“WHAT ARE THEY?”

I opened my eyes and they were hit by the bright rays of the sun, I used my hand to shield my eyes as I raised myself from the bed.

"How did I...Why did I...", I stuttered. Questions barged into my mind like a flood into a house. My eyes were fully opened now and l could see the white bandage wrapped around my knuckles. I loosened it off both hands to see that my knuckles were already healed up after last night's wall fight. It didn't come as a surprise though, my wounds had always healed fast. Another reason I believe I am not like these people.

Suddenly, the flashbacks came running through my head like it had been suppressed. The light-skinned man, who was he? And why'd he help me? I couldn't remember how l got to bed either because my question wasn't answered and l lost consciousness after what happened. Then, a knock on my door interrupted my trail of thoughts, "Yes?".

Nora pushed the door open slowly and had a smile worn on her face, "Good morning, My Lady".

"Oh, it's you.."

"Can l prepare your bath now, My Lady?"

I nodded still pondering over my thoughts.

"If l may ask, are you okay?"

No, l wasn't. I was infuriated and confused at the same time. "Is there a visitor in the castle?" l asked.

"No, My Lady. The royal family of Luminor left last night already" she said with a confused expression.

"Mm, get on with your duty".

She nodded and went into the bathroom to prepare my bath. I swung my leg down and stood up, I slid down my dress before wrapping a towel around my body.

Nora walks out of the bathroom "It's ready, My Lady". I accompanied her into the bathroom and she began bathing me. Soon after, Nora helped me get dressed into a grey sweatpant and bra top with my hair packed into a ponytail.

"You may leave".

She nodded obediently and left.

I sighed heavily then left my chambers for the training grounds as was my daily routine. On arriving, l took a gulp of water from my bottle and dropped it on the floor. I grabbed my mittens and wore them on my hands then l began to punch the punching bag.

I needed to cool down for a bit and this was the best way I knew I could. I punched hard and with each strike, l released my anger. But still, l couldn't let go of the thought of who the strange man was. Why couldn't l stop thinking about him? I literally cared for no one so he shouldn't be different.

"Take it easy on the punching bag, it's not the reason for your anger."

I punched harder before shifting my gaze towards Serena. As my attention returned to the punching bag, it hit me and I fell backwards taking a rack of swords down with me, "ugh".

Serena ran towards me and extended an arm, "Are you okay?" I smacked her hand away, got back on my feet and walked past her setting myself before the bag again. She grabbed a sword from the floor and turned to me, "Fight me". I looked at her from the side and scoffed, "I'll hurt you".

"That's the point, hurt me. You're angry at me so vent on me, l deserve it" then a devious smirk formed on her lips "or are you scared I'll beat you?"

Now l turned to her, even more annoyed this time. "Your death will not be on me". Before taking another thought, I let my anger take control and moved towards her hastily delivering a punch to her cheek.

The sword fell from her hand as a bit of blood dripped down her nose, "That's all you got?" she said chuckling.

The nerve. I gave her a smack to the face with my backhand then proceeded for a roundhouse kick that I delivered to her midsection causing her to fall back, "weak".

***

"Weak"

I knew if l didn't fight back, Alora would surely kill me. I asked for this so l might as well fight back before dying. I got up quickly and threw a punch at her but she caught my hand and gave it a painful twist as she used her elbow to bulge my back. I groaned in pain "Ahh!" before falling to the ground.

This wasn't easy, Alora was a skilled fighter and l wasn't even up to her rank. This woman here, went to war when she was just 14 with a total of hundred soldiers against the enemy's five hundred and still came back victorious. Who was l kidding, l was as good as dead.

Before l could think of my next action, she grabbed my hair by the back and pulled me up as she kicked both my knees from behind. I fell to my knees then l felt another kick to my waist falling me on my side, I coughed severally and then I heard her yelling.

"SERENA!!!, I'll kill you" She yelled, I could sense the anger in her voice. I used the little bit of strength in me to roll over with my back against the ground. I gave her a warm smile and closed my eyes a bit as a tear rolled down my cheek "I'm sorry...." I could understand her pain or so l thought. I couldn't go through half of what she has been through, I deserved whatever she was doing to me.

***

I pounced on Serena with my fist raised above in the air with intent to punch her once more.

"D-do it...l deserve it"

She did but it'd rather be Pierre I'd have in this situation. I withdrew myself from her and left without a word, I wasn't going to shed any blood today.

I ran to the stables and mounted onto Darcy, my horse and rode off. I didn't know where l was going to but l needed to vent my anger somewhere, somewhere that wasn't the palace.

I continued to ride as the wind blew through my hair and skin giving me a bit of comfort but unfortunately I wasn't alone. Someone had been following me for a while now and they were getting closer. I turned back to get a view of who it was but l was struck down from my horse and fell into the bushes. Quickly, l got up and felt a trickle of blood roll down my forehead. I took to a battle stance as l lurked around to see where Darcy or the intruders were but I saw nothing.

I sensed an incoming attack from behind and tried to dodge it but I was too slow and the intruder caught my arm and threw me onto a boulder. I hit my back against it and groaned. I coughed out a platter of blood and wiped my mouth with my hand. I liked this feeling of danger, l had been craving this for a while now. I ignored the pain in my back and assumed a battle stance but as I steadied I noticed my attackers and they weren't humans, at least to the best of my knowledge.