Chapter 1: The Book

The same relaxing and fresh scent of lavender welcomed Niah after she entered her room that made her take a deep deep breath just to inhale and feel the calming atmosphere around while looking around the room that does not have any changes since her last visit but noticeably clean and neat

She took off her snickers, put down her luggage bag aside and walk towards the window to open it.

The calm and fresh wind touched her skin as the scenery of the clear lake reflecting the moon and the stars above greeted her.

She can't help thinking that this place was truly a best place to unwine and find serenity not just because of the silence that it can offer but also because of its touch of mother natures gift and the best example for that is the lake infront of Niah's window which was located at the backyard of Villa Lucida

While enjoying the calming ambiance, Niah remembered her Grandma Lora's request about her favorite book, so she sat in her bed and fixed her messy hair into a bun and started to look for the book in the cabinet beside it.

The first and second drawer box were empty so she sat on the carpet to comfortably searched in the remaining drawers.

She realized she never seen her Grandma read and never seen a book inside the mansion since her first visit thats why its quite new to be able to find a book inside the rest house.

Finally after opening the third one, she discovered a lot of used bond paper and crayons in a mess. Out of curiosity, Niah took one and saw a drawing of a crown decorated with ice blue colored gem. Obviously it was a kiddie drawing and with a signature at its left lower side

She saw the initials of

N.M.V or Niah Mireille Villadarez

with a sign above the letters that actually was her childhood signature that means that her drawing was hers. While looking at the remaining other bondpapers with drawings of random objects she remembered her forgotten passion for arts.

Way back in her childhood she was so inclined in drawings, music and literature but sadly it suddenly stopped and she chose to study a pre-med course in college hoping to be a Doctor someday.

Assuring that there were no left at the back part of the drawer she extended her arm and reached it from left to right, surprisingly she felt and hard amd thick object by her fingertips.

"Battle of Fires and Roses" undusting the book as she read the title

The cover of looks like an old leather book with a golden border with a cursive title that made it look more vintage and gothic. Who would have thought grandma love reading fantasy romance books even though she's single and never have been married. She got up and sat on her bed after putting the book beside her lampshade.

"Niah.." she looked around after hearing the voice and shook her head thinking that it came from the entering wind coming from the open window so she stood up and walk to pick up her bag but in less than a minute she heard that voice again

"W-who's there?!" she fearfully asked knowing that none of her Grandma Lora and Yaya Doris talked like how that voice talked and sounds like.

"Niah.." she heard the voice again and suddenly a strong winds entered her room made the scented candle blew out its flames and made the book turn its own pages. Fearing that some leaves from nearby trees would enter her room, Niah ran toward the window and immediately locked it to stop and prevent the strong wind from entering the room.

After locking it, she motioned to continue picking up her luggage to finally arrange it inside the closet when she heard faint voices again and now coming from the open book on her small cabinet, which was the same book she found earlier by her Grandma Lora's request.

"Find her! Make sure to kill the Princess before they arrived in the Mainland Chief Kingdom! Take every life along with their travel group and make sure to get the gold offering that they bring, including jewelries so we can earn more!" said by the

voices coming from the opened book that made her more enchanted so she drew closer

" Am I hallucinating?!! fvck last time I checked Im just broken-hearted and not a neurotic paranoid girl! " to prove that she was just hallucinating, she walked closer amd closer to have a gaze on the book where she heard those faint voices coming from.

Shockingly, she saw and witnessed the glowing page of that book where there was a moving illustration of people running from something out of fear, planning to fearfully close the book, she suddenly felt strong magnetic force like energy coming out from the book

"W-what the hell is happening!?" she exclaimed after she felt a strong force of the sucking blue energy from the pages of the book.

"Granma Lora!! Yayaaaaaa!! help!" trying to ask for rescue when the sucking energy strengthen to the point it made her dizzy and her vision's blurry

"Sht, what the hell is happening!" her mind was still shouting but cluelessly her mouth cannot move anymore.

"Yaya!! Grandma Loraaaaaa!!! Help me!!" hoping it may be voiced out but sadly her mouth didnt obey her mind

Bit by bit Niah felt a sudden feeling of sleepyness

"Grandmaaaaa.." she weakly uttered before losing consciousness

NIAH'S POV

I felt a drop of liquid running down from my head as eye open my eyes

Ugh! my head, it was so damn painful!

I touched my forehead and looked around

Where am I? I asked to myself while looking to the tall trees and bushes around me

What happened?

While trying to remember things up I heard footsteps and talks of men

"Find her! We cannot let them join the royal competition as what our boss tasked to us!" said by the nearby manly voice

Nervously, I tried to move closer to the bush where I was lying so I can hide easily if they passed by when I felt another shot of pain and now its coming from my left ankle.

"Sh*t" I uttered as I grunt in pain

"Where the hell am I? w-wait.. what!? " realizing what I am a wearing right now. A shiny soft Pink silk sophisticated dress with a lot of golden ornaments and jewelries from head to toes as I also felt some above my head.

I was still figuring things around me about where and how did I came here I felt a motion behind my back and a blade of a blade at my peripheral vision point at my left cheek.

" There you are!" I looked up and saw a bearded one-eyed man like a pirate smiling creepily while looking down at me.

" Come here, and Ill let you follow your maids on their death" he said while grabbing my hair harshly so I would stand up

"N-No, please Im not from here! I came from Villa Lucida! I am Lora Villadarez' granddaughter! I just came here for vacation! " hoping it will save me from this man's blade

" Stop talking btch and let us have our reward money!" he said as he raised his machete and positioned it near my neck

"No please.." I pleaded while crying cluelessly due to my fear

"Hahaha! Goodbye your highness!"

"NOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

- - -

What really happened to Niah?

Where and How did she went there?

and Who are those men trying to kill her?