Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Groaning, I open my eyes long enough only to wince and shut them tightly, hiding my head under a soft plush pillow as a migraine wrecks my brain. Just what happened to me after the Palace Guard saved me? I wonder, allowing my body to sink deeper into what ever I lay on. The air feels clean and fresh as I took a deep breath and my body relaxed and warm.

Bolting up at the realization that this is not my prison cell, I wince again and regret the sudden movements. My head feels like an ax is splitting it in two, the only memory I have being that I passed out after seeing the insignia on the Palace Guard’s blazer. From there I had dreams, or were they nightmares, the flew past my mind like a blur of colours that I could barely see. With a groan I shut my eyes and  run my fingers through my messy hair before massaging my temples, hoping to relieve the pressure.

"Where the hell am I?" I whisper, trying to piece together what happened after passing out. Deciding I need to take a look around, I take a deep breath and open my eyes, wincing and squinting when the bright light causes more pain to my already throbbing head. After adjusting to the light, I am finally able to open my eyes fully to take in the room.

I sit upon a large canopy bed -my guess is a king size frame and mattress- that is comfortable and soft. Large fluffy pillows are behind me, the scent of mint and vanilla wafting from them, calming my slightly racing heart. I’ve always loved those two scents mixed together.

Across from me is the source of the light, two large floor to ceiling windows only separated by columns that support the open double glass doors, fresh air filtering in from outside. There is no musty and damp scent that I have grown used too, only the scent of winter snow on the wind that is crisp. Thank God for the large fluffy duvet that covers me or I would be freezing right now.

Curtains on either ends of the windows are held open by a rope, allowing the sunlight to stream in and be the cause for worsening the migraine that I wish would just go away. It seems that the double doors lead to a balcony that is kept clean of snow and for some reason I feel the urge to curl up outside with a cup of hot chocolate and relax.

Looking away from the window, my gaze travels to the right where I notice a study area. A desk is situated in the corner against the cream and gold wall with a book shelf directly beside that. Infront of the desk is a small sitting area with a glass coffee table and four arm chairs. It looks like the perfect place to study or read a book. Continuing my gaze, I notice that between the first book shelf and the one closes to the bed is a large fireplace, a fire already crackling inside it and explaining why the room is so warm even with the doors open. In front of the fire place is a set of couches and lounges face the large grey brick centerpiece of the room, a flat screen television mounted just above it. Then we come to beside the bed, another thin flour to ceiling window letting in more light.

After examining the right side, I begin to explore the left. Beside me is an open door, one that leads to the bathroom by what I can see from my spot on the bed. Beside that is a vanity made of gold and something white - maybe marble – with a large jewelry box on the right of the vanity and some make up brushes and bottles on the left. I have the feeling that if I were to open the drawers I will find make up and jewelry. To the right of the vanity is another door, one that peaks my curiosity but I will have to explore it later.

Finally at the very end beside the first set of floor to ceiling windows is a set of double doors, these one made of what I assume to be solid wood. As if my staring called him, these doors open and in walks in the Palace Guard from yesterday.

"Glad to see you are awake." He greets, a large smile splitting his face and bringing a childish air to him. I smile back, motioning to the room I am in before opening my mouth.

"Where am I?" I ask, needing to know answers as this room feels too familiar to me – like I have been here before but all I have ever known are the slums.

"You are where you should be, where you should have lived your whole life, Princess Allisara." He answers, his happy look slowly disappearing until there is nothing but a solemn expression left. Without warning, he stops beside the bed, getting down on one knee and bowing his head towards me.

"Welcome home, my Princess." The air in the room became thin and I find it growing harder to breath. This man must have the wrong girl as I was not Royalty. Everyone knows that the rebellion killed the King and Queen fourteen years ago and that their daughter, the Lost Princess, has been missing for all these years. The Princess has another eight to appear before the Regent and his family can assume the title of the next Royal Family.

"Allisara, its okay please calm down.” Strong arms and a gentle voice fills my ears as the man rushes to sit beside me, holding me like some fragile doll as if at any moment I am going to break. It helps though as the scent of his cologne fills my nose and I use that to focus. Deep breath in, deep breath out, repeat.

"Thats it, just breath." He sighs out with relief, his hand moving to rub my back. I pull away for a moment to look around the room as my breathing steadies and I find myself calming down.

Suddenly something flickers in the light by the balcony and a golden blonde little girl in a ruffled pink dress walks angrily towards the bed, tears running down her  chubby face. At first I think that she is a ghost, until I realize I know that dress and that little girl. It’s the same dress I wore when I woke up in the slums. That little girl is me.

"Alli I am sorry, come play please!” A voice calls out as another child appears; his features barely visible as he walks towards the little me.

"Go away Demi. I am mad at you!" Came the young me’s reply. The boy grows closer, his exasperated look making me feel a little unease. No child should look like that when a friend is mad at them. Then I notice his eyes, a startling blue that stared into mine as he rescued me from the Prison Guard yesterday. What I can only assume to be a memory fades away as I take in what I just witnessed. What this man said is true. This room I am in is my room. Turning to face the man, I feel his name on the tip of his tongue. Deep down I know Demi is a nickname. Then like a light switch, it clicks.

"Demitrias?" I whisper, almost questioning if I am right as I lightly run my fingers across his stubbled jaw. He looks tired, the dark circles under his eyes telling me that it hasn’t been easy for him the last fourteen years. Has he been searching for me all this time?

"So you are remembering." He whispers back with hope in his eyes, his face coming closer to mine. I feel his lips press softly against mine, his blue eyes closing as he pulls me closer. I freeze, unsure how I feel about him kissing me like this, unsure how I feel about him. The man before me is Demitrias – Demi – Trilavantas. Eldest son to Duke Juden Trilavantas and my… my what?

Your betrothed. Something inside me whispers, causing me to pull away in shock, surprising Demitrias as well. Closing my eyes I wince as memories flash through my mind of he and I playing together as children. Of my seventh birthday when my parents informed me that one day Demitrias and I will be married and rule the Kingdom of Nimairene.

But then flashes of that night pop in, of the night I was whisked away from my home because of a rebellion. My Maid, Rainnah, had handed me to someone – to a knight – and told him to protect me. But no one protected me. In the end I found myself in the slums alone, cold and hungry with no memories of my past until now while Demitrias was able to enjoy the comforts as a future Duke, the warmth and luxuries in the Palace, in my home.

"Get away from me." I practically growl out as hate and disgust fills me. I was too blind as a child to see it, but with each memory that surfaces I can see the real Demitrias behind the fake mask he wears. He never cared for me, never wanted to be around me. He only catered to me because we are betrothed, because he had to put on a show.

"Alli I can ex-" He begins as I push him away and quickly climb out of the bed from the other side.

"Oh really?" I cut in sarcastically, glaring at him. Without hesitation, I remove his jacket from me, throwing it directly at his face as I try to widen the space between us.

"Explain to me why my memories were taken away? Why my life was spent in the slums?” I quickly question. Watching as his shocked face soon becomes morphed with exasperation and anger. It seems the mask is cracking.

“How about you tell me why I nearly died from hunger and hypothermia while you lived in my home safe and warm eating anything you desired?” I shout back, shaking as my anger turns to rage. Demitrias flinches, his blue eyes searching my face as I glare back at him. If he is looking for the same weak little Princess that used to want his undivided attention, she’s gone and she is never coming back.

"My father said you had died after your Maid had taken you somewhere to be safe." He whispers, his eyes meeting mine with a pleading look, but I can see the slight annoyance hidden in their depth. My parents were fools thinking he was a good match for me.

"Your father, the current Regent? The man responsible for the way my Kingdom is declining?" I question, studying his reaction. A look of confusion passes his face, but I notice the way his fists clench and how he slightly shifts to sit straighter. He is hiding something from me and it’s probably the fact his father isn’t happy to know I am alive. If in six years time I had not returned, his father would have become King and Demitrias would be the Crown Prince as twenty years would have passed deeming the Royal family eradicated and gone. But here I am perfectly healthy and alive ready to claim my birthright.

"Clearly whatever you have been through has made you a little hysterical. How about you go shower and relax and when you are ready we can talk.” He sighs out, giving me a look like he is settling a child. I scoff, walking towards the exit to my room and holding one of the doors open.

“Get the fuck out Demitrias.” I order, watching as the mask falls once again and he stands to his feet, angrily stomping towards me.

“Alli-“

“It is Princess Allisara to you.” I cut him off, squaring my shoulders and readying myself to fight of need me. I catch sight of two Guards watching from the hallway, hands on the pistols as they eye Demitrias. Looks like I have a few loyal men beside me, good.

“Princess Allisara.” He grinds out, his body trembling. Seems like I am finally getting under his skin.

“I suggest you watch that attitude of yours if you know what’s good for you.” He continues before storming off. I roll my eyes, watching as one of the Guards shoves him away from my door before nodding to me respectfully. I thank them before closing the door and locking it. I do not need anyone to come and bother me while I remove my prison uniform and shower off the grim.

Making my way to the open door by my bed, I am happy when my memory doesn’t fail me and I find myself in a large bathroom. With a sigh of relief I step inside only to shiver from the cold tile floor. Usually I have my slippers on but someone must have taken them from me when I was asleep.

Taking another step onto the cold tile, I try my best to get used to the feeling as I walk towards the mirror to see just what damage being in Lady Pricilla’s Prison for Troubled Women has done. I keep my eyes down for a moment, taking time to calm down after dealing with Demitrias before lifting my head and looking into my reflection. My violet eyes – a trait of the Royal family – are filled with unshed tears. The skin underneath them is dark and sunken in and it will be a few days of good sleep and food before my skin will look plump and healthy again.

Dirt covers my skin in splotches while my long golden hair is left in tangles. No one really cared for the looks of those that were made to do labor. We were there to work while we were prisoners and that was that. Searching through the drawers of the bathroom vanity, I quickly find a brush and set to work on detangling my hair. After what feels like an eternity and a lot of wincing and cursing, the knots in my hair are gone and I finally feel ready for a shower.

Stepping away from the mirror, I pad across the cold tiles once more towards the shower, deciding that a bath will be left for tonight. Stripping off the skimpy clothes that is my prison uniform and quickly throw them in the trash. I will never return back to that place unless its to destroy it. Stepping inside the shower, I take a moment to look at the handles wondering just how hard it is to turn a shower on until I finally manage to get the damned contraption working.

Instantly, warm water sprays onto my body, surprising me before I find myself enjoying the warmth and relax. My mind wanders to everything I have been through from waking up in the slums, the many nights I spent searching for shelter and warmth while staving. How a man took me under his wing and taught me to steal to survive. All of this to end up with me being the Princess of Nimairene whose memories have yet to all return. My body starts to shake as I slide along the titled wall and to my knees as my tears finally spill. I cry for the lost memories that are returning to me. Cry for my people that have suffered the last fourteen years since the rebellion took the lives of my friends and parents. I cry for everything including myself. How I was abandoned by people who were sworn to protect me. I cry until my tears run dry and the pity that took hold of me starts to fade before I stand up and wash the grime from my hair and body.

I let the water wash away the remnants of the slums and prison from my body, let it calm me as I begin to think of a plan. First, I will need to take back control from the Regent. Duke Juden Trilavantas has caused so much damage that I need to reverse, starting with taking away his power. Second is finding people loyal to me and me only. With my mind set, I turn the shower off and step out to grab one of the many fluffy towels that I promptly wrap around my body. Thanks to the shower, my curls have returned to my golden hair and it takes some time for me to dry them, deciding to allow the locks to flow around my freely as I leave the washroom and head back into my bedroom then promptly to the only set of doors I have yet to explore.

Taking a deep breath, I send a silent prayer in hoping that this is indeed the closet from my memories before I open the doors, smiling as the lights above illuminates the wracks of clothes. Gone are the little princess dresses I used to have as a child, now the wracks are filled with clothes fit for a Queen. I decide to by pass the many dresses that hang on the left hand and instead focus on the right side where blouses, pants and business suits hang. I need something that screams power, a way to show that the rightful Heir is back and taking charge. Then I see it, a set of black leather pants.

Grinning, I throw the towel onto the bench in the middle of the room and grab a set of under garments before slipping into the leather pants. From there I find a silver turtleneck knit tank top. The final touch to my outfit is a cropped leather jacket and a pair of knee high boots. With one last look in the mirror, I take a deep breath, something sparkling catching my attention before I can exit my closet. There, glittering under it’s own light is a tiara I remember my mother wearing, made of white gold with amethyst the colour of my eyes. I grin and carefully pick it up before returning to the mirror and settle the tiara on top of my head. This is the final touch I need to show my rightful place here as future Queen.

Exiting the closet, I make my way to my room’s exit and throw open the doors, smirking as the Guards jump from the heavy wood hitting the walls. With a step forward, I walk past the men and make my way through the main hall towards my destination. I know what I need to do and now it is time to show the world that Princess Allisara Nimair is back.

This is my home.

My birth right.

And it is time I take back what is mine once and for all and end the misery the Trilavantas has caused.