Can you love me

Ghost of a Queen

Just so you guys know running from the academy is impossible without a royal's help. The guards were sharper than I expected and I was a monster that has to be kept inside under strict surveillance.

And the only royal willing to help me was Celine maybe because she didn't want me to be the evil she might have seen in the future seeing orb. So I planned on running from here right after the Knightship honoring ceremony where the passed students will be given their robes, swords and badge. I had to stay till then because that will be the only day when many people will be busy in celebration and I might get an easy way out.

Celine had promised to keep a cart ready behind the garden wall and also some food, water and other necessary steps. First I wanted her to set free some creatures from the supernatural prison but she was too scared so I had to wait for another opportunity.

There were exactly fifteen days left for my birthday and to be honest I was scared to death. My nightmares were gone now, I don't know how. I wanted to visit Kasper's grandma and tell me some solution. It felt like my breaths were numbered and I had to do something before my life ended. And though I was scared what my presence could do now I wanted to open up my heart for once.

I have been distanced but for once with mere fifteen days in hand, I wanted to see what would it be like to have a normal life. And then I can,maybe, die in peace.

"I want to go out," I asked the guards opening the door.

And though they are supposed to stop me from leaving, they couldn't utter a word when I walked out strutting like I owned the place. I was pretty sure whole academy will be alerted on this but it was not like anyone would dare to mess with me. I headed straight for armory to warm up.

But even before I could open the doors I heard running footsteps.

I saw many soldiers looking alert and scared.

"Can a student practice a little?" I said with a challenging tone.

"How about I help?" Kasper said with a small smile at my antics.

"Sure."

He threw a sword towards me which I caught and soldiers around backed off. What was Kasper planning I had no idea but I went along with it. We sparred for a long time not either one of us getting a chance to hit. I realised guards getting bored and tired and living. So this was what Kasper was planning.

As he got closer to hit he whispered, "Jerk is going to help you run."

I was surprised at this since I just came out uninformed how could he know that I will be out now.

"We have been keeping tabs." He answered my silent question and I realised I had not one but three stalkers.

"Where are we running to? Kill Silas?"

"No, just a road trip." He said with a dubious look.

***

Who doesn't love a secret passage? And I was running through one right now.

Jayden and Blade planned all of this since none other than my Principal hired assassins to kill me. It was a good idea, to be frank, but these guys found it bad so here I was dragged out of the place.

"Who told you about this?" I asked but they ignored me.

So I just followed quietly after that.

Once we were outside there was a car waiting for us. The secret passage was through the lower ground of library where old books were kept. I had to know who knew about this path, it can't be these two. One was new and other was a Prince who didn't reside here.

We sat in the car and I saw Kasper at the driving seat.

"Now can I ask where are we going?"

"To hide you somewhere." Came Kasper's short reply.

"Because someone is planning to kill me?"

"This is serious Annalise. Silas just declared to the whole world out there about your power." Jayden said in a frosty tone.

So some might want to kill me before Silas got his hands on me.

Would this be the best option?

Not really Frozen and stop having stupid thoughts! Jayden surprised me with an answer in my head.

It was like I thought it as a plea so that Jayden could hear me.

"So we are hiding you for now till we find a way to penetrate Silas' place," Blade said in a bored tone.

"And what place is that?" I asked irritated that they are not telling me everything.

"You will live in the palace." Blade answered carefully as if he knew I would react harshly.

***

Living in the palace would have been fun and cool but it was not because no one inside knew I was here. I was here without permission. I was hidden in the old Queen's quarters which was rumored to be haunted. No one came there and it was more like a shrine to the queen. There were no guards and even the King himself didn't come there.

It was called haunted because Queen could be heard crying in there. Ghost didn't scare me but I wanted to know the reason behind all the rumors.

"They are not rumors." Blade came next to me.

"Sure they are else we could have banished the ghost soon." I have handled ghosts myself.

"She is not some ghost, she is my grandmother's ghost."

"Is she violent?" I was worried I might kill Blade's already dead grandmother.

He just chuckled at this, "no, she is just trapped here."

There was a sadness behind his words and I thought it was better not to poke further.

"Will I be staying here alone?" I asked not sure I wanted to be here with crying old woman.

"We will be taking turns to come here so that no one suspects," Jayden said for some reason not happy about the idea.

"I want to meet your grandmother." I directed my words towards Kasper.

Everyone looked surprised at my sudden requested but after a while ,Kasper answered, "Okay, I will ask her and let you know."

That night I was left alone in that room because everyone has to return back to their places so that no one is suspicious about them. But surprisingly the room was comfortable and I slept soon after the boys left.

I woke up feeling utterly cold and uncomfortable.

I stifled a scream when I saw an old woman sitting right in front of me. My hands reached automatically to the dagger next to me.

"Relax young lady. Do I look like I will attack you." She asked.

I observed her and realized she was rather calm and comfortable.

"You are Blade's grandmother?" I asked.

"You call Miwok Blade." And laughed merrily.

Her laugh was kind of soothing. She had silver gray hair tied in a neat braid. Her pale skin was wrinkled and her silver-blue eyes were smiling at me. She wore a lot of accessories for an old lady but nothing on her looked out of place.

Miwok, the Prince was actually named Miwok and now I wanted to tease him with that.

"You might be Annalise then." She came to a conclusion and her smile grew brighter.

I nodded not sure how I should react now.

"You were his first crush." Old lady shared a shocking fact with me, "I wonder if he still feels for you."

I hope not.

"I am someone anyone can love."

"You are severely ill." She said with a hint of pity.

"You can say that."

"I am a healer, I can see the darkness inside you." She elaborated.

"Can a healer cure this?" I asked hoping maybe that Blade was my true love.

"Nothing can cure this, it had to die or be destroyed." She answered soberly.

I coughed awkwardly, "Well, I already knew that so no need to be sad and all."

She came closer and placed a hand on my head like a blessing and in that moment I felt the power of healer. I felt all the pain, tiredness, ache and nausea being sucked out of my body. I sighed with the incoming beautiful and calm feeling.

I felt so happy in that moment that a tear of joy escaped through my eyes.

"You will have no nightmares now. But if you do dream they will be either memories or premonitions. You will feel no pain till you come back to me after the injury." She said gently patting my head.

"why are you still here? You should be in heaven."

"Because Miwok asked to be here."

"Why?" I was not sure Blade will want his grandmother's soul to just roam around.

"To cry and haunt this place." and she laughed at her own joke.

"Really?" I asked not sure if she was joking or not.

"No, I am here for you." She answered this time sincerity crystal clear through her eyes.