Thorned Shadow [+18]
Chapter 3

Her room still had a small child’s bed placed in the corner of the room, against the window that had seemed so big as a child. Zemira had walked her through the beautiful halls, talking in the ancient language of how nothing has really changed in the castle. The walls were simple, nothing like the tapestries she had seen when she had crawled out of the castle in Wisteria.

Zemira had told her, it was the first time in a few years since someone other than Lovis had called her by her true name. Cerelia of course had been silent, she had leaned closer to the wall in case she fell on her legs that burned with every step she took. She had been left in the room alone by Zemira who had said she would bring her food for her upstairs, that she will bring one the gowns for her to wear.

Cerelia had not moved from her spot in the room she was in. She sat down on the single small bed and stretched her bare legs out of the cloak but she draped the cloak over them. The door was wide open, allowing anyone to see inside.

Lovis had gone to speak to Katara, Zemira had told her, explaining all that had happened.

The mortal lands had become theirs. Katara had returned from Pearlmire this morning and wanted to be alone. She was somewhere in the castle but a part of Cerelia did not seem to care at the thought of the princess, who was not really a princess by blood.

Sighing, Cerelia looked out the window. People had come out of their homes but she could see the wolves that lived next to the forest. They were not ordinary wolves, she could see. They were bigger, fighting with each other yet not killing one another. Maybe they trained for something.

The room she had been locked in with the dragons was massive, the only big room or floor they had where six dragons had been locked inside. She had only been a child when she had been thrown inside to see if she would survive. They had clawed at her body as she had pushed herself in a small cave like wall, where their arms could not reach her. For a few days, she had stayed like that, while they ate the food that was given for her, and her body had healed but she had been crying nearly every night, begging to be let out.

She remembered the first night, Roi had pushed a piece of raw meat towards her, assuming she was a beast like them. But she was hungry, so hungry she had eaten it and vomited it all back out, until they realised the cooked meat was for her. Days had turned into a year until she had slowly gotten used to them. For twenty years, being locked in a cage had not mattered to her because they played with her. In their eyes she was still a child but her body was growing and the more it grew, the less time she had with the dragons.

She had been pulled the night the dragons had been forced to sleep with whatever drug in food. She had never seen them or heard them again.

“I brought you three gowns.” Zemira immediately said as she entered the room. Cerelia turned to face her, seeing the tray full of foods, Cerelia had never tried and the gowns draped in her other arm. “I need to tell Lovis to get you a bigger bed.”

“I need to return to Kavan.” Cerelia spoke in a clear voice.

☆☆☆

Three days passed by, and the bed she had been given, the bigger bed had been untouched. Cerelia lay her head against the corner of the wall, her arms wrapped around her knees as she stared at the darkness.

It had been three days since she had told Zemira she wanted to go to Kavan, the land of witches. Or that was what Zemira had told her she had come from once upon a time It was the hope of returning that had kept Cerelia alive for centuries.

Zemira had cried when Cerelia told her last night of the horror she had faced. No tears fell from her own eyes in the hours they spent together. The gowns were beautiful but big on her body. She was not as gifted as the vampire with big breasts and a beautiful body.

Cerelia was small, petite for a witch. The males had complained that her breasts were too small but she had felt them in her hands once and they had fit perfectly in her palm. They said she had no meat on her bones but she could have argued that she was barely fed.

It had been three days since Zemira kept bringing her food but she did not eat because she was not hungry. She only drank water.

Zemira stood in her doorway, a small sad smile on her face as she found Cerelia curled up in the corner of the room. “Good morning. I’m not taking a no for an answer. You need to eat something, I’m getting concerned.” Zemira walked towards her in a loose lilac tunic that she had knotted in front of her, revealing a slight peek of her stomach and a pair of black pants. She sat down in front of Cerelia who had not slept at all in three days. No matter which corner she had taken, sleep had not come.

“I’m truly not hungry.” Cerelia spoke the ancient language, her voice better than a raspy whisper. Lovis had spoken to her from a distance but he had spent a whole day upstairs, the day that he had made her a bed. He asked her questions, if she liked certain food still? If her favourite shade was black? He spent the night beside her door the first day she could not sleep and he had talked and talked about Eridaya. It was when he read a story to her, that she had cried silently to herself, remembering the story from her childhood.

It was the story of how he had found Zemira and she had always loved listening to it as he would tuck her in bed. But he had fallen asleep outside the door and she had stayed wide awake, moving from the uncomfortable bed and to the corner where she rested her head and stared at the moon that shone in the room.

The sky had been beautiful at night.

“I have a Fae a floor downstairs from you who is refusing to leave her room and now I have a witch here in front of me, who has not eaten her food in three days. I think you’ll turn me old before I take you back to your world.” Zemira sighed dramatically, pushing the plate of soft bread and something chocolate from the smell of it, towards her.

“Will you take me back home?” The spark of hope gleamed inside of her as she looked at Zemira who nodded with a grin on her face.

“I guess I’ll have to return to Pearlmine to defeat the monsters.” She sighed dramatically as she feigned fainting. “I will take you home if you eat.”

“Thank you, Zemira.” Cerelia said, a small smile on her lips, before she looked down at the bowl of chocolate. The scent was not so foreign to her as sometimes the males and females liked to eat in front of her. She knew the scent of food but not the taste.

Cerelia scooped up the melted chocolate with the wooden spoon. “How shall I eat this?” She asked stupidly as she looked up through her lashes at Zemira.

Zemira did not laugh as she pushed the wooden spoon to Cerelia’s lips. “I usually like to eat it just like that. It’s smooth and melts on your tongue. Some people like to spread it on bread.” Cerelia closed her lips around the wooden spoon, her tongue licking the chocolate. “I brought eggs, even meat for you but you did not eat, so I thought maybe chocolate will help you.”

It was rich in flavour, a hint of hazelnut was on her tongue as it melted softly as she swallowed. “It tastes…nice.”

“I’m having armour made for you so when we go to Pearlmire, we are ready for whatever beasts lurk in the forests.” Zemira talked as Cerelia scooped another spoonful of the hazelnut chocolate. “I’m going to give you a dagger or a sword, something to just protect yourself with.”

“Where are you heading?” A voice came from the doorway.

Cerelia looked up at the tall but curvaceous female. Her red hair was shorter than Cerelia’s hair that was too long. Green eyes looked at Cerelia who wished the world would open up and swallow her whole at the female’s stare.

“Katara.” Zemira said, snapping her out of her staring. The female Willa could not communicate with. “This is Cerelia.” Zemira spoke the language of Eridaya, slowly. “Come here.”

Katara walked towards them, glancing at the room that was for a child. A small vanity table was pushed against the set of drawers, enough to fit children’s clothing in it. Another wardrobe was against the wall and she had opened it the second night, seeing her old gowns from the age of ten and younger. Nothing had been touched, not the books she so fondly would love to read, nor the child cosmetics laid out on the vanity table.

Katara sat down beside Zemira, laying her head slightly against Zemira’s shoulder as she stretched her bare legs out besides her. She wore a dress that hid nothing. Cerelia did not look at her, as she lowered the wooden spoon back onto the plate.

“She’s from another realm.” Zemira spoke slowly and warily to Katara.

“Oh great. Another one?” Katara frowned. “How did you end up in our world?” Our world.

Cerelia turned to look at Zemira who waited for her to answer by herself. She let out a soft breath. “I do not know.” She said, because she had no idea why she was left on this land.

“Which realm are you from?”

“Kavan.” Zemira answered for her and instantly Katara said up, a filthy curse slipping past her lips as she looked at Zemira. “Look, before you ask a thousand questions I have no answer for, I’ll need you to stay in the castle tonight, and well until I return.” She said, still speaking slowly for Cerelia to understand.

“Why?”

“I’m going to Pearlmire and no, you can’t go okay. I’m not allowing it.” Zemira shook her head. “Even if I have to bind you with rope, you’re not leaving this realm.” She said sternly.

Cerelia looked down at her wrists, the twin bands of paler skin than the rest of her arms. She had been shackled for years, the chains so tight around her skin she had been forced to take short, smaller breaths so she didn’t cause herself pain.

Katara simply got up, a deep frown on her face as she mumbled something under her breath and walked out of the room. “I heard that, young lady!” Zemira called out to her. “You better hope Lovis didn’t hear that language.”

A door slam which made Cerelia jump was Zemira’s answer, who simply chuckled to herself. “I was just like her, you know?” She said to Cerelia in the ancient language. “I’ve tried not to spoil her so much, but you know how I can be when I get attached.” Zemira chuckled again to herself, before forcing herself to stand up. “Bathe and get ready. I’ll have your armour sent to you. I’m going to meet Lovis.” She said.

Cerelia smiled at her, watching as she left the room, and closed the door. A frown tugged on her lips, her heart beating quickly but instantly the door opened again, a sorry expression on Zemira’s face as if she had forgotten the scream the first night that had escaped her when Lovis had closed her room door.

The vampire queen disappeared, leaving her with the food in front of her. Cerelia ate as much as she could, before forcing herself up onto her feet. She had spent hours in the bathtub, scrubbing her body with whatever scented soap Zemira had left her. It always made her feel clean.

With a slow step, she walked towards the washroom attached to her bedroom. She needed to scrub her body clean to remove the faint touches she still remembered to this day.

☆☆☆

“Can you not stay a while longer?” Lovis sighed softly as he stared at her.

Cerelia wore the coat Delphine had given her but someone had washed it clean and it was softer than the first time she wore it. Zemira had pushed her black suit through the washroom door before leaving again. The suit was tight around her body, a second skin to her figure but it circled perfectly under breasts, holding them in its place. She liked the feel of the thick fabric, and the long sleeves that covered every inch of her skin. It was also in black. Zemira had braided her hair for her, though Cerelia sat silently, her back stiff as Zemira’s fingers grazed her back. Her braid was long and thick, falling just above her hips.

“We talked about this, Lovis.” Zemira smiled at him before wrapping her hands around his shoulders lovingly. “I know you love Cerelia more, but Katara needs that love as well now.”

“She just came back to us and now she’s leaving.” He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling the Vampire closer to his body. Cerelia looked away though she listened to every word.

“My love, she needs her people. We are not a witch.”

“We are not Fae but we took care of Katara well.” He argued.

Zemira chuckled as a small smile appeared on Cerelia’s face. Zemira had spent years trying to coax her way into Cerelia’s life when she was a child but there was something about Lovis, about the carefree wolf that she had loved more. She didn’t remember her childhood with him, only remembered Zemira’s name, but a part of her could feel it deep within her, that she had shared a special bond with the male who read her bed times stories.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She heard the soft sigh that was stolen by a kiss before Zemira said they were ready to go. Zemira moved towards the boat as Cerelia stood a few feet away from Lovis. “I will never forget your kindness.” She bowed her head slowly. “Thank you for showing me love I’m not worthy of.”

“Hey,” he called out to her before taking a step forward. “Look at me.” She did, staring into his eyes. “One day you’ll return and I hope to see the biggest smile on your face. Of genuine happiness, okay? Promise me that?”

She made the empty promise that would never be fulfilled again. “Promise.” Without another word, Cerelia turned around and walked towards Zemira who stood besides the boat. She motioned her to climb in and Cerelia listened as Zemira pushed the boat out into the water, before climbing into it silently.

“Now I will need to guide the boat-“she pulled long paddles out.

Cerelia looked at the water that seemed to glitter in the sun. She leaned down, seeing the bubbles forming around her hand which she pushed into the water. “Hi,” she said softly. “Will you take me to Pearlmire, please?”

The boat shifted, making Zemira gasp before she steadied herself. “I’ve lived for a thousand years and I’ve never seen the ocean respond like that, to anyone.”

Cerelia did not wish to tell her that the ocean had done more than respond to her touch. The ocean had bathed her, had allowed her to cry and washed the tears away. It was as lonely as herself, with no one but itself to look after it.

Zemira talked for hours and hours until the air turned colder and the bright sun had hid behind dark clouds. Shivers ran up Cerelia’s back as Zemira pressed the dagger in her hand. “Straight in the eye. Blind them until I get there.” Because Cerelia didn’t know how to use a weapon.

She wrapped her scarred hand around the dagger as the boat slammed into the land. Zemira climbed out first before motioning her closer. “It’s darker than what I last remember.” She muttered to herself as they climbed to the highest hill possible. It took Cerelia longer than usual, but Zemira did not complain.

It was disastrous. It was the only word Cerelia could think of as she stared at the ruins of trees that had been cut down by a strong force. A path had been made in the ground, as if someone had dug a way out of the dangers for them.

“A few days ago, he went through this.” Zemira said to herself as her eyes ran over every inch of ground they could see.

She didn’t want to ask who he was.

The moon was shining down slowly and the stars were brightening the only parts they could see. No other form of light appeared in the land that she assumed was once beautiful. “How long has this been like this?” Her voice was gentle, a whisper to Zemira who had asked her to talk softly, not that Cerelia had ever raised her voice other than a scream.

“For over 500 years. Pearlmire was for dragons, but they disappeared, leaving this in its place.“Zemira pointed ahead at the broken trees, at the darkness lurking in corners. Cerelia could have sworn she saw green eyes gleaming in the moonlight. “It’s full of monsters that history has not been able to name yet. They’re vicious killers at first sight and they’re more dangerous in the dark.” She sighed. “Stay close to me. It’s a walk in the park for me.”

Cerelia knew Zemira was lying as she walked down the hill. Cerelia, with slower footsteps and careful foot placing, met her down the hill. They did not talk, not as Cerelia held her breath, her feet crunching on bones. She did not look up, only held the corner of Zemira’s cloak and followed her into the darkness.

She expected beasts to jump out at her, to claw at her heavily beating heart but nothing moved except them in the darkness. They did not speak, not a single word other than every step they took echoed in the darkness. Cerelia listened to Zemira’s heart that was calm, not pounding in her chest.

I did this the first time with Lovis. It was crazy and dangerous but I had someone to rely on, to fall back on if I fell down. He carried me all the way back to our boat. I want to do this one myself. Lovis believes I can do it, but I also know he’ll be here when I walk back out of here.

Cerelia remembered the words Zemira had spoken on the boat, as she stared at the determined vampire who held the sword out in her hand. They walked for what seemed like hours but only a few minutes had gone by, before the air shifted, the trees darkened as the swirls of darkness tightened around them.

She was waiting for Zemira to tell her to stop breathing because her heartbeat was the only echo in this land. Cerelia had not seen it move, she had not heard the hiss of the wind but Zemira did.

Zemira twisted the sword in the air, silent on her feet as Cerelia let go of her cloak, gaping at the vampire while jumping high, slicing through the hissing darkness that came crashing towards them. Cerelia pressed a hand on her mouth, to cover her breath as she trembled, bending her knees and lowering her body as the darkness split into two, a wailing sound escaping it as it drifted above her.

“Hey hey it’s okay.” Zemira touched her shoulder, making Cerelia jerk backwards, falling on sharp pieces on the ground. She pressed her hands on something cold and hard. She looked down at it, instantly removing her hands from the bones.

She was going to die in these woods and not because Zemira couldn’t defend them but because her mind wasn’t ready for this. Cerelia had barely looked at herself in the mirror when she wore the suit that made her feel like a warrior ready for battle. But she was not a warrior. She was a broken witch.

“Look at me.” Zemira’s words were soft, as she knelt down beside Cerelia. “I know what horrors you’ve faced and I know that there is nothing I can say that will make it go away, but I know one thing about this place.” She placed her hand on Cerelia’s knee. “The beasts will scent your fear, and they will come crawling towards us. I have no magic, I have a sword and I’m goddamn powerful when I use it but I’m alone in this with you. You have to work with me, Cerelia. If you wish to return home.”

Cerelia nodded her head, forcing the fear down her body but it didn’t disappear. It stayed, a lingering darkness in her mind as she pushed her body up, the dagger still in her palm. “Sorry.” She apologised but Zemira didn’t say anything other than smile before turning her back to her and staring ahead.

She moved. Cerelia followed.

A roar shook the forests but they didn’t stop moving on the path the male had made. He had pulled trees, sliced them in half to arch them together, making a protective barrier against whatever lurked outside the path. Cerelia could scent the gratitude from Zemira as they hurried through the arch of trees.

She heard the roar again, closer to them now but Zemira didn’t stop moving, not as the golden gate shone from ahead of them. Cerelia’s legs burned in pain, but she didn’t stop, and didn’t want to be the cause of Zemira slowing down.

They reached the edge of the path, the golden gate a few feet away from them when the trees no longer arched, creating a shield. The moonlight shined down on them, as Cerelia breathed in the cold air. Something inside the arch of trees had been suffocating, as if hundreds of eyes were on.

Her hand tightened on the dagger in her palm though it was of no use but something was not right. She felt the stare of a thousand dark swirls on her back as Zemira raised her sword. “Don’t move.”

A roar shook through her body as a large beast landed in front of them and the golden gate that shined brighter. Her body froze as she saw the dragon with the green eyes. Black scales ran up his body as his large tail covered the golden gate, shielding it from her eyes.

The spark of hope winked out of her heart as she raised her head, staring at the dragon, the green eyes fixated on her. She tried to breathe but forgot how to.

It was Roi. Or whatever his real name was. The dragon who had carved the way for her out of Wisteria now stood in front of her way back to her realm.

Cerelia blinked as the dragon continued to stare at her. He sniffed the air. She froze. “I know the dragon.” Her voice floated to Zemira who did not move an inch. “This is their land.” The dragons from Wisteria had been locked up before her.

Roi lowered his large head, bigger than her body, but Zemira lifted the sword higher. He huffed in annoyance at Zemira but never removed his gaze from Cerelia as he laid down on the ground full of bones, surrendering.

“I am in front of a dragon who is not killing me.” Zemira said softly her voice full of shock but her hand fastened tightly around the hilt of the sword.

Cerelia took a step forward, one step, two steps, and Roi’s eyes watched her. “They were hurt one day.” She talked softly and she could have sworn the green eyes softened as if he remembered the day as well. “I think they’re shifters, but they’ve been stuck in this form for longer than I can remember.” She raised her hand gently. “The king had injected something into the food they ate,” she was talking to Roi, a part of her still afraid as he lifted his head. “It was the first day I had come out of the small cave because they were dying. The king was going to kill them.” Roi nudged his head against her stretched hand and she giggled a little, knowing he was not going to harm her.

She had saved them that day and they had cared and played with her as if she was a dragon herself.

“This world has been kind to me.” She said softly as she turned her back to the dragon who stood up tall and looked at Zemira. “You brought me into a life that I wish my mind had not forgotten. I know I loved my childhood, I know I loved you and Lovis.” Zemira lowered her sword slowly as Cerelia talked. “I can not explain what happened after that but there were some good parts in it.” She had met the dragons, had been shown real pleasure once, and had spat in the face of the king the day after. “When I escaped, I didn’t think I would be able to replace you again but I had a lot of help on the way.” She glanced back at Roi who had not killed her, who had remembered her even when centuries had passed by. The ocean, who had been so kind to her lonely heart and had cleansed her body in a way she couldn’t describe, had made her feel worthy to see another person.

“I-I don’t know what to say with a dragon staring at me.” Zemira mumbled gently before taking a step towards her. She cupped Cerelia’s cheek before kissing her forehead softly. “You deserve happiness, Cerelia. I am sure the witches will love you.”

“I am not even sure who I am to them.” She didn’t know her true name, she didn’t know if her parents were alive or anything about being a witch.

Zemira smiled at her as she pulled back. “It might take a day, a month or a year, but eventually you will learn who you are and what makes you happy.”

Another roar echoed in the silence, and Zemira whirled around, glancing back at the way back. Where she said Lovis would be waiting for her. “You should go.” Zemira faced her again as she spoke. “I want to see you go through the gate.”

Cerelia nodded, wanting to embrace the girl but her body protested against her mind so she turned to look at Roi who lifted his tail in the air, allowing her to see the golden gate. The dragon was taller than the gate itself, wider than its body, but a golden light, magic, floated around the gate.

Cerelia looked up at Roi, calling in a lifeless debt she had never claimed to have. “Take Zemira back to Lovis.” She said softly to Roi, her hand moving up his scaled body, towards his neck that he bent down to look at her with. “Please don’t let anyone hurt her.”

“Cerelia-”

“For the ten years you gave to me, Zemira. For the years I can never repay you back for.” She didn’t face Zemira as she moved towards the gate under Roi’s tale.

She stared at the golden plate floating beside the door, glanced down at the blood coating the grass underneath. A hint of Pine and Snow swirled around her before she raised her hand and the dagger in her palm.

“I spent a century looking for you.” Zemira blurted out. “You don’t have to repay me for anything. I loved you. You were the first child Lovis and I cared for and nobody will take that spot. If you ever think-” she heard Zemira stutter in her words as Cerelia sliced her palm gently. “If you think your realm is not good enough for you, please return to me. I don’t care what you are or who you will be. I’ll help you replace happiness.”

Cerelia pressed her palm against the golden plate, letting out a gasp as the golden doors opened and her blood was sucked into the plate. Golden light shined so bright, it wrapped around her body, pulling her through the gate.

Cerelia screamed.