The Shadows of Royalty

Before All These Other Nights

Pressure....Tsk.....Tsk ... All I felt was the water engulfing and claiming by body.

A part of me wanted to give up and give in to the unmerciful water. My ears were drowned as I fought my last breath. Tsk....Tsk.... That sound never stopped.

Tsk...Tsk...A part of me whispered to let go and relax.

But another part of me pleaded and fought. But the fight was going down.

" Mamma?" Jamie asked, placing his thumb into his mouth.

" Yes, Jamie?" His cheeks blushed as a giggle escapes his lips.

" No, your Rashil!" I shrugged. " Why does daddy say that your mommy, even if he calls you Rashil?!"

"Hmmm.. I don't know, well I'm both mommy and Rachel. "

" I want to call you mommy Rasill!!"

I laugh, as I pat him on his head. He surprises me by wrapping his small arms around me and sniffles a cry. " Mommy, please don' t leave me."

My eyes widened. How did he know? My voice didn't seem to find itself. " I promise you, I won't leave you."

" You pwomis? " His hands tightened around me.

"Yes, baby, I wouldn't leave you for the world. I promise. We'll live in a big house and I'll invite your friends over and have soo much fun, alright?"

He nodded and wrapped his legs around my waist. " If there gonna be icecweam and unicorns?" I laugh as tears stung in my eyes. I needed to stay strong for Jamie. He was a fighter and I didn't need him to feel the opposite. " Yes, I'll even manage to get you a unicorn and a lot of mint ice cream, OK?"

" OK."

I hugged him tighter as I set him to the ground.

" I love you, mama."

" I love you too, mon ange."

*****

My head finally broke through the surface as I gasped for air. The currents hurled me from side to side as I inhaled a deep breath before the water went over my head. I needed to continue, for Jamie. Suddenly i see a dark misty portal from afar. I was almost there!!!

I did my trashy victory dance in the water as the current hurled me around like a trash bag. Suddenly, my side was grazed my a sharp rock. I yelp as I glance down. The water around me was turning into this darkish reddish color. The pain increased and black dots started clouding my vision. NO, i needed to keep on going. Just 10 more feet to go.

With the last bit of adrenaline, i thrust myself further to my goal. But suddenly, my body betrayed me. I had lost too much blood. MY arms suddenly stopped thrashing in the water. Finally darkness devoured me. The last thing i heard was Jamie's faint and distant voice, "I love you, mamma."

***************

The darkness cleared as voices boomed all around me. " She waking up!" Footsteps emerged as I tried to peel my eyelids open but failed to do so. Darkness washed over me once again.

" Rachel!" Was the last thing I heard.

*********

I finally wake up due to a soft magical voice by my side. I open my eyes to see a figure coming closer to me. I shut my eyes close acting to be asleep.

" Rachel, come back to me. Wake up, il mio angelo. "

That voice i could know it anywhere. It's magical tone that lifted you up to where ever you desired. A voice that I thrived to hear. His hand engulfed mine as he brushed his lips on to it.

" I should of let you leave in the forest, farfalla. It's all my fault. "

With that he leaned over me as i felt my heart beat furiously, and his luscious lips brushed my cheek . Then he stood up and left. Why did he leave! Where was I? Was in heaven or rotting in hell? Why did I desire his touch on me? All these questions rushed through my mind causing a migraine.

I was surrounded by white walls as an IV was thrust into my arm. I pull out the Iv and tried to sit up. Pain throbbed through my arm and side. I was definitely alive, neither in heaven nor hell.

I yelp at the sudden pain as I stand up. Suddenly, the door swings open as my knees give out and I collapse onto the white tiled floor. Two large hand pick me up and placed me onto the bed.

" Rachel, are you ok? Do you need anything?" It was Xander. He sat on the edge of the hospital as he buried his head into the crook of my neck. " No, " I croak, realizing that my throat was parched.

" Don't ever do that again, you almost died in my arms. " He whispered.

Panic rushed though me. Did Anna and Ashley survive? " How many died?" I whisper.

He suddenly stands up and pours me a cup of water. " 5" He says as he places the cup of water onto my lips.

" The doctors said your arm will be healed my tomorrow and your side will be better but not completely healed. Your healing fast which is a good thing. " He says as he tucks a piece of hair behind my ear.

I nod but he continues, " Your father has arrived in the palace and wishes to see you. I kept stalling for time and told him that the trials weren't over even though they are. You have to get over it and eventually face him. " That's when I felt that I was truly paralyzed and imagined the monitor alarm to start ringing. That's when I almost wished that I was already dead.

I force a nod. " Thank you."

" Anything for you princess."

" Your right I have to face him sooner or later."

" Ill be there with you so he won't hurt you, alright?"

" OK"

"Alright"

He was right, my father didn't need to see me all wrecked up barley alive. When he saw me, he had to see the new me. The part of me that didn't hide, the part of me that was a fighter. " Were not his puppets anymore," whispered a voice in my head. Yes, the strings that he controlled and he played me, were now gone, and he was going to go down.

********

OK, so I clearly removed this chapter and re published it since watt pad deleted this chapter. This was going to be an extra chapter for my birthday. Yas, my bday was on Thursday. Big thanks to all the readers and friends who support me to this day. I love you all!!

So i hope you enjoy this chapter again and I'm freakin pissed at wattpad.

Vote comment and enjoy

Grace