Hidden Paradise

Chapter 20

“Hey, wake up” Diana shakes them up. Athena giggled at the two. She knew they immediately slept after she left them alone but seeing them sleepin next to each other lowkey worries her.

Last time they got next to each other, one claimed to have sleep paralysis and one performed sleep walking for thirty minutes. And it’s not like it happened to them only once. Their whole friend group already witnessed these stuff.

“What time is it” Alex groaned “Where’s Elena?” Amaris followed. “We’re cooking breakfast and uh…Lady Bituin already invited us to her palace for the second time” Relief was all over their face as they heard it “We better not mess this up for the second time”

Alex helps her fold the blanket they used. “Come on, we need to be early and hurry up since the Lady is busy” Diana grabbed the two and led them towards the others. Elena came into the picture.

She held unto her head in pain, not remembering a single thing from last night. “So, what’s the plan for today?” Amaris approached her. Elena got a bit confused and looked at the others, as if pleading for their help and assistance.

“I mean, surely you know it” her eyes diverts back to Amaris. “I-I’ll talk to you later, my head still hurts a bit”

“Hey, what was that?” Athena approached her “Elena’s acting like a kid again…she doesn’t even know what we’re supposed to do today…AND she drank last night” Athena looked back to Elena who tried to eat.

“I mean, I heard she was drinking with the elders in the village…did she confess anything?” Amaris’ face stayed stone-cold, staring at a piece of flower that bloomed in front of them, despite the fact that even the grass around it died.

“Yeah… She confessed that she didn’t want us but that’s not the shocking part. Elena just wants to show others she’s better than her brother and well..simply used us” Her smile was forced as she walks away to the boat.

“It’s just…as if she’s using us just to get what she wants and ugh” Athena continued to follow her as the two sat in front of their boat. “It’s like…just so unfair for her to do that. Especially since I’ve been training for this practically my whole life!”

“I’d say I deserve a better general….WE deserve someone better” rage and passion filled Amaris’ eyes at the same time. Her eye color became a bit darker “AMARIS! ATHENA! BREAKFAST” Diana called out.

“OKAY” A smile took over her face as she held her hand towards Athena “Come on” she nods, letting her friend help her up as they ran together towards their breakfast.

“Whoa…it’s been a while since we had a proper meal” The two sat beside each other. Tons of food and choices were placed before them as they felt getting more impatient for every second.

“Eat up, we still have a long way to go” Chelsea and Marie helped serve the tables while the guys were in charged of cleaning it all up. “Did you know those two have actually been in a relationship for 3 years now?” Kira whispered, spilling the tea to them as they watched the two walk away.

“Yo, let’s hurry up. Lady Bituin is already expecting for us” Oliver quickly finished his food while the others catch up. “Elena, come on” both Amaris and Athena helps their captain up. “Just leave me here” She groans

“No…you need to come with us” Amaris mostly helped her while they continued to catch up with the rest.

“I mean if she insists…” Athena stayed quiet when she saw Amaris’ expression. “Let’s o over our boat” they continued to guide her to the boat, where had a bit of time to rest. “She’s quite heavy…” Athena stretches her arms out. Elena’s armor definitely should take responsibility for the pain she felt.

“Been quite a long time since we’ve seen each other, huh?” Kira hands her a cup of water with the same smile she gave her yesterday. “Yeah, where’s Diana?” Amaris declines her offer and quickly grabs Athena after Kira pointed the direction.

She felt tension between the two as they spoke. ‘Did Amaris notice the differences too?’ She hoped while they stayed at the other side of the boat. “Isn’t this the same boat we owned before?” Athena was a bit late too realized along with Amaris “Really? I-I don’t think so”

“I mean..it kinda is but it wouldn’t make sense, wouldn’t it?” Amaris stated while Athena nods her head, agreeing. “Anyways…I don’t trust Kira…” She suddenly admitted “Well, that would make sense…I don’t either” She felt glad when she heard Amaris’ opinions as well.

“She kind of give weird vibes, huh?” Athena nods her head, taking a seat while they watched the boat slowly leave the island.

The wind blew cold against their skin, while the sun still shines brightly. Athena carefully placed her head on Amaris’ shoulder, while she caress it. “I wish it would all be over soon”

“It will be…soon” Amaris reassured her

Athena felt like they were unwelcome as they walk on the familiar pathway. Everything was the same but it lacked the glow. With the sun glowing, Lady Bituin inviting them again, there was only two options. Either Lady Bituin was ready to hand her yellow shard or she’s going to kill them. She felt a shiver down her spine seeing the gate that stood before them.

She closes her eyes, waiting for Elena to press the button. The gate opens as she lets out a sigh she’s been holding for a bit too long. Relief washes over her as she saw local yellows gathering around with a smile on their face. “She is really must be so happy, huh?” Amaris just nods her head, her face was expressionless as they continued to walk. Seeing her reaction crashed a bit of Athena’s joy.

“We’re finally here” they heard Elena let out a sigh of joy as they faced the tall doors. “You better behave” Kira nudges Mark as he lets out a whine, holding the part where Kira had hit him. “I will…sheesh”

Elena opened the door with a smile on her face, which was quickly washed off when she saw the empty throne room. “My Lady?” She called

Curiosity got the best of them, making the others follow her inside the castle.

“What’s going on?”

“Are we getting killed?”

“What are we supposed to do?”

Whispers echoed throughout the room. The door loudly shut behind them, scaring them even more of what’s to come. Athena held unto Amaris’ hands. Her face remain stone cold like before. “What’s going to happen now?” Alex approaches them- Amaris, in specific but she only gave him a shrug as a reply.

“You, good?” Diana zoned out into the abyss from watching the floor “What’s wrong with you?” Athena tries not to panic as she worries about her friends whose been acting a bit strange lately. “Oh- nothing…nothing”

Athena’s lips turned into a line, “Something is definitely wrong” Even Jason nor Oliver approached her first ever since she came back “I smell…that’s the problem, huh?” her mind started to wonder off different things

“Well, well…well” three claps were followed after every word as they turned around, Edmond. Guards started to swoon in, capturing them and tying their hands together as they were gathered in front of Edmond.

The same smirk was on his face as he sat on the throne. “If it isn’t my favorite sibling” He greeted. Elena’s head stayed still as she looked down.

Amaris still had the same cold expression like a robot which made Athena worry more about her “Are you even okay?” She mumbles “Amaris” She calls. No expressions were in her eyes as she looks at her. “What is she…what’s wrong?” She looks back to Edmond,

“Now, I would love to get to know y’all but…sadly, we need to get things done” He clasps his hand and straightened his back as he faces them with confidence. “Now let’s see” his eyes scanned through the crowd, which soon landed on Alex “You have Klever’s timepiece, huh?” he laughs

“he didn’t even address him Lord” Athena carefully bit her lips and looked to Jason. His face also had no expression while he just simply stares “Seriously, what is wrong with these guys?”

Alex stayed still, careful not to give him any reaction him expected “Hm…I guess not” Edmond played with them. He knew very well who held unto the shard “Then…is it you?” He gives Amaris’ a doubtful expression as he points at her.

Athena’s eyes widen as she looks at her “I guess you do have it, huh?” He sat back up straight “Thanks to her” he playfully winks at Athena as she realizes why her friends maintained a cold expression. “I’m freaking dead”

“Come on, give it” he held his hand out and as a smirk formed on Amaris’ mouth