The Hidden Princess and Her Alpha Prince

6 MONTHS AGO AGATHA BUYS It was in the evening when I started hearing strange sounds. My curiosity got the better of me. The sounds were different-like, I have never heard them before and, because of that, I wanted to go out and find out what or who made those sounds. I can't even describe the sounds. I live in a place that is supernatural. The Waverly Supernatural World. Here, we are very traditional people and also, people with supernatural powers, but unfortunately for me, I'm not one of those people with supernatural powers. My father and grandmother are traditional people and anything, and I mean ANYTHING that ever happens here in a strange way has got to have a meaning. For now, I need to go and see what's making the strangest sound. I am one brave girl. I think it is because I feel like I am protected by the above. I pray a lot and also, I do feel that I am protected by the underground gang, you know… the ancestors. I got out of our hut built with cow dung where I live with my father and grandmother. They are both sleeping and I tried waking them up, but they wouldn't budge. Well, you are probably wondering where my mother is. When my mother was giving birth to me, she lost a lot of blood, so, due to that; she also lost her life… so they say. I sometimes feel bad, because she died giving birth to me, but unfortunately I cannot change everything that happened in the past. After leaving the house, the noise led me to the river. The river is at least thirteen minutes away from our hut. I looked at the motionless water in the river that was shining from the big full moon in the sky. I don't even remember when the sounds stopped. I don't even know how I made it here, because the sounds went quiet since I left the house. I was only in my long Cami nightdress and barefooted. I wonder how I managed to make it until here on this gravel road without even wearing shoes. It got colder than it was before. I started getting scared when the water started moving and circling on the same spot; making a deep hole. I tried turning and running away, but I couldn't move. My legs froze on the dry land next to the river. Even if I tried screaming, it was futile, because my mouth wouldn't utter a single word. "You made it, princess." I heard the voice speaking. A deep female voice. I couldn't see anything or anyone around me, except the water that was moving, making a black hole in front of me. The whole was so dark that not even the moon shone in it. I tried speaking, but it was like my lips were glued together. "You don't have to say anything, princess. I will do the talking." I have concluded in my head that the water or someone in the black hole is talking to me. The air was hitting against my falling tears, causing me to shiver in cold. I remember my grandmother's words. I should have listened to her when she warned me; 'Mbali, you don't have to respond to everything you see or hear, especially at night. You will end up responding to things you shouldn't respond to and you will see things that you are not supposed to see'. Now, I am meeting my fate. I felt my inner thighs getting wetter as the warm liquid flowed down to my legs until the end of my feet. I peed on myself! "Your father is really stubborn. He should have never run away from home. But, I wouldn't blame him because he didn't know that you carried a special gift and that woman you live with brainwashed him. No one knew. You can help your father to remember who he is and what powers he has, Princess." I wanted to tell the water that my name is not Princess Agatha, but I was mute. I am Agatha and I am a princess, but my grandmother said it is best that my true identity stays hidden, because I am special and people might take advantage of that. So yes, I'm a princess, but I do not live in a Royal house. I live in a very poor house. I sometimes hope and that I will have my prince charming, saving me out of this miserable life of mine. I am not happy with the life that I live. I was now getting confused with the message from the water. The hole started getting bigger and it made a path coming straight to my feet. "Princess; why don't you follow the path and come and join me so that I can tell you all about it here. You have a precious gift that was passed on to you. We waited all these years for you to mature before we could call you. Don't be scared. I will be here with you." I shook my head with tears falling down to my cheeks. I have never been exposed to such before. This is absurd. I may have watched fantasy movies of such things happening, but never have I ever thought I would see this happening in reality. I am scared and trembling in both fear and cold. 'Mbali, wake up.' I started hearing my father's voice, but it sounded from afar. "Ba-ba" I tried responding to him, but my lips were stiff. "H-e-l-p… m-me." 'Mbali, honey open your eyes for daddy. Open your eyes!' I could hear him getting frustrated, at the same time, he was sounding scared. 'You can respond to your father and walk away. But, if you do so, princess… you would be putting not only yourself at risk, but your father's life too. You have the most powerful gift. A gift that can save a life.' The water spoke. 'Mbali, it's grams. Can you hear me? Respond to this voice, baby girl. I am with your father and he is crying for you. Come back to us.' I heard my grandmother calling me in her sweetest voice, but that agitated the water. The dark clouds started to cover the moon and the wind started to blow harshly. The water started to rise higher and higher and I think the more my name was being called out, the more the river water was getting angrier. Thunder struck out of nowhere and the water immediately splashed back to the ground with most of it drenching me from my head to my toe. The water drowned me in and I could only accept my fate as I couldn't fight it. I felt my body jerking up from the mattress I sleep on with my grandmother. I was panting and sweating. I felt hot liquid between my thighs and that is when I realised that I had peed on myself. What the hell!? I am 20 years old, yet I can still wet the bed? My dream actually came true. "It was only just a dream, my love." My father said, while rocking me in his embrace. My body is trembling in fear. I tugged on his sleeping t-shirt tightly. I shook my head vigorously. "It was not a dream, baba. I can feel it." "Drink this. It will help you to calm your nerves. When you are done, stand up and sleep on the bed. I will take the mattress outside when it is sunrise after the rain has stopped." Grams-my grandmother handed me the enamel mug which reeked of boiled herbs. I took my first sip which was very bitter. After my third sip; I could not take it anymore. I got up and wrapped a shawl around my waist to cover the wet part of my lower body. "You don't have to feel ashamed. It is normal." My grandmother said. I shook my head because I was too embarrassed. I couldn't stop myself from crying. The dream must have really scared me if I really got to wet on myself like that. My father could not even say anything but brush my back. I excused myself and pulled the curtain, dividing the living room where the mattress is and the part where my father's bed and where we put our clothes. We don't live in a fancy homestead. It is a one room hut built with cow dung as I mentioned earlier, with the roof made out of straws. It is only me, my grandmother and my handsome father whom I still don't understand why he hasn't found a woman in his life. I should ask him someday. I couldn't get myself back to sleep like this, even if I changed into dry clothes, I couldn't go back to sleep, so I filled the plastic wash basin with cold water as I waited for the water to boil in the big pot on the stove, so that I could take a bath. As soon as I was done bathing and wearing my clean dress, it was already sunrise. I went out, carrying the wash basin to dispose of the water in the flower garden. I found my grandmother outside, washing the mattress. "I cooked porridge and dished out for you." She said, "Thank you." *** After breakfast, because I had nothing to do, as always, I took a walk around the village, just close to home. I found myself taking the path to the river when I saw a lot of people standing by, looking at it. I saw my friend, Nancy standing by and I greeted her and asked her why is everyone gathered around here. "Hi, Mbali! Climb on this rock so that you can have a clear view. You won't get past these people." She grabbed my hand and helped me up. "Apparently, there is no explanation for this." She said, pointing at the river. "Wow!" "Beautiful, right?" She asked as she smiled. "Very beautiful. How did this happen?" It was really amazing to see the river full and the most beautiful, but shocking thing was the colour of the water has changed so much. It changed from a very dark colour to a clear sky blue. There were even different types of fish swimming in the water. "No one knows." Nancy shrugged her shoulders. I nodded and looked around. There was a white looking man with blue eyes staring at me, just across the river. He looked so handsomely beautiful, I couldn't take my eyes off him. If my grandmother knew that I look at boys and compliment them, she would throw a shoe at me. I felt like I was having a conversation with this man in my head. Or, am I making this up? I don't know, but I feel like he is talking to me. "Princess, Agatha. You must protect this river." I heard someone say that. It is not that man. It can't be him, because his mouth did not move. I looked around to see who it was, because not everyone knows my second name, Agatha. But, the person said 'Princess', so I am not a princess. They are probably not talking to me. "Don't look back! I am the one talking to you. You need to respond to the voices that speak to you. You need to revisit the dreams that visit you. Most importantly, follow your gut and your heart. This river needs your protection." Now, I am certain that I think I am hearing voices. "I'm not going crazy, am I?" I spoke inside my head. "Are you testing if you are able to respond to my voice in your thoughts?" The voice chuckled. "Princess Aga-" "I am not a princess!!!" I yell in my head. "Yes, you are." I put my hands on my head and closed my eyes. This was making me feel dizzy. I was getting dizzy. "Mbali, are you okay? Mbali… friend!" I heard Nancy shouting as she was shaking me. I gained my consciousness and pointed to where the man was standing, without looking. "What are you showing me, Mbali?" "That man." I looked, but he was no longer there. "I swear there was a white man there. He was… he wa-was th-th…" I don't know what happened next. My eyes involuntarily shut. I opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was a waterfall. I didn't know that our rural place had a waterfall. It was beautiful. Wait, am I in some sort of a forest I don't know of; because this does not look anything like my village. "Hello, Princess Agatha." I saw several women wearing white cloths, covering their bodies, bowing before me. "Oh, no. Please, you don't need to bow for me. I am not from royalty." I said as I woke up from a nicely cut green lawn. The garden around it was beautiful. "Then, introduce yourself, Princess." They demanded. "I am Mbali, which means flower. I am Mbali Agatha Buys and I am 20 years old. I was born and raised in Barberton. My father is Isaac Buys and my grandmother is Hazel Van Rensburg." I proudly said and smiled as I remembered them. "We are happy that you joined us here. Why don't you come with us so our journey-your journey can begin?" The women asked in unison. I wanted to ask why they speak like that. Why are they all bowing down to me, but I remembered something. "Why am I here? How did I get here?" They didn't answer me. They all stood up and started walking towards where the water was falling. The first woman swam in and the second one followed in. Just when I thought they were going to swim out; the rest of the women dived in. I started panicking. I didn't know where I was, because last time I checked, I was standing next to Nancy, looking at the river in our Village. I don't remember what happened next. I need to go back home. I don't want my grandmother and father to worry, not knowing where I am. Realising that I can't find my way out, I started calling the women. "Please help me find my way out of here! My family is probably worried about me." "Swim in the water, and we will help you." A voice said. I was then defeated. "The water is pure. In order for you not to be rejected by it, take all of your clothes off and swim inside… unless you are wearing something that is pure white to cover your body. If you are wearing any jewellery; take it off. We want you as natural and pure as you are, princess." The voice instructed. Like I said earlier, I am brave. I did everything the voice told me to do. I swam in the water, butt naked but, I couldn't stay in balance in the water. I felt like something was pulling me in. Something held my legs and I started fighting and struggling, but whatever that thing was, it was strong. My arms got tired and so much water went in my mouth. My body gave in and I felt myself drowning in the water. Whatever pulled me has won. ***