Chapter 6
By the time I reached down the slope, I was already out of my minds. What in the f….oops, Manners remember. What was that? I had never seen anything as big and scary and yet it was so exhilarating. I was at a loss of what to do. I was all alone and Mist…well he turned into mist. Part of me wanted to head back to the cave, but the greater part of me was overthrown by exhaustion so I had no choice but to allow it. I slipped to the wall and closed my eyes, fast asleep unaware of the dangers I had put myself in.
My dream was quite a unique dream, and by unique, I meant it metamorphosed from my usual typical princess dreams to terrifying nightmares. It all started with me. I saw that I was back in the palace standing in the middle of the familiar hall while maids all walked briskly searching different corners of the place with worry etched on their faces. I wondered what they were looking for, because I know that the maids who raised me would be more than glad to see me gone…..the royal outcast. It hurt sometimes but I had gotten used to it anyways.
I tried to call the attention of one of the maids but she passed through me as if I was nothing but a mirage. This was weird also. I had never been in a dream where things passed through me.
“Princess Audrey?” The voice called out and I looked forward seeing nothing but a dark room. I was a bit scared but the voice seemed to draw me closer as if I was in a trance.
“Princess Audrey?” The voice came to me like a whisper and I knew this voice was familiar, so familiar. I had a feeling in my guts. I knew this person, yet my mind was turning up a blank. Her name was on the tip of my tongue but for some reason I couldn’t quite say.
“PRINCESS AUDREY?” She snapped at me as I gasped and turned in shock. Right in front of me was no other person than my aunt.
“Aunt Claire….you can see me?” I said shocked as she cocked her head sideways and looked at me weirdly as if I was muttering some strange incantations then she replied,
“Of course I can see you. You are right in front of me. What I don’t understand is why you are not in class. Your tutor is here.” She said dragging my hand as she led me down another dark part. As we stepped closer into the darkness, it changed into my bedroom…and my parents were seated on my bed…reading to me. Well a 6 year old me, while I was watching with my aunt.
This dream just got weirder but deep down, it wasn’t a dream, it was more like a memory, sort of like a deja vu. I have seen this before, I have heard this exact words that was coming out of my mouth.
“Mother, Father tell me once again about the story of the unfortunate man.” I said…rather my 6 year old self said as she…I… well you know what I mean tugged at my parents robe.
“What is going on here?” The grown up me asked but it seemed only my aunt could hear me as she shushed me and pointed back at the scene happening in front of me.
“Sometimes you need a lesson from the past to tell you more about your present. Watch and remember all you were taught.” She said as I focused on my parents.
“...Cursed to spend the rest of his life immortal, chained to a cave, legend says….up till now, he is still there, ready to eat anymore who comes close. And he likes really naughty children too.” My mum said as I squealed out of fright and hugged my mum tightly.
“I don’t want to get eaten by the cursed monster. Please.” I said as my mum and dad patted me on my back and said.
“You will be safe, I will protect you. Come along.” He said as he took me from my mother’s hand and hugged me. That was when Claire decided to leave and as she walked away, the scene faded into oblivion.
“Wait… I have questions? Where are you headed?” I asked as I followed her as she just kept mute and opened a door for me and we both walked in. In front of our eyes, another scene materialized out of dust. In this scene, I was much older and hiding at the back of a shelf as I heard my parents squabble about something.
“She is turning 18, we need to let her know the truth, she has to be ready for what is to happen next.” My father had said in a low whisper as my mum shook her head and replied,
“No way. She is much young. She has a lot to contend with, remember she has a duty as the future Queen of our kingdom, she has to be prepared for that first.”
“All I am saying is that the sooner we tell her, the better for her, we can;’t hide the truth forever, She needs to know what is coming.” My dad tried to make mum see reason but I could see the glint in her eyes. Her mind was made up, she wasn’t going to tell me anything at all.
“Why are you bringing me back here, aunt Claire, what am I supposed to do.” I asked as the scene got replaced away with a tropical plant view. Not what I would have liked, but it seemed that I had no control over my dreams.
“You tell me. What are you supposed to do?” She said cynically which almost made me roll my eyes but I held back.
“I am afraid that I do not know what I am to do. Please tell me. You are the wise one and more matured. Help me.” I begged but she just shook her head and replied,
“I am you, not aunt Claire or mum. We are one and the same.” She said as I blinked at her. Maybe she hit her head too hard because what was standing in front of me was no other person than Aunt Claire. And just like that, her apperance changed and she became a little inches smaller as her face and clothes became distorted and soon enough, it seemed like I was staring into a mirror.
“How is that possible? “ I asked taking a step back as second me walked closer and said,
“We are in a dream, anything is possible. I had to make sure you were comfortable with me being here before I showed you my true apperance. What would you have done if you saw me when I first arrived.” She asked as I replied slowly,
“Probably unconscious from shock, who are you?” I said trying to gain distance from her when she said,
“I am just trying to help you remember the most vital thing and make sure that you are aware that your life is going to change forever and not necessarily in a good way.”
“I just ran away from home. I believe you are a little late with your message.’ I said warily roling my eyes freely.
“You think your journey has started but it has only just begun. I won’t be with you all the time, so I want you to trust your heart more. Know that it can never go wrong. You have a unique destiny, you may not realize it now, but one day you will and you will see that you are different from the rest of the people.”
“I am different already. Nobody likes me, and I am being forced to rule over the seven kingdoms by my parents. What ill luck does this universe still have in store for me.” I said angrily but she just responded.
“Once the time is right. You will know what to do. But for now, I will leave you alone. This dreams may seem vague but there are glimpses of your future. Take care and we will meet again.” She said as I woke up gasping for breath. I held my chest trying to calm myself down while my eyes got adjusted to the rays of light. I looked around and saw that I was in the woods. It was already morning. I looked around and saw that I was still alone and nobody had disturbed me but the dream still weirds me out.”
I quickly remembered about the person I saw chained in the cave, my heart felt for him, bled for him even. I had to rescue him. I wouldn’t stay away without helping him.” I egged myself on as I stood up and brushed the sticks from my clothes making myself look a little presentable.
“Time to rescue a damsel in distress.” I murmured underneath my breath.