A Royal Pain

chapter twelve

Falling, falling, falling. Darkness surrounded me and I couldn't tell you which way was up. A crack of thunder, followed by a loud voice came from somewhere but I couldn't make out what the voice was saying.

My downwards journey ended soon, dumping me out into a large meadow. I quickly got to my feet, brushing the dirt off. I was in a long white dress with a blue sash. The blood from head wound was gone and replaced with a tiara— the one I wore for special events at the palace. Although I was barefoot, the rocks and sticks digging into my feet didn't hurt at all. Nothing hurt. My headache was gone and I felt energized.

"Aurora?" A voice yelled. "Aurora, please come back."

I turned around. Who was talking to me? No one else was in this meadow. It sounded like a man talking to me from the heavens, but the Moon Goddess didn't have a voice like that.

"Aurora?" A different voice this time. One much closer. And younger. A little boy appeared in front of me, one with dark hair and gray eyes that were all too familiar.

"Hi," I smiled. "Walk with me." We strolled through the tall grass. The silence was anything but awkward. A strange sense of peace came over me like I was walking with a childhood best friend. "Mason?" I said.

He glanced up at me, and I was shocked at how mature he seemed. I wonder if his older brother had died yet-- if Marina had begun to abuse him. "Yes?"

"How do you-- how do you feel about mates? Are you excited to meet yours?" I asked. It was a question I'd always had; if Mason was opposed to the idea and that's why he was so cold.

He glanced up at me and answered, "You mean, you? I've already met you, Aurora."

"Smart kid," I chuckled. "How are things... at home?"

"I think you know, Aurora." He wore a grim expression.

"I do." I turned to face him and grabbed his hands. Stooping down to Mason's height, I smiled at him. "Listen to me. No matter what happens, promise me one thing."

"Okay," he nodded.

"When things get tough, when you want to give up, remember that I'm always with you. I'll be there for you for the rest of your life, Mason." I took his face in my hands and kissed him on the forehead.

BOOM!

I whipped around to see dark clouds coming in our direction, accompanied by lightning. Approaching from behind Mason was a large tornado, going dangerously fast. He grabbed my hand and started running. "We need to go," he yelled over the loud noise.

We had been running for a long time but to no avail. In every direction, there was nothing but grass. Nowhere to go or take shelter. The wind had pulled my crown off long ago. All of a sudden, I heard a yelp next to me. Mason was being dragged away by the wind. I watched in horror as his feet slowly lifted into the air above his head. My hands were the only thing grounding him. My heels dug into the ground, but my bare feet didn't do much. "Aurora!" He screamed. The wind eventually tore him away from me. I followed him across the field, screaming as he rose higher and higher.

The last thing I saw was the face of my mate, screaming in pain.

. . .

"She's up! Come here!" Charles's loud voice hurt my head even more. Glancing around I saw that I was still in that awful warehouse, laying on a cement floor. Someone's jacket had been propped up under my head which did nothing to ease the pounding in my head.