CHAPTER THIRTEEN: A WEIRD DREAM

I shivered, stepping backward in fear.

"Infected with the plague," I blurted out in refusal.

"Mother, how did you get this news? Drystan is doing just fine, he can't be infected with the plague and be standing strong," I pointed out in denial.

"I heard his mother say it to the hand of the king Agatha," Lunaria retorted in protest.

"You eavesdropped on Drystan's mother? That could have thrown you back into the deadly dungeon Mother! Are you even sure about what you heard? Because Drystan surely doesn't act like an infected person," I declared with raised eyebrows.

"Well, there's only one way to find out," Lunaria retorted in a serious tone.

"No!" I promptly declined.

"I haven't even said it yet," Lunaria yelled out.

"Because I know what you have in mind. You are fearless so you want to confront Drystan about it and that would land us in the dungeon," I blurted out with a sad smile.

"No!" Lunaria disagreed.

"Let's visit the priest," Lunaria murmured.

I stepped back in refusal.

"Mother, you even had something worse in mind? Only the king and the king's men are allowed to go to the priest. If we get caught, we will be slaughtered heartlessly," I pointed out in a hurry.

"I know, that's why we shouldn't get caught," Lunaria retorted, refusing to back down.

"Mother-" 

"Agatha…please, I want answers," Lunaria pleaded.

"Mother, it's complicated, what if we get caught? I'm exhausted from everything going on and I just want to sleep," I muttered in frustration.

"Trust me on this, we won't get caught," Lunaria assured.

"Alright Mother, I will think about it. I can't deal with this right now," I responded, leaving for the bathtub.

"Agatha we don't have that time, what about the plague?" Lunaria disagreed, stopping me from leaving.

"Yes, we do Mother! My life is so messed up right now thanks to being in your toxic family. I just left Drystan, he is strong and healthy. An infected man will definitely not be like that. And if I am truly infected, it will be discovered by dawn," I yelled in dissatisfaction.

"Agatha you will already be dead before then!" Lunaria yelled back.

"Then let me die, what good am I alive? My husband is dead. My brother-in-law is fucking me. This palace is nothing like a home to me and yet I can't leave. I will be better off…Dead. I'll see you by dawn Mother…hopefully," I blurted out. Dragging my arm from Lunaria's grip, I walked into the bathtub.

I soaked myself in the bathtub, Lunaria's gentle sobs echoed in the room, but I was in a more uncomfortable situation than she was, so I ignored it until I was sure she was gone.

I walked towards the mattress to rest, and picked up Kethan's pillow, as memories of him came diving in; all that was left was pain.

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I found myself dumped in a dark forest, the trees twisted and gnarled like skeletal fingers. The darkness was formed and the air was thick with the reek of decay.

I could hear the distant howls of dangerous animals.

My fear was a septic wound, oozing anxiety and dread, the darkness was a tangible entity, a cold mist that seeped into my bones.

With my heart raising like a jackrabbit, threatening to burst from my chest, I attempted to run but my skin was a canvas of goosebumps, each one a tiny monument to my terror.

Suddenly, a white deer appeared before me, its face was covered in light, fueled with a voice that sent shivers down my spine.

"You can't escape the darkness within."

As I tried to run my legs felt heavy, like a cart of twenty men was tied to my feet.

"Don't speak of this to anyone, you will only be in more danger. When the right person comes, you will know," The voice sounded again, a cold mirthless voice that echoed through the forest. 

Wrapped with fear, my eyes flung open. I was left to wonder if it was just a dream or a warning.

With my body shaking vigorously, I crawled out of bed.

With a knock, Caspian walked into my chamber.

"Lady Agatha, are you alright?" Caspian asked in concern, elbowing me out of my thoughts.

"Yes Caspian, I am," I replied with a smile.

"The king has sent for you my lady," Caspain announced.

"Not again," I murmured in disappointment.

"Is something bothering you? Lady Agatha," Caspian asked out of nowhere.

"A lot is bothering me," I retorted and scoffed.

"Do you want me to get you out of this kingdom?" Caspian blunted out.

"Shh, don't let anyone hear you say that," I cautioned in shock.

"I promised lord Kethan to protect you if he's away, I can't do that while we are in this kingdom," Caspian responded.

"I will go to Drystan, don't worry Caspian, I will be fine," I stated, walking out of the chamber.

I walked into Drystan's chamber, when I got there he was nowhere to be found, so I just walked towards the window, deep in thought that I didn't realize Drystan was present.

"Thinking of your late husband?" Drystan asked, startling me back to reality.

"No…I…I had a bothersome dream," I replied truthfully.

"A dream? About your husband?" Drystan asked in mockery.

"No, about a…a white deer," I stammered.

"A white deer?" Drystan yelled out with a serious tone.

"Yes," I mumbled loud enough for him to hear.

"Tell me what it looks like, is its face very bright and shiny?" Drystan asked, pulling me closer.

"Yes, and it was speaking to me… I don't know but it was creepy. Please you are holding me too tight; it hurts," I responded, groaning in pain.

"I'm sorry," Drystan apologized, promptly releasing his grip on me, leaving me stunned.

"Agatha dear, listen to me, that wasn't just any deer, you dreamt of an amplifier, it was calling out to you."

"An amplifier," I thought to myself, confused. 

"Agatha, ever since I saw you, I knew there was something different about you. This deer, can you please point me to it," Drystan softly requested.

"Point you to it?" I asked in doubt.

"Yes Agatha, can you lead me to this deer? It's a very important instrument," he calmly asked again, pleads written boldly on his face.

"An important instrument," I thought in suspicion as the strange last words of the deer came flooding in.

"Don't tell anyone about me."