Bound by Her Sister's Vow

I twirled the bottom of my dress between my fingers nervously staring out the airplane window. The clouds looked heavy in the sky concealing the majority of the sun's light. Where I was from, this would be just a random rainy day, but from what I understood, this would be the norm of everyday life here. Light would become sacred for her—a memory of home. Looking below I took in the dangerous gloom that held a cautious beauty. The loud ding of the fasten seatbelt alarm, followed by the announcement from the captain that landing will begin shortly, snapped me back into reality. I sharply turned my head to Mary, my sister's personal assistant sitting across from me. Her eyes were wide with caution, I could tell she wanted to speak with me but knew better than to do it here publicly. As much as she tried hard to hide how nervous she was, I could see how tense her body had become. My only hope was that the two bodyguards that accompanied us from the Wolfsbane Order just assumed she was nervous from their reputation. I immediately faked a smile, hoping she would catch on—she was not only being too suspicious, but I desperately needed her to believe there was nothing to worry about. With a steady calm voice, I stated, "Mary, I know you get nervous flying but we have to buckle now," As natrual as possible I clicked my seatbelt and gestured to hers. She stared at me for a few more seconds then looked at the bodyguards before she clicked her own. We both sat there in silence-staring at one another as the plane landed. Once it was safe to do so Mary grabbed onto my arm as we exited the plane. She began to talk in a low but frantic voice "Ur—" I immediately cut her off, "Yes, I do need to go to the bathroom." I then turned to my bodyguards waiting for them to lead the way. Once we safely made it into the women's bathroom, Mary grabbed my arm and pulled me in front of her shaking me with an alarmed whispered tone, "Uri, what are you doing here? Where is Calliope?" From the moment I sat down in front of Mary, who was already waiting in her seat for Calliope, I was already rehearsing what I would say. she was met with my urgent eyes and a silent plea for no questions—yet. With a small smile, to cover up the fact that I was hoping she would not panic, I took a small breath in and quietly whispered, "I don't know where she is, but I know she is safe. Mary, she found her mate-there was no way I could let her sacrifice that." Mary's eyes filled with tears—for Calliope, her happiness. Then that happiness vanished instantly. It was replaced with terror of my sacrifice. "Uri—what have you done?" she spat out with urgency. "This could lead to war. The Wolfsbane Order doesn't take things lightly. She took a step foward now annoyed, "Are you going to pretend to be Calliope forever?" Her voice cracked with fear, "What do you think will happen to you—me—if we get caught? What about your parents?" I stood there, feeling the weight of all the possible consequences-frozen. Then there was a light knock on the door. It was the two Wolfsbane guard. All I could do was stand there. I was unable to move, speak, breathe. Mary understanding quickly went to the door opened it and explained that I needed a minute and I would be out soon. With my thoughts spinning in my head I believe I heard one guard say I had five minutes then we needed to begin our journey to meet their deadline. I couldn't be certain, maybe it was my imagination, but it sounded more like a threat than a helpful memo. Breathing became harder—then darkness. I woke up with Mary over me. Holding wet paper towels to me head. Repeating over and over, "Uri wake up. Stay with me—you're ok" Once I was able to sit up I put my head between my legs trying to keep a clear head without another incident. I ignored Mary as she whispered panicked at me. One Knock. Two Knock Pounding Knock "If you won't come out-we are coming in!" I couldn't move. I could hear Mary desperately trying to get me up—that failed. LOUDER POUNDS "1!" "2!!" "3!!!" I could hear the chaos erupting around me. I could hear threats of war—a broken treaty—Mary desperately trying to calm them while getting me off the floor. It was not until one grabbed my arm and made the declaration, "She promised she would come to our Clan. She will keep that promise! If she wants to leave and break that promise tell her daddy he can come get her from from the battlefield!" With a Broken heart, I knew what I had to do. If they were already threatening war against my pack—my family over my panic attack. Showing no empathy of how challenging this was-to give up my home, friends, my mate. For them to lose patience with me and put their hands on me—their future ruler—all the stories I had heard must be true. What would they do to Mary if they found out and decided to take revenge? No—Mary was my responsibility and she did not decide this. I made this decision and I would live with it. "Enough!" I roared with all the energy she had left. I pulled my arm loose from the bodyguard—smoothed out my dress then calmly stated, "I am ready to leave. Mary, I no longer need you. I release you from your position." Turning to the closest guard to me, "please make sure she makes it safely back" I then turned from them and quietly, walked out of the bathroom waiting for them to lead.