The enchanted gem

<Sixteen years later after Avery's Mother died>

{Avery's POV}

I suddenly found myself in a thick forest. The woodland was densely overgrown with big, towering trees. I decided to find the routes that would lead me out. I continued to move in the direction of the deeper area of the forest until I was well off any obvious trail.

After an hour, I had reached the darkest part of the jungle and was unable to find any signs of an exit. I called out for help, but all was in vain. The entire place was silent. I was confused and felt like crying as I realized I was alone with nothing to protect myself. With a lot of fear, I tried to trace the part where I had come from, but it was useless. I was lost !. Being lost in the forest seemed like misfortune to me.

I felt a strong hand cover my mouth. Before I could realize what was going on, a needle pierced through my skin. This needle was an injection to pass some strong liquid fluid into my system. Making me lose consciousness.

"Has she slept?." Another man came from behind the man who injected me.

"Yes, but she bit me so hard. What a bit*h she is." The man who injected me and covered my mouth cursed.

"Hurry up. We need to leave before anyone sees us." The man who covered my mouth carried me on his shoulder.

Hours have passed since I lost consciousness by then darkness had already taken over the sky. I managed to open my eyes but my vision was blurry. I could not move because I was tied to a tree. We were somewhere deep in the forest. The two men sat beside the fire as they discuss.

"Money here I come. Once we sell this girl, the man would pay us a huge amount of money." The man who covered my mouth earlier said.

"But I have other plans for her." The second man looked toward me smiling mischievously.

Despite the darkness, I could still make out the urge of nasty feelings in his eyes. I wanted to escape now more than ever because I would rather die than allow this man to sleep with me.

The man who covered my mouth then said. "Hey, you have to hold this urge because we cannot do to her as we wish. Let's just carry out our assignment and collect our money."

"Too bad, I might as well just have fun with her. But we have to carry out the task at hand."

I need to know why I was kidnapped. My mind was a mess.

I felt a tap on my shoulder which almost made me scream but like flash, the man who taped me covered my mouth. Making the sound of my scream die down in my throat. He gently removed his hand.

"I'm not here to hurt you okay. I simply wish to help." He whispered. I heaved a sigh of relief. The young man who calmed me down made a signal to two other men.

The two other men gave my kidnappers a heavy blow on the head making them lose consciousness. The young man then cut the rope that tied me to the tree. At least I'm saved now. I stood up to my feet.

"My name is Israel. Please tell me your name?." The young man said.

"Thanks for saving me. My name is...I don't know why but I lost consciousness. Israel caught me before I could reach the ground carrying me gently like I was an egg.

The two men who abducted me have finally opened their eyes. Isreal wanted to kill the men but that would be too merciful.

"Why did you kidnap her?. Speak now or you will face the wrath of royalty. I am prince Israel from a nearby kingdom."

Despite torturing them, my kidnappers refused to confess, so the prince had no choice other than to kill them.

The sun beamed through the blinds causing me to stir. I squinted when the first ray of sunlight hit my face as I opened my eyes to a room that does not belong to me. Sitting up, I looked around at my surroundings; there were two windows, a single bed, in which I slept, and a stool. I'm even more baffled as to how I ended here in the first place because the last thing I remembered was some group of people saving me. I couldn't tell if this was my mind playing a trick on me. I placed my legs off the bed and on the cold tiled floor.

A young girl about my age came in. She has medium-length, dark-brown hair that resembled the color of a coffee. In her hand was a tray filled with at least three different kinds of food.

"Hello Miss, here in is your breakfast. Should I help you place it on the stool?."

"Yes please."

The girl placed the tray of food on a stool and walked out of the room.

I'm not going to eat anything because I have no idea what this place is like. My stomach began to grumble loudly, prompting me to reach for the food that had been placed on the stool. How can I resist temptation?. I made an effort to grip my stomach to stop the next roar from escaping, but I knew in my heart that it was useless. It won't be harmful if I have a bite just to suppress my hunger. Before I knew it, I have already eaten all the food on the tray.

At least I have to inspect my surroundings to know where I am. I exited the room and took the path that would take me to the garden. The garden was narrow and long, a corridor of green extending from the back of the house. I sat on a lawn chair then I noticed a figure moving in my direction. As the person came nearer I could see his face. His eyebrows were thin and narrow and his angular cheekbones carved towards a flinty jaw. His mariner-blue eyes were orb round and darted constantly, a gleam with delight and the vigor of youth

He sat beside me and I felt a powerful connection between us which I would refer to as "Love at First Sight." To most, love at first sight is true and can happen to anybody. But that is not the information I need.

"How did I get here?." I asked trying so hard to concentrate and not get lost in admiring his handsome face.

" Well, let's begin like this my name is Prince Israel can I know your name?."

"My name is Avery," I said.

"We came to your aid when you were kidnapped. Don't you re-call?. And when we tried to ask you any details about yourself, you fainted so I decided to bring you to my palace."

"Okay, but where am I right now?."

"You are in the kingdom of Talon or are you lost. You have natural blue hair which means you are from Alon."

I'm in Alon, how can this be?. It was still a shock to me. I couldn't tell the prince that I am not from Alon because I have not yet gained his trust. My main problem now is where to sleep if I leave the Castle?. I have no place to go or sleep for the night.

"Em...your highness. Prince Israel. Can you please make me a maid here in the castle?. As you can see I have nowhere to go or sleep for the night. Plus, I have no means of income." At least let me start with working and a place to sleep so that I can at least survive this unknown place.

"Okay, I'll hire you to be my maid. You would be the one to attend to my needs. That is all I can offer."

"Okay. I'll do anything you tell me to do."