Birth of the Queen

Chapter Four: Tomorrow

Prita P.O.V.

I woke up with a bitter taste in my mouth like the one people usually have when they catch a fever or cold. I tried to climb out of the bed but my head spun so notoriously that I couldn’t even sit straight. Luckily, Ma came into my room and was about to hurry me down the bed but when she touched my hands and forehead she understood I had a high fever. Wait, I have a fever? It has been years since I had fever. Yesterday’s incidents really took a toll on me. I decided to stay in bed for the day. I wrote an email to my editor saying that I was sick. I ate on the bed and then slept again. At around midday, Rome came to meet me. He got the news from Ma. He sat beside my bed and looked very concerned. I could now sit up straight and told him that I was fine but that was a lie. Rome knew it. He said, “Don’t you dare lie to me, Prita Denborough.” He then put his hand on my forehead and looked a bit tense, “You’re still burning up.” “I’ll be fine.”, I tried to smile. But he didn’t look very convinced. We spent the entire time chatting on various topics and none of us mentioned yesterday’s incidents. I was starting to feel better by evening. But Rome had to live because he got an urgent call from home about something. He didn’t want to leave but I promised him that I would be fine. Only then he agreed to go home. I felt a bit fresh, so I got out of bed and stood by the window in my room that faced the street. My house was at an interior part of the locality, so there were not many people. The street light was off. Darkness was thick beneath the window. In the darkness, I saw a silhouette on the street just across my house. There was a field on the other side which was safely fenced. First I thought I saw something else but then the dark object moved and I realized it was a person. In the back of my head, I knew who it was but I stopped myself from thinking impossible situations. I got back to my bed thinking that I was just overwhelmed by yesterday’s incidents. But I still had so many questions. I started creating a mental list. First, when and why did Tristan come back and what did he want from me? Second, why was he acting abnormally and who were those men with him? They were doing non-human things. Third, why was the café empty? And how could they have such a weirdly sealed double room inside a café? Fourth, What had Tristan become? Then my mind drifted back to the moment I stopped the knife from killing Rome. The most serious question was how I did that. Next, how was I not bothered by the fire and Tristan, too? who was that hooded man? Why did I behave so strangely around him? And, what did he do there and how did he make a door appear out of thin air? Oh God! I must have gone crazy. I felt short of breath as I tried to look for clues in yesterday’s incidents. I looked at the clock. It was 8. I had been doing these for two hours straight. I tried to calm myself. I really needed some air. I went to the window and eventually my eyes fell on the street. I was shocked to see a silhouette loitering on the street at the same spot. Now I felt fear starting to build up at the pit of my stomach. I forgot time until I heard Ma calling me for dinner. I ate silently and came back to my room. I had a feeling that whoever was standing across the street was still there. I tried to stop myself from looking but curiosity won. I saw what I expected. And curiosity and stupidity got the best of me. I slipped downstairs and went out of the front door. I was now walking towards the person across the street and he seemed to have seen me coming as he straightened up a bit. When I was close enough to see his face, I jumped backwards. It was him. The hooded man. He didn’t budge though. I didn’t know what to do, so I stood straight, chin up. I figured that he wasn’t going to say anything. So, I started, “What the hell? What’re you doing in front of my house?” He didn’t answer right away. He seemed to be thinking or scheming or whatever of that sort. Wait, is he stalking me? Oh my God! What if he’s a stalker or a serial killer! Oh! Shut up. Stop thinking nonsense. I grew impatient. I waved my fingers in front of his hooded face. Then he did something completely unexpected. He suddenly seized my hand and said gruffly, “Never ever do that again. Understood?” I was completely shaken. I could only mutter one word, “Yes.” What? Did I just say yes? I was about to say something and then I realized he was still holding my hand in a tight grip. I tried to get out of his hold but he was too strong for me to overpower him. At last, when I saw that he wasn’t gonna let go so easily, I asked, “Can you let go off my hand now?” He loosened his grip at once. I tried to maintain my calm voice and asked, “What are you doing in front of my house?” He spoke plainly, like he was bored, “Nothing. I seemed to be walking by. How’s your shoulder?” I didn’t realize he was asking me a question and when I finally got t, my hand instinctively found its way to my left shoulder blade and I found neither the bandage nor the wound. What the hell happened to my shoulder? I totally forgot about my wound after Tristan started the madness with fire. How did it vanish? The man seemed to have understood my confusion. He said in a low rumbling voice, “Don’t worry about it. Get inside. You are sick.” What he said was right but right now, I didn’t need rest. I wanted answers and I was pretty sure that he had them. So, I crossed my arms in front of my chest and said stubbornly, “No. I won’t go anywhere until you explain everything.” he was going to say something but I continued, “Don’t tell me that you don’t know. I know that you’re aware of everything. Please.” I basically requested him. His shoulders slumped a bit, as if he gave in. Then, he said in the most polite voice he used ever since I met him, “Listen, Prita. I’ll tell you everything I know. But not now. Not here. Go take rest. I’ll meet you later some day and I promise I’ll tell you everything off my knowledge.” He sounded so sincere that I could make no further demand. How did he know my name? Anyway, it wasn’t that big a deal. He might have heard it from Rome or Tristan yesterday. So, I just said, “Okay. I shall wait.” I turned around and didn’t want to look back as that will only make me more curious. I went back inside the house and quietly slipped into my room without waking my parents. I looked out the window and saw the empty street. He was gone. It would be a lie if I said that I felt good that he left because I didn’t. Even though I never saw his face and he had all the signs of being a potential criminal, I somehow knew I could trust him. I went back to bed and lied flat on my back and hoped for a better tomorrow until sleep claimed my eyes.