19 Offer (1/2)

I STARE BLANKLY AT THE CEILING while the memories from yesterday (Was it even yesterday or earlier?) is replaying in on my mind. I close my eyes at the image of Mica lying limply in my arms.

That's the last thing I could recall before the world turns black and before Leo dropped the bombshell right in front of my face.

A fresh old tear escapes from my eyes as a sudden wave of deja vu hits me. Ancient feelings fill my center. Grief is not new to me as well as emptiness, sadness and the feeling of being alone again. But somehow they still manage to cut another contemporary wound inside me.

I thought I have prepared myself for this after Elisa and Chelssey but I thought wrong. Because when I saw Mica stumble to the ground with blood covering her body, a part of me died along with her, a part that I thought I have lost when Elisa and Chelssey passed away, but I was all wrong.

Her face burns in the back of my mind. Memories take me back to the first time I've seen her. It was a week after Chelssey died and I didn't know what to do so I just wander around the forest. I didn't even care if a warrior caught me and decided to slaughter me, all I know is that I want my misery to end. One night, I got so careless that I slept on the ground not even bothering to camouflage myself in the dead leaves. I have woken up with someone dragging me by my hair so hard my eyes started to burn.

I thought I was ready to die but at that moment, I want nothing but to keep breathing. So I decided then that I will continue on my life in the motivation of getting my revenge for Chelssey's death. That night had become my first kill. That was also the night when I found out about my ability. I didn't know what to do with the body nor the fact that I have something inside me.

I panicked right as Mica decided to make an appearance. She came with a cloak covering her body, the hood is drawn over her head and since it was night time, I can't see her face clearly. She has swords and weapons, knives things like that.

She helped me disposed of the body. She started helping me a lot by then and she decided that we became friends. I was reluctant at first because she works for the government but as I get to know her I realize that she has no harm. That's when I swore to protect her in order to return the favor of what she did the night we first met. And I failed her just like how she failed to keep her promise not to leave me alone.

I bit back all the sobs threatening to come out of me because I don't want to cry. I want to scream until my lungs burn out until my throat feels sore from doing so. I want to lash out. I want to release this, whatever it is that I am feeling.

I force my eyes open and instantly blurs with tears forcing their way out of me. I want to badly wipe them off, but my hands are tied above my head and my lower limbs are crossed over each other so that they are tied with one rope. I have no choice but to shake my head vigorously from side to side in the hope to keep my vision back again.

Once I have my sight back, I force my past behind me and my eyes instantly scan the room but there's nothing to see except for this bed I am on. This room is huge and the base from how the high-ceiling is filled with fancy looking chandeliers, I am sure that I am still inside the city and I am inside the castle. I try and failed to find an escape or something to help me to cut these ropes.

There are no pillows either nor a blanket, just a plain white bed. I have never felt so utterly alone and hopeless and useless in my entire life until now.

A door creak made me broke from my bad reverie. Every muscle in my body tightens in response. I brace myself when the least cold voice I want to hear greeted me. ”You're finally awake, I see.”

”Yeah, sorry to disappoint you.” I keep my voice as neutral as possible.

”A joker as always.”

”What do you want?” I snap. She's really getting on my nerves now and my palms are getting itchy to strangle her. She's acting like we are having a fudging normal conversation which irritates me more.

”Simple,” she started. ”Very simple actually. I want you to work for me.” She said without beating around the bush.

”Not gonna happen,” I reply without missing a beat. ”Not in a million years. NO. Not in forever. Not in eternity.” I shake my head strongly. There's no way in heavens that I am going to agree with that.

”Of course, of course.” I can practically see her smiling though I am not looking at her. ”An offer always comes with an agreement right? What do they call it in the past? Barter. That's it. Let's barter.” This is the time where I feel like I will be forced to do what she says. I don't like where this is going. I know what she's going to say before she even says it. ”You will work for me and you will have your memories back.”

”What?!” Okay, maybe I was wrong because that is entirely different from what I thought she was going to say.

”I said, you will work for me and you will have your memories back. Your past.” With that, my head whirls in her direction. She's leaning on her back on the far wall of the room. Her normal black attire is now replaced with the white and grey the officials of government wear. Her hair hangs straightly behind her and her features look guarded.

The past. I remember what Leo said to me, it is my job as a royalty to know the truth about the past. If I work for the director, she will give me my memories back. My past. It is a tempting offer really but if I didn't know her better I will actually give in.

”Memory? So you have our memory all along?” I scoff.

”Oh no! I don't have your memory. I have what can bring back your memory.” My eyes turn into slits as I narrow my eyes at her. ”You see, in this world. I am powerful enough to give you back what you have always wanted and needed in order to survive.”

”So you want me to work for you in exchange for my memories?”

”Uh-huh.”

”In. Your. Fudging. Dreams!” I say each word with conviction and shout the last word that can send anyone who knows me toppling backward and bolting for the door. But she didn't even flinch. She just stands there, looking calm and her expression is as hard as a stone can be. She stares at me and I stare back which was my mistake.

Every cell in my body is suddenly shaking from fear. Her eyes seem burning under her hooded gaze. I feel my eyes widen when she took a step towards me. Almost like, like I fear her.

I gasp out loud as realization dawns on me. ”You know, I really don't like people shouting at me. It's like they are barking out directions I should follow.” She's walking leisurely towards me and I tremble all over. ”And do you know what I hate the most in the world? It's the feeling of inferiority.” She gets to my face while I hold my breath as she leans in closer and closer. ”I hate when people shout at me. I hate when someone gains more power than me. I hate it when someone is having what I want. I hate that. So don't act like you are more superior to me because you don't like getting on my bad side.” She lifts up her face, square her shoulders so that she is looking down at me. ”Let us forget about the deal. I change my mind. I realize that I don't want to give your memories back. You will work for me whether you like it or not.” With that, she spins around and stride over the door, slamming it shut.

I let out the breath that I have been holding and take consecutive handful ones.

My eyes flutter shut as I recall what just happened. The way her eyes gaze at me like she is killing me in the back of her head. The coldness and power in her voice had sent me reeling inside.

I have never been so scared in my entire fudging life as I came into conclusion. That woman has the same ability as me and she is more deadly than I imagine.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

A knock came upon my door, startling me from my reading. Two warriors have come earlier shortly after she left me in my room to release from my bonds. I consider them kind since they brought me food, drinks, and books. The books--I ask them if they could at least give something to kill time too. Although they wouldn't leave me even though I have told them so many times that I wouldn't run away because there's no way in heavens that I could have probably escape a room where no windows or air passageway is allowed. Which is a half-lie because I want to buy myself some time to search the room cause there's certainly a secret passageway or something behind one of these walls. But the warriors just wouldn't budge. I have tried using my ability on them which is my second mistake this day.

I realize that they are one of the silencers when they almost rob me off of my powers. The silencers are the dangerous ones in this field since they can leave you powerless and useless so you have to be careful when you encounter them cause some of them are not as forgiving as these two.

That is how I ended up, lying on the bed, reading some stuff about a girl who's name is Mare Barrow and a prince named Cal. Well, their story is pretty much alike to mine so it piques my interest.

I am enjoying what I am reading so far when that knock interrupts me. I continue reading anyway, my two guards are the ones who answered the door. They still won't tell me their names so I figured I could name them as G1 and G2.

I didn't even look up from what I was doing even though my attention was diverted from the book to them. They are talking in hush tones in the doorway and time to time they would glance at me. It takes about 5 minutes before the two guards finally decided to tell me their conversation.

I shift in my position and pretend to not trying to eavesdrop from their earlier talk. I continue to ignore them as they come on the edge of the bed.

”Our Madame has requested for your appearance in on dinner. The servants are here to help you bathe, they already have your clothes prepared. After washing yourself, we will escort you to the dining room.” G1 stated. I didn't even bother looking at them to see their scowls as I continue to lie there and read. I flip to the next page. ”If you don't stand up we will--”

I cut her off by snapping the book shut and standing abruptly. I smile sweetly at her before putting the book on the table beside my bed. I raise my eyebrows and gesture to the door with my eyes. ”Shall we?” I walk without giving them another glance.

We walk in silence. The two servants are in front of me while the guards are behind me. I snort at their positions.

”What?” G2 asked.

”Nah,” was all I said just to piss her off. We continue on our little tour on the heaps of hallways.

I was almost certain that they are leading me somewhere where they can slay me and bury my body silently without raising an alarm when we turn to a hallway to found a dead end. Or not.

A door stood tall at the end of the hallway. Nothing to see, just a normal bathroom door. So when they open the door I almost choke at the vast space inside. There are at least 20 cubicles with no doors but walls only to separate each. Showers were stalled above the walls which are tall enough to conceal your chest up to your knees.

I turn towards the servants since the guards have stayed outside. ”Okay, are there any soap or shampoos that I can use here? And also, leave my clothes behind. I am sure I don't need help in that or in bathing.” I held out my hands to them but they continue to stare at me as if I just swallow a stone. ”Do you understand what I said? Or you are one of those people who don't speak English? Because we are going to have a problem in that since English is the only language I know...”

”Uhm. It is not that,” Servant#1 answered. Thank gods they speak English. ”Madame said you are to be washed properly and you will probably need help in putting on the dress.”

”Oh. Okay. I can wash myself properly so where is the soap?”

”No. We are to wash you ourselves.” I. Choke.

”No, no, no. That is not necessary.”