Reign

Chapter 21

I needed to know what that thing in the woods is. I won't rest until I do.

I toss and turn in my sleep, unable to calm down

Theo lights a candle and sits up

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" He rubs his eyes

"Nothing." I say quietly

"Tell me right now." He presses

I get of bed and stand "You know what's wrong."

He looks at me and his jaw tenses

"Yasmine, how many times do I have to tell you-"

"No Theo, stop lying. I heard what I heard."

He chuckles and stands on the other side and looks at me

"Don't tell me I'm lying when I'm not."

"I just did." I cross my arms on my chest

He shakes his head "You are such a b*tch."

I shrug my shoulders "I've been called worse."

I walk up to him and and place my hand where his heart is

"Theo please." I edge him on

He sighs and kisses my nose

"I don't know Yasmine, truly." 

I take my hand away and start to walk away from him

But, he grabs my wrist and pulls me into his bare chest

"Don't be upset with me." He whispers into my hair

"I'm so afraid." I whisper

He rubs my back, the other hand on my head

"I know darling, I know. But as long as your with me, no harm will come your way. I put my life on that."

*************************************

I wake up bright and early, Theo still sleeping next to me

I do my morning routine, then put on beige pants, a black shirt with buttons coming down the middle, black leather boots and a black thin over coat. 

I make my way out of the castle and run into the woods

I run to the same spot that I was in the day before

I stand there, no sounds, no movement, nothing.

"Is there a presence here?" I ask out loud

Nothing.

"If there is a presence here, show me a sign. Anything." I almost squeak out

A branch falls off of the tree that was above me, if I hadn't moved a few seconds ago, I would have had a concussion

"Tell me what you want from me." I speak more strongly this time

"You need to know the truth." He voice whispers

It comes from all directions, I can't pin point it

"What truth? What are you talking about?" The questions fly out of my mouth

"You'll soon find out, Yasmine, very soon. It'll all come out."

And then I head the whoosh sound, signalling that the voice was gone

I let out a breath

What is this thing talking about? What truth? Is Theo hiding something? What? I'm so confused

I walk out of the woods and one of the large castle lawn, that was still covered in snow

Theo runs up to me and grabs my waist to pull me closer to him

"Where were you?" He asks, his minty breath fanning my face

"You knew where I was." I speak and try to move away, but his grip only tightens 

"Yasmine, I told you not to go back there." His voice is stern

"I-I just want to know what's going on." I stutter

He sighs and rakes a hand through his hair

"I know my love, but it's very dangerous." He twirls a piece of my hair in his fingers

"Just trust me."

"I do trust you Yasmine, I do. Just, promise me you'll never go back there."

He had to know something about this thing that was in the woods. If he was warning me and forcing me to promise him that I would never go back, he certainly was hiding something, and I didn't like it. I didn't like it all.

I just nod "I promise."

But I didn't know if I could keep that promise. That voice, that thing, whatever it was. It wanted something from me, I'm not sure if it wanted just to scare me or actually tell me something important. But I was going to find out. I promised myself that.

He smiles and kisses me

He then picks me up and I wrap my legs around him, it was easier since I had pants on

I nuzzle my head into his neck and kiss his neck, so carefully, afraid he might break if I kissed him too hard.

"Never let me go." I whisper

"Never my darling." He says back

The guards open the doors for us and he walks into the castle

I let my arms go and he sets me down

"Yasmine, why are you wearing pants?" Theo asks, tilting his head to the side a little

I chuckle "You don't like it?" 

He shakes his head "No, no I actually like it, looks good on you."

"I like it too."

***********************************

I walk into the stables, the hay was being swept to one side of the stable

I look up to see Matthew, sweeping the hay. His expression was hard, he was concentrating.

"Hi Matt." I greet

He looks at me, a little surprised "Matt?"

"O-oh you don't like it? I'm sorry I just thought it was a nice nickname for you." I stutter over my words

He chuckles and shakes his head "No, I really like it. My mother used to call me Matt, no one ever called me that, other then her."

"I really don't have to call you that, it was silly of me." I grab onto my pants

"Yasmine, it's fine, really." He smiles

His smile makes me smile. The dimples on his cheeks almost shined though the dark stables

"So what's been going on?" He asks, countinuing his sweeping

"Matt, if I ask you something, will you be completly honest with me?"

He looks up at me, then countinues "Of course, Yasmine."

"What's in the woods?" I blurt

He locks eye contact with me, his lips shut and his eyes almost scream at me, telling me that I never should have asked that.