Chapter 125

Carol’s POV

I waited in the room for Aiden to return, not understanding why I couldn’t just go with him. I feel safer by his side than when I do alone. Aiden looked pretty freaked out though, so I knew whatever was going on in his mind was serious. Maybe he figured out the missing piece of the puzzle and went to find out if it was true or not.

But still, I didn’t get why I couldn’t go with him.

While I waited for him, I decided to give Fiona a call. I missed her and it’s been over a day since I’ve last spoken to her. I promised her I would update her frequently on things that are happening at the empire, so she doesn’t feel so out of the loop.

She answered the phone on the third ring, and I was relieved to hear her voice. It was nice to hear a familiar and friendly voice for a change. Someone I could trust wholeheartedly.

“Why, hello there, Princess,” Fiona teased.

I rolled my eyes.

“Don’t call me that,” I muttered. “I’m not a princess.”

“Your father is literally a king. Pretty sure that’s a definition of a princess.”

“Well, I don’t feel like a principal. I feel like I don’t belong and my evil stepmother and stepsister are making it painfully clear,” I tell her.

She laughs lightly.

“Oh my God, you’re Cinderella!” She geeked. “Except you didn’t meet your prince at the ball.”

“Definitely not at a ball,” I agreed. Then I sighed. “How did my life get so weird, Fi? I just want to be normal.”

“Well, that’s off the table now. You certainly are not normal. Did you learn anything more about your powers and what you can do?”

I bit my lower lip.

“I had a vision,” I confessed; it was easy to talk to Fiona because I’ve known her for so long. I had never kept anything from her before and I wasn’t going to start now.

“No way? Are you serious?” She gasped and I could only picture the look on her face.

“Yes,” I answered. “Actually, I had 2 of them. One by accident and the other kind of on purpose. I think we figured out who poisoned Aiden’s father because of my visions.”

“That’s amazing, Carol!” She squeaked. “You’re pretty much a superhero. Now, they will have no choice but to respect you once you get back to the Capital.”

“I don’t think they will respect me no matter what I do,” I snorted.

“So, what’s your plan now? Are you going to stick around the empire for a while?”

I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair, allowing it to fall messily around my shoulders as I took in her question.

“I don’t want to,” I admit. “I want to just go back and leave this place in the past. But I don’t think that’s possible right now. There was a murder and the king is adamant that nobody leaves this place.”

She gasped loudly.

“A murder? Who died?”

“Morgan Leveau,” I blurted.

“She was quiet for a moment; probably recognizing the name because I told her about my kidnapping. She had seen me at the hospital the day after I was found.

“Was that the one who kidnapped you?” She finally asked after a pause.

“Yes,” I answered. “Apparently she returned here, and she was found dead.”

“Holy shit,” Fiona breathed. “Do you know who killed them?”

“No,” I answered. “The King is investigating it now.”

Just as I spoke those words, I heard a commotion coming from outside my window. I frowned and stood to investigate what the sound was. Fiona continued to talk my ear off as my mind went elsewhere.

I peeked outside and saw that the King and his gammas had returned. They were speaking amongst themselves and then the queen joined them outside. She looked upset about something.

I furrowed my brows together as I watched the scene unfold in front of me.

“Carol, are you leaving listening to me?” Fiona finally asked after a while.

“Sorry, Fi. I have ot go,” I told her. “I’ll call you later.”

“But—” she tried to say, but she couldn’t get the words out before I hung up the phone and threw it on my bed.

I quickly left the room and ran down the hallway until I reached the stairs. I made my way down the stairs. The front door was open ajar, and I could hear voices coming from the front patio as the King and his men, along with the Queen, spoke about what they had seen.

“How do we know it wasn’t that…. Girl… you invited into or home?” I heard the Queen asking.

Was she talking about me?

My chest was constricted at her words, and it felt like I couldn’t breathe. Was she really trying to pin the murder of Morgan on me?

“She’s my daughter, Elizabeth. She didn’t do anything wrong,” King Bennet surprised me by saying.

“I’m just saying, it’s not a coincidence that she happens to be here at the same time Morgan returns home. She claims that Morgan kidnapped her so she set up the motive for herself.”

‘Set up the motive for herself?’

‘Claimed she was kidnapped?’

Is she seriously saying I made all this up so that I could murder Morgan? Why would I do that?

“If it makes you feel any better, I’ll speak with her. I’ll use my abilities and find out what I can,” King Bennet assured her, his tone softening as he addressed his wife. The woman he loves and who claims to love him in return. However, I’m having difficulty believing that.

He was going to use his powers on me? My heart ached at the very thought of him not trusting me. But I suppose at the same time, I was having trouble trusting him as well.

I didn’t have anything to hide from him other than my suspicions of him and those who lived in this palace. It might hurt him to find those thoughts locked away in my mind, but if that’s what he needs to know that I didn’t murder Morgan… then so be it.

“Whatever happened to you saying you would never use your abilities on family and close friends?” That question came from Beta Luca.

That made sense honestly; I always wondered how so many secrets got past someone who was able to see parts of someone’s past and know who was truthful and who wasn’t.

“Someone was murdered in my empire, Luca,” King Bennet told him firmly. “This is an exception and Liz is right. It is odd that Morgan dies at the same time Carol and Aiden arrive. I’ll pull them into my office and speak with them. Is Carol in her room?”

“Yes, I believe so,” Beta Luca said.

My heart fell into my stomach as I quickly stood up. I turned and ran up the stairs as fast as I could and into the guest room. I still wasn’t sure where Aiden was, but I was worried about him. A couple of minutes later, I heard a light knock on the door.

My stomach tightened and I went to open it, only to see Tilly standing in front of me.

“Hello, mam,” she said, bowing her head. “I was asked to come retrieve you. The King would like to speak with you in his office.”

I nodded and forced a smile.

“Sure,” I said, closing the door behind me.

I followed Tilly down the hallway and then down the grand stairs. We walked in silence, both lost in our thoughts. I wondered if she could feel me in her head when I had that vision. Does she know that I know the truth?

Once we got to the King’s office, she forced a smile before retreating away. I watched her until she disappeared around the corner.

I took a deep breath and stepped into the office. The King was seated at his desk. When I walked in, he quickly stood on his feet and motioned for the chair in front of his desk, giving me a soft smile.

“Thanks for seeing me, Carol,” he said gently. “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“No,” I told him, trying to act like I wasn’t just eavesdropping on his conversation. “I just was resting.”

He nodded as he took a seat. I sat down as well and crossed my leg over the other.

“Is everything okay?”

He took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair.

“Well, I went to Morgan, and it was true, it was her and she is dead,” he started to say, but then he paused as he assessed my face and probably my reaction. I didn’t give him one, I crossed my arms over my chest and gave him a pointed look, waiting for him to continue.

I wasn’t going to feel about her death. She kidnapped me, wanted to take my powers, and then she wanted to kill me. She kidnapped me as a baby too; granted she gave me to a wonderful family that I love so much and I wouldn’t have them, or my friends, because of her, but still… she was a dangerous person, and her intentions were anything but good.

“At first, it appeared she had a heart attack. But after a thorough autopsy, it appears it was some kind of poison,” he continued. “Someone intentionally killed her, and we are trying to figure out who and why.”

“Do you have any leads?” I asked him, knowing damn well he was only speaking to me about this because he suspects me.

He looked at me for a moment longer before he leaned closer.

“Not exactly, but we need to rule out everybody< ‘he told me. “I’m sorry about this.”

Before I knew what was happening, he grabbed a hold of my arm and captured my eyes with his. Then, my entire head went blank.