ISADORA

THE LETTER

Isadora's blood was forming long trails behind her. The creature followed the trails and the scent of her blood. The broken trees, branches, and twigs underneath their feet made flattening sounds. They echoed like bones cracking in silence.

Her hair flowed in accordance with the wind, and her sweat cascaded down her forehead.

The creature growled, and the cloud thundered in a low snarl. The weather turned dark, signifying something different. Dark and dangerous.

"Ahh!!" Isadora stumbled on a branch and fell.

She scrambled back, dragging her butt across the forest. Panic, and heavy tension gnawed at her throat.

The creature leaped up in the air and lunged towards her.

Isadora let out a high-pitched scream, but before the creature could reach her

A sharp light blinded the place.

Somebody appeared, shielding Isadora.

The creature released a loud, hoarse growl, its voice rough and chilling as it fell to the ground.

Slowly, the light cleared, and they were no longer there, only the creature.

~~~~~~

[SILVARROW PALACE]

A casting light appeared; Isadora and Nyla appeared in the chamber.

King Dimitri stood from his chamber, focusing his gaze on Isadora.

Isadora was panting, the hot chase still fresh in her head. The creature's red glowing eyes, big body, not the kind she had seen before.

She quickly darted her gaze around when she felt the shivers of the run crawling in her skin. She looked up to the ceiling that was draped in silver as if the moon itself had fallen on it. To her right, effigies and some other things she didn't quite understand.

Where was she?

She cleared her throat, having recovered from the chase.

She turned to Nyla. "Where am I? Who are you? Why did you bring me here? And who the hell was that thing chasing after me? I haven't seen anything like that before," Isadora asked, her eyes brimming with curiosity and confusion. But the fear in them wasn't missed.

The mention of the creature brought goosebumps back to her skin.

Nyla exhaled. So many questions at a time. She was expecting it.

"The city of Gloamhaven. I am the palace oracle. To meet your mate. A member of the royal family," Goddess Nyla answered truthfully.

Isadora stared at the lady, jaws slack. She didn't have to be so blunt in answering her questions because she didn't get a thing.

"Thank you, I have to leave now," she said and tried to walk.

"Ouch," she winced, tracing her gaze down to her foot.

The injury had gotten bigger. It was expected since she ran earlier.

Nyla crouched to her feet. She touched it and made some incantations.

Just like magic, the wound closed up, healing completely.

Nyla faced Dimitri. "Her blood unintentionally broke the barrier."

"Wow, how did you do that?" she asked, utterly surprised.

King Dimitri spoke up for the first time.

"Isadora, come inside. We will sit down and explain everything to you."

Isadora's eyes widened. "You know my name? How is that even possible? No, don't tell me. It was nice meeting you both, but I have a class to attend, and I need to get going now." She wanted to leave again when Nyla spoke up.

"You aren't going back home. This is your new home."

Isadora looked at her. She had no idea if she should start crying or laughing, but this whole thing seemed like a movie.

The type where they kidnap the female lead and start spewing trash.

She burst into laughter, not out of humor. Disbelief. "That was a good joke... right?"

King Dimitri and Nyla watched her silently as she laughed herself out.

Her laughter slowly died down, seeing the serious expression on their faces.

"I have no idea what you are talking about. My parents sent me here to deliver a letter to you. I lost it during the hot chase with that creature," Isadora said, taking their seriousness into note.

This whole thing made no sense at all.

Oracle, mate, curse, another city.

"You mean this letter?" Nyla put her hand inside her long cloak bag that hung on her shoulder.

She brought out the brown envelope and gave it to Isadora.

"Read it."

Isadora exchanged glances between Nyla and the letter. She collected it. As she started to tear it, she noticed her hands were trembling. She had no reason why, but this letter was making her heart skip multiple beats.

What if what this woman was saying is true? But it's impossible. Her parents love her a lot and would never agree to let go of her, no matter what. Not to talk of deceiving her.

But her heart was palpitating in her chest. Her hands were trembling against the letter, and she could feel the air changing into a colder one.

Still, she tore the envelope and brought out a wide piece of folded paper.

It was a letter, and somehow, without knowing its content, she was already having goosebumps.

Slowly, she unfolded the letter, which read.

"After thoughtful consideration, we've decided that if this is the only way to save the people of Gloamhaven, then... we are ready to make this sacrifice. It's so sad that we had to let go of our daughter in this manner. And so, I ask of you, please protect my daughter. Keep her safe, and help her fulfill the prophecy. Her life is in your hands, Nyla. Till we meet her again, Elazar."

A tear slipped down Isadora's cheek to the letter she had just concluded reading. No matter how hard she tried to comprehend it, she couldn't believe her own parents would just hand her over to some people just because of some prophecy they heard.

She bit her bottom lip, suppressing her tears, then wiped off the one that had already gathered in her eyes.

This was rubbish. Nonsense, and she won't believe a thing they said.

"I won't stay here," she muttered, standing on her word.

Nyla sighed. She knew something like this would happen; she was expecting it.

"Listen, dear, you can't go back," King Dimitri said.

"Says who? I agreed to come here only because I trust my parents a lot. I didn't ask them why I was delivering the letter to this weird city out of curiosity. I just can't stay here," Isadora replied, already pissed off by everything.

"Isadora..." Nyla began, going closer towards her.

"You are our people's last hope. You alone can fulfill the prophecy..."

"What prophecy is this?!" Isadora yelled, cutting her off. "Huh? Why is no one telling me anything? I'm sick of that word. Do you guys think I'm some pushover or something!"

"You're not a pushover..." Nyla replied. "You're his redeemer."

Isadora froze as Nyla's last word kept replaying in her head.

"Redeemer, that was what her mystery man said she was the last time. How does this lady know about it, or was she referring to something else?" Those were the thoughts running through her mind at the moment.

"Re... Redeemer?" Isadora asked, trying to clear her confusion.

Nyla smiled. "Your dreams, Isadora, are proof of the prophecy."

"How do you know about my dreams?" Isadora asked sharply.

"You'll find out soon. For now, you will be staying here."

Isadora didn't argue further. She needed answers to her questions, and maybe this mystery woman could solve the missing pieces of the puzzle. She'd stay for some hours.

"Where do I stay?" Isadora asked.

"The maids would take you there," Nyra replied, and called two maids. "Take her to the first room on the left."

The maids bowed to the three of them before leaving the chamber.

Isadora followed while admiring the palace. Her deepest passion for history... research.

"Are you sure we are doing the right thing?" King Dimitri asked, his tone laced with worry.

"This is her destiny," Nyla replied. "It is bound to happen." Her eyes were on the route Isadora had taken.

"The time is near." She drew in a deep breath.

~~~~~~

Isadora paced around the room, biting her fingernails repeatedly. She had been in this room for about three hours doing nothing.

"This is nonsense!" she raised her hand midair.

She rushed to the window and peeked outside. She could still see the strange lady who calls herself the oracle and the weird man who looked like the king. Another woman was with them, and from her dress, she looked like the man's wife. Whatever they were talking about looked so serious.

She can't stay here. She had a class to attend, and she needed to ask her parents about it.

"It makes no sense!" she exhaled and sat on the bed.

"Mate. Nightmares. Curses. Saving the city. I've read a lot about them, and I believe somehow I am inside one of the stories. Who knows that forest incident took me into another dimension?" A smile kissed her lips as she poked her head with her finger. "You are so smart."

She stood and peeked outside again; this time, they were pointing at the room and talking to the guards she saw when she was coming to the room. She had no idea, but she saw them nod their heads before making their way towards the room.

"I just pray they are not coming here." She lifted her lids, trying to measure the height.

She needed to escape from this place today. The height is too high. She'd definitely break her bones if she jumped from here.

A knock came on the door, causing her to flinch.

Isadora didn't reply.

They slowly pushed the door open, peeked into her room, and came in fully.

Two guards walked in, bowed respectfully and strengthened their position.

The one who looked like the main guard, as his robe was black, different from the first two who walked in, also bowed at Isadora.

Isadora's brows were raised as she witnessed the respect they were giving her.

"My princess, you are wanted in the royal chamber."