Kingdom of isolation - you can't hide

Twenty Nine ~ Aurora

Aurora

I'm curled up on the bed with a few blankets wrapped around me and a lollipop stick in my hand. It's been a few hours since those two women locked me in here and I've been losing my mind trying to think of ways to escape. I've scoured every inch of this place and I don't think anything short of a miracle is going to help me escape. I'd moved the curtains back to reveal a bay window facing a forest. The sun hasn't quite reached this side yet so I'm going to assume that it's probably midday, or possibly midafternoon. The bathroom is decent in size with frosted glass windows but no way to get out without alerting someone. I've tried to pick the lock but that's also been a massive failure seeing as I'm not well equipped. After exhausting every possible solution, I sank into the plush mattress and stayed there with stinky Nino as my companion. Seriously, my little monchichi smells like the ocean and I hate it. I'm sleepy. Bored. My thoughts are going to places they have no business in. Ping ponging between piecing my life together and working through unravelling recent events involving him.

What does this man, a goddamn king, want from me? What business does he have in kidnapping someone like me? My memories have been playing tricks on me but if he is who I think he is, then I've known him far longer than I'd thought. A face like that is pretty hard to forget though, Aurora. "Not now!" I grumble. His haunting eyes have been the bane of my existence. Hang on a minute. Does that mean Caspian is a royal..wait. No, that's not possible. I mean, I always imagined him to have possessed that regal aura but I thought that was just little me looking up to my big brother. But it could be possible. How can I be a princess, though? The idea is preposterous. In this day and age, no way. I've been thinking about that demonic creature with green eyes and the possibility of Mia being here. Surely, if her brother is here then she must also be, right? How do I contact her? Why is her brother working with the king? My head hurts.

I hear commotion outside the room I'm locked in and I jump into defence mode, clutching Nino as if he'll magically come to life and defend me. The blankets pool around at my feet and I wait with bated breaths. I can hear the click-clack of heels before the door clicks open. It is met with resistance from the chair lodged underneath it. Then I hear someone calling my name. It's the voice of a female, one that sounds familiar.

"Aurora, is that you inside? It's me, your Aunt Bella.."

Aunt Bella? Wait, where do I know that name from?

"Honey, can you open the door for me?"

I tentatively pull the chair away from the door and it pushes wide open. I step back and a female walks in, followed by the same two women who left me here. They remain standing near the door with their hands clasped in front of them. But I don't miss the flash of panic in their eyes. I turn my attention to the woman coming towards me and freeze. Beautiful smile, kind eyes. It's Aunt Isabella. I think I remember her from my childhood. I remember how nice she was to me. But what is she doing here? Her brown hair sits in a low bun with a few tendrils framing her face. She looks elegant in her floral dress.

"Aurora!" She gasps, tears lining her bright green eyes. I stare at her in a mixture of confusion and hope. She holds my face in between her palms and kisses my forehead repeatedly. I find myself leaning into her warmth, closing my eyes involuntarily. When she wraps her arms around me and holds me in her embrace, I nearly melt into a puddle. It's oddly comforting. I..really needed that.

"I missed you so much." She breathes, holding me tightly. I try not to wince at the pressure near my abdomen. It's not too bad but I think whatever medication they had me on has started wearing off.

"Gosh, let me look at you," She coos before pulling away and looking at me with a rueful gaze.

"My beautiful little girl. And you're still so tiny." She murmurs the last part, as if to herself.