"Are you okay?" Luke asks for the hundredth time after my little accident.
Well, not really little since I almost died.
"Yeah Luke. I am okay. Really. How many times do I have to tell you?"
"I don't know. I don't understand. Why didn't you just use your powers instead of screaming the hell out of your lungs?"
I hesitate. Of course. Any other fairy could have used some magic and got herself up within seconds instead of hanging on to the rocks like that.
I take in a deep breath," I thought none of us were supposed to use our powers. Isn't that the whole purpose of us going there?"
"Yeah, in the palace. And to win that competition. You could obviously break any damned rule in the world right now to save your life. In fact, it is our natural instinct." he says, furrowing his brows.
"What?" I say. "What is our natural instinct?"
"To use our powers in any dangerous situation and you -"
"Okay, Luke. Stop. Can we talk about this later please?" I say and he just nods.
I feel really bad for pushing him away like that, since I can see he is genuinely concerned but I also can't tell him anything.
We reach the palace about an hour later. The security checks us thoroughly before letting us in.
"Remember. No magic is to be used inside the palace. Those who do will be severely punished." a lady announces as all of the contestants and people for all the other purposes are gathered in the entrance of the palace.
"You are from the monitoring department if I am not wrong?" a lady says, emerging from the crowd.
I nod and look around me to search for Luke or Caden.
"Is anything wrong?" she asks.
I shake my head.
"Okay. Come with me. I will take you to your room." she says, guiding me towards an empty hallway.
"Am I going to have my own room?" I say, shocked. I knew that the palace was huge, but giving separate rooms to all the people from even the monitoring department was too much.
"Yes. Only you would." she says.
"Only me?" I ask.
"Yes. The rest have been paired together, but since there was no one left to stay with you, you are going to have to stay alone. I hope you are not afraid of that darling?" she asks, concerned.
"No. Not at all." I say smiling at her before adding," I am used to it." under my breath.
"Oh good." she says, opening a door in front of us to reveal a large bedroom with a queen size bed.
The walls are decorated with paintings and everything is mostly in the color off white.
The room looks beautiful, mesmerising.
"Wow." I say as I touch the mirror, which has layer of dust on it. I loom around and notice that everything is a bit dusty and... girly.
"Did anybody live here?" I ask the lady.
She looks at me, hurt flashing in her eyes, before she looks down.
"I am really sorry for the dirt. I will send someone to clean it." she says and I immediately know that I touched the wrong topic by the tone of her voice.
"Sure. By the way I am Cassandra." I say, extending my hand towards her, but instead of taking it, she bows in front of me, making me blush.
"Oh please. You don't need to do this." I say, waving my hands in air.
"My name is Sylvia. I work here at the palace and it would be honor to be of any help to you." she says.
"Where can I find you?" I ask her.
"You can just ring that bell," she says gesturing towards a button near the bed," and I'll be here for you."
"Ms. Cassandra?" she says, looking around, before leaving.
"Cassy please." I say politely.
"Please do not come out of your room at night whatsoever happens." she says.
"What? Why?" I ask.
"Its... Um... Risky." she says.
"Okay." I say, not questioning any further as the look on her face pleads me not to.
"You would have the day off today as the competition starts tomorrow." she says.
It isn't long before I fall asleep in my new, comfortable bed.
****
I wake up with a jolt, beads of sweat running down my forehead.
Who was that girl in my dream and what was she trying to tell me?
Calm down Cassy. Don't think too much. It was just a dream.
But that dream was beyond real. I could feel the pain that girl was going through as the sword pierced through her body.
I try to shake the image of her terrified face out of my mind.
I look out of the window to see its dark already and I slept through the entire day.
My stomach rumbles due to hunger and I search for something in my room.
When I realise I don't even have water in my room, I decide to go to the kitchen to get something.
I open the door, and close my eyes, my fingers clenching around the handle as the door makes a loud creaking sound.
"Shit." I curse as I make my way out of whatever space has been created.
I look around the hallway and it is quiet. Extremely quiet. I remember Sylvia telling me,
Please do not come out of your room at night whatsoever happens.
Why did she say that? I bite my lip, deciding whether to continue or go back to my room.
My stomach makes a loud noise again, making the decision for me.
After about an hour of roaming around the palace, I find the kitchen and grab something to eat.
After another hour of roaming in the palace , which almost makes me hungry again, I find the hallway that leads to my bedroom.
Just when I am about to twist the handle, a hand clamps over my mouth.
I bite down hard on whoever's hand it is, until I feel blood, but not for too long as something heavy hits my head sending me into the darkness.
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A/N
Hey guys!!
I hope you all liked this chapter.
Don't forget to vote and add to your library if you haven't already!! :)
Until next time...
-Sia.
