Chapter 35

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Chapter 35: Who are you, really?

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Phoebe's P.O.V

As I was about to jump in the water, but suddenly I felt a pair of arms wrapped around me.

"Pakawalan niyo ako!" Sigaw ko at napatingin ako sa likod ko at nakita ang isa sa mga naka-kapang mangkukulam.

I twisted and turned to flee from their grip but sadly, wala na talaga ata silang plano pakawalan ako.

"Let! Me! Go!"

Then the man who was holding me captive looked at me and replied with a deep husky voice.

"No, sorry. We can't do that." I was kind of taken aback when I saw his face. We have this huge scar displayed right across. His other eye was left out unable to be treated while his right was deeply staring at me with his deep Crystal eyes.

I just stood there, unable to process what was happening right now and I also thought of this guy's motive.

Will he bring me to his leader?

Now, what does his leader want with me? I looked at the others who looked like they have no intentions to harm me.

"Captain, shall we take the natural route or the teleportation route?" I heard one of the deep voice asked as they turn around to look at the man who was clasping me in his arms.

"Teleportation is much more faster so we should go with that."

"Yes Sir." He said as he began marching in front of us and when was far away already he took something from the pocket of his blacl cape and threw it to the ground.

I looked at it with surprise, it looks like a portal.

"Ready yourself." The man that was called captain warned me.

Instead to escaping, I felt the urge to follow what he was saying so I gripped tightly to his shoulders as I buried my face to his chest.

I was trembling. I did't know what was going on but I felt the urge to listen to whatever this guy is saying.

And yet, I felt utterly stupid.

The next moment, he ran swiftly inside the portal and I could feel the touch of a light breeze for a moment.

It was relaxing, despite the wrong situation that I'm in right now.

I then opened my eyes and the next moment, I felt like a princess.

There was a huge castle standing right in front of me. But it wasn't a pretty one.

Then we began heading towards that way. Infront of the entrance.

I looked at everything and inspected the place and I couldn't believe it, it was quite small for a castle but it doesn't look quite a flop. It's actually quite decent once you look at it and there is this feeling that is making me feel superior in this place.

I looked at the captain even though he still have the seriousness in his face.

He noticed me staring at him so his eyes darted back at me.

"What is it?" He asked in a muffled tone. The tone wasn't loud but it was enough for me to hear.

"What is this place?"

He looked at me unable to answer me question, so he just ignored what I asked and began walking.

"Don't ask such nonsense." He stated and looked at which direction he was heading.

I wasn't able to ask more. But I think I knew this place. Ruslan, was it?

I scanned the whole place and yes, the feeling of familiarity came back to me as I remembered that I woke up in here when I was 13, unable to remember anything.

Then there I found out about my hobby, going on adventure and finding new lost kids like me and making them my minions.

I looked around the place and saw the old noodle restaurant I used to rob and also the old worn out cottage in the top of the mountain.

I didn't know that cottage existed, I just knew about that place when one day I decided to stargaze and my eyes fell upon them. There I became aware of it's mere existence.

Come to think of it, it has been 2 years since I met the guys. I didn't know how or what happened. I think a lot had happened, actually.

I met them when I was still 14, Is that right? Hah, alot has happened.

I smiled at the memory and finally we reached the gates.

The gates opened and the dark wizards finally marched inside.

Wait--I shouldn't be too happy. Why is the dark wizards in the Dark Kingdom? What are the connection--Wait, is their leader the Dark Queen? Am I really held captive right now?

Questions filled up my head as My eyes started to go blurry.

This now makes sense! So Meadow and Sky is here!

Are they getting killed? I must save them before it's too late!

The guards went marching while opening the huge door. Then there I was face to face with the throne.

The woman infront of me gave off a feeling of familiarity and superiority. She was stunningly gorgeous in the black dress she was wearing. Her daisy long hair suited the her slender frame. Her red lips was perfect for her fair skin as she sat in her throne staring coldly at me with her gorgeous purple eyes.

"Kneel." She casually ordered.

I didn't understand and was clueless to what she was talking about when some random guard kicked the back of my knee causing me to kneel from the pain.

I looked at the guard to shoot him an angry look when I saw some sort of dumb looking crack guy who was bowing towards the direction of the queen.

Who is this Ruslan's Queen, anyway?

"Is she.....a Peculiar?" She asked while glancing at the guy who held me captive and from my memory they called commander .

"Yes, Your Highness." He replied, unable to meet her gaze but still remained still.

The queen didn't say anything.

Looking at the commander's face, He was looking very nervous. I mean, he looks good but he's from the bad side. I mean if he's innocent, I could actually date this guy but I'm not saying I would. The guy looks like in his early 20's and I could give me some treat if he'd actually held me captive.

I mean look, the guy's hot. I kinda like me some bad boy vibes.

I snorted at my thoughts and turned back my attention to the queen and there I saw she was scanning me from head to toe the whole time I was thinking about the guy captain.

She then rose from her throne, spreading out her black wings. Which made me flinch as she began heading towards my direction.

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Sky's P.O.V

I woke up with an immense throbbing pain to both of my foot and my ankle. I remembered the scenario where both Meadow and I came rolling down in the bottom of the mountain.

I was so stubborn. And right, am I dead?

I sat down and felt the cement colliding in my skin, and It hurts pretty bad. I looked around I saw Meadow laying down beside me.

I held her shoulder and shook her lightly and then she fluttured her eyes open and then she adjusted herself while sitting down.

She rubbed her eyes while looking at the place then she looked at me.

"Sky?"

"Yes?"

"We're not dead are we?"

I shook my head as a response. I swear I could see the relief in her eyes. I smiled at her and then scanned the room.

The room was giving off a chilly vibe and the moonlight was reflecting in the huge  glass stained window. There was no lights  but the only light that was lit was the candles beside me, above the second floor and the passageway right across us.

I looked confused, just how did we get in here? I swear that drop couldn't activate my ability. And even if it does, my ability isn't teleportation but Super speed and Intangibility.

And even if I could use my ability in some kind of thing, it was pretty dark and there's no way I could use my ability while I was unconcious.

I then looked at Meadow cluelessly only to see her staring at me waiting for an explanation why we were here.

Ah, as expected she is clueless as well.

I shook my head indicating that I couldn't figure out why we're in here in the first place.

But we must get out of this place fast. I stood up and reached my hands out to Meadow and she took it. We began heading to the hallway only to be met with iron bars.

Wait, is this prison?

I turned my direction to head back to where we were in the first place, There is nothing to see much instead of knocked off chairs, old antique plates in the shelf and a small library upstairs.

And if you ask me, this place is probably abandoned.

"I don't like it in here." I heard Mead, muttered. Me too Mead.

I turned to see if there is more to look at but unfortuantely, everything in here seems normal.

We both tried to wander off, She was over the library upstairs and I was checking at the papers spread out on the table.

There were photos and very strange letters. Very, very strange.

I tried to pick one up and read it out loud.

"Hey, Mead." I call out.

"Hm?" She responded as she poked her head in the second floor.

"Listen to this."

I spread out the paper and read it out loud.

"Dear, Stella. I'm sorry but I'm asking for a divorce. The former queen, my mother told me that you are no good of a person. I didn't believe her but she told me that she would hand the throne over to my cousin if I don't grant her wish. I am asking for peace after this divorce. I also wish for our child, Thereia to come with me back to Pynka. Her powers are very dangerous and I have this eerie feeling that eversince we met, you are only using me to provide you an offspring that could be dangerous enough to destroy the whole Emperia. I knew you adore our daughter very much, But I knew you find a new offspring to another man. But I really need an heir. And you already knew that Royal Blood from the White Kingdom can only provide an offspring once. I need Thereia, she has the power of life and she had my blood running through her veins. I hope you never meddle your affairs in our life after the divorce. And I hope you wouldn't trouble Thereia and I. Take care.

-Talliarde."

Napatingin ako kay Meads, matapos mabasa yun.

We're in Ruslan so, this must be...

The Palace? How did we get into the palace?

But wait, the Dark Kingdom and the Light Kindom has an heir?

I don't really care about their family issue and we got nothing to do with it but...

Their heir has powers?

I then looked over the table and looked for more letters. There really must be something wrong about this.

I then came across another letter, I looked at it and decided to read it out loud again.

"Dear, Sis. I know what you are planning, and I'm going to get rid of you. This whole world is going to be mine, owning this world and see people follow my every orders and adore me whenever they see me is the only thing that makes me satisfied. And I don't want anybody with the same goal as me. What is mines should only be mines, so I decided that I will get rid of you. I already have my greatest weapon against you."

We were both silent for a while. What a great sister bond does Queen Stella havs with her sibling. From which I was guessing. We were both too intrigued by the letter when suddenly I heard footsteps coming over to the direction of the metal bars in the hallway.

I ran as fast I can in the direction of the stairs when I suddenly bumped into the knocked off chair.

"Ouch!" I hissed.

I then heard the guards talking.

"Narinig mo yun?"

"Yeah, I thought na ako lang ang nakakarinig nun."

"Nandito ata yun sa old study room."

"Matignan nga natin kung ano yun."

I then heard footsteps making their way in the hall where there was bars.

I stood up quietly and began walking in the stairs, finally when I reached the top Meadow assisted me.

We were crouching on the fence of the second floor while peeking to the first floor.

Then suddenly we heard the bars opening, I didn't know how but there were two men who came in fully armored and they had lamps on their hand.

They turned to look around to inspect the noises that they had heard. Eventually they believed that it was only their imagination after a few minutes. They were about to turn their way back but when one of them made eye contact with me, I couldn't help but gasp and fall back on the floor.

"Ayun! Nasa taas!" He shouted and he and his colleague began making their way in the stairs.

Meadow instinctively grabbed my hand while we ran to the corner of the small library where it was completely dark, she clinging into me. And then there we saw the guys who were after us with their lamps they were looking after us in wherever they hiding spot we could be.

Then they made their way towards our direction. I couldn't help close my eyes as I felt Meadow's hug around me became tighter.

I was waiting for the guys to come yell at us and grab our wrists but it didn't happen. I shuddered at the thought that they may be looking at us right now, snickering. Thinking about a way to punish us. But it didn't happen.

I then turned to open my eyes and there was a completely different place. It was completely dark but when I was able to adjust my eyes, I could see that we were both behind on purple curtain while I could see a carpet and a Chair right infront of our eyes.

In the chair, was a woman sitting. She was probably on her late 30's but she was wearing something black and her eyes was most likely white. She must be Queen Stella, looking at the crown was plastered on her head.

I then turned to look at Meadow, she just opened her eyes and was stunned on what she was seeing.

"Where are we? How did we get here?" She asked.

Then it hit me like a train.

I grabbed both her shoulders as made her to turn to me.

I then whisper yelled.

"Mead, it's your ability! You can travel from place to place as long as you are in the darkness and you will be transported to another dim place!" I explained.

Ah, the education on Highfalls really made me good in explaining things.

She then looked like she could not believe what she was hearing and was about to say something when we saw that the gate in front of the Throne opened and there were Man in black cloak coming in.

Wait, Dark Wizards? What are they doing in here? Is there something I don't know? Are they somehow connected to Queen Stella?  I looked at my partner and she also shot me the same confused glance that I gave her.

Then looked and the tallest man out of the bunch dragged a girl.

The queen looked at her and ordered.

"Kneel."

Damn, if she was Alpha and could charmspeak I could also kneel infront of her because of the full authority she had on her voice.

The girl was confused but some sort of ugly knight hit the back of her knee causing her to groan in pain as she kneeled forcefully infront of the queen.

The Queen didn't look quite pleased as she was looking at the tall guy who was the one who dragged the girl.

Then she said the exact words I wouldn't expect.

"Is she.....a Peculiar?"  My eyes bolted from what I just heard. Peculiar? How does she know something from the Peculiar?

"Yes, Your Highness." The guy replied which also made me shocked. I scanned the girl and I couldn't believe what I was seeing with my own eyes.

"Phoebe....?" I heard Meadow gasps between heavy beaths.

Believe me or not, I couldn't understand what was going. I just looked at the Queen as she rose up to her throne, displaying her wings as she began making her way towards Phoebe.

She looks intimidating, her face displayed hatred and disgust as she began looking at Phoebe. But then her expresion soften as she weirdly studied her face, then the next thing happened. She hugged Phoebe tighly that she began sobbing uncontollably.

"T--Thereia, you're back...." She whispered which I definitely heard clearly and there is no mistaking it that I could see the resemblance between Phoebe and Stella.

Then Phoebe hugged back, her tears started flowing out.

"Mom..." She whispered.