Chapter 14: Maria's Place
1207 Words
“It broke free!” The guard’s words echoed in my head instantly.
Valdanus moved before I could even react. “Where?”
“The lower grounds,” the guard answered quickly. “The handlers are trying to contain it.”
Another loud roar shook the palace. My chest sank immediately. Without thinking, I took a step forward. “I need to….”
“No,” Valdanus cut in sharply.
I frowned. “But..”
“You are not going near it again,” he said firmly.
For a second, we simply stared at each other. Then he looked toward the guard again. “Get everyone away from the lower halls.”
The guard nodded quickly and ran off. Valdanus looked back at me. “Go to your room and stay there.”
Before I could argue again, he turned and hurried off toward the lower grounds. I stood there, frustrated and worried at the same time. Maria finally grabbed my arm gently. “Pandora… maybe you should listen to him.”
I sighed heavily. For once, I hated the fact that she was probably right. The rest of the day felt tense. The palace was quieter than usual, but not peaceful. Guards moved around more often, and servants whispered nervously in corners. Every now and then, distant roars still echoed through the halls.
By evening, things finally calmed down. At least a little.
Maria and I sat quietly in our room while she folded some fresh clothes brought in by the servants. She looked calmer than before, though I still noticed how careful she moved sometimes. Her injuries from Adengard were healing slowly. “You should rest more,” I told her as I watched her struggle slightly with one of the folded blankets.
She immediately frowned. “I’m fine.”
“You say that every time.”
“Because it’s true.”
I gave her a look. She sighed dramatically and sat beside me. “Alright, maybe I’m still a little sore.”
“A little?” I repeated.
She smiled weakly. “Okay, very sore.”
I shook my head. For a moment, silence settled between us comfortably.
Then Maria looked at me carefully. “Pan… can I ask you something?”
I nodded slowly. “Of course.”
“Do you trust them?”
I frowned. “Who?”
“The princes,” she answered.
I looked away for a second before answering honestly. “I don’t know yet.”
Maria stayed quiet.
“I think Valdanus is trying to help,” I continued. “And Estevan… he’s easier to talk to.”
At the mention of Estevan, something small changed in her expression. I noticed immediately. A smile slowly pulled at my lips. “Oh?”
Maria blinked quickly. “What?”
“You like talking to him.”
Her eyes widened instantly. “Pan!”
I laughed softly for the first time in days. “That’s true, isn’t it?”
She looked away quickly. “He’s just nice.”
“Mhm.”
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“That look!” she groaned.
I laughed again, and she lightly pushed my shoulder. But honestly… It felt good seeing her smile again. After everything we had been through, moments like this felt rare.
A knock suddenly came at the door.
Maria stood up quickly. “Come in.”
The door opened, revealing Estevan.
Almost immediately, Maria straightened slightly and fixed her dress. I noticed that too. Estevan smiled the moment he saw us. “Am I interrupting something?”
“Yes,” I answered immediately.
Maria shot me a glare while Estevan laughed softly. “I actually came to check on Maria,” he said.
My eyebrow lifted instantly. Maria looked just as surprised. “Me?” she asked.
Estevan nodded casually. “You were injured when you arrived, remember?”
Maria blinked a few times before nodding slowly. “Oh… right.”
I tried very hard not to smile again.
Estevan stepped inside holding a small cloth bag. “One of the healers prepared something for the pain.”
Maria looked genuinely touched. “You brought this for me?”
“Well, I wasn’t going to keep it for myself,” he joked lightly.
She laughed softly. And there it was again. That smile. I quietly stood from the bed. “I just remembered I need fresh air.”
Maria’s eyes widened instantly. “Pan….”
“I’ll be nearby,” I said innocently.
Estevan was already trying not to smile. Maria looked ready to throw something at me. I quickly escaped the room before she could. The palace halls were calmer tonight. I walked slowly, letting the cool air clear my head. Even though things still felt strange here, I was beginning to understand the rhythm of the palace little by little. Still…..
Something felt different lately. Like the palace itself was watching me.
I sighed quietly and leaned against a nearby balcony. Almost immediately, my thoughts returned to the dragons. Always the dragons. I still didn’t understand the connection between us. The way they looked at me. The way that dragon touched me without hurting me.
Nothing about it made sense. Footsteps approached behind me. I turned slightly, expecting Valdanus. But instead….Maria.
I blinked in surprise. “That was fast.”
She crossed her arms immediately. “You left me alone on purpose.”
“I have no idea what you mean.”
“Pandora.”
I laughed softly. “Fine. Maybe a little.”
Maria tried to stay annoyed, but eventually she sighed. “He’s actually nice.”
“There it is,” I teased.
“Oh, stop.”
I smiled softly before my expression faded slightly. “You deserve something good after everything that happened.”
Her face softened too. For sometime, neither of us spoke. Then Maria stepped closer. “Pandora… I need you to be careful.”
My smile faded completely. “With what?” I asked quietly.
“With all of this,” she said. “The dragons. The palace. The attention.”
I looked away. “I know.”
“No, I don’t think you do,” she continued softly. “People are scared of things they don’t understand.”
Her words sat heavily in my chest.
“And right now,” she added carefully, “they don’t understand you.”
I stayed quiet. Because deep down… She was right.
Maria touched my arm gently. “I just don’t want something bad to happen to you.”
I looked at her and forced a small smile. “I’ll be careful.”
She studied me for a second like she wasn’t fully convinced. Suddenly… A low sound echoed somewhere nearby. Both of us froze instantly. I knew that sound now. A dragon, always a dragon.
Maybe this author should stop ending with dragons.
Maria slowly turned toward the dark palace grounds below. “Pan…”
My heart started beating faster, because standing far below in the shadows…barely visible under the moonlight….was the same dragon again. It was still watching me and honestly I really started to dislike it now. Slowly…it spread its massive wings and immediately jumped into the air.
- Writer
