Volume 1: MirrorGold {Time Ticks On}

•Episode 2•

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I jolted up, all my limbs burning and stinging like I had just been shocked with lightning. I found myself laying on a very comfortable surface, it was my bed. I was in my room, but how? My eyes darted around the room looking for a sign of anything that had just happened. Everything was quiet and still. Morning light shone through the windows.

I had one question to ask. What happened last night?

I stalked through the town steadily, and carefully. Townsfolk kept giving me strange glances and every time I passed they would turn to each other and whisper. I found myself walking to Zeana's house, what if last night was all just a dream? Yeah that's all it was, I tried to convince myself. I was dead. There's no way I would be able to be here right now, unless something else had happened when I was crossing the path between life and death. I continued through the square with everyone watching me. It's starting to get on my nerves.

I stopped in my tracks and couldn't avoid the tension i was feeling. "What do you all want?!" I screamed, wanting to yell at everyone to tell me what the hell was happening. Everyone around stared at me confused and scared, until they all continued with their work.

I need to calm down, I'm just being over worried. Yeah that's all this is. I sighed and continued my journey to Zeana's house. When I reached the door I instantly felt regret. What if all of that was true and Shayde was related to her or something. Or what if he did something to her and now shes being forced to follow him. I slapped my cheek hard. Alina get yourself together! She probably just went looking for him to thank him and now he's doing the nice thing and to make sure she's okay.

When I reached Zeana's door I hesitated. What if he's still here? What if he hurt her? What if she left? I shook my head trying to clear my thoughts and knocked on the door. My heartbeat quickened and my thoughts scrambled, I thought I was gonna be sick.

There was no answer after a few minutes. "Zeana?" I questioned and opened her door. It felt like 1,000 tiny needles stabbing my bones when I saw inside her little house. Furniture was toppled over, ripped apart, glass was shattered across the floor, herbs were fallen to the ground. It had looked like someone just raided Zeana's house.

"Zeana?!" I screamed, starting to worry. I ran straight for her bed chambers and as I was running to her door she swung it open and nearly knocked into me. I jumped back. She looked a mess. Her hair was all messed up, one of her horns were broken and her wings were ripped and tattered. "Zeana?! What happened?!" I pulled her into my arms, ignoring my current thoughts. She was still like a daughter to me and I would do anything to protect her.

"It was S-Shayde," she forced out. "I trusted him... Alina, he... he's my b-brother." I didn't know what to say, I didn't know what to do. I knew something was wrong here and I knew there was a reason why they looked so similar.

I stroked her hair, "Zeana it's going to be okay, I'm here. He won't hurt you ever again," reassurance was all I could give her. She looked up at me with big sad eyes and leaned into me. Seeing her like this made me sad, confused, angry, and scared. What Do I do now? How do I protect her? My father would never let her stay in our castle, but maybe I have no choice anymore. After all this, she's not safe anywhere.

Both of us opened a creaky door and stepped inside a little wooden hut. It had the same scent of herbs as Zeana's but stronger. Shelves lined with different types of bottles and bags of herbs were scattered all around. The building looked a lot smaller from the inside. Anytime I came in here it was like its own little wonderland of secrets and magic.