-16
AURORA’S POV
I was so sick of this place. The violence, bloodshed, and constant chatter about plots and killings made me feel suffocated. How I wished I could get out of this wretched place!
“You know it is possible, right.” A voice sounded right next to me. Startled I spun around and almost bumped into a middle-aged lady.
I hadn’t seen her in the palace before. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the locked door from the corner of my eye. How the F*** did this lady enter?
She chuckled at my stunned expression and said, “Just the way you materialized in front of Caleb…”
“You know about that!”
She winked and said, “I even know how you did that. I can show you if you want.”
I narrowed my eyes and asked, “How exactly are you going to do that?”
“I can show you my memories…”
“You can what?”
She gave me a toothy grin and took my hands. “Close your eyes and relax completely.”
I studied her face; black curls fell down her shoulders in soft waves, her face shone with wisdom. She didn’t look like someone who might harm me. I wasn’t exactly good at people but I was willing to take my chances.
Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply. A warm sensation coursed through me and felt like I was spinning in the vortex.
At first, I saw glimpses and bits of odds and ends just like the blurry images you see on antenna TV. Then, it cleared and I could perceive everything.
***
“Aurora! Stop running. You have to drink your milk.” A young lady called out, exasperatedly chasing her daughter.
The little girl giggled as she tried to get away from her mother. She kept turning back every few moments.
In this process, she bumped headlong into a handsome man. He picked her up and twirled her around. The girl giggled and said in a cheerful voice, “Dada… dada…faster… faster…”
The man stopped and said in a serious voice, “First drink your milk.”
The girl’s expression changed instantly. She folded her arms and puffed her cheeks. She glared at the glass and the next moment it broke in her mother’s hands.
She winced in pain and dropped the glass as it cut through her skin.
“Aurora! What did you do? Will you hurt your mother now?”
“Don’t scold her, Niomi. She doesn’t know how to control her powers yet.” A young woman with black curls said, taking her from her father.
“That is what I am worried about… Celeste… What if they find out?” Niomi said dressing up her wounds.
“If you don’t mind, I can take her with me… keep her safe…”
“I can’t do that, Celeste…”
“But, you can risk her life!”
***
Then the woman abruptly pulled her hand away and everything turned dark. My heart ached at the sudden loss. I saw my parents after so long…
My eyes teared up. “Why did you stop?”
“You are not strong enough to be in my mind for long.”
I studied her features carefully and asked, “You are Celeste, aren’t you?”
She let out a deep sigh and nodded her head.
“What happened to my parents, Celeste?”
“If you come with me, I can tell you everything.”
“Okay, I will just inform someone and come.”
“Don’t be a fool, Aurora! They won’t let you come with me. Hurry, take my hand. They will kill me if they find out I am here…”
I wanted to know more about my parents but Celeste’s behavior was strange. I didn’t know if I could trust her…
My heart skipped a beat when I heard footsteps approaching. Celeste must have sensed my confusion. She took a step back and said, “I will let you think about this. If you ever want to meet me, think about the house you saw in my memories, you will be teleported there.
Then, she vanished right in front of my eyes…
ASLAN’S POV
I still hadn’t replied to Zizi. I didn’t like the way my brother behaved still I couldn’t bring myself to betray him.
Like a fool, I helped him recover all the painite weapons. He didn’t appreciate my efforts instead he was ready with another work for me.
I had to find out how Aurora materialized in the war zone that day. Exhaling deeply, I went to meet Aurora.
I was stunned to see her condition. She had become paler and weaker. Handing a thermocol box to her, I said, “There are vials of blood in this. It should be sufficient to last you a month…”
Her eyes flashed with concern as she asked, “Are you going somewhere again?”
“No, but Tyson will be mad when he doesn’t get what he wants…Ummm… I just don’t want you to suffer.”
Her eyes brimmed with tears. She held my hand and said in a heavy voice, “You have always been very kind to me, Aslan. I just wanted you to know that I am very thankful for this. If I had an older brother, I am not sure he would do the same.”
I ruffled her hair and said, “I will always look out for you. After all, we are connected by blood.”
She started laughing but stopped midway when Tyson walked in.
“Did she speak, Aslan?” He asked, glaring at me.
“Why are you pestering him, Tyson?” Aurora cut in before I could respond.
He grabbed her by her shoulders and gritted out, “Why don’t YOU answer my questions then?”
“My answer will be the same even if you ask a thousand times. I don’t know how I reached the battle zone.” Aurora bit out, enunciating each word.
Tyson’s eyes turned red and for a moment I was afraid that he would turn Aurora to ashes. I prepared myself to fight him if needed.
Soon, his face became a stoic mask. He released Aurora and pulled me out of the room.
“You will be locked up in this room till you are ready to answer. Let us see how long you can deal with hunger and solitude.” Tyson barked, before locking up the room.
I was so tired of being around Tyson. I didn’t want to be a mere tool in his hand. So, I decided to move in with Zarina for a while…
“Are you sure about this?” Raina asked me for the hundredth time as we waited for Zarina to pick us up.
I pulled her closer and said, “Of course! I want to stay away from that toxic place for a while.”
Once inside the car, Zarina cast a powerful masking spell so that Tyson couldn’t track us. Then, we drove away to our freedom.
.