14 CONFESSION

The minute we hit the road, everyone kept to themselves and no words were shared in the car making the atmosphere seem a little but tense. Ryden's lips were set in a straight line and he seemed to be deep in thought and Rose seemed like she had a lot on her mind but didn't know where to begin with sharing her thoughts in such a tense atmosphere. How could she disturb the peace of the man who makes it possible for her to provide for her basis needs

This went on for a little while until Rose felt the need to unburden herself and let us into the world of her thoughts

"Master.." she says but Ryden simply ignores her and looks around the car like there is something he is searching for

"Master.." she tries again and this time he puts his finger on his lips to indicate that she should keep quiet, until he explains his rather strange behaviour

We stay like that for a while until he finds whatever it is he was looking for and he throws it out the car and then followed by a sigh of relief, he explains to us what is going on or rather the reason for his strange behaviour

"I knew something was off when Maya came into my room and tried to seduce me. It is very out of character for her especially when she knows the type of man that l am. That further confirmed my suspicions and l knew that we had to leave. It was like she was warning me in the best way she knows how. And when she offered to pack my bags, l knew that she was up to no good. Well that, and l didn't trust that she would do a good job. Guess what l discovered? a flower at the bottom of the bag" he says running his fingers through his hair in frustration. I could see the gears turning in Rose's mind and her eyes sparkled before she shared with us her thoughts

"Let me guess, a red rose?" she asks before laughing

"How did you know?" he asks sitting upright to hear what she has to say

"Akia here found one on her door" she responds and he looks at me in surprise

"You two do know that l have no idea what you are talking about right?" l ask the two people with whom l have grown close to throughout this whole situation

"A red rose means someone is watching and listening. Danger, a simple warning that most believe to be an old wives tale" she says and now l understand why Ryden was searching the car

"That's why l couldn't say anything before l found the on in the car" he says

"what about underneath the car?'

"l already looked. We need to find out who you really are and why these people want to keep an eye on you" he says and l can't help but agree. Not only do l feel like an imposter in my own body, but there are all these people around me who don't know who l am either and have never seen anyone who looks like me, well aside from Manila. It sometimes feels like l come from another dimension

"When l was in my room earlier, l walked to the door that had the rose and it opened up to reveal an ancient hallway that led me to a room where l found three people talking, two of which were the king and prime Alove. They were talking about getting rid of me like they did Manila" this causes a gasp to leave Rose's mouth followed by a grunt out of Rydens

"what's wrong? l ask the pair

"what else did they say?" he asks sounding just the same as Rose did when the queen was telling us to leave

"They said my memories won't be suppressed forever. His witch was going to come tomorrow but they had to find a way to convince you to stay, l guess that's why Maya came to you playing seductress."

"The queen said the same thing to me and begged us to leave" he says and Rose and l look at each other

"what's that look for?" he asks

"she asked the same of us. She claims l am Manila's daughter and whatever drove her into hiding is after me. He wants to become King"

"I should have known but what is Ranthoja's husband gaining out of this?" he poses the question to no one in particular

"but if a rose opened up and revealed an ancient passageway, that means the prophecy is coming true and that is why they are in such a hurry to get rid of you." he says and l can't help but worry once again over things l have no control of. There is so much going on that concerns me that l have no idea about and the only key to solving this puzzle is getting answers from a mysterious witch or by luck, my memory comes back. I am too concerned with getting my memory back that l haven't stopped to ask myself if l am l ready to receive whatever it will reveal

"what prophecy?" l ask the pair suddenly finding the land outside the car more interesting than answering my questions. Questions that they too would want answers to if they were in my position

"Don't do that, if it concerns me l have a right to know. Don't you think that it is only fair?" l question with my voice low as tears appear on the horizon, ready to make a spectacle out of me

"we will tell you when the time is right. For now l don't want you to be scared or else Alove and his people will use that to his advantage. You have to understand that we are doing this for your well-being" Rose tries to comfort me but her hands feel like molten hot iron against my back

"Rose you are burning me" l scream and she immediately retracts her hands from my back

"oh no, not now. They have started" she says confirming my worst nightmare

"who has started what?" l ask but the heat slowly spreads throughout my body, it's flames causing a sweat to break out throughout all body parts, drenching me in it's bitter juices

"be strong beautiful girl and no matter how painful it becomes, do not sleep" Rose says and before l know it the pain is gone, replaced by a simple fever

"what happened, it just disappeared" no one answered me but l could see Rose unwavering stare on something on my back and when l looked back l suddenly understood what the heavy feeling was. Ryden's hand lay still on my back, on the exact same spot the heat came from

"we need to arm ourselves, it is about to get difficult" he simply says making no attempt to move his hand from my back or acknowledge that his hand is there