I've been here for two days? That's just sad. Second, Sofia apologized, which confirms the worst. Leo called the search off. And Sofia would know, of course.

"Yeah. I.. um." The words spun around in my mind but nothing came out. "I know," Sofia whispered, "you don't have to say anything." She took me into her arms and held me tight as I cried. I cried like a normal grieving person should.

Once I had calmed down and pulled away from Sofia, she set me on the edge of my bed. "Listen, I know this sucks. But it gets better, I promise." I nodded in understanding before looking up to meet her warm, brown eyes. "Why were you upset the other day?" I suddenly asked, basically begging for a reaction.

Sofia smiled softly, "My biological parents passed away a few days ago. I was never close with my birth family, especially after Leo's family took me in. But, they're still my family, you know? I guess I'm mourning the loss of the parents I could've had, rather than the ones I did."

My heart shattered for her and I leaned my head against her shoulder, "I get it. No matter what a parent does to hurt you, a piece of you will always wonder 'what if'. And you kind of cling onto that piece and that's why we love them, no matter what they do."

We both just sat in silence, mourning those we lost. No more words needed to be said. We were only sitting there for about three more minutes when an alarm started going off, ringing throughout the whole palace. Sofia immediately sprang up, reaching for the weapons at her waist. "Stay close, Athena. Stay with me, I don't want to leave you vulnerable in this room."

I nodded, my adrenaline immediately spiking as I followed her out of my room. The safety on her gun clicked off and she held it up, ready to shoot if anyone tried anything.

We carried on carefully down the empty hallway, the alarm continuously ringing through my head. Its blaring noise kept me alert, despite the deprivation the past two days have caused. "Sofia, stand down," someone suddenly called from behind us. We turned quickly to see Angelo holding his hands up in defense. Sofia sighed a breath of relief and lowered her gun. "Jeez Angelo, you scared me."

"I know," he chucked as he neared us, "but seriously no need to be all 'scary guard lady'. Everything's fine. Leo found the girls. This obviously created a lot of issues within the Mafia and he had a time getting back into the castle without him and his team being shot which is why the alarms are crazy and everything but as long as we stay here we should be fine."

"What?!" I screeched, my eyes nearly falling from their sockets. "He got them? How? He wouldn't trade the mafia, would he?" I breathed out desperate for information.

Angelo laughed, "Of course he wouldn't. But he always finds a way. A loophole. It's his thing, he never loses." I rolled my eyes. He won't win against me that's for sure. But, my heartstrings were tugged at the idea that he didn't have to save them, but he did. Now the question was, why? It certainly wasn't for me. Maybe it was to show the evil man that he can't touch Leo. No matter how hard he tries.

The alarms finally calmed and the hallway was imbued with silence as Sofia and I took in the information. She turned and smirked at me, "He must really like you, princess. You got him wrapped around your finger for him to be doing crazy shit like that." Angelo nodded in agreement and they both winked at me. I blushed and smiled back. Putting on a good show, as usual.

"Tesoro," the deep yet soft voice of my enemy spoke from behind me, "I have an early wedding gift." I've never turned around so quick in my life. There they were. Disheveled. Torn. Beaten. Alive.

Tears streamed down my face as I ran and threw my arms around them. All the emotions from the past 48 hours came pouring out in a span of ten seconds. Shock, hope, anger, grief and finally, relief. I pulled away from my friends and just took in their appearances.

Aries looked terrible. She had bruises and dried blood plastered to her pale skin and her eyes were dull with sadness but a small smile on her face showed me she was still there. Despite the trauma she must've endured, she was still the same hopeful girl. I looked up at Leo, who looked completely disinterested in this reunion, yet here he was anyway. "Get her to the hospital quarters. Now." I said sternly and Leo rolled his eyes. "I'll escort her myself. Would that make you happy, Tesoro?" I nodded firmly.

My attention was then on Ina. Who was staring off into the distance and hasn't said a word yet. Actually, I'm now realizing she didn't even hug me back when I embraced her. "Ina?" I said nervously, waving a hand in front of her face. Leo sighed and stared at me somewhat sympathetically, "Her hard drive was completely wiped. That's not Ina anymore, mi Bella. It's just another help bot."

I didn't think it was possible for one's heart to shatter so many times in such a short period of time but here I was. Living proof. I took a shaky breath and just stared at the ghost of my closest friend. I placed my hands tentatively on her cold, metal shoulders and stared into her teal eyes, "Thank you, for showing me what friendship is." My voice cracked and tear fell free but I let no more fall. Ina wouldn't want me to be to be upset. And they were both alive. That accounted for enough.

I looked back at Leo, "Take Aries now." He nodded and turned to escort Aries away. I watched him walk down the hall, his broad frame standing out against her small one. "Leo," he turned to face me, "thank you." He just nodded. My stomach then churned with anxiety. A brief thought had just entered my mind. One I dismissed so quick it was like it was never there. But it was. And it didn't settle right in with me. It was the fleeting thought that maybe there was a part of Leo, even if it was microscopic, that cared.