Page 35 of Crowned

After what feels like an eternity, his eyelids flutter, and then slowly, he opens his eyes. The room seems to hold its breath as Vance blinks up at me, confusion giving way to recognition.

“Malia?” he breathes, his voice hoarse with disbelief.

A gasp escapes Bhodi, Cove, and Reef, who stand frozen in astonishment. My heart pounds against my ribcage, a mixture of disbelief and overwhelming relief flooding through me.

“You’re awake,” I whisper, tears of joy now mingling with those of sorrow.

Vance blinks again, as if trying to comprehend what’s happening. His hand trembles as he reaches up to touch my face, his touch warm and alive.

“I…We saw you die,” Bhodi stammers.

But they watched me die too. Yet here I am.

I’m unable to process the miracle unfolding before my eyes.

Vance shakes his head slightly, his gaze never leaving mine. “I don’t know how, but I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere.”

Relief washes over me in a tidal wave, leaving me breathless and shaking. Bhodi, Cove, and Reef move closer, their expressions a mix of wonder and gratitude. In that moment, it’s as if the impossible has become reality, and we cling to each other, hesitant to let go of the fragile hope that has sparked between us.

With trembling hands, I help Vance sit up, his strength slowly returning. Cove grabs a hospital gown from a nearby cabinet, tossing it to Vance with a whispered instruction to get dressed quickly. Bhodi and Reef stand guard, their eyes darting nervously toward the door, ready to shield us from any unwanted attention.

Vance struggles into the gown with our help, his movements unsteady but determined. As he stands on shaky legs, we exchange anxious glances, silently communicating our shared determination to get him out of here safely.

“Where should we go?” Cove asks in a low voice, his gaze fixed on Vance.

Vance meets our eyes, his expression grave yet resolute. “The palace,” he says finally, his voice carrying the weight of responsibility. “We need to regroup, share intel, and plan our next move. Trust no one outside of this room.”

Bhodi nods, already scanning the corridors for signs of approaching staff. “Let’s move,” he says quietly, gesturing for us to follow.

With Vance supported between Cove and Reef, and with Bhodi pushing me in the wheelchair, we move cautiously through the quiet hospital corridors. Every distant voice and sudden noise sends a jolt of fear through me, but we press on, driven by the urgency of our mission to get to safety.

Emerging from the hospital, we cross a courtyard adorned with a fountain whose gentle murmur reminds me of the one where I first met Yemaya.

Navigating through the backstreets of Aerwyna, we stick to the shadows, avoiding the main thoroughfares where prying eyes might spot us, even though the streets appear to be deserted. The night air is cool and crisp, a stark contrast to the tension coiled within me. Within all of us.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity of nervous glances and hurried steps, a beautiful large white palace comes into view, its grandeur and solidity offering a semblance of safety – I hope. We pause for a moment at the palace gates, catching our breath and steeling ourselves for what lies ahead.

“We’re here,” Bhodi says quietly, his voice a steadying presence in the darkness.

Vance nods, his gaze fixed on the imposing structure before us. “Let’s rest. In the morning there’s much to discuss and no one can know we’re here, for now at least,” he says, his voice firm with resolve.

With renewed determination, they push open the palace gates and we all step inside, closing them carefully behind us, ready to face whatever challenges await us within.

Malia’s eyes are like saucers as we sneak into the palace. The guys waste no time taking us to the queen’s chambers, where they’ve been staying since they returned to Aerwyna, and Malia seems awed by the decadence of everything surrounding us.

I try to see it through her eyes, the floors inlaid with mother of pearl, the priceless artwork depicting the seven seas, the gilt accents on the ornately carved columns and the sparkling crystal chandeliers…the palace is beautiful.

But to me it feels desolate.

It never used to be like this, and I wish Malia could have seen it in its full grandeur, complete with bustling walls filled with love and laughter, instead of like this, dull and lifeless with empty halls and an air of neglect.

The others tried to shield me from seeing the devastation in the streets between here and the hospital, but I still caught glimpses.

Something terrible has happened and I need to find out what. It wasn’t like this when I visited before.

A heavy silence hangs in the air as we reach the queen’s chambers. The grand doors open with a soft creak, revealing a room that feels more like a mausoleum than a place for relaxing. The once vibrant tapestries hang limp, their colours muted by dust. The air is thick with a sense of abandonment, as if the room itself is mourning what was lost. I can tell the guys have attempted to freshen the space – there’s the remnants of dust where the surfaces have been half-heartedly swiped at – but it hasn’t changed the overall neglected atmosphere of the room.

“We’ll need to be quiet and keep a low profile,” Reef whispers, his voice barely audible. “The palace is being watched.”

---