Chapter 33

**Nerissa POV**

 “You cannot run away from me or this world.”
The moment Randall said those words made the fire burn inside of me, leaving me for a second feeling speechless.
Turning my back towards him, I took a much-needed step away from him as I regained my courage and finally found my voice to speak, saying, “Watch me.”
Storming away from him, reaching the door as my hand touched the door handle, I heard his voice, saying, “The chase is on.”
Huffing at his words, I pressed down the handle when Reynard loudly called after me, “Nerissa!”
Ignoring his call, I continued on walking, even so, I wanted nothing more but to run away especially feeling the burning look of Randall’s eyes as they followed after me, but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction so I forced myself to hold the urge back and walk as normal as much possible I could.
Walking outside the mansion, I saw two guards reaching towards me as one of them said, “We are to accompany you as his Highness the Dark Lord ordered.”
“Whatever,” I mumbled out as I started walking through the garden path, taking slow steps as I took a much needed deep breath, exhaling slowly as I looked around taking in the beautiful scent of various flowers and freshly cut grass, walking over the white gravel path, reaching for the main gates I saw throughout the window.
Reaching the tall, black, iron gates, I looked left and right knowing that deep down he was right.
Even if I was to try to escape, I could never find a way on my own and get out of this world.
My eyes lingered on the road that led to the forest for a minute longer until I felt his eyes burn through my skin, making me slowly turn around and look at the mansion that was left behind.
I spotted him on the balcony, standing with a drink in his hand as he silently watched me from his spot.
His eyes never left mine as we stare at each other for a moment when I noticed a movement behind his back making me avert my eyes from his only to notice Hilda walking slowly towards his, leaning down as she whispered something into his ear making him gulp down his drink, turning around and following after her inside.
 ‘What was that all about?’ I couldn’t help but wonder as I turned my focus back ahead and slowly started to walk the other path that I knew would lead me into town.
 Entering the town center, I saw many Fae running around as they were doing their chores. Some as they passed next to me stole a glance my way, looking at me with curiosity but not daring to approach me as the two guards followed behind me closely.
The distant sounds of laughter and music flew through the air making me look around until I saw a Merry Go Round in the distance with children laughing as they were laughing while riding on it.
Slowly, I walked towards the sounds of laughter and joy, feeling drawn to it as my curiosity was spiked.
Coming near the entrance where a ticket stand was, one of my guards walked past me and spoke to the cashier, “She is with us.”
I stood there speechless, looking at the guard when he noticed my dumbfounded look and said, “Well, don’t you want to go inside and explore and take your mind off from things or we understood your intentions wrongly?”
My mouth opened as I felt speechless, but I could see he meant well as his eyes were gentle, so I asked, “You will let me go there?”
He looked at me and said, “Yes, but also his Highness instructed us both to give you free roam to explore and if you will wish to go here, he said to let you. Our job is only to accompany you and keep you safe.”
“Am I in danger when you are here to keep me safe?” I asked, surprised that Randall did all that without telling me.
“You won’t be if you are with us, so do not go far away from us or try to run somewhere because then you might be and also you cannot anyway escape from here.” The same guard added with a smirk as he said the last line, making me grumble under my breath.
Deciding to take full advantage of my so-called freedom, I walked inside the carnival, seeing as Fae families were enjoying their time together, while parents watched over their children playing or some helping their children to win a prize.
I saw bumper cars and the excitement in me skyrocketed as I remembered the time when I was a little girl and my father took me together with my mom to a carnival and we went together to one of the bumper cars, crashing with other children and parents as we kept laughing all the time.
My mom wasn’t too happy that my dad allowed me to go on to many things, but every time I would look up at him with a pleading look in my eyes, he would crumble down and give in to my request making my mom roll her eyes or snort, but in the end, she would wave at us and laugh at our silliness.
Exhaling deeply as the memories of those loving memories I managed to create together with my parents flooded my mind, I blinked down the tears that were threatening to fall down onto my cheeks.
A hand landed onto my shoulder, making me turn my head to the person, seeing it was the same guard that I spoke a minute ago, looking down at me with worry displayed in his eyes as he said, “Are you ok?”
Clearing my closed-up throat, I gave him a weak smile as I answered, “Yes, just missing my family.”
He nodded his head, saying, “Take as much time as you need, we are in no hurry.”
“Thank you,” I said to him as he smiled gently, still looking at me with the same worry flashing through his eyes.
I walked through the carnival grounds, followed by my two guards, passing by Fae families, watching them being so carefree as they enjoyed their time together.
I saw stands with cotton candy and my mouth watered, making me walk towards it to get myself some. 
While I was getting myself one, I turned to look over at my two guards and asked them, “Would you like some too?”
They both looked surprised by my question, looking over at each other for a moment before looking back at me, giving me an awkward smile while one of them said, “No, but thank you for the offer.”
Nodding my head, the second guard beat me to it as he paid the seller to which I thanked him as we walked ahead walking towards the hit the target stand.
Giggling, I rushed to the stand, wanting to try my luck as the game started and I started to shoot at the targets, missing and hitting some in the process.
After the game was finished, I heard chuckles coming from my guards making me turn my head to look at them, “O you both think you can do better than me?”
The guard that bought me the cotton candy, the brown-haired one, arched his brow while the other blond one snorted as he said, “Of course we can.”
Snorting at them, I gave them a challenging look, saying, “Ok, prove it.”
Funny how it didn’t take me long to try to convince them as they jumped right in and took their guns, waiting for the game to start.
The moment the game started, the two of them started shooting down targets like they weren’t at all even moving. 
When the game ended, I congratulated them, making them both look smug as we continued on slowly walking through the carnival center.
“So what are your names?” Suddenly I asked them slowly walking with them both by my sides.
The brown-haired guard said, “My name is Thomas, and this is Jeffrey.”
Finally, after we got to know each other, we chatted some more as we used the benefits of the other stands with games and had fun together.
It has been a while since I felt relaxed and carefree and this was what I needed, even for one day to be able to forget the situation I was in.
As we walked searching what to do next, a purple tent with an eye drawn on it caught my eye, making me feel curious about it.
Walking towards the tent, Thomas halted me right before I could enter inside, saying, “Maybe going there is not such a great idea, Nerissa.”
I looked back inside the dark tent, seeing crystals and herbs displayed with various other different objects but not seeing anyone inside it, I turned my head back to Thomas, saying, “I won’t run away if that is what you fear about.”
I could see he was thinking for a moment as his eyes went from the tent then back at me, when he finally gave in and nodded his head, saying, “We will be here, but if anything happens call us we will come to you instantly, ok?”
Nodding my head I said, “Ok.”
Turning around as he let go of my arm, I walked inside the tent admiring the small cozy looking area with glittering crystals that gave out rainbow colors, coloring the insides of the place.
Touching one of the crystals, a voice startled me as it came behind my back, asking, “How may I help you, dear?”
Turning away towards the sound of the female voice, I came face to face with an older woman with piercing icy blue eyes and long black hair.
Noticing that she startled me, the older female chuckled as she said, “O, I am sorry dear I didn’t mean to startle you. Come and take a seat and tell me what you are seeking for.” She said as she showed me the small cozy sitting area with cushions placed down on the soft-looking carpet.
Following after her, I sat down on one of two bigger cushions, saying, “That is ok.”
The older female smiled gently at me as she said, “My name is Azria. Welcome to my small humble tent.”
My eyes didn’t leave her and I could see she was no danger as her eyes kept the gentle tone same as her voice as she spoke, “Thank you, I am Nerissa.” I said to her. 
I couldn’t help to notice what she was and before I could stop myself I heard myself asking her, “Are you and Oracle?”
Azria nodded her head as she answered, “Indeed I am, and I can tell there is a lot about you, dear Nerissa. Now tell me, dear, what would you like to know?”
Not wasting any time I asked her, “Could you please tell me if you can see where my aunt Patricia is and if she is ok? Also, if there is a way for me to get out of this Fae world?”
Azria nodded her head as she said, “I will gladly help you with that, but you will need to give me your hands so I can reach into my powers to seek for the answers for you.”
I extended my hands as she placed her palms into mine, I heard her voice saying, “Close your eyes dear, and relax.”
Doing as she instructed me, I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths; I forced myself to relax a little as I waited for the answers.
Flashes of images started to play in the forehead of my mind. They were so fast that it made me feel dizzy and unable to see what they were showing because of how fast they switched. A gasp came from Azria as I opened my eyes, seeing her taking in deep breaths as her eyes were closed.
“Azria?” I called her name, worried that something was wrong, I asked, “Are you ok?”
She raised her head up. Opening her eyes, I saw the icy blue ones looking so intently over at me as she said in a whisper, “You are the one.”
Not understanding what she meant, I looked at her in confusion as she continued mumbling, “The prophecy…. blessed one…”
“What are you saying? I don’t understand? What prophecy?” I asked, feeling my heart race inside my chest as she silently looked over at me.
“O, dear Goddess,” Azria said, realizing something as her hand pressed over her lips.
“Azria, please tell me what did you see? What is wrong?” I pleaded to her, feeling a slight rise of panic appearing inside of me.
“You do not know of it, do you, dear?” whispering she asked me, making me look at her confused as I was about to ask her but she continued in the same tone, “Your phoenix is asleep now preparing for its final stage which is full maturity, that is why now you are feeling weaker than usual. You are the blessed one, Nerissa.”
“Blessed? I don’t understand?” I asked her, feeling even more confused.
“I will explain,” Azria said as she made herself comfortable. Leaning closer to me, she said, “There is an ancient prophecy that says that in a certain time there will be a chosen one born and given a rare gift. A gift of multiple mates. There is a story that follows saying that the blessed one gives ultimate powers and strength, so to divide those powers she is given mates not one but more. One of the stories says there will be two as one will lead the world to its glory while the other will doom us all as you see on the prophecy lies a curse, Nerissa, a curse so powerful that the Goddess herself couldn’t break it off.”
My eyes grew wide as I heard her words, I asked her, “W-what do you mean?”
She took my hand in between hers as she looked at me with sad eyes, “You have met your mates, haven’t you?
As her question came, my mind couldn’t help but to go back to Alexander and Allister as I slowly nodded my head.
“The curse is not the easy one, and I can see your heart will be torn.” Azria said exhaling sadly, making me scrunch my eyes as I asked, “What is the curse about?”
Her eyes closed for a moment before she opened them and looked straight into mine. She said, “The curse makes you choose only one of your mates, if you will not choose it will be activated, and…” 
“W-what happens if I don’t choose?” I asked her, holding in my breath, feeling as my heart feared her next words.
“The curse asks of you to choose one mate, to choose which of the destiny paths it created for you, you will follow. Will you choose the destiny of glory and prosperity or the road of doom and damnation.” She said to me, making my eyes grow wide as I couldn’t breathe.
Moving closer as I pressed my other palm over hers, I breathlessly asked her, “What will happen if I can’t choose?”
She looked at me closely, silent for a moment, before she whispered, “You will be doomed to die.”