The Darkness Within Her

Chapter- 4

Zoe leaned back on the tree as she sat on the grass. She watched as Teresa trained with her sword. They were in the garden sitting amongst all the greenery. It wasn't always that Teresa got to be with Zoe. She was busy most of the time helping the other maids.

Having finished her routine, Teresa sheathed her sword. She walked over to Zoe and sat beside the five year old.

Teresa knew that Zoe was always fascinated with the sword and would always watch whenever Teresa did her routine.

She scanned the garden for any form of life. When she was sure that no one else was there except for the two of them she began speaking, "how have you been little one? Has anyone else bothered you?"

"No one has bothered me grams. I told everyone that I only needed you to be my family. But I miss you whenever you leave me."

Teresa's heart fluttered with joy when she heard this but it was followed by a pang of sadness when she realised what life would have been like for Zoe if they hadn't had to run away. She knew that there was no point in thinking about the 'what if's' but sometimes she couldn't stop her wandering mind from thinking about it.

She felt bad that Zoe couldn't have the childhood that she deserved. She deserved to live with her family surrounded by her loving siblings.

"Grams, can you tell me a story?", Zoe asked in a hopeful voice.

Hearing this Teresa knew what she had to do to give hope to the little girl that she would one day be reunited with her family. She knew that the enemies were closing in and that there was a possibility that she could die. She would never let Zoe die, not without putting up a fight.

And so began her story. A story that would one day help Zoe move on inspite of all that life would throw at her.

" Once upon a time, there was a princess. She was loved by all. Everybody adored her. She had two loving parents who would do anything to protect her. There were also six knights who would always protect the princess. The six knights were named Jonathan, Nathaniel, Selena, Leo, Lucas and Zeke. But one day a monster attacked their kingdom. So to keep the princess safe they sent her far, far away. The knights fought a very big battle against the monster.

Many years later after the monster had been killed, the little princess was reunited with her parents and her six knights."

Zoe listened to the story with rapt attention. She wished that she had knights like in the story who would protect her from all the mean children who called her mean names.

Teresa then said," Zoe, I want you to remember that family is everything. Promise me that you will always protect your family no matter what."

Zoe couldn't really wrap her head over what her grandmother had told her but nevertheless she promised to protect her. According to her, she only had her grams who was family but she was sure that she would always protect grams.

She loved Teresa to the moon and back.

Selena

I had been sitting beside her mother along with the other ladies of the court. Most of the days she could not tolerate any of these mindless women. Her parents had brought up both her siblings and her in a different manner. They did not have the usual upbringing like the others in the court. Most of the women here were just taught to act like puppets with no opinion of their own.

Her parents always believed that one should listen to everybody's opinion no matter who they were.

The women were all sitting around and gossiping. I knew that mother only tolerated these women to get information about their husbands and what they were planning.

Many of the women here did not like me, not after what had happened years ago. They all looked with disgust whenever they looked at the scar on my face. They always insult me when they get a chance. I knew that I shouldn't let it bother me but I couldn't stop. I had been hearing these insults for many years.

They called me ugly, worthless, trash.

I had long stopped crying. All my tears had dried up after years of crying. Most of the time I just felt numb. It had been like this ever since Zoe had left.

My family had broken after grandmother had taken her away. Even though all of us knew it was for her safety, it did not stop us from breaking apart.

Dad and mom were torn apart. Mother used to cry almost every night. Father made himself scarce. He held more court meetings. Jonathan was the most affected as he had always been close to the younger most twins. Nathaniel and I tried to help look after the younger ones. Leo and Lucas didn't really understand that their sister had left but they were still sad as the four of them used to always play together. Zeke was also affected very badly.

Uncle Henry was the only one who held us all together even though he was hurting inside. We had lost hope of finding Zoe after all these years but uncle hasn't given up. Though he doesn't tell us, we know that he still searches for Zoe.

I could only pray to the gods that they be kind enough to let us see our sister one last time.