Esveldza: 'The Lonely Child of Fire'

Chapter XX- Daughter

Chapter XX

Daughter

My body swayed and my knees buckled beneath me. Salvator caught me before I fell to the ground.  Tears ran down my face without me controlling them. Memories of times in the castle flooded through me, overwhelming me.

Daarken and I had met, Salvator disapproved so we played in secret. One of Frajher’s men had caught me when Daarken and I were playing together one day. Kirrahh killed them for me. I never blamed Daarken. I went home with him, covered in blood.

My parents panicked, they wanted to protect me. They kicked Daarken out and brought me to a room, where they erased my memory and sent me off to a foster family.

They all advanced towards me, my father’s arms out open for me. I screamed, pushing away from Salvator and running across the room. The memories suffocated me with their extreme force as they returned, a great pressure felt as if it was pushing onto me and I fell to my knees again.

My father looked hurt, he walked towards me again, “Akaiya, what is wrong?”

“What is wrong?” I yelled, it was a bad idea, my head throbbed. “You erased my memories and hoped that I would not have to kill again, you succeed in dooming me to years of pain and torment resulting in the deaths of thousands.” This time I spoke more softly, not that it helped my head and just speaking was difficult.

It was the first time I had told anyone but Daarken, I saw Sarben’s mouth drop open, my parent’s faces plastered with that of worry, Klearia and Salvator didn’t react and the other girl’s face recoiled in disgust. Klearia saw this reaction and hit the girl on the arm. How could I have even forgotten my family? It had been so obvious and yet I had been so oblivious. Then I had returned, after all that I had done. I had truly disgraced my parent’s names.

“What happened, Akaiya?” My mother asked, her hands were squeezed together and her eyebrows furrowed closely.

I opened my mouth to speak but closed it again, fearing I would throw up all over the floor. I was becoming more dizzier by each passing moment and my whole body shook violently. My vision blurred but I saw a blob run towards me and put his arms around me.

“Can you not see she is struggling? Ask her questions later, she needs to recover now.” It took me a while to process that it was Daarken holding me. I didn’t try to push him away like I did to Salvator; he had always been there for me, always on my side.

My vision blurred completely, it was nothing but white and I felt my body finally let go. I barely felt the cold polished floor as it came up to meet my falling body.

+++

I awoke sweating, my body still shaking and my innards churning. I breathed slowly, trying to stop the continuous shaking.

I focused on the ceiling above me, only it wasn’t a ceiling. I blinked numerous times until my vision was clearer. I lay in the centre of a large, comfy, four-poster bed. The covers were a dark purple with elegant designs. The curtains were pulled away so that I could see the room around me.

Salvator stood, facing the window, his arms folded and a finger on his chin. This was my old room; it was at least triple the times larger than what I had previously slept in. A bathroom with a walk in wardrobe was to my right and at the end of the room facing me was the door. Couches, seats, stands and paintings decorated the room. To the left of me was a great big window where Salvator now gazed out of. A door led to the balcony outside.

He turned to look at me, “Good evening, princess.” He said calmly, walking over to the bed and sitting on the end of it.

I swallowed, trying to get rid of the disgusting taste in my mouth but to no prevail. “Where is everyone?” I whispered, it was all I could get out of my unusually dry mouth.