A change of plans

Aurelia

Darkness. There was no sound, no light. I turned around looking in every direction hoping to see or hear something. It's just darkness in every direction.

What is this? I know who I am now, I haven't had a dream like this since I learned my identity. I was always chased by darkness, why has it caught me? Wait, I've killed. I'm a monster and the darkness has caught me to punish me.

I have to get out of here, my heart is starting to pound and I can't catch my breath. I have to get out of here, I start running but I get nowhere. My panic starts to take over, I'm running everywhere. Tears are streaming down my face and I'm so afraid I drop to my knees.

"I'm sorry!" I shout to no one.

"I had to stop them, they hurt her!"

"Aurelia," the sound of my name was faint but I could hear it.

"Who's there?"

"You know who you are. Now you have to remember where you come from." the voice was so loud now it was like it was all around me, crushing me.

"Just tell me!" I desperately shouted.

"I will not tell you, but I will give you a clue."

Light filled the room as the darkness took shape. Columns lined the room, there were no windows and the walls were black and looked rough. The center of the room was lit up by fire, the fire wasn't orange and yellow as it should be. It was blue and white.

Beside the fire was a bed covered in blood. I know that scent, it's almost the same as Saira's blood. I walked over to the shelf and the table. The shelf was covered with books, some head titles some didn't. They were covered in things other than leather. I could see dragon scales, leaves, bark, one looked like it was made up of diamonds. There was even one completely made of water.

Looking down at the table I could see a book of red dragon scales open, beside a small book made of stars. Both were written in a language that I had never seen before. Along with the open books I can see empty vials on the table and beside the bed.

"Do you understand now?" the voice asked.

"This all means nothing to me; I can't read these books. I don't understand these potions, there's nothing familiar about this place."

"Not even the smell of blood?"

I didn't have time to reply, the dream dissolves and I woke up in the morning light. Next to me Saira is talking in her sleep, she was mumbling something. I leaned in closer to hear.

"The blood..... the blood..... remember....." I jerked back in surprise. How was this possible? Was she the voice in my dream? She woke up and looked at me in surprise.

"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you, I have nightmares. Did I say something that upset you? I can't remember my dreams." Her words spilled out so fast it was hard to get a word in, so just wait until she stopped.

"Have you always had nightmares?" I asked hesitantly. I wasn't sure if I was ready to know if we had the same dream and if it was true, did I want Saira to know.

"Sometimes, but I don't know really remember them, all I remember is feeling scared and alone when I wake up."

What should I say to that?

"Well, you're safe now, we should get ready and get back on the road now that you've had some rest. Can you tell me how you know who I am? Having her tell me what she knew had me tensed up, unsure if I should trust her.

"I want to tell you but it's not safe here, what if someone hears and tells my father and I'm taken again." The fear in her voice had me immediately feeling protective, no way would I let anyone hurt her.

"No one will hurt you ever again I'll stop anyone who tries to take you from me." I was shocked by how fierce I sounded. I couldn't understand why I felt like this towards her. Saira's only response was to hug me and weep into my shoulder. Her tears made me uncomfortable, not because of her pain but the pain I had hidden away in my heart. I let her go at the same time there was a knock at the door.

"Aurelia are you up yet, we need to get moving." Kairios said softly through the door and I wonder how much he has heard.

"We will be out in a moment, let's hurry and get out of here."

Saira and I gathered up our belongings and quickly got dressed for a long day of riding. We didn't take much with us and made our way out to breakfast. We ate eggs and hard bread before we gave the horses some hay and said thanks to her host.

The day was hot without any clouds in the sky. There were hardly any travelers on the road. As we rode, Saira told us about her kidnapping.

"My day started out as it always did, I woke, ate breakfast and made my way to the Academy. On my way there I stopped at the market for some new ink and parchment. While I was at the bookshop, I noticed a man that I had seen at the parchment shop across the market. I tried not to think much of it and continued on my way.

When I got to the academy the Master had an unusually large amount of research for me to do and left me unattended, saying it better be finished by tomorrow. Most of the work was an outdated language that required me to cross-reference every word. The sun had long set and I was still working.

In my research i found a form of magic to break master level curses. The spell I was reading describes a ritual to bring life and change. It required a lot of power, a sacrifice and two women. This is odd to me as all the spells I learned were based around men. This curse required the women to bare children and it was said that these children would have the power to end any curse.

I don't know why I did it but I hid the book and ran to ask my master what he was trying to do. But I never got there, the man from the market was waiting in the hallway. Something hit my head and when I woke up, I was tied up outside of my city. I bagged and asked for answers but got none.

When I was quiet, I could hear them talking about selling me. I don't know how many days passed before I could hear those men dying and then Kairios found me."

Saira was strong when telling us the story but now that she was finished, she started crying. All I could do was pat her leg as we rode. We rode in silence for a long time I couldn't stop thinking about Saira's story. It was clear to me that she wasn't giving me all the information.

The spell she talked about gave me a funny feeling, like I should remember something. It was interesting that she found such a powerful spell the day she was taken. I'm sure there is a connection. After such a long day riding, we found a nice spot to camp for the night. Kairios and I set up camp while Saira started a fire. As we sat to have some food before training, I told them my change in plans.

"I want to go back to this Academy and find the book you hide. I need to know more about that spell you mentioned."

"What do you mean change of plans? There's absolutely no way! You know we have a timeline; we must complete your return to the throne." Kairios stated matter-of-factly.

"I have to tell you guys something else. I can't go back; I think my father was a part of my kidnapping."

"Why would you think that?"

"It's the only thing that makes sense."