My mystery queen

Am Alive?

"Do you believe in magic?" Those words rang a loud bell in my head, screaming for me to realize exactly where I was.

“A book... No, no, that’s impossible. How can I be in a book?” I muttered, still staring at my reflection.

“No! This isn’t real. I must be crazy. This only happens in books or movies. Like...” I trailed off as my eyes fell on an old man walking alongside Rose.

“That is her, sir. She’s babbling about strange things,” Rose said, pointing at me. He must be the physician they were talking about. He came closer, and I took a cautious step back.

“Come, child. I’m here to help you,” he said, his voice deep yet calm, with this overly sentimental fatherly aura. I moved closer, my eyes drawn to his long white beard. My intrusive thoughts kicked in: *Grab his beard.*

I acted on it. I walked right up to him and reached out, touching his beard. It felt incredibly real.

“whoa, It’s real!” I exclaimed in awe. They stared at me like I’d lost my mind.

“I see what you mean. This seems serious,” the old man said, turning to Rose, who nodded with a pale face and fear in her eyes. I was curious—did they feel pain too? I yanked hard on his beard.

The old man groaned, trying to pull away.

“Amaris!” Rose scolded, rushing to help him. But I didn’t stop. I was too intrigued—or maybe just too entertained.

“Do you feel pain?” I asked with a smirk.

“Yes, my child. Now let go!” he scowled in pain. I released him with a smirk, tilting my head to the side like I’d just won a prize.

“Amaris, this is a serious crime! You have just insulted a great physician. Apologize!” Rose demanded, her face a portrait of worry.

“Oh, forgive my insolence, great one,” I said sweetly, my eyes still locked on him. I wondered how many people were stuck in this book besides me.

“You are only pardoned because your condition seems far too severe,” he replied, his face flushed and his eyes still studying me like I was some kind of puzzle.

“Are you a character in this chapter or a human like me?” I asked, eyeing both of them. They looked back in confusion.

“Amaris!” A loud scream cut through the tension. We all turned to see a girl storming toward us like she owned the place. Rose gasped, covering her mouth.

“Lady Clarrissa... She looks furious, Amaris!” Rose said, clutching my arm like she thought it might be my last.

I scrunched my face in irritation, already fed up with correcting this girl.

“It’s Ami!” I tried to say, but my words were cut off by a sharp slap across my face. I glared at Clarrissa, my patience thin.

“I should be informed if you’re just as useless as blind Estelle. Oh, no, she’s far more useful than you!” Clarrissa snapped, her eyes filled with disdain.

I narrowed my eyes, irritated. “What was that for?!”

She scoffed, biting her lower lip hard. “The bed was too warm, and the room too comfortable. Apparently, you forgot why you were bought!” she shouted.

“Where’s my tea? Fresh flowers? A hot bath?” she whined.

“Tea? You hit me over tea?” I snapped back. Clarrissa looked taken aback.

“My lady, she’s not well. Please don’t take her words to heart,” Rose interjected, wringing her hands together.

“Yes, my lady,” the physician added. “I’m afraid your slave Amaris has gone mad.”

Clarrissa glared at me, fury evident. “That means nothing to me! Throw her out of the Ramah house. We’ll buy another slave,” she declared coldly.

I rolled my eyes. “You must think you’re all that, huh? Newsflash—you’re nothing compared to me.”

Clarrissa’s eyes blazed with anger, and she lunged to slap me again. I caught her hand mid-air. “Keep those dainty hands to yourself, Clarrissa, or I might just return the favor,” I retorted, my voice dripping with venom.

“How dare a slave compare herself to a noble!” she yelled, shaking with rage.

“Mother was right—give a slave an inch, and they think they’re equal. Guards!” she shouted. A group of massive men, armed with swords and arrows, burst in.

My breath quickened. What was this psycho planning?

“Forget throwing her out. I want her head!” Clarrissa declared, making everyone gasp.

“No, my lady, please! Pardon her!” Rose begged, dropping to her knees.

“She will not be pardoned! Take her away. A bloodbath would be far more satisfying than a hot bath,” Clarrissa said with a sickening smile.

The guards grabbed me, and I struggled. Seriously? Is this how it ends? Will I really be killed?

“Let me go! No, please! Will it hurt? Help!” I screamed, tears stinging my eyes. Then it struck me—what if dying is the only way out of this book? The only way back to my old life? *Maybe I have to die.*

“You b***h, hiding behind your guards! Let’s go hand to hand, and I’ll show you who’s really in charge!” I shouted, trying to provoke her further.

“Have her whipped. Give her a slow, painful death,” Clarrissa ordered, her voice echoing with satisfaction.

***********************************

The familiar smell of lavender made me smile. It was like home. I used to wake up to the scent of fresh lavender flowers by my bedside, followed by mom’s gentle kisses. Those were the days. But now?

Realizing my mom wasn’t responsible for this smell, I snapped my eyes open.

“I’m alive?” I muttered, bewildered. I checked my body for any scars from the whip or signs of a slit throat, but my skin was clear—no trace of the agony I’d felt.

I sat up, yearning for anything familiar: Dad, the cooks, even that nasty Dahlia. But no. I was surrounded by people dressed like beggars. They spread cloths on the ground and lay on them, chatting and laughing. It gave me the creeps. How could they be happy when they were nothing but slaves, bought to serve the privileged and discarded with a snap?

Like Clarrissa tried to do with me.

*So, dying won’t get me out of here. How do I get back? Does anyone even know I’m gone?*

I stood up and slipped out of the room unnoticed—at least, I hoped so. I needed to find a way to escape this madness. I walked through the garden, letting my hands brush against the flowers as I passed, the breeze tossing my hair around. My movements were interrupted by a whisper.

“Wh... who’s there?” I heard the stutter of a girl. Curiosity piqued, I moved closer.

My eyes scanned the garden until I saw the girl.

“It’s... me...” I tried to say, but then I saw she wasn’t referring to me but to a man already standing close by. Was that Estelle?

"oh my lovely petals" the man cooed. My stomach churned. Great, a slave-master romance? How cliché.

I rolled my eyes already icked uhh.

"master!" the girl called out trying to use a rod to stand, It was then I realised it was estelle.

Wait, is this even a part of the story. I mean estelle never had any lover apart from the king. Curious of what will happen next I stood still.

"hush dear, how many times do I instruct you to refer me as Trobo, it is the name my mother gave to me" he said In this sick tone that made my skin crawl, just how can she stand him. He used his hands to caress her cheeks as she flinched.

"oh forgive me master for I can not refer you a name only my mistress is allowed to refer you. For we are not of the same blood nor status" she said with a bowed head, I rolled my eyes. What is she saying punch the i***t in the face already.

"oh estelle, so pure you are" he said as she placed his hands around her waist, I moved closing only stopping in my track as I recall this is not a part of the book, and I am not even supposed to be in this story in the first place. What if my actions affects the story, I better mind my business before I get too entangled in this mess.

"please master let go" she choked out quivering.

"Just give me what I want, I have been pining for you dear. But you alway beg to differ as you were only but a little child. But now with a bosom as rounded as yours and a tiny waist. no man is so blind to call you a child" he narrated with a smile on his face as he took a sniff from her hair, I began to hear small sobs which I assume belong to her.

"master, how can we betray my mistress" she cried out.

"but she will never know. Take of your clothes" he demanded . I clenched my fist glaring at the bald man. It was already dawn and hence only their shadow could I see. though it was not entirely dark as I could see the path due to the moon.

"I beg to differ master, allow me walk away" she said between sobs holding unto her rod. He slapped her across the cheeks making her fall to the ground.

"I must have made you think you are more than a slave. You requested a physician for your w***e of a mother and fellow chattel. And this is how you repay me!" he yelled

"woman take off that rags or I rip it open " he added motioning to her. when I walked up to him and grabbed his wrist.