Chapter 4
The morning of our departure arrived. Preparations were made in a frenzy. I was finally allowed to speak with my mother, to say goodbye. She was worried, but was well taken care of. I lied to her, told her I was traveling with a member of the Royal family and would be returning soon, in just a couple of months. I was assured that the king's plan would work, and in a few months, I should be back home.
Mother gripped my hand tightly. "Don't forget to drink your Balm tea," she said seriously as a warning.
"Yes, mother. I won't forget."
"Swear it to me," she added, looking stern as she warned. I could understand her fear. I've always taken that every day; it consisted of a special mixture of Lemon balm and Valerian Root. According to her, it was one of the things that kept me alive. Without it, I would have died even before I turned ten.
"I won't forget, mother," I nodded, giving her a squeeze of assurance. I had already asked some of the servants to pack the roots of the plants; the ones I took would sustain me for a few months, and I would replant some over there. Reassured, she relaxed back.
I was relieved the king was keeping to the end of the bargain, making sure she was well taken care of. I gave her one last hug, heading downstairs to where the carriage awaited.
"There's something you weren't told," Bella said, drawing me away immediately I exited the room.
"Nightfall isn't as it seems. They're not humans!" Bella said, her tone raising.
"What?! What do you mean?" I asked her in confusion.
"The king, he lied. We haven't been warring against humans but something else, strange creatures!"
My heart pounded against my rib cage.
"What exactly do you mean?" I asked, almost yelling.
"We're leaving now," one of the guards assigned to me announced, his voice heavy with duty.
"Wait. I need to talk."
"Now!" He bellowed, leading me to the carriage. He shot Bella a menacing but promising look as she scurried away. What were they hiding? What exactly did Bella mean? She hurried away in the opposite direction. I kept staring back, in the direction she left as I was led further away. Numbness enveloped me as I took careful steps towards the waiting carriage. My heart pounded loudly in my chest, drowning out any other sounds – I couldn't hear anything, not even the wind rustling through the trees. Everything seemed muffled, distant, and my vision blurred with the weight of what was about to happen. I was leaving home, torn away from everything I knew and loved, destined for a fate that sent shivers down my spine. The people I was being sent to weren't humans? What does it mean?!
Stepping into the dimly lit carriage, I couldn't help but feel a shiver of fear coursing through my veins. As I settled into my seat, I caught a fleeting movement from a distant balcony. It was the princess, standing tall with an air of calm dignity on her face. A stark contrast to the chaos and despair that consumed me, she seemed resolute, prepared for whatever lay ahead. I couldn't help but steal one last glance at her, whispering softly to myself, "I might be dying in your place."
"She's gone," one of the king's underlings announced to him.
He breathed in, heaving a sigh.
He turned to Bella, who they had caught and bundled into a corner.
"Your majesty! You didn't tell her everything. The truth about those people she's going to meet. You're practically sacrificing her off," she said weakly.
"And risk her ending her life here and now like Abigail?" He asked with a snicker. "It would ruin my plans. Besides, she'll find out what they are quite soon." His eyes glimmered. "It's all for the greater good. You'll see," he said gruffly.
"She's gone," one of the king's underlings announced to him.
He breathed in, heaving a sigh.
He turned to Bella, who they had caught and bundled into a corner.
"Your majesty! You didn't tell her everything. The truth about those people she's going to meet. You're practically sacrificing her off," she said weakly.
"And risk her ending her life here and now like Abigail?" He asked with a snicker. "It would ruin my plans. Besides, she'll find out what they are quite soon." His eyes glimmered. "It's all for the greater good. You'll see," he said gruffly.
Jasmine
The carriage ride felt long, and dreary hours dragged on like an eternity. I sat inside the carriage, my mind wandering. Not human? Then what are they? I wondered.
At one point, the carriage came to an abrupt stop, and the head guard's voice broke through the silence, muffled by the compartment's thick walls. "My lady, we can't go any further from this point. You'll be collected by them. I wish you good luck."
Dread washed over me like a tidal wave. They were leaving me, abandoning me in the middle of nowhere. I heard the retreating sounds of the horses, and a sense of sheer terror enveloped me. I felt like a trapped animal, desperate and terrified of what awaited me. A tiny sob escaped my lips, and I clutched at my dress, trying to steady my trembling hands. How could they do this to me?
Suddenly, the stillness of the air was shattered by the sound of powerful hooves pounding the ground. Several horses approached the carriage, and my heart seemed to leap into my throat. They must be from Nightfall, I thought, trying to steel myself for what lay ahead. Monsters. They're monsters, I mumbled to myself repeatedly. There was a small knock on the window of the carriage, and a smooth timbre voice rang out, "My lady, we're from Nightfall. We'll be escorting you to the palace. I'm Cedric," the leader introduced himself. His voice was calm, reassuring, but my hands became wet with sweat, and my chest tightened. How would I cope among these monstrous people whose first instinct was to kill?
Summoning every ounce of courage, I mustered the strength to open the carriage window and peep outside. Bracing myself up mentally for the monster I was about to meet. And there, I met a pair of startling blue eyes. The man was tall, fit, and devastatingly handsome. My breath caught in my throat as I stared, stunned by his appearance. He defied every stereotype I had grown up with – he seemed civilized, neat, and cultured, unlike the stories I had heard about the people of Nightfall and what Bella had told me. Unconsciously, I found myself staring at him for a long moment, entranced by his looks before giving a small nod of acknowledgment.
Relaxing back into my seat, the carriage resumed its journey. The bumpy roads gradually gave way to smoother paths, and the air filled with a sweet fragrance – the smell of flowers and the sound of rushing water. Curiosity got the better of me, and I peered out once more, greeted by the sight of beautiful green grass stretching for miles and a small stream flowing along the path. We rode through the midst of the grassland, eventually crossing a small bridge with the gentle river flowing beneath it. The air was clean and fresh, free from any lingering scent of death or blood. As we rode through a village, I was taken aback by the modern, tall houses and the overall beauty of the surroundings. I couldn't help but wonder, Is this Nightfall? The kingdom I had been taught to fear and dread? It was beautiful, not dark and gloomy as our villagers had described. Had I been lied to? Surely monsters and beasts would not live in such a civilized and beautiful place. I mused to myself.
Finally, the carriage came to a halt, and Cedric opened the door. "Welcome to Nightfall Kingdom, my lady. This is the castle. It will be your home," he announced with a warm smile. I gazed at the grandiose building in front of me, my awe evident in the small gasp that escaped my lips. It was magnificent, a sight to behold.
As I stepped down slowly from the carriage, taking small, calculated steps, I couldn't help but express my wonder, "This is Nightfall?"
Cedric looked at me with a knowing smile, "Yes, Princess. Is there a problem?" He asked.