Chapter 10: Why want me?

I opened my eyes slowly, I woke up quite late today the sun was already up. I smiled "beautiful" I whispered to myself.

I quickly got up from the bed and walked to my window. I didn't want to miss the early hours of the morning breeze.

I sat on the window frame enjoying the bright view of spring sprouting up. The kingdom was as quiet as always. The door creaked open, it was probably a maid.

"Monster, you can't even look at me even after I saved you" I frowned at the words I heard.

"Nohr?" I turned to the door only to find my brother bleeding on every side. He leaned on the wall with blood spilling out of his eyes, nose and mouth."Nohr!!"

I jumped down from the window and ran to him but suddenly something caught my leg.

I turned to see a bloody hand on my leg. "you wicked child, killing your mother how heartless of you"

My body grew weak, I could see my own mother clinging to my feet. "Mot..." I fell to the ground crawling backwards away from the dead body in front of me.

"You bastard what have you done" My stomach churned, I've been here before. The scenery changed, we were standing at the broken parts of the kingdom and blood fell on me like autumn rain.

My body shook at the sight of the blood on my body, I turned to see my mother's lifeless body beside me. Tears flooded my eyes.

"Mother!"

"I'll kill you" I turned to see my father racing towards me with his sword.

But my eyes weren't focused on my father, I was focused on the dark fog hovering around him. Was this death?

"ANKER!!!!" Her voice echoed in head. I should run but I didn't, no couldn't.

SLICE

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" Oona sat up screaming her lungs out. She breathe in and out heavily and scanned the room she was in.

"Another nightmare?" Sage sat up and rubbed his eyes, he didn't seem fazed by what had happened.

Oona turned to him with her eyes wide open. Sweat rolled down her face nonstop.

Sage stood up from the bed and walked to the table at the side of the room. He picked up the jug filled with water and poured some for her in a cup.

Oona was still dazed by the scene she saw. Tears formed in her eyes. No matter how hard she tried to atone for her sins the more they pile up. "Here" Sage stretched the cup to her. Oona drank the water in one go.

Sage watched her gulp down the water like a thirsty fish. He sat beside her and waited for her to calm down a little.

"Thank you" Oona whispered and gave him the cup with her head bowed. Sage took the cup from her and returned it to the table.

"You seem to get a lot of nightmares " He had a plain expression on his face. He walked back to the bed and sat beside her. "Mind telling me who you are?"

Oona looked at her clasped hands sadly. She didn't want to talk about herself. "Why did you save me?" She bit her lower lip hard, she deserved death and nothing else. Yet this man spared her life and even got married to her just to protect her.

"Because I could sense you weren't ordinary" he replied calmly "you have a power surging through you, judging from the location of your room back at the palace, you weren't treated as a human"

She stayed quiet for a long time, she sat on the bed curled up like a child.

"That's not enough reason to save me" Sage turned to her, his face as passive as ever.

"Why want me? A maiden of death" Tears rolled down her eyes. "Even my father didn't want me " she whispered under her breath and wrapped herself with her hands.

"Would it be wrong to want what no body wants" Sage replied blankly "I wanted you and I got you"

Oona stared at him for a while, she could never understand this man. He seemed kind but then again mean and unfair.

"But why want someone you know nothing about" her sour mood gradually turned calm.

"I don't know" sage replied honestly "I thought you would be useful"

"Useful?" She asked "is that what you meant by your own benefits?"

"Yes, yes it did" Sage relaxed his body on the bed and held himself up with his arms.

"Was getting married to me necessary?" She loosened her grip on her shoulder.

"Yes it was, I had to keep you under my wing. My family can easily get rid of anyone if they wish. You being an enemy's royalty wouldn't have been any different" he closed his eyes, though he was exhausted, he had to build a trust relationship with Oona for his plans to work.

"Thank you" Oona whispered sincerely, Sage turned to her and nodded.

"So tell me who you are" he asked gruffly

Oona didn't feel intimidated by his tone, she felt anxious about it, what if he changes his mind after knowing her gift.

"I have the ability to see and sense the motives of spiritual beings" Oona didn't lie neither did she say the truth "I don't know what I am but I know that's what I do" she looked at her feet hidden under the blanket.

"I see" Sage replied in a bored tone.

He didn't say anymore after that. The two were silent for a long while. Sage seemed to be plundering on what Oona had just said.

He stood up from oona's side and walked to his side of the bed, laying down he covered his body with the blanket and turned to the window. Oona stared at him with wary eyes. She hoped he believed her words. Sighing she laid on the bed, thinking about how she'll return to the dream world without encountering another nightmare.

"Tomorrow we'll be having dinner with my family" Oona turned to face Sage. "Whatever questions you are asked, don't tell them about your gift"

"Your gift is between you and I " He said.

"Okay " Oona replied and laid back on the bed. She curled up in the bed and closed her eyes to sleep.

THE NEXT DAY

Oona stared at the woman in the mirror, she was now married and was about to meet her husband's family. She felt so many knots in her stomach.

There were maids all around her making her look gorgeous. She looked beautiful in her green gown and flowery hairstyle.

"You look beautiful milady" the maid who arranged the hem of her dress praised her.

Oona bowed slightly and smiled warmly "thank you"

A guard walked in and bowed to her. "Lord Sage awaits your presence outside the manor"

Oona smiled nervously at her maids, but they smiled reassuringly. Summoning courage she followed the guard, along the way she thought about what Sage had told her to do.

She gradually forgot what she was thinking about as she was entranced by the paintings on the ceiling of the manor.

The paintings were priceless, she wondered how it was painted.

"Milady" tha guard called to her and led her down the right hallway.

Oona apologized for trailing off. She finally got to the entrance of the manor, at the end of the entrance was the huge staircase that led to a beautiful garden and a large front yard.

Oona was literally captivated by the flowers in the field though she was miles away she could tell that they were beautiful. "Ooh!!"

She missed a step and fell forward. Everyone gasped but sighed in relief. Sage caught Oona before she fell. "you're really good at gawking at things"

Oona pulled back slowly and arranged herself. "Thank you" her face was slightly flushed.

Sage held her hand and led her to a large regalia carriage that was parked in front of the manor's entrance.

He helped her get into the carriage. There was an elderly man standing outside the carriage, Sage exchanged a few words with him before getting in and closing the carriage door.

"To the palace" he instructed and the coach man began to ride out of the manor. Oona peeked through her window and took a peek at the manor. It was bigger than her expectations.

"Wow!!" She gasped out. Sage who sat opposite Oona in the carriage stared at her intensely. With every passing moment he got more and more intrigued by the girl.

A sweet smile appeared on Oona's face, she felt her heart leaping with joy by just watching the passing flowers and trees. Her eyes caught something when they both passed an open field. Oona almost fell off the carriage.

There was a huge tree afar, it gave off a vibe that drew Oona in. Her eyes began to glow slowly and gradually turned bright. "Divine" she whispered.

Sage watched Oona blankly, what Oona found to be extraordinary was nothing more than a mere tree to Sage. But he didn't miss the glowing eyes.

"Remember what I told you" Sage relaxed his head on the carriage chair. Oona finally sat properly and adjusted her hair. Her eyes turned normal as well.

"Is there a particular reason for not talking about my gift" she asked

"Yes" Sage replied sharply "to be precise my mother, be on your toes whenever she ask a question"

"Why?" Oona asked further "wouldn't it be a good thing if they knew I had a gift, you have one too don't you"

Sage rolled his eyes "I'm a guardian of a gate of course I have a gift. But over here people having gifts like yours aren't quite acceptable. Even if they were to be, you'd be under strict supervision"

Oona felt somewhat sad, it seemed even in Annika, her powers won't be accepted. "For my mother, she'll end up making you reveal your gift to her" he continued "also she might end up comparing you to my betrothed" he had popped veins by the side of his head.

"Betrothed?" Oona seemed shocked, she never expected that Sage would have someone he was engaged to. "Why didn't you get married to your betrothed?"

Sage turned to the window with a slight expression that made him look sad. "She left me" he replied calmly.

Oona quickly bowed "I'm sorry for digging up your past" Sage didn't say a word, making Oona to panic "I'm truly sorry" she bowed sharply once more.

A slight smile drew on his face as he also watched the trees that they passes by. "Hmm..." He hummed, though Sage was smiling, his eyes were as good as dead.

THE PALACE

Oona stared at the statue that she saw last night. It was large and painted in gold. There were less people around, Oona stared at the quiet and empty streets.

The huge golden gates that she saw the night creaked open. Their carriage rode in right after. They rode on the brick road leading to the palace building, there were flowery hedges on both sides of the road. The palace looked extremely extravagant and beautiful.

Oona felt her hands all sticky and sweaty. She didn't know what to expect from Sage's family. They might hate her or be displeased with where she's from. Gareth was known to be a land where people got power through ominous means. Oona and Nohr were the end products of her father's unearthly power.

The palace came to Oona's sight, she felt suffocated, it was as if Sage's manor stood on another manor that was the same height. Her mouth gaped at the height of the building. It was painted gold and white, giving the building a shinny gaze. There were a few towers having a flag at the top.

The carriage finally came to a halt, Sage turned to Oona who's eyes were glued to the window. She clasped her hand tightly and mumbled a few encouraging words to herself. 'This is your first test Oona, pass this and you have a chance at surviving here' he thought to himself

"Let's go" Sage stepped down from the carriage once the door was open. He stretched his hand to Oona and helped her get down. They both walked towards the crowd at the entrance of the palace. Oona kept her gaze low and tried not to glance around.

"You're too stiff" Sage complained to her "you're meeting my family not Yaweh"

She looked up and turned to her surrounding. It was beautiful, Oona never thought a palace could look so bright and lively.

"Welcome dear" a melodic voice echoed at the entrance. Sage and Oona bowed to the woman. Oona did need a signal to guess who stood in front of her was the queen. She could feel the domineering aura emitting from the queen.

Oona looked up to see a beautiful woman dressed in a gorgeous golden gown. Her blonde hair was packed in a low bun. Her pale golden brown eyes stared at them intensely. "I'm Queen Pomona of Annika"