Page 15 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

A sob tore through me as I sat up in bed. I was sweating from my dream...vision. My face was wet with tears as an aching consumed my chest. He’s going to die, and I won’t save him in time.

Harsh whispers came from the hallway outside of my room, so I slipped out of bed and crept to the door. I opened the door and was greeted by two guards, but nothing else.

“Captain.” They bowed.

“Why are you lingering at my door?”

“The king requested that you have protection.” One of them stuttered out.

“Is everything alright? I thought I heard a noise.” I lied.

“Fine.” They both assured me. Their eyes stared at me, probably because of the tears soaking my face still.

“Protection from whom?” I asked. Did the guards stand outside everyone’s bedroom?

“Cassius and Crimson.” One of them spoke. The other guard gave him a look like he had said too much.

I nodded before shutting the door and going back to my bed. Cassius. I lay in bed and tried to remember the dream man’s face, but I couldn’t. I could still feel the pressure inmy chest at his death. It felt all-consuming, and I couldn’t sit there. It would kill me to think about him dying, even if I couldn’t remember anything about his face.

His gold eyes flashed in my mind, and I groaned loudly as pain coursed through me. When I opened my eyes, I glanced around the room before getting up and dressing in my captain’s uniform. The floating orb was in my room again, her color a melancholy gray. I stared at her and swore I saw a reflection of myself in it.

“Are you friendly?” I asked.

Her color turned vibrant green as she twirled around me. It made me feel comforted to see the color.

“Is there a reason only I can see you?”

She flashed orange, but I didn’t know what that meant.

“You don’t speak,” I sighed. She flashed brighter orange, but then she disappeared when a knock on my door startled me.

Quickly, I walked to answer it, thinking it was one of the guards. The door swung open to Jesper standing too close to me. Fuck, why was he so close to my door?

“Your father would like you to meet him in the throne room. I will show you where it’s at.”

“Alright,” I agreed and glanced over my shoulder once more for the floating friend I had seemed to make. She was gone.

“This must be overwhelming for you,” Jesper said as we made our way downstairs.

“Honestly, not really. I thought I would be overwhelmed or maybe even upset, but I don’t feel anything.” I didn’t like it here. I glanced at Jesper and saw his jaw clenched tightly. He looked angry, and I wondered what he was thinking. As soon as the thought crossed my mind, voices penetrated my mind, making me flinch.

“Are you alright?” Jesper asked. I nodded even though voices practically screamed into my mind. Jesper stopped me and stared into my eyes like he was concerned.

She is already acting weird. Something is wrong, and she’s already lying to us.

“I’m fine. It’s just a headache.” I lied. I stared at him and waited to hear his voice again.

What has she remembered that she is already lying about?

My eyes dropped to his mouth to see if he was talking, but he wasn’t.

She wants me to kiss her.

My face contorted with disgust because I did not want such a thing.

“You have food on your face.” I lied. Jesper seemed to snap out of it, and his cheeks heated as he wiped off the nonexistent food and kept walking. My chest was tightwith worry and confusion. I did not hear his thoughts—did I? I tried to keep my composure. He was suspicious of me, and that put me on high alert. My body was rigid and tight as I scanned around me for danger. As we approached the large wooden door at the end of the hallway, something about it filled me with dread.

When we entered the room, my father stood in the center of it, staring at me. His throne room fit him somehow. It was flashy and had an ungodly number of jewels in it. Not to my taste at all.

---