Chapter 10: Meeting the prince

I went inside his room and it was the same as I saw it last. I broke down and silently cried for a bit. After a few minutes I went under the bed and saw a box. I hesitantly grabbed it. I didn't open it. I wanted to open it with my family present. So I said goodbye to his room one last time. Then I went out. "Hey everyone." I had red eyes from crying. He wanted me to have this box and what is inside it. I don't want to open it until I am back home with dad and everyone at the village. They both got up and I went back to Sora's parents. "No matter what he says, I want to truly thank you for everything. I'm so sorry about Sora. I will miss him so much. But as he said, he is always in our heart. Sometimes I think I hear him whispering to me in my sleep." "I'll try to visit once in awhile." "That would be nice." Little did she know they wouldn't be there after that day.

"Ok boys lets go." We walked back to uncles house. "Hey uncle. I got the box that Sora wanted me to have. I won't open it till I get back to the village. I need you all to come with me back to the village to I can look through it." "We can do that." "Tomorrow I'm stopping by the prince's castle. I need to see him and Lia." "Ok we will leave in two days to the village then." I nodded in agreement. "Uncle I'm going to my room. I'm not feeling good right now." "OK sure." "I'll go check on her." Said Hazel. "Please do. I thought she was over this by now. Sigh." Kade I'm glad your alive. Did Hazel raise you well?" "Haha. Well I guess you can say he did his best with me. He kept me fed and clothed. That is all that mattered. As for education, the neighbors sort of taught me. So Zen you're the same age as me huh?" "Yeah I am." "While my brother is calming down want to hang out?" "Sure lets go. I know the perfect spot." Then Keve looked at her daddy. "Can I draw daddy?" "Sure sweetheart. I'll get your special markers and pencils out." "Really? Is it such an occasion?" "Well not really but just use them today ok?" "OK dad."

"Your uncle sent me in here to check on you." "Hazel." I sat down beside me and I held him tight. I just started sobbing. "I miss him so much. It was so hard going in his room again. It looked exactly as it did the last time. After all this time they stayed out of it. what if they ask me if I want anything out of his room?" "I'll go with you." "Hmm. OK."

There was a knock on the bedroom door. "Who is it?" "Its Zen." "Come in Zen. What is it?" "Sora's parents want to ask you something." "Its ok I'm here remember that." "I know." I went out with Hazel. "Hey mom." "Hello. Zuri. Do you want to see if there is anything you want from his room?" "Do you mind if Hazel and Kade come this time?" "No go ahead. You can take some stuff too if you would like." "I don't think so but thanks." Said Hazel. "Ok lets get this over with." I said to Hazel.

We followed them back to their place and all 3 of us walked into Sora's room. I walked around his room. Went through some draws. I went to his desk drawer and it was locked. I knew where he kept the Key. I got it from one of the small drawers on his desk and used it to open the drawer. I was shocked at what he kept there. I gasped in shock. The boys were worried so they came to see if I was ok. "I'm ok. I was just shocked. He…He kept this keepsake I gave him. It was pathetic. He still kept it." I picked it up and held it to my heart. Then I looked at what else he had. "Hmm. What's this." I opened the envelope and saw it was a ring." "No way. He was thinking about proposing? Oh Sora. Why?" Then I found another letter that had my name on it. I opened the letter. I read it to them. "If you are reading this letter it means I am dead. I didn't get a chance to marry you but I want you to keep the ring or you can sell it. I hope you can live a happy life. I know it might be hard at times but we can't all live in grief forever. Don't take too long to move on. Your next person can help you I am sure. I loved you so much Zuri. Sigh. Well lets see. I'm writing this not because I am expecting to die but just in case. I want to say something to our future child if we ever had one. Son or daughter I want you to listen to your mom. Your daddy loved you very much. Well I don't know what else to say. I guess I shall stop writing. I love you so much Zuri goodbye.

 Love yours Sora

I kept the letter and the ring put it in my bag. Then I looked in his closet. He had a bunch of his clothes still there. I looked at the top of his closet and didn't see anything. Just as I didn't think I was going to find anything, I kicked a book. "Huh? What is this?" I picked it up. I gasped. "No way. It's the first book we read in the library together." I opened it up and saw a secret compartment. "Huh? Then I felt in it and it was a key." "What is this a Key too?" "Hmm. Maybe I'll find out later in the book." I put the key back and told them thank you and left.

We walked back to uncles house. We told him what happened. He and the others hugged me to try to comfort me. "I'm ok guys really. Just tired. Is dinner almost done?" "Yeah are you hungry?" "Yeah I'll eat." I sat my stuff down and sat at the table. Once dinner was done we all went to bed.

Then next morning we were going to head off to see the prince. "Be careful Zuri." Said Zen. Then patted her back. "I miss you Zuri." "I'll miss you too Keve. Oh is that your drawing?" "Yeah its for you. Its you and Sora." "Woah you seriously drew this? How did she draw so well? Where are her other drawings?" I asked. I saw the others and she was a professional already. "Hey uncle. Once the war is over, can I ask the king to have her paint his pictures? Heck I would love to hire her sometime." "Haha I'll think about it. Bye uncle. We will be back and pick you guys up."

Then the 3 of us were on the way. I took a deep breath and let it out. Then I held both my boys hands and we walked on.

After what took like forever we made it to the castle. "Hello. I am Zuri. I came to see the prince. They are with me." "Go on in." Then we went through the gates and the doormen opened it for us. I bowed with the boys. "Prince Zan. Good to see you again." "Rise all of you." "So I see you have come back to have a talk with me. I was told you don't want to marry me." "I'm sorry your highness. I just wasn't ready. I came here to explain myself. Mind if we talk privately with these two?" "Lets go to the parlor room." Then we all followed him.

"So what seems to be going on?" Then I cleared my throat. "Well here is the thing. I just had a baby not that long ago and it was sora's but that day i was supposed to come over and see you I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready because I had just lost the man I loved. So I ran. I ran into the Lake. The lake ended up taking me to the demon village. When Kade found me I wasn't breathing. Hazel brought me back. I didn't have any memory. So I ended up staying with Hazel and Kade. I found out Kade was the brother I never knew I had. He is my full blood brother. Then as I got bigger from my pregnancy Hazel was there with me and now we are engaged. I am not here to brag to you. I came to apologize. My uncle Aiden told me you were going to marry me for my protection. But when I was poisoned I saw mother again. She said that I and Kade will survive the battle. That the person who attacked back then was a man. I had a son named Rio. He is with family right now." "I see. Well your welcome. I'm not as bummed as you would think. I talked with your uncle. He said that Zala will marry me. Once that happens your aunt will be free. It won't happen until after the war of course." "Thank you for not starting a war over it your highness." "Sigh. You know why I'm glad I didn't marry you?" I shook my head no. "Well I sort of thought of you as a sister. It would be weird if I married my sister." Then he patted my head with a smile. "Hey!" "Now you know how I feel Zuri!" Kade stuck his tongue out. "Ok you two. Would you like to see your aunt while you are here?" "Yes please!" "Ok I will send for her." Then he walked up and asked a guard to have someone bring Lia in.

About 10 minutes later she walked up. Zuri? Zuri! My God you really are back! I'm so sorry we didn't tell you the truth. Your mother told us not too." "Its fine aunt Lia I'm fine. Aunt Lia this is my brother. The one mom had when she was killed. "I see. Your name is Kade is it?" "Yes. Nice to meet you aunt Lia. Also this is my brother that raised me with the help of neighbors." "Well I'm glad they were able to save you. Zuri how are Ben and the kids?" "Fine. Ben is planning on moving to the Village. He wants to wait for you though." "Oh alright. I take it you know the deal then?" "Yes I do." "Ok time to get some rest Lia." "Ok sure." Then the prince spoke up. "Would you like to rest?" "No I think we need to head back soon." "Ok well be safe then. Thanks again."

We got halfway there and for some reason was getting weaker. "H-Hazel." He looked at me and just as I was collapsing I saw him and Kade run after me. I felt someone pick me up. "I'll take her bag brother." "Ok be careful with it?" "Yes brother." "Can you hear me Zuri?" "Hmm." "Good. Lets hurry." Then we ran the rest of the way.

Then they got there and laid Zuri on her old bed. "She just looks tired." Said uncle Ben. "I'll call a doctor just in case." He went to go get a doctor and brought him over.

"Its like Ben says. She is tired and overworked. Let her sleep for as long as she can. She needs it." "Thanks doc." Then he left. Hazel and Kade stayed by her side.

Then next couple of days she woke up. "Hmm. I was tired." I tried to move my hands but couldn't. I saw Kade and Hazel next to me. "Oh my worrisome boys. I'll have a son worry about me just as much as his dad and uncle. Oh boy." Then Kade woke up. "Zuri your awake!" "Yeah I was just tired. How long was I out?" Then Hazel woke up and said, "Just 2 days. How do you feel?" "Well rested should we head home?" "Yes." The packed up awhile ago and are ready when we are." "Ok lets go." "So we headed off home."