The Lost Child

chapter 5

I slowly stood up, still shocked. With one glance at the castle, I knew I had to do it. I had to fix it. I took the diary and stared at it. What should I do with this? I needed to read more but he'd notice it's disappearance... I thought of getting to my room first. Maybe I could have a chance to read.. Or to sneak it back in its place. It was late at night, maybe I should wait till the morning? I walked back to the castle. The guards gave me a small bow as I passed. I saw Ellie passing by in the hallway so I gestured to her to go to my room and she nodded. I needed to talk with someone about it and Ellie was the only one I could trust. I was going upstairs to my room and then remembered Simon. Stephan was harsh on him tonight. So, I changed my plan and headed to Simon's room. When I reached there ,two guards were standing by the door. That wasn't normal. My heart sank for a moment, thinking he might me sick or attacked.

"Is Simon in there?" I asked quietly.

They looked at one another and then started "we're sorry ,miss , but he doesn't want to see anyone"

"Okay..." I said not believing their words. "And why are you standing here?"

"Well..." One of them started "he has a guest"

"It's midnight !" I shot back. They were surly lying.

He sighed " he's terribly injured"

"Injured?" My heart almost stopped.

"We had warned you from keeping a vampire in the palace." The other one shot back.

"Wait, Phillip? He hurt him?" They nodded. I was stupefied. I trusted him. Gave him a place to live. Gave him my heart ..and he attacks my brother? Rage was growing inside me " let me in" I yelled and pushed them away. I ran in and found him on his bed. The doctor was holding his arm and wrapping it with bandages. I sat beside him and held his free hand. ''Are you okay" I asked softly. He smiled and nodded. "What happened?" I whispered. He glanced at the doctor and I understood he wanted me to wait till we were alone.

"You'll be fine, Prince Simon." Started the doctor "you're lucky you didn't fall from a higher place"

Huh? Fall? I just sat there listening in surprise. I thought it was Phillip...

"Thank you Dr Hadley " he said as he held his arm. "You may go now."

The doctor bowed and left the room. I waited till the door closed and turned to him.

"What happened?" I asked loudly.

"Shush !" He started and I lowered my voice.

"Did Phillip do that?" I asked with fear. Could he be such an artifice?

"I don't know why he did this. I was going back to my room after Stephan slapped me and he was by my door. I was really unconscious actually but I felt his nails grave through my flesh. I couldn't scream ,I was paralyzed. His fangs were there and they were bloodied. " he looked pale. Imagining that scene was very scary "he said he'd revenge.. I don't know why he chose me or whose blood was that on his fangs."

My hands were on my mouth. Staring at his arm as he continued. I felt betrayed. Why Simon?

"The guards in the hallway noticed my bloodied sleeve so they shot him..."

"WHAT?!" I screamed.

"He's alive " he started " he's at the hospital"

"I'll go see him.." I got up but stopped. That wasn't why I was here. "Hey Simon.. Did you know someone called Beth?"

He blushed "why are you asking?"

"Did you know someone called Beth?" I repeated angrily.

He didn't reply.

"Princess Beth?" I made myself more clear.

"How did you know?"

"Stephan's diary..." I showed it to him. "How could you hide such thing from me? And how could I possibly have an elder sister who died when Stephan was almost a teenager and I know nothing about her? I mean I'm only two years younger than you and four years younger than Stephan ! So how is this even possible? Where was she? Why don't I remember her?"

"Okay I'll explain to you but..don't freak out ,okay?" He started and I nodded " about 15 years ago when you were 11 years old.. She died. You knew about her but we changed your memories.."

"We?" I crossed my arms as I said.

"Well.. You were so broken. You loved her more than us. We couldn't see you like that.."

"So you erased my memories? That's it? What else have you done? What else have you changed about my life?" I shot back angrily.

"Lia, we did it for you.." He tried.

"For me? So I simply lost two of my sisters, my parents and my boyfriend and you say you did it for me?" I yelled. "Is there anything else I should know?"

"Yes... When I knew that you would be cursed ,I freaked out. We have a secret room in the palace ..it shows the past ,present and future that's how we knew.. You might need to see her" I knew he meant to see Beth. I was discovering my life from the beginning..

"Thanks, that's what I needed." I said and left.

I ran back to my room and saw Ellie. She was worried sick. " Miss are you alright?"

"I'm fine" I sighed.

"What's wrong?" She said softly. Enough to make me spit it all out.

"The diary.." I said and gave it to her. We gazed at each other and she smiled... I knew what she wanted.