The Dragons' Crystal

Chapter Twenty-Six

My breath caught in my throat. "D-Darius..." I whimpered, not being able to comprehend what was happening. I found my head shaking as I pulled my arm away from Finn, wanting to stand on my own. "You... You can't!"

His eyes avoided mine. "I just did. Leave within the next two hours on your own will, else I'll make you leave on my terms. You'll like your own will much better than you'll like what I do. Goodbye." He turned and hurried off to his hut. 

"Oh Odelle," Dove gently grabbed my hand. "I don't know what just happened. I'm really sorry." She squeezed. "Don't worry. We'll get this sorted out. Let's go over-"

"No." I pulled my hand away, Darius' words swirling around my head. "You heard what he said. I have two hours to get out of here. I'm not allowed here anymore." 

Dove sighed. "Come on, Finn. Let's go talk to him." The pair walked in the opposite direction of me. 

I avoided eye contact with everyone else, fighting back the tears as I walked away. I kept my eyes on the snow, scared that if I looked up I might see a memory that would make me want to stay. I had no choice now and there was no reason behind it other than I had been foolish to believe that a world outside Erstonia existed for me. 

I was foolish to believe that love existed for me outside of my mother, foolish to believe that I deserved to have friends and a nice place to call home. Darius had lied to me and had tricked me. He had used me to get what he needed about the crystal and had pushed me off to the side when I was no longer of use. 

I entered the hut that I had gotten dressed in, grabbing my bag and throwing the few items that were out inside of it. Images of Darius smiling and laughing filled my head. He had always seemed so genuine when he spoke to me, especially when he had fought off the bandits. Before any of this had happened, he had been the one to bring me to his camp. He was the one who tried helping me to dance. Darius had been the start of it all. Was he really that good of an actor that I didn't see he hated me the entire time?

Just like before, I didn't say goodbye. 

Genevieve tried to stop me, but I pushed past her. 

"Odelle, please! You can stay here. Something has gotten into Darius. We've never seen him do this. Let us figure it out before you leave." She pleaded, her hand latching onto my bag to keep me from going any further. 

"You heard him, Genevieve. He hates me. I don't belong here. I... I belong in Erstonia." I shrugged her hand off, continuing forward. I didn't look back. This was my own fault. I was the one who thought that I could venture away from home and find something better than I already had. 

Odelle isn't good. Odelle is bad. Odelle is awful and ugly. Odelle is sinful. 

I swallowed the lump building in my throat as it all came rushing back. I had tried to break away from the people who hurt me, dreaming of a place where I fit in and I could make friends to love and care for. I had failed. The only direction to go was home. Phrases of my own made their way into my head, joining with the voices I had heard over the years. 

Odelle is different. Odelle is unlovable. Odelle is foolish. 

I couldn't stop the tears this time. I stopped to steady myself on a tree as the sobs came on. I clutched a hand over my mouth, unable to stop the voices in my head. I was crazy to ever leave Erstonia. They provided me with food, warmth, and a place to sleep. I had everything I could ever need there. They didn't pretend to like me either. At least they visibly expressed their hatred to me. I didn't have to guess what they thought of me, like I had guessed with Darius. 

With a broken heart and mind, I took myself directly back to Erstonia. I just wanted my mother. I longed for her hug and her gentle voice. Thinking of her made my tears fall heavier. I missed her smile and her laugh, and how she would get lost in thought and begin to sing to herself. I missed the only person in this world who cared for me. I needed her. 

Hours may have passed, or perhaps even minutes, when I could finally see the outline of Erstonia on the horizon. At that point, I didn't care how my legs felt or how my body was begging for rest. It didn't matter. I didn't care. I wanted my mother. 

I began running through the snow, tripping several times. I just pulled myself up and continued to run, focused on our home. I longed for the warmth of the house with the heavy scent of thick soup lingering. I wanted my comfort back. 

I ran through the village, ignoring all the whispers and voices. I didn't care if they knew I was back. Our house was at the end and I could see the front door. I ignored the memory of first leaving and how I had been so filled with hope and adventure. Everything was different now. 

I pushed the front door open, catching my mother's gaze. She was standing several feet from the door, putting her boots on. 

"Odelle?" She began to smile. 

That was all it took. I whimpered, allowing my legs to finally give out. I fell to my knees in a heap of sobs, only crying harder as mother hurried down with me. She drew me into a tight hug, a hand carefully running through my hair. 

I was home.