Flame Heart

3_My life just got a whole lot crazier

As I ran deep inside the forest, my mind is clouded with many thoughts.

I don’t have a plan but I can’t keep running. I don’t know where to go or where to hide.

I stopped for a while near the river, this is where Paul and I use to go when I was little to have picnics. This is where he taught me to swim.

I’m sure that by now the whole manor knows, even Paul, my adoptive father, what will happen to him now that I’m gone.

He’s too old to be worried for me. I can’t risk getting caught. I can’t turn back and ask for his help. He’ll figure out that I’m innocent but nobody will believe him.

I sat for a few more minutes and stared at the river bank. I tried to weigh my options but I just can’t think straight.

My mind is spinning. My whole world has been flipped upside down.

I know that by now, Master Dan is out for my head and have ordered to find me and kill me. Maybe he’ll find me and torture me. I don’t know what to do and feel.

Last night's conversation with the duke made me remember something.

He's been protecting me all this time. He was my father's vassal. My last hope in this stupid horrid world and now, now he's gone and I'm all alone. Again. My mind drifted to the letter.

What does that letter mean? Why am I in danger?

Hell, I don't even know if I really am a princess. I just know that once upon a time, I lived with my father in the castle. I am a far cry from being a princess.

I can feel the rise of panic attack but quickly tucked my head between my legs.

'Breath in. Breath Out. That's it Ice. In and out' I coached myself. I know one thing, and I'm sure of it. My father is not the king.

The only part that I need to understand and remember is that, I have to run and my name is written in that letter.

I remembered my father calling me Kathaleya but not a princess.

All the royal family was wiped out years ago and only the king escaped in their pursuit but no one knows where he's been hiding all this time.

Rumors say that he's beyond the crystal ocean along with other rebels.

Maybe I can start a new life there. I just have to figure out how to survive long enough to reach that place, if it's even real.

As my thought consumed me I heard a rustle behind the blueberry bush, I prepared myself to run just in case that it’s a wild bear or worse.

Maybe I should just let it devour me to my death? In that case, this will soon be over and I don’t have to think of surviving and living my life as a fugitive.

I heard a flap of wings and look closer at the bush. Maybe it's just a bird? or maybe a rabbit?

I looked closely at the bush. I know I should probably run but I felt a pull.

I swept the bush aside and there lay a black winged creature, it doesn’t look like anything that I’ve ever seen before so I dipped my hands to inspect it but it looked at me defiantly despite having a broken wing. It snapped its razor sharp teeth at me, growling.

“Who are you?” I heard someone say. I looked around and find no one.

Who said that? Freaking heck, first a murder and now I'm hallucinating. It’s just me and the black animal here? I looked at the animal confused, nah... It cannot be him?

“Hey, I just asked you a question lady. It is without doubt a proper manner to answer me or have I slept too long?" I whipped my head back at the creature.

"Maybe I should just slap you?" He flicked his tail at my cheeks slapping me hard.

"Ouch, wh..what the heck?!" I shrieked.

Oh my goddess. It's finally happening. I'm loosing it. I laughed hysterically. Damn this life. The creature looked at me like I'm crazy. Maybe I am? I definitely am.

Once again, I looked around. Seriously? Who is that? Am I going insane?

“Who’s there?” I spun around and desperately scan the area. I heard a chuckle.

“Hey lady, down here. I’m the one talking.” I looked down and stared at the black winged creature that looked like a bird but doesn’t. Its golden eyes looked up at me with amusement. It’s impossible, I’m not a Jadeian to be able to understand this animal?

“You’re the one talking? How can t--”

“If you can understand me it means you are cool." He laughed at that and I just stared at him. Heck, I'm so confused right now.

"Just kidding. Goddess, it's been so long since I've talked to someone and that someone can understand me,” he wiped his tears, still giggling.

"I know what you're thinking," he said at me.

"Whaaat?" I asked.

"How can I be so lucky to be in the presence of the Great Black Dragon," he smirked.

Freaky, I know. I didn't know that birds can smile.

"Wait, hold up... You're a what?" I asked. I must've misheard him.

He blew a hot exasperated breath at my face. "Dang it. I've slept too long. I'll freaking kill Fanatus for this," he said. "Is Vladimir still on the throne?"

"Who?" I asked.

"Is King Vladimir still alive?" He said, looking at me like I'm an i***t. "You know, big looking guy, has a scar on his left eye?"

"Uhmm.. No silly... That was like a hundred ye... wait, what?! You are a hundred years old?!" I asked incredulously.

"No genius, I'm a thousand more older." He sighed clearly bothered by the information.

"Judging by your confusion and ignorant state. I assume that dragons are no longer revered?" He sadly asked.

"No, I didn't even knew that your kind existed."