CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE

Voices were everywhere. My head that was throbbing woke me up from unconsciousness. When I opened my eyes, I saw the night sky. It was plain black and the moon was watching me. Branches of trees and its leaves were adding up to my view. There were no stars but the night sky was still stunning. It looked like a painting from down here.

I sat up from where I was lying and a sheath fell from my embrace. It was meant to protect me from the cold breeze. I was still wearing the same wet white dress. The red stain was still there and my wound was now wrapped up with a piece of cloth. But I was still in the woods.

A bonfire at the center was illuminating and keeping the place warm. Group of people were gathering around it like they were having a meeting. And I was frightened with the sight of the weapons that were placed on the ground.

Memories came rushing to me. I tried to stand up without making a sound. But to my horror, a girl around my age noticed my act. I was caught from my petty action. I froze and stopped breathing for a moment.

“You are awake.” She said with a smile. It was that moment when others also noticed my presence. They were all looking, waiting for me to say something. I didn’t know what to say. I was confused by their action.

“It’s alright, Amara. You are safe with us. We know your parents.” A man wearing a feathered coat stated. He was old as evidenced by the white strands of hair mixing with the black strands. His beard was surrounding his mouth and down to his jaws. He looked scary with the scar in his right eye.

I was still in doubt not until Aunt Agatha came running to me. Her warm embrace was satisfying. It gave me the assurance that everything would be back to normal.

“It’s nice to see you safe, Amara.” She said in between her sobs.

“Me too.. Thank you for staying safe, Aunt Agatha.” I returned her embrace with the same warmth.

I broke the hug and asked. “Where is Mother?”

Everyone went silent. Aunt Agatha lowered down her head. She couldn’t look at me straight in the eye. Then, she burst out into tears.

“I am so sorry, A-Amara.” She kept on saying she was sorry.

“M-Mother is safe, r-right?” my voice stuttered.

“Your mother is gone.. she’s d-dead.” Aunt Agatha’s words grasped my heart tightly. My knees went jelly. I felt suffocated. My heart broke into tiny bits.

“N-No! I don’t believe you! Mother is not d-dead. She loves me, she won’t leave m-me..” I fell on my knees. I kept on shaking my head and refusing to agree.

“I-I want to see her..”

That was when everyone looked in a particular direction. Not far from we were, things that were covered by white cloths were arranged in a line. I saw dead bodies covered with white.

I stood up and gathered my strength to walk. A man led my way to my mother. As I reached for the cloth, my hand felt weak. I saw my mother lying cold on the ground. She was wearing her favorite dress and was still beautiful as ever.

“M-My mother..”

I let my cries echoed around the place. I wanted the woods, the moon and the sky to witness my agony. And they didn’t fail me, the sky felt my suffering, and together we cried in harmony.

But at some point, I didn’t let my pain eat me alive. I noticed something strange in my mother’s body. She was covered with blood. She was not burned anywhere. It was not the fire that killed her. She was stabbed to death.

“She was killed.” I concluded. The image of the royal guards flashed in my head.

“Amara, we need to talk to you. You need to know something.” I nodded as I put back the covering and let my mother rest in peace. I promised to remember you every day, Mother. I promised to serve you justice.

That night, I learned about my true identity. My mother was a queen and my father was a king. I am a Calla and the sole heiress to the crown. My father was killed so as my mother. They didn’t have a dignified death and it was all because of my father’s sibling, Augustos. He failed to kill me when I was still unborn and he tried and failed again today.

“Your amulet is your family’s heirloom. We are your parent’s loyal people and we are here to protect and serve you until our last breath.”

You could see the determination and loyalty in their faces. Their eyes were blazing and ready for whatever that I would command. They were willing to put their lives on the line and I don’t have the right to complain.

“What should I do then?”

“Be our queen, Amara.” And I willingly acknowledged.

Hours passed, the sun went out. They started to move the bodies for a burial. For the last time, I kissed my mother’s cold cheek and wished her a happy afterlife with Father.  

New chapters of my life started. A journey to avenge for my parents has begun. It will never be easy but I wanted to try.

“Here.” Aunt Agatha offered me a thick clothing.

“It will be a cold journey. You need this.” Then she wrapped it around me.

I was told that we would be traveling for days before we could reach the camp. It was a secret place designed for a revolution.

Nineteen years ago after Augustos conquered the throne, people of my father were being chased and killed. They refused to be killed without putting up a fight, and that ended up into a revolution. For years, they kept on hiding. Little by little they started recruiting and convincing people, until many had joined. People who didn’t want Augustos’ ruling joined the camp.

Now that they are ready, all they have to do is wait for me to take the lead and be their Queen.