Hidden Secrets, Hidden Past, Hidden Lives

Chapter Seventeen (Brian)

Despite the fact that he was lying alone in the pitch darkness, Brian couldn't sleep. He felt for a candle and lit it. His mind was racing. He was almost positive that the princess was his sister, but was afraid to make a fool of himself. The fact that she was not allowed to speak her name made him very suspicious of Erik. This made him believe even more that she was his sister. There was no other explanation.

But there was another thought that bugged him even more.

What was up with Sam and the princess? Were they in love? Or were they just friends. He wasn't sure. If the princess was his sister, then he hoped they were truly in love.

Brian had secretly wished Sam would marry his sister when he had first met Sam. They were perfect for each other.

I'll ask Sam about it when he comes again.

Before long, sleep and exhaustion took over Brian. He began to have the nightmare that he'd had only a few nights ago.

In the dream, he was in a meadow that was covered all over with daisies. In the middle of the meadow, he saw his sister. She looked like an angel. She smiled at him and called him to come to her. He raced out to her, picked her up, and twirled her around. They grabbed hands and ran, laughing across the meadow.

Suddenly, if got dark and began to rain. The thunder boomed loudly and the lightning flashed brightly and constantly. Then they noticed a barn in the distance and ran towards it. They were a few feet away from it when a giant hand seized her and took her toward the sky. When he looked up to find her, Brian saw that the hand belonged to Prince Erik.

Erik laughed wickedly, while his sister screamed for help. Brian tried to save her, but he couldn't reach her. He fell to his knees and cried.

Behind him, he began to hear moaning. Brian turned around and saw all three of his brothers covered with mud and blood. He knew they were dying and he couldn't help them. Turning away from the gruesome sight of his brothers, he saw Erik standing by Brian's father. Behind Erik, he saw his sister locked in a tower, like a giant cage without an entrance. A loud cry filled the air as he saw Erik stab his father to death.

Then Erik looked towards Brian and said, "You're next Brian. You will never see your sister again," in a booming voice.

Brian shook himself out of the nightmare and woke up sweating, like the last time. This time, however, he could feel the tears falling on his face and he couldn't make them stop.