Chapter 8

“I’m sorry.” Stella said reaching out to me. Her voice came out like an echo. Her eyes were nothing but white and blood dripped from her mouth. The rest of her body was covered in blood.
“Stella? I thought…” I looked down with guilt not finishing my sentence.
“Why Scarlett, why’d you kill me.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
“You didn’t give me a chance.”
“I’m so sorry.” Tears started to fall from my eyes.
“I wanted us to rule together. We could’ve made the kingdom great.” Stella stated breathlessly.
“I thought you wanted to destroy it. I didn’t know. I’m sorry Stella.” I choked out through sobs.
“You killed me.”
“I know, I’m so sorry.”
“Watch out.” Stella warned.
“What do you mean, watch out for what?”
“Him.” She whispered.
“Who?” I cried. Her eyes closed and her head fell to the front as she floated there in the air.
“Stella! Stella, please don’t go. Who’s he? Who do I need to look out for?” I lifted her head. No breath came from her.
“Stella, don’t leave me. I need my sister.” I managed to say through the uncontrollable tears. No response.

“Scarlett!” I woke up to Almeric shaking me and calling my name. I bolted up right, tears streaming down my face. My hair was plastered to my face with sweat which I was drenched in. I grabbed onto him for dear life and he held me back.
He tilted my head up using his finger. Almeric looked deep into my eyes and moved his hand to my cheek. I closed my eyes and leaned into the comfortable feeling.
“Scarlett, look at me, please.” He spoke softly. I looked at him, our eyes locked in place with one another’s. After a moment Almeric spoke again. “What’s wrong?”
“I had a dream. Stella was there. Her eyes were white and her body was covered in blood. She asked me why I killed her. She told me something.” I looked away from him.
“What’d she tell you?” Almeric bent his head to try and catch my gaze. I looked up at him and replied, “She said to watch out for him.”
“Who?”
“That’s the thing, I don’t know. She dead again or something before she told me who.” Fresh tears started to fall from my eyes. Almeric used the pad of his thumb to wipe them away.
“Hey, whoever it is, he’s not going to lay a finger on you as long as I’m around okay?” I simply nodded.
“Where are we anyway?” Almeric looked around and a look of confusion crossed over his face.
“Bo, this isn’t where I told you to go.” No response.
“Bo!” I exclaimed.
“I’m sorry, I must fulfill the wish of my master.”
“What are you doing?” I frantically asked.
“I must fulfill the wish of my master.” Bo repeated.
“Yeah you already said that. What the hell are you doing?” Almeric interjected.
“I must fulfill the wish of my master.”
“Almeric what do we do?” I asked. He looked around and a minute later he froze in place and lost all color to him.
“Almeric what’s wrong?”
“We need to get off his back now!” Almeric exclaimed.
“Almeric, tell me what’s going on.” My voice came out shaky because of the fear that controlled me.
“He’s taking us to this lake, pond thing. I’m not completely sure what it is. But, there’s this creature that lives in it. I don’t know what it is but I almost lost my life to it once before.”
“What is it?”
“Imagine an eel ten times more terrifying than a normal one.” Just then there was a low, muffled growl as an eerie fog started to form. I looked over and sure enough what looked like the body of an eel had just dived back into the water and it’s back was curving over the water. It’s back was scaley and had razor sharp bumps on it’s back, I’m not sure what they were.
I leaned back into Almeric and he wrapped his arms around me tightly. I gasped when it came out of the water. It towered above us, at least twenty feet. It had no eyes but it felt like it was looking into my soul. It had a dark mist that followed behind like a ghostly shadow.
It opened its mouth, revealing three rows of razor short teeth at least five inches long. The monster let out a high pitched screech. I closed my eyes and covered my ears in an effort to block out the torturas sound. When I finally opened my eyes everything was spinning and I felt very disorientated. I could vaguely hear Almeric calling my name but it sounded so distant.
I looked up and was met with the sharp toothed creature. It lurked in the mist, sizing me up, taunting me. Everything felt like it was going in slow motion. It swayed from side to side, then, suddenly, it struck down with lightning speed. I wanted to scream and run but my body wouldn’t move as if I were paralyzed. My mouth wouldn’t open and I couldn’t make a single sound. I was terrified.
To my surprise, the monster stopped mere inches from my face. My heart pounded and my blood ran still. The world around me seemed to vanish, it was just the beast and I. Staring down into its mouth- nothing but darkness- I felt deep and utter hopelessness. The creature pulled back ready for the kill.
Before it had a chance to attack it let out a cry of pain. Another earth shattering scream was made and it went back into the water. Everything went black.
I don’t know how long I was out for but when I came to Almeric was running towards me. He picked me up like one would do with an infant. Almeric carried me behind a huge tree and gently sat me down, putting a hand on my face.
“Scarlett, are you okay?” His voice was full of concern. I looked at and around him. The words wanted to come out but it was as if my ability to speak was taken from me. The look of fear was evident in his eyes as he looked at me.
“Scarlett, please answer me.” I squinted my eyes as a sharp pain ran through my head. I heard myself scream and felt Almeric hold me tight. I lost feeling in my body. Terror ran through my body. Almeric gentle laid me on the ground.
“I’ll be right back.” Almeric told me before I heard his footsteps moving away. I wanted to scream at him not to go, not to leave me but still the word refused to come out of my mouth. I was trapped inside my own body.
A moment later I heard him return and say, “I have to go back and get Stella now.” It dawned on me that he was getting the bodies even though he didn't care about them, he did it for me. Out of all the pain coursing through my body I felt a little flutter in my stomach at the thought of him doing that.
“I’m just going to sit here with you until you get better okay?” Almeric informed me though he wasn't sure if I could hear him or not. I wanted to just wrap my arms around him and thank him for not leaving me but of course I couldn’t. ‘What did that thing do to me?’ I thought to myself.
There was the sound of moving off in the distance. “I’m going to go see what that is, I’ll be right back.” Almeric placed a soft kiss on my cheek before he got up. I heard the metal of his blade as he took it from its holding place. “Who’s there?”
“I’m so proud of you son.”
Almeric gasped as tears pricked his eyes. “Dad?”
“You have grown into a fine young man. Take care of Scarlett. Make sure she gets to the queen safely.”
“How- where are you?” Almeric exclaimed..
“She’s going to be okay.” When the voice said that I took in a deep breath and my eyes shot open. All feeling returning to my body
“Scarlett!” Almeric ran over to me and dropped down taking me in his arms. “Are you okay?”
“I-” My voice came out hoarse and dry.
“Shh, it’s okay. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” I cuddled into him as he held onto me tightly. I felt safe in his arms, safer than I’d ever felt with anybody. Almeric looked around, something seemed to be troubling him.
“I’m going to keep you safe okay?” Almeric brushed some stray hair out of my face. I nodded with tears in my eyes.
We sat like that, with me in his embrace, for what felt like forever. The sky had started to turn a light purple, stars and the moon becoming visible through the trees. My eyelids felt heavy but I tried to fight off sleep.
“It’s okay Scarlett, rest, I’ll stay awake and make sure you’re safe.” I offered a half smile then gave into sleep.

“You’re eyes look just like your father’s.” A female voice echoed in my ears.
“Who is my father?” I asked in a daze.
“He is a man that is feared by most people.”
“What does he look like?”
“You look almost identical to him. The same raven hair, the same piercing green eyes. Fair skin. You’re the only one who doesn’t look like your mother.”
“The only one, there’s only two of us.”
“Before a couple of days ago you didn’t even know you had one.”
“There’s another one?”
“You all have that raven hair. It’s such a beautiful feature you all carry.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Good luck my dear.”
“Wait, you can’t leave. What are you talking about when you said all of us?” There was no response. “Please, tell me what you’re talking about.” I pleaded though sobs. Nothing.

“Scarlett, wake up!” Almeric was shaking my shoulders. I bolted up right, my body was covered in sweat and my face covered in tears. “Scarlett, what’s wrong?” I struggled to breath and fresh tears started to run down my face.
“Everything is going to be okay.” He pulled me into him. Listening to the comforting beat of his heart I inhaled then exhaled a moment later as an attempt to steady my breathing.
“How are we going to get to the kingdom now?” I asked in a whisper.
“We’ll figure it out but first we need to get some food or we won’t have the energy to do anything.”
“There’s no food around.”
“You doubt me princess.” Almeric smirked, gently moving me out of his lap. He got up and looked above. I followed his gaze but I couldn’t figure out what it was he was trying to find. The expression on his face signaled that he found was he was looking for.
Almeric started to climb one of the trees. The trunk was quite large but he still managed to climb it with ease. The branches were thick, twisting and turning in all directions. I lost sight of him among the body of lush leaves.
After what seemed like forever he dropped down in front of me. I screamed and tried to push myself away but failed miserably do to the fact that my body felt so weak at the moment.
“Sorry, it’s just me. I have something you can eat.” Almeric quickly informed me.
“Jesus Almeric, you nearly gave me a heart attack. Again.” I held my hand over my chest to emphasize my point.
“Again, I’m sorry. Here, eat this.” He held out a watermelon shaped- though a little smaller- object. It looked like a miniature galaxy.
“What is it?” Suspiciously eyeing it I took it in my hands. It was smooth to the touch.
“It’s a healing fruit. You eat it then you get your strength back and anything else that’s wrong that we may not know about will be healed.”
“What about you, what are you going to eat?”
“Nothing. I’ll be fine. I’m sure I’ve eaten more than you have since yesterday.” I looked at him then at the fruit. I was about to bite it when he stopped me.
“Wait, it’s as hard as a rock, if you try to bite the outer layer you'll probably break your teeth.” Almeric took the fruit and with one of his swords he cut it in half then handed part of it to me. I take a bite of it but spit it out. It was the most bitter tasting thing I have ever put in my mouth.
“I probably should’ve warned you about the taste.” Almeric said looking away guiltily but also trying to muffle a laugh. I took another bite and forced it down. Within just a few second I could feel my strength coming back to me. I took a few more bites and I felt ten times better. My head didn’t hurt me anymore and I had regained all of my strength.
“Wait, if this heals people, would it be possible to bring someone back to life if we had enough?” I asked hopefully.
“Sadly no. I had the same idea once before but no, it does not work.”
“How are we going to get them to my mom anyway?”
“I could make something to put them on.”
“With what?”
“I could use leaves, vines, and branches. It shouldn’t be too hard.” Almeric shrugged off. “How about you stay here and I’ll go see what I can find?”
“You’re leaving me?” My voice cracked at the thought of being alone. He walked over to me, bent down and placed a hand gently on my cheek.
“I promise I’ll be right back.” We looked into one another’s eyes. Almeric leaned in and kissed me softly on the cheek. He let his lips linger there for a moment before pulling away.
“Here, blow this if anything happens and I’ll be here.” He gave me a little whistle.
“How will you hear it?”
“It’s louder than you think.” Almeric smirked at me then turned and walked away