Chapter 19

Someone knocked on the door early this morning.

Maybe it's not morning, maybe it's afternoon.

Heavy drapes covered the window.

It's Sebastian.

When I saw him, I closed my eyes.

My heart had died.

No hatred, no love, no sorrow, no guilt. Nothing.

"Liana," he called.

He must have noticed my abnormality. I did not shout. I did not hit him. I had no response.

He didn't know yet my heart had withered. All because of him. And my own stupidity.

He sat on the edge of my bed. Placed his hands on my shoulder and gently shook me. He thought I was sleeping. No, I was not.

"Liana."

I ignored him.

My lack of response and cold limbs must have scared him. He became frantic and started to raise his voice. I scared Sebastian. What an interesting sight.

"Liana!"

I ignored him.

His hand shook when he placed his finger on my neck. I heard him sighed in relief.

"Liana, you are awake." Back to his usual emotional tone. "Want to go watch something interesting with me?" His voice softened a bit.

I remained motionless.

"You are angry with me. You don't want to see me. I understand. The sight in the throne room may be of interest to you." A glass bottle was pushed into my hand. "Come and meet me with this tomorrow. Something interesting is going to happen in the throne room."

He saw that I did not react. He knew I would not go.

He stayed by my side for a few minutes.

Finally he stood up. His voice barely audible, with a hint of anguish, he said, "Please trust me one last time, Liana."

I shook with anger. How dare he use the word trust?

I opened my eyes. He was gone already. Only a glass bottle and the seashell pendant were left in my hand. I threw the seashell pendant at him when I confronted him. It broke. Like our relationship. Like my heart. Did he mend it? Did he think that would make everything right again?

Don't be pathetic, Liana.

A small note was on the glass bottle. 'Black Prison'

I had heard of this. This was a potion given to criminals. To remove or dampen their powers.

Why did he give it to me? To remove my own power? I was next to useless. I did not even need Black Prison.

He asked me to bring this to the throne room? Someone there needed it? Who? He could have brought it himself.

His last words pierced once again on my withered heart. He asked me to trust him one last time.

Hadn't I learned enough?

But what could I lose by going to the throne room?

Maybe I should go and see what interesting thing he was planning to show me.