GLIMPSE OF THE PAST
Chapter 2
ROYANNA
Standing in the centre of raging flames,heat scorched my skin. Smoke heavily filled in the air, as the ground beneath my feet turned crimson with blood.
The scent of burning wood and iron filled my nostrils, suffocating and raw. This wasn't my village…
No,there were no simple abd small cottages scattered around the vibrance of earth.
Instead, it was a strange and eerie land, with the longest and darkest-looking towers,that stood high and mighty despite the fire.
Men clad in leather armor clashed violently with others clad in golden plates. Screams of rage, pain, and terror tore through the atmosphere.
But I didn’t flinch.
I stood still, untouched by the chaos of war. It wasn’t real, not now. It was just another memory clawing its way into my dreams again. I used to call them nightmares, but I had stopped pretending long ago. This was the past,and the remnants of battles that happened years ago.
I closed my eyes, as if shutting them could somehow mute the sounds and erase the images.
“Royanna…”
A voice called me back, soft and familiar.
I slowly opened my eyes, blinking, my eyes came in close with Orphelia’s golden ones, she stared with concern, crouching on my bed in all fours, her long hair falling around me.
“Are you alright?” she asked gently pulling back and sitting on the bed. I sat up slowly, wiping the sweat from my forehead, and offering her a faint smile. “I’m fine. Just another glimpse of the past.”
Orphelia nodded solemnly, though her gaze lingered on my face longer than it should have. “It must be horrible, having to live with terrible sightings.”
She leaned on me, resting her head on my lap, “ They keep calling you a witch, but I know you are something better, someone really great.”
I smiled at her words, “Or maybe they are right.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Who knows?”
“No one.” She replied confidently. “No one knows anything.” I shook my head, warding off her words.
Then I noticed her outfit. She wore her favorite tea-green silk dress. The one she always saved for the bookshop's garden tea parties. Her hair was even brushed and tied back neatly with matching ribbons, something she usually hated to sit still for.
“You are all dressed up,” I said, nodding at her. “We don't have lessons today, right?”
She straightened, “I was hoping we could go out together, just the two of us. Spend the day together and forget about whatever’s going to happen soon.”
I smiled, caressing her hair, “Orphelia, you know I can't, mother hates it when I leave home, alsothe villagers hate my guts.” I reminded her. “We could stay home and help the servants around the house,” I then suggested.
“No,” Ophelia yelled, startling me. “The servants don't like you just as much as the villagers, they say horrible things behind your back, they call you a witch just like the rest. When will you realize that these people don't deserve your love or respect , Royanna?”
“Ophelia…” I trailed off.
She shook her head, her brows creasing in disappointment. “If that's what you want,” she replied dryly, jumping off my bed and storming out of my room.
These were my last moments in this house, I can’t stand Ophelia being mad at me.
I got out of my bed and chased after her. She was heading back to her room when I grabbed her by the arm,stopping her from walking any further.
“ Ophelia, I am sorry…”
“No you are not.” She snapped, snatching her hand from my grip. “You really want to leave, you don't want to be with your sister anymore, that is the reason for your lack of effort. Right?”
“Ophelia.” I sigh, taking both her hands, “Their decision is final. How can I go against them? We know how stubborn they can be, so what is the point in trying?”
Ophelia shook her head, tears gathering in her eyes, “This is your life, Ro, you aren't some commodity they can just toss into a carriage and ship off.” Tears finally spilled from her eyes, “I don't want to lose you.”
I bit my lips, holding back my tears as I pulled her into a tight hug. “I promise, you won't lose me.”
I stopped before my parents’ chamber, with the hopes of changing their minds. My fist launched in the air, ready to knock on the door, but instead, I froze in place…
“... She has brought us nothing but trouble.” my mother revealed. “However, sending her off with merchants from the big kingdoms is not ideal.”
“So what do you suggest we do, Ivy? She's your daughter, too.” my father snapped.
“A daughter who sees ghosts in her sleep? Who dreams of blood and curses? That’s not a child, that’s a bad omen!”
My heart twisted and my hand dropped to my side. I didn’t ask for these dreams. They came like storms, wild, and terrifying. Faces I didn’t recognize. Kingdoms and villages I had never heard of, lost to the battles of time.
At first, we all thought they were nightmares that came with being different. My mother wept, praying to the Moon Goddess to intervene and save me. My father brought in help from every healer of the kingdom. Nothing helped. Then the dreams started coming true.
Right before the passing of the baker's son, who drowned in the river, I had seen it and told my parents. And then came Eli, the village's most wealthy hunter. Before his death, I had seen him get attacked by a wild boar, and telling my parents was my biggest mistake.
They tried to make a fortune from me, but all I kept seeing were deaths, rarely were there good visions to cling to.
The Beta's daughter, Seraphin, was the last straw. She committed suicide, jumping out of her own window in her father's manor. No one believed me, the Beta covered all tracks of the news to keep the shameful act from the mouths of the villagers. My parents were threatened, and from that day forward, their hatred for me began to grow.
My tongue suddenly caught the sharp sting of saltiness, and only then did I realize I had been crying.
“If selling her is the only option we have then that is what we would do. I am not risking my family for her any longer.” My mother's firm voice declared, her words were final, and it annoyed and sparked something in me at the same time.
Orphelia was right, this is my life too, I am not just some commodity they can just toss out of their lives. I can take control of my life, too, but not here; they won't let me. I have to get out of here, I have to escape.
I hurried back to my room and Orphelia was there, her face filled with hope. “Did they change their minds?” she eagerly asked.
“No, but it doesn't matter now. I am leaving.” I revealed, and her face brightened even more. She leaped forward.
“I am coming with you.”
I shook my head, “You can't Orphelia. You are safe here, you are not hated as much as I am.” I closed the distance between us, holding her face in my palm. “Trust me, you mean the world to them, they will protect you whilst I am gone.”
Orphelia held my arm, which was still on her face, “It doesn't change anything, I am coming with you. I would rather be with you than anyone else.” She deadpanned and I sighed.
“Fine, pack your things, we leave at midnight.”
