Chapter 14

"Your dad is alive." I looked at Noor incredulously.

"No, he's dead. What is this some sick fucking joke to you?" I could feel my anger rising.

"Love." Noor reached out for my hand, but I brought it out of reach fast as if her touch would kill me.

"Please just listen." I shook my head vigorously.

"Nope. No way. I was at his funeral. I was there when they lowered him into the ground and buried him. I was the backbone of my family for years. My dad wouldn't just abandon us." I marched out of Noor's office and made my way towards the garden.

"Serenity, you there?" I called out to the water, hoping she could hear me. I saw little bubbles at the surface and started smiling as Serenity emerged from the water.

"Hey there. Are you okay?" Her smile faded into a concerned look, and that's when I felt a tear falling off my cheek.

"Noor and her parents say my dad is still alive. I feel like it's some sick joke. I was there when he died, when we buried him, everything. He would have never abandoned us." I plop down, sitting with my legs crossed, my elbows on top of my thighs with my hands supporting my head.

"Hmm… Noor and her parents are no liars. If this is what they say, then they speak the truth." I picked my head off my hands and looked up to the stars.

"I don't want this to be true. I would love for him to be alive again, but to know that he abandoned us is killing me." I closed my eyes and fought off fully, crying only, allowing some tears to break free. Soon I felt a warm hand encompass mine. I looked down to find Serenity's hand in mine.

"You don't know exactly what happened. Maybe he had his reasons, but that doesn't mean his reasons are acceptable." I lightly squeezed her hand back.

"I just can't believe it." Serenity hummed.

"Can't or won't?" She took a deep breath and brought her hand out of mine.

"Just because you choose not to believe this doesn't mean it's any less true. You should hear Noor and her parents out. I know that if what they tell you turns out to be true, it's going to crush everything you thought you knew, especially about your dad." I nodded at her words.

"I'll talk to them about it tomorrow. I need to try and sleep." I gave Serenity a small smile.

"Thank you." She pushed herself off the bank.

"Always." I looked at her and laughed.

"Are you quoting Snape?" Her smile grew.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you. Goodnight." I said goodnight back and made my way to leave, but stopped in my tracks.

"Also, visit more?" I looked back at Serenity.

"Of course." With that, she disappeared under the water.

I took my time walking back to my bedroom and honestly don't remember the trip back. It's crazy how my body knows where to go now. I entered my room and shut the door behind me, letting out a large exhausted exhale.

"Hey, there, love." I yelped and spun around, putting my hand over my heart to keep it in my chest.

"Damn it, Noor. Don't scare me like that." I heard her chuckle and saw her make her way towards me. My room was pitch black, but I knew where Noor was by her glowing eyes.

"I'm sorry, love." She snaked her arms around me and brought me close. I felt my whole body relax and melt into her instantaneously.

"Not just for scaring you, but for earlier. I tried to tell them you weren't ready." I brought myself out of her embrace and looked up at her glowing eyes. The glow highlighted some of her faces.

"You're gorgeous." My thoughts were spoken aloud. She cupped my face and gave me a kiss that I didn't even realize I needed. She pulled apart, and our foreheads rested against each other.

"I'm not ready to talk about it tonight; we can tomorrow." She grabbed my hand and started leading me to the bed.

"Whenever you're ready, and if you wake up and you're not tomorrow, then we can wait." I made my way to my dresser and changed my clothes.

I snuggled as far as I could into Noor's warmth. Her warmth was very comforting and relaxing. I needed that right now more than ever.

"I need you to take care of everyone, okay?" I squeezed my dad's hand tighter, fighting off tears. I needed to be strong.

"I will. I promise. I wish you weren't sick. I don't want to lose you." He never cried or showed much emotion, but at that moment, he did. I could see his eyes become watery, but that's as far as it went.

"You'll never lose me. I'll always be here." Those words started to distort and echo.

"Lareina." I heard my name whispered out; it sounded exactly like my dad. I shot up out of my sleep, drenched in sweat.

"Love. It's okay; I'm here." I was completely disoriented, trying to catch my breath. I looked around the room frantically. Soon I felt two warm hands frame my face and brought my head to where I was facing them. As soon as my eyes met hers, I felt myself finally being able to breathe regularly.

"That's it. Breathe." She was taking drawn-out inhales and letting out extended exhales in sync with me.

"I'm going to go get a bath ready for you." She went to get up, but I held her hand firmly.

"I don't like baths. Can it just be a hot shower, like scorching?" She bent down and kissed me.

"Anything for you." I heard her make her way into the bathroom, and not long after, I heard the shower running.

Soon I see the door open slightly, filtering in light. Noor peaked her head out and made eye contact with me.

"It's ready, love." I stood and realized my legs were feeble and shaky. Noor was by my side in the blink of an eye and picked me up.

"You don't have to carry me. I can walk, you know?" She just kissed my cheek.

"Right now? Barely. Besides, I like carrying you." I could feel my face heat up slightly, but I'm just going to blame that on the steam swirling around the bathroom. It kind of felt like a steam room. Amazing.

"Hell. My natural habitat." Noor choked on laughter. I looked back and let out a laugh, as well.

"You have quite the sense of humor." I smiled and took off my shirt.

"Yeah, I know. I'm hilarious." I flipped my hair over my shoulder as I said that, and she just looked at me amused. I finished getting undressed and entered the shower.

"What was the dream about?" I let the hot water wet my hair, and I took a relaxing sigh as my muscles loosened one by one.

"It was the last time I saw my dad alive. What he said at the end just freaked me out. It kept echoing, and everything became distorted." I heard her hum.

"What did he say?" I was massaging shampoo into my hair as I answered her.

"You'll never lose me. I'll always be here. I'll always be here was the part that distorted. I think after what you and your parents said, my mind is just fucking with me. I still don't want to fully talk about my dad and how he may be alive." I grabbed the conditioner and lathered up my hair.

"Don't worry; I won't make you talk about it till you're ready. I'm sorry about your dream or nightmare, whatever you may consider it." I started shaving my armpits as I was letting the conditioner soak into my hair.

"It's fine. Honestly, that's not the most fucked up thing. I swear I heard him whisper my name, but it sounded like it came within the room." I had just finished shaving my armpits and was about to start on my legs when the shower door was opened, and Noor stepped in.

"Ummm…" I kept my eyes up at hers, fighting myself not to look down. I could feel my face flushing.

"I've already seen you naked, and now you've seen me. No reason to be awkward about it. Anyways, you said you heard the whisper coming from within the room and not your dream?" I just stiffly nodded my head. Noor rolled her eyes and brought her hand up to my chin. She gripped it lightly and brought my head down to where I could see… all of her. I gulped and looked back up at her with wide eyes.

"Wow…" She smiled.

"Flattered. Now focus." I'm glad this shower is huge, so we can both be in here comfortably.

"Yes, I swear that's what it sounded like." I rinsed some of the conditioner out and went back to shave my legs.

"Hmm... I don't like this. You are not to leave my side. Do you understand me?" I rinsed my razor off and put my leg down. I looked up at her weirdly.

"Why?" She cupped my face and brought me a little closer. She was scanning my eyes, but I don't know why.

"I think you actually heard your dad. I'm not lying when I tell you he is alive. I need you to stay by my side. If he can get into the palace, especially your room, it's dangerous." I scoffed at this.

"If he is alive… He's my dad; he wouldn't hurt me." She shook her head.

"I wouldn't be so sure of that." I rolled my eyes. I finished getting out the rest of the conditioner and then went to start washing my body.

"You don't know him as I do. He's my dad. He's not dangerous." She took the loofa out of my hand and started washing my body for me. For some reason, I didn't blush or feel weird; to the contrary, it actually felt natural.

"We'll discuss this more later. I know I said we could wait till you're ready, but it'll have to be tomorrow." She had me turn around so she could start washing my backside.

"Fine. Tomorrow it is." Soon I felt the loofa off my body.

"You can rinse." So much hot water, I loved it.

"You're staying by my side." I let the water run down my face, and I reluctantly pulled away.

"Even if I have to pee?" I ask in a humored tone.

"Especially then." I laughed and looked at her to find a serious facial expression.

"Oh, you're being serious." She grabbed my hand and brought it up, inspecting it.

"Yes, I'm being serious. We should get out now; your hands are pruney." I brought my hand to look at it myself confirming what she said. I sighed. This was the worst part. I hated nothing more than being cold.

"I would rather you not come with me to pee." I shut off the water and grabbed a towel for Noor, handing it to her, then grabbing a towel for my hair and my body.

"Fine. I will be waiting outside the door, and it is to be unlocked." I huffed.

"I agree to your terms and conditions," I said, being a smart ass.

"Funny. You're so funny." She faked a laugh, which in return made me actually laugh. My laugh must have been contagious because she started laughing too.

Once we were all dried off, we changed and got into bed. Exhaustion hit me hard and knocked me out into a deep, dreamless sleep.