ILLUSION

Chapter 1 Ameerah’s POV I woke up from lying down because I had that bad dream again. I don’t even know if it’s really a dream or it really happened. It was just too unrealistic to believe. That some dream keeps hunting and hunting me every night for I don’t know. “I am so stressed, really stressed!” I said angrily before going to bed again I closed my eyes and forced myself to sleep but the man I saw past 5 years ago. Appeared again in my dreams. With those red eyes. I felt depressed as I sat down. I’m here in the Palace’s garden watching the swan swimming in the manmade pond. Only here can I find peace of mind. “Is the dream still hunts you all this year?” I looked up and smiled when I saw brother Lu. He is always in the palace because brother Vane has moved to Ihmapuleya and he will soon be proclaimed king because Grandfather is old. It’s sad. It seems like we’ve only been out together for a while but now. They each have a responsibility so we forget to talk to each other. And today was shocking to see my older brother here. I straightened up and sighed. I don’t have to tell him I’m sad because I know he sees that. “No, Not the dream but the fact that I will be married to a prince I don’t love one day. I don’t want that kind of set-up brother. I’m so tired of being a useless princess,” I said. I felt him caress my back to smoth my heart. “You know that you can marry anyone who you loved. Even if he doesn’t have blue blood Ameerah. Father doesn’t force you. It’s those princes who keep going here to court you,” Brother Lu said. “That’s not what I mean Brother! What I want to happen is for me to have my own life. I want to be a normal person! I want to have a business. I want to travel. I’m not the only one here at the palace! We ‘ re in a modern world for Pete’s sake! ” My statement. I heard his sigh. I know he can do something for Dad to ease my security and let me live the way I want. I will not ruin my life. I just want to travel and make my own business, find the man I love and marry him then have kids! “I’ll talk to father but I won’t promise anything Ameerah. The decision is still up to Father,” Brother Lu said. I smiled broadly then hugged him very tightly. I’m so so happy! I hope Dad understands what I want to happen. I am 20 years old. I want to experience so many things rather than just staying in the palace, attending royal parties and roaming here in Filifia. “Anyway, if father ever agreed of that idea. I know someone who can help you having a business,” Brother Lu said again. I let go of the hug and then looked at him in surprise. “Who?” “Prince Clarence. He’s a good man,” BrotherLu answer to my question. I nodded to him then smiled. If Brother Lu trusted that man. Then I must trust him too. I am in the bedroom now and reading a book. I have no intention of going out now because I am too lazy to walk and another. I’m waiting for Brother to arrive to tell me what Papa’s decision was. I’m actually nervous. My Dad was very understanding and sweet man. He respect my mother and love her so much. That’s why I admire my father. Hopefully one day, there will be a man who will love me like Papa to Mama. But please! Not a prince nor a King! I don”t like them. Okay back to my father. He’s sweet yeah but overprotective with us especially me especially Mama but she understands what I want. She even said that she was like that when she fought Ihmapuleya against evil people when she was once famous as queen. Like my father. I admired my mother. I’m so proud to have them as my parents. The whole area was quiet when I heard a commotion from my large veranda so I slowly stood up and approached but I saw nothing there. Suddenly I stared at the sky to see a little darkness then because maybe the approaching rain. Blow hard so I can hold on to my hair weld. Since I don’t find any culprit here. I decided to go inside when my shoulder suddenly hurt. I hissed in pain when I felt like there’s a burning object carving something in my spot. “O-Oh my god.. the pain. L-lady Alice! Lady Alice!” Shout but no one enters inside. Then something sinks in. The same thing happened to me then. There were nowhere to found and that red eyed man cause the pain in my shoul. “A-Am I dreaming again?” I whispered to myself. I don’t remember falling asleep. I suddenly looked over my shoulder to feel the pain gone. I pulled it down and a tattoo surprised me. I-It was burning. “O-Oh my god! M-my skin is burning! Lady Alice! H-help me!” I shout. I was about to run to the door when I heard a voice that stopped me. His voice felt like it came from the underground yet it was still sexy. There’s something in it that makes my heart go frenzy and my blood to rush. “Nice to meet you again Princess Ameerah,” Oh my! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! T-This is not happening! That voice! That’s the voice of the man I always see in my dreams! Those man who had an unbelievable red eye��� “I’ve hope your dreams keep you from remembring me,” “Oh my gosh…” I whispered again. Did I dream? Please! You will wake me up. I don’t want to see his��� “Turned around Princess and look at me. No one can save from me now. Look at me my Princess,” I gulped. The way he called me My Princess makes my hormones go wild. Ameerah! This is not the right time for some erotic scenes! He’s infront of you and you don’t know if you’re dreaming! “Don’t make me wait Princess. If you don’t want me to take you home,” there was a threat in his voice. I took a deep breath first before I slowly turned to him. My lips parted when I locked eyes with those red eyes once again. I will repeat. A-Am I dre��� “This aint a dream I’d gave you these several years Princess. Don’t you ever tell me I don’t exist,” I gulped. My eyes still locked at him. “A-Are you a demon?” I question with all my might. A very sexy smirk appeared in his lips that can make any woman to swoon. How could be so gorgeous like that? “My Princess. Like what I said. Demon isn’t illusion and I am no demon,” “W-What do you need from me? moreover! What kind of creature are you!” I couldn’t believe I shouted at him. I keep blinking but he was still there. Staring at me intently with his mischievous red eyes. “Who I am is not what I came here for,” he take a step back as he took off his coat revealing him in his black I-don’t-know-suit with ruby ������embedded in the shoulder and the buttons. I can’t see any color other than black. “Don’t hurt me! If you don’t want to say what kind of creature you are. I beg! D-Don’t hurt me,” I stuttered as I backed away. The smirk was still in his beautiful thin red lips. I continued to retreat until I could no longer retreat. My heart thumps in nervousness when he came so close to me. There I looked more closely into the eyes. It wasn’t just any human eyes. He has no pupils! It was complete red eyes and the outline was like a burning lava rock. It was shining that it gives light from the rest of his eye color. Beautiful. “You can admire it anytime you wanted my precious princess but I am here to claim,” I blinked several times. My lips were still parted, “C-Claim what?” I asked. I’m waiting for him patiently to speak when he started unbuttoning the first three buttons of his black clothes. My heartbeat quickened. “W-What are you doing?” I screamed in shock when he pulled me closer. What even shocked me that we’re already in the bed. “I’m claiming you,” To be continued… Chapter 2 Ameerah’s POV I closed my eyes and waited for his lips to touch mine but it didn’t happen. I squaled when he pulled me up. I almost drowned in the force of his pull. “I’m here to claim the change from what my grandfather gave to protect this stupid land in your races,” he said arrogantly. My lips parted. It seems to me that my patriotism has arisen from his open insult to the land of Filifia. I glared at him. “Don’t insult Filifia. This is my home country and you had no rights to insult it in front of their Princess!” I shout at him. he’s annoying! He’s the handsome arrogant annoying! If his not a demon, maybe he’s an arrogant ugly who just disguises himself as handsome. Hmp! His eyes narrowed and it burned even brighter. I stared there. It was like a burning ruby. His eyes are really beautiful. “I’m not an ugly. I’m born naturally handsome no matter what you say. I’m gorgeous,” he boasted. I just laughed. This dwarf is so proud! Yes, he is handsome but I have seen many more handsome. Even more handsome than him. “Hey! Only your eyes are beautiful. Not you!” He’s arrogant. He was blown away by the violent wind then turned around and put on his coat again. he looks disgusted with what I said. Good on him! I hate princes but I hate a monster like him more! “Will you please shut up!” He said in disgusting word. If that is so. Does he hear what I’m thinking? I smirked. “What are you saying? I’m not really talking.” His jaw tightened even more in annoyance because of what I said but he didn’t speak to tell me he could hear what I was thinking but it was his intention here that stopped me. “I am here to take you with me as the payment from the successful security my grandfather gave to your ancestors back hundred years ago. I want to take you right now but you’re irritating me!” “P-Payment?” My eyes narrowed at what he said. “Yes Princess. Payment. Because a princess like you was just like a payment. But you are the most usele���” Before he had even finished what he was going to say. A loud slap hit him in the face. He locked so shocked but I don’t care. He deserved for insulting me! “Go away,” I said firmly in a low voice. I’m controlling my tears to flow. I know I am useless. Because I’m just here in the palace and supposedly waiting for the prince to marry me but I’m working on a way to show that I can stand on my own two feet and not be a bratt princess so he has no right to insult me. “I will take you when I cameback. You like it or not. If you refused to come. I will make sure to take down in Filifia fast just like how you blink your eyes Princess,” After he said that. He entered the veranda and gradually disappeared as my vision darkened. I suddenly got out of my bed and wiped the sweat that had accumulated on my forehead. So that’s a dream? Or did he just make it all look like a dream? ‘If you refused to come. I will make sure to take down in Filifia fast just like how you blink your eyes Princess’ I closed my eyes again and tried to erase it from my mind. It’s just a dream Ameerah. Don’t be afraid of his threats. No one will take me away from the palace. Because he’s not tru��� I was quickly grabbed by my bed when I felt the ground shake. I heard glasses shattering and screaming until Brother Lu barged into my room and he rescued me. We headed to the lawn where we would not be covered by rocks and trees. When I saw Mama, she quickly hugged me and pulled me to sit down. My brother and father embrace me to which makes me calmer. When the earthquake ended, some of us stood up and so did we. “We need to check if someone was hurt. Son, come with me,” Papa said. BrotherLu nodded and followed Papa to the palace, the end of which was almost destroyed because the ground on which it was standing collapsed. I raised my eyebrows as I rolled my eyes at the damage inflicted by the earthquake. “Are you all right Ameerah? Everything will be fine children,” Mama said kindly as she hugged me. I let her embrace as I stare at the palace I’d loved. My chest tightened at the sight of its destruction. This palace was so special to me. This is all I have worried about Grandfather and Grandmother since they disappeared. And this is also where I live. I can”t believe half of it is broken.