Someone moved around my concealed hiding area, and I fought hard not to panic. What if the King had finally found me? Shit, I shouldn't have had the fire in the same area I rested. I got sloppy, and now I might have given myself away. After a few moments the footsteps receded, but I heard the murmur of voices and I listened closely.
"Someone was here. I thought I sensed a presence, but the moment I got close to the site, it disappeared."
That voice. It made me want to peek out of my hiding spot to get a look. There was something about the deepness of his voice that had me desperate to see him. I didn't understand why my body was betraying me. A second voice joined the first, and a shiver ran through me from the power alone, when he spoke.
"Maybe it was just a bandit passing through? Either way, we don't need to worry. The camp is protected enough for now. We have other matters to attend to."
The sound of footsteps disappeared completely, and I began to relax, trying to calm my erratic heart. I rubbed the spot on my chest, trying to figure out why two strangers that I couldn't even see, would elicit such a response. My heart calmed enough that I was finally able to sleep, but I dreamed of those three dragons. The blue watched over me, its steady gaze fixed on our surroundings as if an attack could happen at any moment. The gold slept beside me, offering me comfort and protection while the purple dragon stood to the side, glaring at me. I didn't understand why it hurt to see him treat me this way, but it tore at my heart all the same. I realized then that I loved him.
I jolted up, forgetting where I was because of the ridiculousness of the dream. How on earth could I love someone I'd never met? Yet that dream felt so real.
The stars were still out, so I laid back down and just enjoyed the peace from the night life. I drifted back off to sleep, this time a dreamless sleep.
The morning was a productive one. I followed the path to a nearby stream and enjoyed a nice morning bath before snacking on some berries from a shrub close by. They were sweet and bitter at the same time. I looked at them in my hand, trying to remember what they were called, but came up short. The name finally popped into my head, and I dropped them to the ground as a wave of dizziness overtook me. Holly. The berries were holly. So stupid!
I pushed my fingers to the back of my throat trying to induce vomiting. I didn't care that the vomit went everywhere, just that I got as much holly out of my system as I could. The world around me swayed, and my eyes shut of their own accord, no longer able to stay conscious.
Mother? Why didn't you abandon me like Father?"
My gaze was locked on the dinner table, my eyes busily inspecting the lines of the dark-brown wood. Anything to distract them from looking into my mom's eyes as she revealed her reasoning for staying behind.
I didn't understand why she had. No one else hesitated to make it perfectly clear that my existence was a disgrace to my family. I'm surprised my mother was willing to walk with her head up high when she had to bear the shame of having a daughter who couldn't shift or, to be frank—do anything.
A plate of pork steaks was placed in front of me, vegetables and sliced baked potatoes off to the side; my eyes grew wide as I inhaled deeply. Delicious.
I had enough courage to lift my head; my mom slid into the seat across from me at our two-person dining table. It was made out of simple wood, with enough space to serve us. That was all we needed now that it was just us.
Her eyes softened at my worried expression, a smile forming on her lips.
"Because you're my everything and a part of me. Abandoning you would be like leaving a half of me behind. Your father was influenced by his pride. The villagers who laugh and give you unnecessary advice are the same people who will point and laugh when they see you fall. You are my future, and I know you're going to grow up to be someone great," she revealed.
I blinked in shock at her wise words, taking a moment to ponder them.
"But…don't you hate it? You have to work twice as hard. You go out and heal other people before coming home to tend to my needs. You do this over and over again. Aren't you tired? Don't you resent me?"
My eyes fell on the pork steaks before me, the steam rising upward. If I wasn't in her life, she would be free to walk the streets without worry. She wouldn't need to listen to the daily gossip that centered around her wherever she went. Even those she healed couldn't help but question why she took care of me and had no shame in asking her.
"I take great joy in being able to work, so I can come home and feed my pride and delight. I know we don't have much. Sometimes, I wish I could work even harder, just to give you a better life. But to answer you, I don't hate it. At the end of the day, if I ever fall ill or can't work when I'm old, I'll have a daughter who will support and still love me. Your father and the villagers, they would only feel pity and abandon me. I resent not giving your father a good slap or two. Maybe it would have knocked some common sense to his brain."
I snickered, unable to picture my mother slapping my father. I wished I had some type of memory of him sometimes trying to imagine what he looked like, but it was funny to try and imagine what Mother looked like slapping my father, even without a good memory of him to attach to the image. With an innocent appearance and a heart-shaped face, she looked like she couldn't hurt a fly.
"I love you, Mom."
"What's gotten into my little Abigail? No more sappiness at this table. Now, eat your food before it gets cold."
I giggled, readying my hands to dig right in.
"Abigail."
I sighed, pouting at her stern gaze. "Mom, it's so much faster to use my hands," I complained.
She lifted her eyebrow at me.
I sighed again, glaring at the utensils sitting neatly on my right.
"Fine. Just this time. But you have to use your fork for the veggies." She smiled at my happy expression. She watched me dive in, a small smile on her lips.
"Abby?"
"Yes, Mommy?"
"I love you, too."
My consciousness emerged from the memory; my body felt hot like I was burning from the inside out. It was hard to breathe—as if my lungs couldn't absorb enough oxygen to relieve me from this ongoing struggle to survive. It was taking everything in me to keep breathing, my body felt so weak.
Is this how it felt to be on the verge of death? Maybe it would have been easier to get killed with a quick slice to remove one's head, than to deal with this ongoing battle. Why was I even trying to win? There was nothing left for me here. Maybe if I died, I'd get to see Mother. Yes, Mother would stand there with her arms spread wide, waiting for me to jump into her embrace. Then, she wouldn't be lonely up in heaven. She'd have me.
With each hampered breath, my desire to die grew stronger. It was only a matter of time till I took my last breath. It would be better this way, no one would grieve for me. They could simply bury me in the ground. I'd be lucky to get a wooden box out here in the forest.
If only I could be buried next to Mother. Then she wouldn't be alone. I'd always be next to her, just how she always stood by me; she defended, protected and loved me regardless of having no specialty worthy of such affection.
At least in the afterlife, no one would judge you by the power you held. You were a soul, just like all souls, and though each was unique, they made up from one essence, power, and creation.
"Move faster! Her breathing is shallow. She won't make it if we don't pick up the pace," an unfamiliar voice announced.
"Switch places with me. I can keep her stable while you two carry her," another voice suggested, sounding much deeper.
Their words didn't make much sense to me. I guess my pounding head and ringing ears contributed to my inability to comprehend their speech.
I hadn't recognized the swaying motion until I was lowered to something solid. I bet they were getting ready to bury me.
I didn't know why, but the image of those three dragons flashed within the darkness of my mind. Yet again, I was reminded of their existence. What purpose did they have
in my life? Because so far, all they'd contributed was agony. I couldn't blame them for my mother's murder. But, it was due to me helping them that led me to this moment—my life hanging by a thread.
However, the thought of leaving them made my heart beat so swiftly and ache so deeply in my chest, as dread filled me. Would those dragons feel my passing? Better yet, would they even care or mourn for me? Deep within me, I knew they would.
Before I could linger on my final moments, I felt something warm spread through my body. I took a deep breath, my lungs filling with the oxygen they had been craving. My body relaxed into whatever was holding me, the swaying movement returned. I felt something cold press against my forehead.
A calming voice whispered in my ear, "Fight, child. You have a purpose in this world. Don't let the enemies win. Fight to survive and complete the task you've been blessed to achieve," the deep voice encouraged.
Those were the last words I heard before my consciousness faded away.
I stood in a field of flowers—the different colored blossoms looked vibrant against the green grass that stood tall. I was happy, oh so very happy. I knew this place was safe and allowed me to be free. Free of sadness or heartache; simply free.
I let out a laugh, my legs full of strength as I ran with all my might. There was nothing holding me back in this world, no gossip or shackles to dampen the bright light within me. In this place, I knew just how special I was, and no one could possibly tell me I was wrong. I spun around, noticing the beautiful, silk white dress that clung to my body. My skin was smooth with not a bruise in sight. If only I had a mirror to look at my brown hair that was in tight curls. I could picture just how bright my turquoise eyes were. There would be no dark circles from the lack of sleep I had once endured. My body felt full and as light as a feather compared to the heavy burden I once carried. I was ready to move forward, and there was nothing holding me back.
I stopped my spinning marathon, my body falling back into the haven of flowers; a green patch of grass cushioned my fall. I stared up at the sky, which was a beautiful baby blue with white clouds drifting by. The breeze was light and warm, only emphasizing the wondrous aroma around me. Everything was perfect here...but was I missing something? Someone?
At that very moment, I saw three dragons in the sky. My eyes grew wide at their glorious beauty—blue, gold, and purple. The three of them flew in a circle, their heads looking down before they dove for the ground.
I quickly got to my feet, my legs already moving as I sprinted to where they landed. I huffed and puffed as I approached where they stood, their heads down low as if looking at something below.
I cautiously approached, but it was as if they couldn't see me. I turned and looked at the blue dragon first; his sapphire eyes looked sad, maybe even heartbroken. I was confused as to why such a creature would be sorrowful?
I turned my head to the gold dragon on my right, his expression just as pained. His gold eyes looked glossy as if he was on the verge of tears.
I walked forward to the final dragon—the purple one. I glanced into his purple eyes; they held much more than just sadness. They held a level of regret no creature should be able to project so strongly. I watched as it blinked, a tear rolling down its scaly skin, its head hung low.
My heart hurt for these creatures. Why were they so sad? Did they lose their way? Or maybe they couldn't go home. I followed the purple dragon's gaze, his eyes on a stone. I walked forward, reaching the edge of what looked like a tombstone. I took one glance at the three dragons that surrounded me—their gaze locked on the tombstone before me.
Abigail Fiammetta
Wait a minute. Wasn't that me? But, I was right there...is that why they couldn't see me? Was I dead? But, I can't leave them. They'd be lost without me. I had to go back. I wanted to go back.
I began to run from the scene, leaving behind the dragons who mourned me. The sky began to darken as if my once perfect image had shattered the moment reality dawned on me.
Please, take me back! I have a purpose to fulfill! I need to at least say goodbye to them. Then they won't feel the need to mourn me! PLEASE!
I watched as a bright light appeared before me—my chest burned with immense heat just like when I'd healed the blue dragon.
I took a final glance over my shoulder; my eyes grew wide at the image that already began to fade. My mother stood in the fields of flowers, nodding her head as she wore a pride-filled smile.
"Be strong, my sweet Abby," she whispered. Her eyes glimmered brightly before she disappeared.
I turned back to the path before me, the light getting brighter and brighter. My mother's blessing gave me the strength to run even faster. I would make it; I would live. I needed to avenge my mother and all those who'd been murdered by that brute of a king. I would avenge them, even with my very last breath.
The light engulfed me.
My eyes opened to darkness, my body thrumming with a sudden wave of panic. I was back in the King's dungeon; my escape had been nothing but a dream. Before I could assess my surroundings, I heard the soft murmur of voices.
"She healed herself! They would want to be here to find out who she is and just what she can do. Don't you think that takes priority over nurturing her? If she can help us, we’ll find out when Conor gets back, not under some stupid attempt to befriend her."
The male's voice had my heart beating in fear. I had healed myself? Shit! The need to get out of there overwhelmed me. Who knew what they’d try to do if I stuck around? I looked around and saw my rucksack on the floor by the door. I grabbed it and changed into my clothes and shoes as quick as I could, ignoring the fact they had dressed me in a man’s clothes while I slept. I needed to get out of there before the two of them noticed I was awake.
I couldn’t remember how I’d gotten here, the unfamiliar tent only adding to my confusion. Let me try to think…what was I doing before I lost consciousness?
One moment I was trying to force myself to vomit, and the next I woke up in this new place. There was something that nagged the back of my mind though, something important.
The woman responded, her authority clear in the regal way she spoke. "Joel, please trust me on this. She's important. I feel it in every fiber of my being. Did you not see the way those men looked at her? Never have they shown an interest in a female before. And, if she has power, then the guys can see it when they get back. Their mission is just as important as she is. I’d bet my life on it."
"You're making a huge mistake. She should be in shackles, not allowed to roam our camp. Especially when we know nothing about her. You jeopardize all of us with your lax security measures."
I heard the man stomp off and knew that was my chance. I dragged my knife down the back of the tent, leaving a slit big enough for me to squeeze through and made a run for it. My mind struggled to make sense of my surroundings, but still I ran, ignoring the shouts to stop. The sea of canvas tents confused me, making me feel like my hope was lost when I saw a path leading straight back to the forest. My body chose that moment to fail me. The ground came up to meet me, but halted when a pair of arms caught me.
Brown eyes, radiating strength and power looked down at me. A fierce woman was holding me, smiling down at me in sympathy before I passed out from exhaustion.
“Who are you?” I asked the woman who looked so like me that I’d been convinced she was, her image was like looking in a mirror if it wasn’t for the age difference. The woman was significantly older than me, maybe thirty years or so.
Her face softened, an expression of regret so strong in her blue-grey eyes, that it saddened me. “It doesn’t matter who I am. You’ll find out soon enough.”
The feeling of a cool cloth pressed against my head woke me from my dream. I jolted up, immediately on alert when those brown eyes came into view. The woman was sitting above me, gently wiping my forehead to keep my fever down.
She gently pushed me back down on the plush furs with a kind smile. "Easy there. You've had a rough couple
of days, and your body hasn't quite recovered.” She reached behind her and grabbed a plate of food, the smell of freshly cooked meat stirring my stomach. “I thought you might be hungry, so I had the healer fetch you some food.”
There were no fruits or berries, just meat which was a little strange. I was so used to a balanced diet at home that the thought of eating only meat made me feel ill. But I knew I needed to keep up my strength which was the only reason I ate it. At least, that’s what I told myself.
"Thank you," I said politely, not wanting to cause offense. After all, these people obviously saved me from death.
After my stomach had been filled, I put the plate to the side and began to study the strange woman. Her jet-black hair was braided and thrown off to one side. Her arms showed muscles I was used to seeing on the men who trained for the royal guard, while her eyes, those brown eyes, held a wealth of knowledge and a soul so deep that I couldn't help but be mesmerized. Her face had miniscule scars covering every inch as if someone had gotten a knife and marred it intentionally.
"Who are you?" I blurted out, curiosity getting the better of me.
She grinned at me; the expression softened the subtle scars around her eyes revealing a hidden beauty. "I'm Alyse. I take care of this camp while our leaders are away on missions. They found you, almost dead, and gave the command for us to return you to health just before they left. Beyond that, we have no idea what to do with you."
Mission? Leaders? Camp? Oh, this must be the camp those two strangers were talking about that night. "And, what is this camp?"
Shattered Destiny (Reclaiming The Throne Book 1) Page 6
