Vengeance: The Origin of a Liar

Princess Amariah Escapes!

Chapter 8: Into the Unknown

Amelia stirred from an uneasy nap, the faint sound of voices drawing her from her restless dreams. Her room, cloaked in shadows from the dimming evening light, felt stifling, even with the window slightly ajar. Sliding silently from her bed, she crept toward the door, careful not to disturb the quiet of the castle.

In the hallway, the voices became clearer. She pressed herself against the cool stone wall, straining to listen.

"I can't stay here any longer, Lincon." Benjamin's voice, low but firm, sent a shiver down her spine.

"You're giving up on me, too?" her father replied, his tone unusually heavy.Amelia's heart raced. She risked a glance around the corner to see Benjamin, dressed for travel, standing rigidly before her father.

"This isn't about you," Benjamin said. "It's about her—Seleste. She's out there, Lincon, and I'm going to find her."

Her father looked stricken, his stern facade cracking. "You think I don't want to find her? She left us. She chose this path—"

"She left because you suffocated her," Benjamin snapped. "I stayed here out of loyalty to you, but I can't anymore. If there's even a chance she's alive, I need to know."

Amelia's breath hitched. A week had passed since she'd first heard the name Seleste whispered like a forbidden word, yet it still didn't seem real. Her mother was alive.

Benjamin turned sharply, his boots echoing against the stone floor as he strode toward the main gates. Amelia's heart pounded as she made a decision. She wasn't staying here—not when answers lay out there.

The Forbidden Forest

The forest was as she remembered it—dark, ancient, and humming with an energy that made her skin tingle. Amelia crouched low behind a bush, her cloak blending into the shadows as she watched Benjamin ahead of her. He moved with purpose, his hand brushing against the scroll tucked into his coat.

The warning sign marking the forest's entrance loomed ahead, its faded letters etched into wood: TURN BACK. NO ONE RETURNS FROM HERE.

Benjamin ignored it, stepping past with a grim determination. Amelia hesitated, her chest tightening with fear and anticipation. She thought of the last time she'd been here—the strange and dangerous encounters, the allies and enemies she'd made. And now, she was venturing even deeper.

Her foot caught on a branch, snapping it loudly. Benjamin froze, whipping around. Amelia ducked, holding her breath.

"Amelia." His voice was low and sharp, filled with exasperation. She peeked up, caught in his glare.

"I thought I said no company," he hissed as she stepped forward.

"I had to come," she whispered. "I need to know the truth about her."

Benjamin pinched the bridge of his nose, but before he could respond, a rustling surrounded them. The trees came alive with movement as figures emerged from the shadows—archers, their arrows trained on the pair.

"Well, well," came a smooth, mocking voice. A tall man with tousled dark hair and weathered boots stepped into view, his piercing eyes locked onto Benjamin. "You've brought a friend. That's unlike you."

Amelia's stomach twisted as the man's gaze shifted to her. He studied her intently, his lips curling into a sly grin.

"So your father doesn't have you locked in that castle anymore?" he asked with a laugh.

Amelia bristled but stayed silent, her body tense.

"I'm sorry, Bishop," Benjamin said hastily. "She followed me without my knowledge."

Bishop stepped closer, his predatory eyes narrowing. He reached out, brushing his fingers near her hair. Amelia flinched, pulling back.

"You look just like her," he murmured, his voice soft but unsettling. "Seleste always had that fire in her eyes. I wonder if you do, too."

Amelia's golden locks shimmered faintly under the moonlight, but as they ventured deeper into the forest, she noticed the glow dimming. It unnerved her.

"Don't touch her," Benjamin snapped, stepping between them. Bishop raised an eyebrow, amused, but stepped back.

Benjamin pulled the scroll from his coat and handed it over. "This is what I found in the castle walls."Bishop unrolled it, his sharp eyes scanning the words. His expression shifted, the smirk replaced with a flicker of surprise. He read aloud:

"Good day, family... I leave this under your bed, Mika. If anything happens to your father, run, run, run and never look back..."

Amelia's heart clenched as she listened, the words painting a vivid picture of her mother's desperation.

"She left to find a healer," Bishop muttered, his tone more serious now. "To save herself. Typical Seleste." He glanced at Amelia, his expression unreadable. "You might want to get used to disappointment, little princess. Your mother was good at making promises she couldn't keep."

Amelia's fists clenched, anger flaring in her chest. She opened her mouth to retort, but Benjamin shot her a warning glare.

"Enough," Benjamin said firmly. "We're here for answers, not your commentary."

Bishop chuckled, rolling the scroll back up. "Answers come at a price, my friend. And you just brought me something very valuable."

Amelia stiffened. The archers hadn't lowered their bows. She glanced at Benjamin, fear creeping into her chest.

"You'll take us to her," Benjamin said, his voice cold. "Or you'll regret it."

Bishop smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Careful, Benjamin. You're in my territory now."

The tension crackled in the air as Amelia realized the weight of her decision to follow. She wasn't safe—not anymore.

And as they ventured deeper into the unknown, she could only hope she hadn't made a terrible mistake.

Forrest Fears:

As Bishop led them further into the forest, Amelia felt the last remnants of warmth leave her. Her golden locks dimmed to a muted hue, and her heart pounded with every step. The trees seemed to whisper around her, their ancient secrets tugging at the edges of her mind.

Whatever awaited them, Amelia knew there was no turning back.