The Hidden Orphan (The Chronicles of Mistar - Book 2)

Prologue · · · Ola

The vision was gone now. I wanted to see him breathing, even if he was about to die. If I could just see his precious face one last time for my sister, I would be okay. If I could, maybe my tears would stop. Just maybe.

I couldn't stop picturing him dead, though. His body limp but stiff and his eyes still as they stared off into the clear sky. For Mell, I implanted the image of his deep dark blue eyes that looked like the ocean, she once told me, and his sandy blonde hair that curled at the tips. His image was fleeting though, making me cry even harder.

When I heard footsteps outside my room of white, I crawled backward until my body hit the cold walls of the room. The hidden door opened and I found a frightened Driszana standing in front of me. She quickly closed the door behind her and put her ear to the door to see if any more footsteps were coming their way. When she was sure, Driszana backed away from the door and turned to smile at me.

Driszana wore a simple blood-red dress that fell to her knees, her feet bare like mine. The dress was made of silk and so was the black ribbon belt that was wrapped around her skinny waist. Hanging on the lobes of her ears were droplets of red making it look as of her ears were bleeding. Compared to her triplet sisters, Driszana was different than the rest. When her sisters weren't around she kept her skin at a cool gray instead of an intense black like the ceiling of my room. Her hair was also a lighter shade than her sister's. Instead of pitch black, her hair was brown but so dark that it could be confused with black. Driszana's eyes were also red but as precious as rubies, especially when her chin dropped her chest and she gave a shy smile with her hands behind her back as she twisted in place.

I watched Driszana step forward. The closer she got the more I snarled. Out of all three of the sisters, Driszana was the nicest but I still didn't trust her. After all, she was one of the ones who threw me in this white blinding cell.

Driszana only gave me the bow of her head as she took another shy step forward. "What do you want," I growled at her, baring my teeth. I asked a question but came out as more of a command. It's what I was going for and I definitely got a reaction.

The red triplet sister stumbled back at the comment, my nasty, sharp tones scaring her. "I... I didn't mean any harm," she said so quietly I could barely hear her.

"I know," I snapped, looking away from her as I studied the wall to my left. It's designs only felt like a blur, making me tired, so I looked away. Then I closed my eyes and for a moment and felt a dream. Someone I've been waiting to fall asleep. Sandy blonde hair? Blue eyes? Yes, it was him! I bit my lip and turned to Driszana who looked at me in confusion. I wanted this conversation over with so I could mess with his dreams. I could feel him light sleeping and was eager to see him dream.

I then added to my comment, "What were you going to say?"

Driszana bowed her head again, though her eyes were wide with curiosity, something she couldn't be seen with around her sisters since she was considered to be the sister who went along with anything and everything. "Okay, then," she said. From behind her back, in her hands, she held a stack of papers, a pen, and a bottle of black ink. "I thought you would like to finish writing."

I took the frail papers in my hands. My fingers felt dry across the paper's smooth, but rough surface. I drew one of my hands to my throat, choking on my own grief that spilled over me. All I could do was picture his face. It was the only thing I saw anymore. I saw his future death in my dreams. He was still alive now and these pages were a reminder of his still beating heart and the things he would never be able to finish. I think I liked him better when he was dead.

At first, I balled my hands into fists, making the delicate paper crumble but then I threw them. They didn't go very far. The nonexistent wind carried them across the white marble floor making it look cream. One hit Driszana's foot, though she didn't seem to notice and only looked directly into my eyes as if trying to pick me apart. I wouldn't let her though, so I closed my eyes and could feel his dream slipping through my grasp.

"Do you not want them?" Driszana asked as she set the bottle of ink and the pen at her feet.

"Of course I do," I snapped as I glanced over the pages that covered the floor. Black ink in writing was on every single piece of paper except for the last remaining few. "I will finish if you will leave."

Driszana shook her head. "I cannot. If I do without the papers I could get in trouble with my sisters. You know what they will do with me."

I nodded my head. "Of course I know. They'll do the same thing to you as they did to me. Lock you in a cage that makes you crazy. Psychotic. Weakens your gift just enough so you still use it but feel as if though it's on verge of not working. That's just how we are. As soon as someone loses their gift, it makes them go crazy. Act crazy. Makes them do anything to get it back."

I was laughing now. My head rolled back as my short hair dangled just above my shoulders, giving me a tingle down my spine. It made me laugh even more.

Driszana reared back in disgust. Her sweet face was tinged with horror as if she couldn't stand the sight of me. "What's wrong with you?" she blurted harshly.

"Oh, no," I laughed. "Nothing's wrong me. Something's wrong with you, Owner." I dragged out the nickname I gave her and laughed some more. I just couldn't help myself. It was as if I was made out of laughing gas.

Driszana spun on her heels and paraded to the door. She opened it slowly, letting it squeak on its hinges. Before she left, she said softly, "I was just trying to help."

Her red, flowing dress was gone and the door was closed. I was alone again with my thoughts and his dream. I closed my eyes and tried to grab at him, but his dream was floating away. He was waking up. I screamed and threw a tantrum. I banged my body against the floor and cried until all the paper was covered in my tears. Only when I noticed that his handwriting was unreadable was when I really started to cry.

His story. I wrecked his story. The one purpose I was given and I failed. He told to finish his story and I couldn't do just that. I was a loser. The biggest loser of them all. Out of anger, I grabbed the bottle of ink Drisana left behind and threw it at the wall. It smashes to pieces on the door. Glass breaking off in every direction. A few pieces even hit my feet, though I couldn't feel the sting. I then walked over the glass. The physical pain subsided the pain that was like a heartbeat in my brain. I was finally able to breathe again.

I found the biggest piece of glass and brought it across my hand. It left a sizzling cut of red blood and I hissed in retaliation. I then brought a hand to my face letting it's warm liquid cover my face. I then walked to the door where black ink was already starting stain and pressed my hand to the door. I ran. With my hand pressed against the wall, I ran. A line of red circled my room. Somehow, it almost felt peaceful and if it was blocking all the tortures the walls held.

When I was finished, I looked down at my white silk dress and corset and sighed. It was covered in red blood and black ink. I had ruined my dress.

I wanted to cry, so I did.