9 Chapter Eight

I thought I could get a moment of rest at Luciana's Manor but apparently, that was far from happening. Just the moment I got drifted into a deep sleep a strange human came into my room with a sword and hooded, probably ready to kill. How did whoever it even get here? I know Luciana has no guards protecting her home but the exit doors were locked perhaps I left mine open.

I unhurriedly raised my head a bit but could not get a better look at the face of my prospective attacker. I considered using the painting hanging above my head and using the fishbowl on the nightstand to attack first. I would have used the candle stand but it was far away from me. As the person at the door approached, it was a lady but before I could see her face, I lifted the fishbowl luckily for her she held my hand before I hit her, stopping me from my intended attack.

"What the hell girl." She said.

"Dolores?" I exclaimed on hearing her voice and she took off her hood to reveal it was really her.

"Why would you attack me with that?" She asked. "It'd be such a shame if I was killed by a fishbowl with a little fish in it." She added, putting down the fishbowl which she took from me.

"How did you get here?" I asked eagerly.

"Not necessary now. We have to go, now." She responded.

"Go? But it's late." I said.

"Are you crazy? We can't wait till morning before we leave. Luciana can't meet us here or I'll be dead."

"How... How did you know who lives here?" I asked her in confusion.

"Naya" she whispered "I'll answer all your questions but now we must hurry. Please."

"I'm not going with you. I don't need your help. I can take care of myself."

"And yet you got kidnapped?"

"Have you been following me?"

"Of course. I knew you'd get in trouble. Your pride could have gotten you killed. Now, are you coming with me?"

I agreed to escape with Dolores. After all, I knew that I'll never be able to get my crown without her and I couldn't even trust Luciana. She might keep me here to hurt me or something.

I followed Dolores out of the castle and she led me down a damp, rocky path that I did not even notice when I got there earlier. soon, we met two horses just a few meters away from Luciana's Manor.

"I got them for our journey." Dolores said.

"Oh. how did you..." I started but paused remembering I had left my bag behind.

"My bag. I left it in that castle." I said to Dolores. "I should hurry and get it back."

"what do you have in it?"

"My clothes, fruits, and other supplies."

"We'll leave it behind."

"what?"

"Is there any clue of your true identity in the bag?"

"no."

"where is your ring?"

"I still have it." I said and brought it out. I always kept it hidden in my clothes even after I changed clothes.

"good. them we're leaving without your bag."

"No, I'm not."

"don't act tough now Naya. Maybe Luciana treated you nicely but she won't spare you if she found out who you are."

"Do you know her?"

"Not personally." Dolores said and quickly obviated the topic "Listen ignore it. we have to travel further into the woods to find a place to rest and continue our journey."

"Okay." I said, surprised without arguments.

"what do you need a bag of clothes for anyway." Dolores muttered.

We both got on our horses and left, galloping into the woods.

As we made our way into the woods, it was completely silent except for the noises made by birds and crickets singing. Soon we got a path that had a big tree with wide branches.

"I think we've traveled enough. We'll rest here and continue our journey tomorrow. We only have a few hours left till sun up." Dolores said as she stopped her horse and got out.

"Are you sure about this?" I asked her also making my way down from my horse. "I mean, this place looks isolated and dangerous."

"Every wood is Isolated. Nobody ever lives in the woods except witches, right? And yes every wood is dangerous but would you rather we kept journeying without rest and have no strength to face the danger when it comes?" Dolores asked.

"No." I responded.

"Good. Then we'll rest here. I'm sure these horses need their strength back as well."

"How did you find me? How did you know I was in that Manor and how did you get in it?" I asked inquisitively.

"One question at a time princess. I'll answer just one question, now which should it be?"

I sighed "How did you find me?" I said.

"I didn't." Dolores said and when I gave her a questioning glare, she continued "I didn't look for you so I did not find you. I followed you the whole time."

"What? And you let those bandits take me away?" I asked in shock.

"Yes. You see Naya, you don't understand how the world beyond Damitro works and you would not accept it. For seventeen years of your life in the events, you have a memory of, you've been stuck in that little village. You do not understand how things work and so you thought you could just decide to do this on your own. I decided to let you see what the real world holds in store for a woman like you who cannot even defend herself without a sword. I watched you, even at the auction. I needed you to see the world beyond Damitro is a dangerous one and get you prepared for what lies ahead. After what has happened, Devon cannot be ruled by a feeble Queen. You need to understand that. You act tough but you're just hiding behind your fears Naya." Dolores said like she was ranting.

After listening to her I could not even say a word. I knew she was right but how could I admit I was scared, scared of facing a man as powerful as Stefan, scared of losing Mara, scared of being betrayed by Dolores. I without a response, stepped away to sit by the tree side before I speak but then as soon as I stepped on my feet, Dolores tried to warn and push me away from that position but instead, we both ended up getting trapped as a huge weighted rope dropped from above, locking me tight against Dolores who stepped in to save me and tying us against the huge tree.

"Argh...!" I screamed...