CHAPTER#4:The beginning of her nightmare? -1

It was dark, everything around her was motionless. She could not hear the sound of a living creature. Her body felt as light as a feather floating in the air. All that she could hear was the sound of water droplets falling. She wondered if she had been killed. She feared opening her eyes.

-"It's dark..." she mumbled.

And continued to listen to the water droplets falling.

She shuddered at the light and gentle touch on her cheek.

"Lucia... Lucia..."

She heard a gentle voice call out her name.

A familiar one that she deemed so precious like a lost treasure.

She slowly opened her eyes to search for the voice. She could feel it was just a dream. But she didn't want to wake up from it.

"Oh finally. You're awake."

The woman was a mirror image of her. Silky hair white as pearl. Skin fair like freshly fallen snow and a pair of characteristic silver eyes that reflect the moonlight.

She trembled and without a second thought tearfully hugged the woman.

"Mother!" she burst into tears she held her using all of her strength.

"Where have you been? How... Could this be possible?... For years... Ugh...for years...!" she stuttered and sobbed at the same time.

"Hush my child... Everything is alright." she gently stroked her hair like she used to do when Luci was a child.

She let her cry as much as she could. She still sniffed and wiped her tears.

"Mother... Please don't tell me it's a dream."

Luci couldn't accept it even if it were one.

"Lucia... Sweetheart... I know it's hard for you to take all of it in."She pulled her up and asked her to look around.

The darkness vanished before her eyes and a place that looked exquisite with flowers that looked like jewels and a lake that was clear like a mirror despite a waterfall. The sky was clear and the golden light shone over the place.

"This... Where is this place?" she gasped in wonder.

"World of the dead." She smiled.

Luci froze in shock because she didn't expect to hear something so unprecedented.

"Am I... Dead?" She muttered as she bit her lower lip. She was surprisingly calm. Not that because she was with her beloved mother. But she narrowly escaped the hell she was to face.

"No... This is my final abode. Unfortunately, you're still in the world of the living." she placed her hand on her soft cheek.

"I only appeared in your dream to warn you of the harsh reality that befell upon you."

"Please, mother...surely you are not jesting, right?" she asked her mother convincingly.

Her mother shook her head.

"Your fate was to be tested since the day you were born. You were chosen by the heavens Lucia. It pains me to leave your side early. But you have been blessed, my child. You will receive a reward much greater than one has imagined."

It was one painful reality that unfolded after the other.

"Why? Why mother?" she squeaked meekly.

Tears trickled down her eyes. She could not bring herself to take it in any longer.

"Lucia... My daughter." She tearfully hugged her once again.

"I know how painful it was for you. To sacrifice your life for the same of your sisters. To give up your preferences just to raise them. I have always been and will continue to watch over you." She kissed her forehead and let her daughter go.

"This will not be a goodbye." She whispered as the place around her gradually vanished.

She felt warmth despite the disappearance of the warm golden light.

"Mm~" she moaned in her sleep.

"She is fine my lord. She must have been stressed out from the shock and passed out."

She heard the deep voices of two men in the room.

-"Who might they be?" she wondered as she was too afraid to open her eyes.

Another voice that she felt familiar rang in her ears.

"How long will it take her to wake up?"

He asked the other person who was supposedly stating her condition.

"She will wake up anytime soon young lord."

He let out a deep sigh and dismissed the physician.

She could hear the door being closed. There was no one in the room.

She cautiously opened her eyes. The room was unusually dark. And there were no windows.

She looked around for a candle or a fire lamp.

Where was this place?

She suddenly remembered that the holy light in her would light up if she sang.

She opened her mouth but to her shock, not a single word came out. She was horrified, as she felt her neck. Breaking out into cold sweat she scurried out of the bed.

Blindly moving around she hit her head on something that was a hard metal.

She groaned in pain and rubbed her head. She tried her best to visualize what was in front of her. She slowly drew out her hands and felt the metal. It was cold as ice and was the shape of the rod.

A chill went down her spine as she felt more of the similar bars one after the other.

Trembling she ran from one corner to the other. The room felt like a tower with a high ceiling.

-"It can't be." she choked as she covered her mouth with her hands.

Suddenly the sound of the footsteps grew louder before she could react to them the heavy iron door creaked open.

A tall individual holding a torch entered the room.

Terrified she continued to cover half her face in fear.

-"Don't come here!" her mind cried out. He slowly approached her as she closed her eyes.

"So the madman was right." He grabbed her wrist roughly and slumped to examine her face.

She cried in pain with his rough grasp.

"I don't recall such a lethal woman like you being mute."

She looked at him. They were the same black eyes with pupils that slit vertically which she recalled before she was knocked unconscious. She recalled those demonic eyes despite his face covered with a black cloth.

She became shaky with the unbearable pain that slowly engulfed her body.

He noticed how she started to tremble and released her.

-"She's too fragile." he narrowed his eyes while watching her rub her wrist with a frail hand.

"That bratty prince told me that his bride has golden hair and eyes." He once again looked at the meek princess holding onto her dear life. White hair and pupil-less silvery eyes.

"She is the opposite of what we were informed of."

"Hey. Listen." He called out to her as he knelt in front of her.

"Although I despise your race I've got no choice but to interrogate you."

She glanced at him as he suddenly lifted her in his arms.

Too scared to even question his unruly behavior, Luciana remained quiet.

Worried that he might do something to harm her she didn't dare to protest against his actions.

-"Oh dear God! Please save me."