Chapter 2

I awoke with a gasp, sitting up quickly. I clutched my chest where pain struck me. I was catching my breath as if I'd run a thousand miles.

My head pulsed as I tried to remember my strange dream. I was in a room with an old woman when she suddenly assaulted me, then after that I pushed her to the wall, and then... she died. I killed her. Then all of a sudden, a man came and fed me with his blood. I started doubting if it was only a dream. I could remember the taste of his blood in my mouth.

“You're awake,” I heard a melodious voice of a woman. Startled, my head snapped to the side and saw a beautiful woman holding a basin in her hand whilst smiling warmly at me.

My eyes widened. Who is she? And where am I?

I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out. My throat was dry, reminding me that I've become dehydrated for the hundredth time.

My malnourished body trembled when the woman walked towards my direction, placing the basin on the table.

“How are you feeling, child?” she asked, her voice was soft, and it was... enchanting. She looks around her mid-twenties. Long brown hair, small face, trimmed waist, average bust and bottom. Her skin is tanned, too.

I was shaking on the bed with my knees levelled to my chest, unable to move and get up. My body was exhausted and extremely thin.

I wanted to ask where I am but I couldn't voice my questions. I am afraid that if I speak to her, she will hurt me, too, like everyone does.

“I found you in a cave while I was searching for herbs three days ago. You were covered with blood all around your body. Bruises and cuts were fresh. I thought you were dead, but then, I found your heart beating slowly and I decided to bring you here and heal you,” she spoke as she squeezed the towel in her hand before looking at me. I looked away in fear. “Can you tell me who did those horrible things to you, child?”

Tears brimmed from the corner of my eyes. I heard her sighed as she approached me.

I flinched.

“Okay... if it makes you uncomfortable, I won't insist on hearing an answer...” she trailed off, probably sensing the fear radiating off my body. “I am Karheel. I came from Hinua coven before I was kicked out from my own kin. I specialized in healing. Now, I want you to know that I won't hurt you, okay? I am only going to heal you. You can leave my house once you are fully healed, but you can choose to stay if you want to.”

There's something about her voice that made me feel somehow safe. My instinct was to trust this woman, but a part of me wants to back away from her.

The last time I trusted someone, either they betrayed me or took me for granted. Everyone hurt me.

A tear rolled down my cheeks.

I don't know where I am. I haven't been in a place outside the Shadow pack before. I know nothing in this world. But if I go back to my pack, they will surely kill me. And it is only either I'd be killed from those cruel people or I'd die in the hands of this stranger.

I'd rather choose the latter.

“Rest,” Karheel said with her most soothing voice ever. She caressed my head gently. “Rest for a while. I will try my best to help you, young lady.”

I nodded my head, still not looking at her. I could see from the corner of my eyes that she smiled.

She took the basin and placed it on the bed next to me. She instructed me to lay down on the bed 'cause she's going to clean my body with the wet towel. After cleaning my wounds and scratches, she began healing me with her essence.

My stomach grumbles loudly. My cheeks burned in embarrassment. She chuckled. “I'll go get you some breakfast.”

I stayed quiet.

She came back with a tray of food. She helped me sit up and encouraged me not to be shy and eat what she had prepared for me. I was still shy. No one has ever invited me to eat before, let alone prepared food for me. I was never used to eating breakfast. I only eat meals once a day, and it's always midnight when everyone is fast asleep. So to see a beautiful woman doing these things to a stranger like me, I couldn't help but to get overwhelmed. Her face is fitted with her personality: Beautiful in and out.

For the next few days, I stayed in her house—just resting and eating what she had served me. The embarrassment I always feel whenever she talks to me somehow diminished and I found myself liking her company.

It was my 7th day of staying in her house when I finally decided to go out in the room. I could remember her shocked face when she saw me standing in the kitchen.

My face heated up as I looked at her nervously, holding the necklace in my hand that was given by me from my birth mother before she passed away.

“L-Lady Karheel, thank you so much for letting me stay in your home and t-taking good care of me. My apologies if I was rude to you for not talking. To repay you with your kindness, please accept this necklace. It doesn't cost much but this is the only thing I have to give you,” I shyly said in a small voice. I opened my palm slowly to reveal a gold necklace with a pendant of diamond.

She gasped as she teared up. “Oh, God...”

I smiled nervously, afraid that I had offended her for offering such a low item.

She took a few steps till she was in front of me. “Child... you have finally spoken to me,” she said as her voice trembled. Tears fell from her eyes.

I quickly pursed my lips and looked away. I should've kept silent. What if I'd angered her if I spoke without her permission to do so?

“I,” I started, but before I could continue, she suddenly engulfed me in a warm hug.

“Oh, you're such an angel, baby... What's your name?” she asked.

My lips parted in shock.

She sobbed hard as she clung to me, caressing my head affectionately and kissing my hair. She spoke in a language I couldn't understand. It warms my heart.

When she finally calmed down, she guided me to sit on the chair. She placed the pot on the table.

“I've cooked a meat soup for you,” she said, smiling from ear to ear. Her eyes were fluffy from crying but the happiness in her eyes tells me that it wasn't because of sadness.

I nodded my head and smiled gratefully. “T-Thank you...”

She teared up again but she blinked her eyes. She chuckled and said, “Sorry, I'm... I-I'm just so happy that you finally spoke. I thought it would take time for you to recover.”

She extended her arm and caressed my cheek as she looked at me longingly.

“I, uhm, m-my name... Sidrich,” I stuttered.

Her eyes widened before a huge smile appeared on her face. “Sidrich... what a beautiful name you have, child.”

I almost giggled at her compliment. “Thank you, Lady Karheel.”

“You better eat now before this soup gets cold. I will prepare the bathtub for you. I think it's time for you to shower, don't you think?”

I smiled sheepishly and nodded my head in agreement, thankful that she's not angry at me or pissed upon seeing my face. She's so nice like my mother Janine.

I felt a pang in my chest when I remembered her. She was my nanny before, and when my dad died, she adopted me and treated me like her own child. Since then, she became my second mother.

The happiness I felt earlier diminished. I gloomily ate the soup just to fill my aching stomach.

Lady Karheel's cooking is wonderful. It helps me recover fast and it gives me energy for the entire day. She said she has added some healing herbs with it. She's a witch after all. Wow.

I finished the soup and went to the sink to wash the plates I've used before putting it on the cupboard.

I didn't know what to do next so I just sat back down on the chair and waited for Lady Karheel. To be honest, I don't know where I am going to go if she decides to kick me out of her house. As much as I love her company, I don't think she feels the same way.

If she wish me gone, I'd go away without any question.

I sighed.

I'm very grateful to have met her. But then again, remembering the reason why I am in this situation, I suddenly felt sick.

I closed my eyes when I remembered the old woman's face. I killed her. I'm a horrible person like them.

I felt a pang in my gut as guilt and fear swallowed me. I despise their existence so much because they're horrible, but I am just being a hypocrite. I am just like them.

I wish I just died that time. Only if that man didn't save me... I would've been dead now.

Speaking of him, where was he now? Was it just a mere fraction of my imagination or he really did saved me? Did he actually feed me with his blood? And how did he know my name? Who is he, really? Why was he there that night? Why was he looking for me? Why did he save me?

All the thoughts and questions in my head disappeared when I heard a loud explosion from outdoors.

Lady Karheel's state worried me. I stood up with heart pounding hard against my chest. I ran towards the door and opened it.

I saw Lady Karheel fighting with a sword in her hands and a man with an armoured body.

“L-Lady Karheel!” I exclaimed in fear when I saw that the man's sword was about to penetrate her stomach. But then Lady Karheel suddenly disappeared into thin air and reappeared behind the armoured man, plunging her sword on his back and killing the man instantly.

I gasped in terror.

Lady Karheel glanced at me. “Go back inside, child!” she exclaimed as few armoured men appeared and attacked her. She fought with them with ease, killing everyone who tried to harm her.

My mouth parted in disbelief and amazement.

“Now is not the time to be amazed. Go back inside and hide!” She scolded me.

I snapped in my reverie. I shook my head. No. I can't leave her here alone. She saved my life so it is just so wrong if I leave her in this state. It would make me look ungrateful if I left her.

“B-But—”

“No buts! Go inside!” she hissed as her arm bled. I shrieked and trembled. Tears fell down on my cheeks. “Sidrich, you will only make things hard if you stay here. Listen to me. I am begging you!”

I nodded my head and wiped my own tears. She's right. I will only make things difficult for her. I can't fight these men. And I can't be a burden to her.

I turned around and entered the house to follow her instructions to hide, but just when I was about to get in, someone tightly gripped my arm and spun me around. I screamed when I felt a cold metal against my neck.

“You cursed!” the man hissed. “I got her!” he yelled to his comrades, dragging me out of the house.

“LET ME GO!” I cried out, fear crawling to my whole system.

“Shut up and follow me or else I'm gonna kill you!” he threatened as his sword against my neck slightly cut my skin. I flinched at the sudden stung.

“No! No! Let me go!” I screamed and pulled my arm but he only tightened his grip.

We got out of the house and the scene I saw next made my whole body cold and froze.

Lady Karheel was kneeling on the ground, covered with blood all over her body and a man was pointing his sword to her.

I felt anger rise within me.

“LADY KARHEEL!” I called, crying helplessly.

She slowly raised her bloodied head and our eyes met. My heart broke at her state. She doesn't deserve this!

“Catching two birds at one stone wasn't as hard as they thought it would be,” the man, who I guessed was the general of these armoured men based on his attire, said, with a menacing grin.

“Let her go. She didn't do a thing!” Lady Karheel hissed. “She's innocent to all of these!”

The general laughed sarcastically. “She hasn't done a thing yet, but we can't deny the fact that she will be a threat to our kingdom in the near future. Hence, must I kill her beforehand.”

Lady Karheel chuckled darkly. Her jaw was clenching and her eyes could kill anyone she looked at. “And do you really think you can kill any of us that easily? Oh boy, you must have forgotten that we were a threat for a reason. Stupid.”

His face reddened in anger. “I am no boy, bitch. And don't you dare insult me or you'd be beheaded before you get to step foot in the kingdom!”

“You underestimated me, General Borges. You underestimated us.” Lady Karheel continued to chuckle until her chuckle turned into a fit of laughter. “Oh, how stupid.”

“You whore!” he angrily hissed as he fisted her hair and pulled her head up. “You have a pretty little mouth, yeah?” he said as his eyes darkened in raw lust. “You know what happened to bad girls? They were punished.”

The threat was palpable but that didn't even made Lady Karheel flinch.

“He's here.” Her tone suddenly became dead serious as her smile turned into a dark smirk. “He's here and he's going to slaughter everyone who dared touch what's mine.”

“Who are you talking—”

Before he can even finish his words, an arrow pierced through his armoured body, leaving his whole face in shell-shock, dumbfounded to the fact that a piece of weapon could penetrate a well-made clothing that was made specifically for the battlefield.

My jaw hung open while Lady Karheel's smirk only grew wider.

She vanished into the thin air and in a flash, she was already behind the man who captured me. She helped his head twist it until he collapsed and died.

I cried in relief. I hugged her tight and she kissed my temple reassuringly.

“Hush, it's okay, baby girl,” she said as she rubbed my back soothingly. I sobbed and hugged her tighter. She winced. “Ow, I have a small wound.” I immediately detached myself and looked at her worriedly. She shook her head and smiled. “I'm fine. I can heal myself.”

“A-Are you sure?” I asked between my sobs.

She smiled once again and held my shoulders before spinning me around. “Look at them,” she whispered and pointed at the armoured men falling one by one on the ground with the same weapon, which is the arrow. Inerrantly straight to their hearts.

My tears stopped itself from falling as I gaped at the scene with both petrified and amazement emotion on my face.

Those men who were about to abduct and kill the both of us were dying before my eyes.

Only one man left. He was trembling hard as he pissed on his own pants.

Suddenly, a black crow came, flapping his wings above the sky while chirping loudly.

“Blessings and glory upon the second star of Sharmai, second prince Alastair,” Lady Karheel said with utter respect and bowed down her head.

My eyes snapped towards the white horse running to our direction and a handsome man sitting atop of it.

To say he was beautiful was definitely an understatement. He's beyond perfection. The first thing that caught my eyes was his dark green eyes that were staring straight back at me. His eyes were mesmerizing, pulling my soul to that pair of orb.

I gasped when he suddenly smiled.

“Good morning, ladies,” he said playfully and swiftly jumped down from his horse. I took a step backward as my heart began pounding fast and loud. I felt butterflies rumble in my stomach when he looked at me.

“Thank you for saving us, prince Alastair,” Lady Karheel spoke.

The prince nodded his head once, his hands on his back. Just then I noticed the bow behind his back and tons of arrows along with it. He glanced at Lady Karheel briefly before staring at me once again.

I gasped as my eyes widened.

A blush crept to my cheeks and I quickly looked away, embarrassed that I was caught staring at him.

I saw him turning around from the corner of my eyes. I snapped my gaze to him, seeing him standing with pride and sophistication while looking down at the kneeling man before him.

“F-Forgive me, my lord! I am no one in the k-kingdom where I belong. I only follow what has been told! I have no other choice but to be obliged otherwise they would make my whole family suffer from their wrath!” he begged for his life and I suddenly felt bad because I could somehow relate to him. I've been enslaved my whole life and I had no choice but to follow what has been ordered me to do or else they will punish me. “I beg you to spare my life! My pregnant wife is waiting for me at home!” he cried, bursting into tears.

My heart broke.

“Stand up,” the prince spoke coldly. The man hesitated but followed what was told anyway. Prince Alastair raised his hand up and the black crow placed a rolled letter on the prince's palm. “Bring this letter to your king and tell him, it is from the sun of Sharmai, the second prince of Emperor Atlas, and the soon ruler of his empire.” He glanced at me before he added, “And tell your king no harm shall go upon to those who were under my protection. Those who would oppose will be given a punishment of death.”

Prince Alastair smiled once again before he averted his gaze towards the man. My heart went wild against my chest.

“Am I understood?”

“Y-Yes, your Highness!” the man stuttered and accepted the letter. He muttered some gratitude words and bowed down his head a couple of times before he scurried away in fear.

When the man was gone, the second prince of Sharmai sighed before walking towards his white horse and hoisted himself up on the horse's back.

“Go to the city of Kiram and look for the Porsi Family. You will be protected there,” he said to us, his voice was stern. No trace of smile was visible on his face as if he never smiled earlier at all. “You two are safe. Hence, I must take my leave now. Be safe with your journey, peculiar ladies.”

“Wait!” I exclaimed when he was about to go away. He looked at me, shocked, but he quickly composed himself. He raised his eyebrows.

I cleared my throat as my face flushed in embarrassment when his eyes darted to me. Even Lady Karheel sent me a confused look.

I bit my lower and silently debated to myself whether to speak or not.

In the end, I decided to open my mouth and mimicked what Lady Karheel did earlier, “Blessing and glory upon the second star of Sharmai, second prince Alastair...” I said in a small voice, watching as his lips parted as his eyes widened. His cheeks turned into a light shade of pink as he gaped at me. I continued, “Thank you... for saving Lady Karheel and I.”

He was still in a shock state when I flashed a small, grateful smile to him.

“May the Goddess of the Moon bless you and the weapon you wield, prince Alastair.”