"Esmiralda!" Worry toyed with my voice as it echoed through the deserted hallway. "Esmiralda, darling, where are you?" I called out again increasing my pace. My anxiousness turned into desperation as her tear stricken face continously flashed into my head. Where was she? What had brought tears to her wide, bright eyes? Or precisely who was the cause?
Only knowing the answers to the questions dueling in my mind did not put my concerns to rest. On the contrary, they added more fuel to the intensely flaming fire of apprehension. My jaw tightened involuntarily as a tide of unwelcomed hopelessness swallowed me in its wake.
I pushed the lone, gold encased door, at the end of the corridor, wide open. The expanse, which I knew was a soft whisper of pink, was now draped in darkness. The curtains were left haning freely protecting the room from the piercing rays of the cheerful morning sun.
"Esmiralda?" I called out conjuring up a calmness I didn't feel.
"Yes?" A soft voice whispered in the gloomy expanse.
"Come out so I can see you." I requested.
"As you wish." Sun light chased away the darkness as the curtains withdrew and Esmiralda's small form appeared before me through a cloud of smoke.
"What exactly are you doing?" I took a few steps back and tried to fan the smoke away from me as it tickled my throat making me cough.
"I-I was trying to control my magic?" Her words were more of a question rather than an answer. A grin tugged her pink lips upwards as she wrapped her hands around my legs in an embrace.
"Or were you hatching up some naughty scheme to scare the Palace maids again?" Bent on my two knees, I kissed her forehead. Her rosy cheeks dimpled as her smile grew wider.
"I have done no such thing in the past." She fake gasped as if the thought appalled her. When we all knew otherwise. Her dark eyes sparkled with mischief and maturity that was almost abnormal for a little girl her age. Then again, she wasn't normal...
"I am here to see if you are alright..." I heard myself say as I scrutinized her reaction to my statement. There was a small pause in which she just stared at me without any expressions. A heart beat later, her eyes colored with warmth and despair and her hands came around my neck as her head came to rest on my shoulder.
"I am...lonely. Very lonely, Uncle Devlyn." Were her muffled words as she snuggled closer. "I wish...I wish that things weren't like this. I-I want to be...like everyone else...." Her body shook in an effort to control a sob as she stepped away from me intently staring the at the floor.
"Esmiralda...I am sorry...I-I can't give you what you want but I am trying best to-to make this easier for you sweetheart..." Scratching the back of my head, I stood up determined.
"I know...I know but--I am sorry for troubling you. I feel so helpless and unloved and--"
"I love you." I cut in not able to hear the rest of her tears stained words.
"You do?" Incredulous, she took a step back. "But you can't!" she cried. "You can't love me...I am a monster!"
"What you are is a beautiful goddess Esmiralda. Not a monster. Or a liar." I told her in a robust tone. "What you are does not make up who you are." I continued softly silently urging her to understand. "Besides, if what you are is a monster, then what does that make me...?" I goaded gently.
"It-" She was interrupted by a discreet knock on the door. "Come in." She urged the intruder eagerly looking upon the intrusion as a means of escape from such dilemma.
"Good evening, Young Princess...Your Grace." Jack entered the pink scattered room quietly bowing in courtesy. No one knew of Esmiralda's existence and residence expect for Jack, my butler. "Your Grace." he nodded in my direction. "Princess Dakota had finally gained consciousness."
"How is she?" Esmiralda asked tightening her hold on my hand.
"She is fine though there are several bruises on her body..probably from the fall, Young Princess." he addressed her with a professional yet caring stance. "She will be alright very soon."
"And where is Nicholas?" My fingers started to stroke her hands as Esmiralda stiffened at my brother's name. Too much...she had been too much for a girl as young as her.
"We...can't find him. The Princess keeps on asking for him but he is nowhere in sight..." Jack shot her a sympathetic glance before uttering in a serious tone.
"Jack, stay here with Esmiralda. I shall go and see Dakota." I commanded as a new resolve steeled itself within me.
"I want to see her too..."
"No..not now love." I cupped Esmiralda's disappointment laved face with my hands. "But soon...I will formally introduce you to her, my dear niece."
Da. Da. Da-dum!
hey world!
I'm so sorry for the late upload...I have been very lost in life o(O.O)o. Anyway, I am back now(hopefully) x)
Again, this chappie has 2 parts. I don't have the time to write the second as I have school tomorrow...but i will update soon!
P.S. I am starting a new story again. It's called 'The Paid Seduction' and no, it's not abt prostitution...kinda xP
P.P.S. This has reached 5000+ reads and I am very happy abt tht...THANK YOU!
P.P.P.S. Who thought tht this had a cliffhanger ending?!
P.P.P.P.S. Vote,
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The Truth Behind the Wings- ON HOLD for a while...sorry :(
RomansaDakota Valentine- the beautiful bad luck with mysterious black wings- swore to never fall in love. "I don't want others to suffer because of me." she believed. But what happens when she becomes involved in a treaty between the two powerful countries...
