Fake Memories

Initially, I was worried about my journey to the Isle of the tender spirits but right now, I think I've got a bigger problem. Percy, Liam's stepbrother just entered my room without permission and I don't even know where Liam is.

"What are you doing here?" I asked as soon as I got out of bed.

"That's not a very nice way to say hello to your brother-in-law you know. I think a 'hello... how are you doing dear Percy? Please have a sit' would be a better reaction." Percy said smiling annoyingly.

"May the lights forbid that I'll ever invite you into my room." I said.

"Careful princess. Careful what you spit, the lights may turn dark upon you." Percy said.

"What do you want? Though I would never grant your request."

Percy chuckled softly "when I want something Nardin, I don't ask for it. I take it." He responded.

"Go on then, don't let me stop you. Go on and take whatever you came here for." I replied.

Percy sniffed then sat down on my bed.

"I didn't ask you to sit." I said but he ignored me and went on to say what he wanted to say.

"That man in the garden. Tell me about him." He said.

"And why should I? You're not my husband, and you set me up."

"I didn't. You were already seeing him in secret. Oh... You don't remember?" Percy said.

"I know what you're trying hard to do but it won't work."

"What do you think I'm trying hard to do? What wouldn't work princess?" He asked.

"Back the hell off Percy."

"And if I don't?"

"You know what Liam would do to you if he comes in here and finds you." I responded.

"It's always about him Nardin. Can't you stand up for yourself? Can't you handle your issues?" Percy said while giving me a piercing gaze.

"No. No, I can't. I can't stand up for myself Percy. I can't handle my issues. Do you know why? I wasn't raised like that, all through my life, I have been locked up in my father's castle and... Hold on." I said, realizing I just recalled how I was raised. If I had lost those memories, where did they come from now? "I... I was raised by a king who treated me like a fragile girl. He wouldn't let me do a thing for myself, he just locked me up so I can be safe from the dangers of this world." I muttered. "My sister Maya and Gwen. She really is Maya." I kept mumbling before I turned to Percy "don't just stand there gawking. You have. a few minutes before the devil gets here."

Percy looked at me from head to toe and scoffed before leaving the room. I ran off to meet Zed and Queen Charlotte.

"I remember everything. I remember how I was raised with my two sisters, Maya and Gwen. I also remember how much my father loved me that he uh... He always treated me like I was too fragile and he never wanted to lose me. I remember everything, Queen Charlotte." I said excitedly but the expression on their faces was unimpressive.

"Do you remember the day you were kidnapped?" Zed asked.

"No. I don't... I don't remember that." I said realizing I only remember a few events from my past.

"I think you need rest, my princess. Please go ahead and get it. You have a long journey tomorrow." Queen Charlotte said to me, leading me away from the courtroom.

"What is that Zed?" Queen Charlotte asked on getting back, "those memories are lies. King Dominic Ryan never loved his girls. I mean, we all know he acts like a loving father but I know those were lies. Dominic has never treated his girls like fragile girls. He has always loathed them and his wife Penelope."

"Then there is only one explanation to this. Whoever wiped her memories is twisting it. Feeding it with fake memories from the past. Your majesty, if something is not done soon, Princess Nardin will be turned against us and she will be the greatest weapon of our enemies." Zed responded.

Queen Charlotte sighed. "But who could have done this?"

"It's more like, who is doing this." Zed responded.

The next morning we were ready to leave, Liam and I. Just the two of us. Queen Charlotte tried to convince Liam that we needed some extra guards but Liam didn't think so. He only chose to go with Elan, his secret personal knight. We all got on our horses and left.

"I don't see why we need to get on this journey. My memories are already returning." I said to Liam on our way. I was riding on the same horse with him.

"Did your memories about riding a horse return yet?" Liam replied with a question.

"No." I responded. But maybe it will. Soon."

"Then you have no memories yet." Liam said.

"What if I go in search of my parents? Maybe they could help."

"Great. Listen, Nardin, after our journey to the Isle, you'll decide what to do." Liam responded rudely. Typical him.

We journeyed and soon got to a road with four different pathways.

"Read your map Elan, which way?" Liam asked.

Elan pulled out the map. "The first path. We're taking the first path, your majesty." He responded.

"Great." Liam said and pulled our horse towards the first path.

The path was made up of died out trees and grasses. There were stones lining up on both corners of the road. The area looked deserted but of course, it had to be. After all who ever visited the isle of the tender spirits?

"I'm starting to develop cold feet about this Liam." I said in a hushed whisper.

"It's okay to be scared wife." He responded shortly.

"I'm not scared. I just have a really bad feeling about this." I said again but this time Liam ignored me.

We traveled far into that path until we came to a dead-end, a bottomless pit was situated right before us and there was no other way except we turned back.

"I guess you read the map wrongly Elan." Liam said.

"But your highness here it is, this map..." Elan said as he reached into his pocket to pull out a map only for him to realize it was blank. "What but I... I'm sure it was here." He said in confusion.

"We'll find our way to the Isle without a map. Let's get back." Liam said but on turning around our horses, we saw some men standing before us with weapons. When did they even get here?

A woman gently stepped out with her hands at akimbo.

"Well, well... What have we here?" She spoke. It was the woman who always came to me. My sister, Maya Ryan.