The Promised Heir

Chapter four

Who was that?” Nonna's voice brought me out of my reverie. I turned to find her sitting on a stool with her leg crossed over each other. “ I’ve noticed something was going on with you but I couldn’t put my finger on it” she said. “Now I find out you’ve led someone right to us” she said, exasperation in her voice. “No, Damian isn’t going to harm us” i rushed to speak on his defense. “He’s my friend, he took me to see the village.” Nonna shook her head at me “ you foolish child, you went out of the forest” she asked with anger in her voice. “ Don’t you know the harm”

“All my life, I’ve followed your rules, dont cross the line, dont gp out of the forest, for 18 years I’ve done everything and I’m tired, I’m lonely, I want to feel what people my age feel I want to be free and live like them” I yelled back

“You are not them Ana, you’re not like them. Uou can’t turn, you cant trust them, they’ll only hurt you” she said with sadness in her voice

“Can I just have this, I promise Damian is a good person, youll be meeting him soon”

She shook her head in resignation and left me in the room.

The next morning, I woke up

Feeling groggy. I don’t like arguing with Nonna, I made up my mind before I slept that I would do whatever it takes to get her to approve of Damian. I walk into the kitchen to the smell of toast and rosemary and the soft scrape of Nonna’s spoon against the bowl.

“I made breakfast,” she said. “Grab a seat and have some” I was shocked to find that she made breakfast. “About yesterday ..” I began but before I could continue she spoke “I’ve always known this day would come but as long as you promise me you’d do whatever to be safe, I’ll allow it” “and when the time comes, I’ll tell you certain things you need to know” she finished. “Really” I jumped from my seat as I pull her into a bone crushing hug. “ Thanks Nonna, he’ll be here later today to see you” She nodded her head and continued what she was doing.

A little after noon. A knock was heard at the door. “I’ll get it” i yelled. All I did was open the door and suddenly I found myself on the floor sorrounded by men i didn’t recognize

“Keep quiet, little girl, we’re gonna be taking you with us and your wretched nanny with you”

They raided the house and brought Nonna out with them. “Dont touch her please ” i yelled but they wouldn’t listen. I couldn't see their faces as it was covered. Nonna tried to escape from the hands of one of the men to get to me and before I could hold her, I saw the knife pierce through her chest . “NO” i screamed. “Nonna wake up, wake up”

My throat itches from screaming, I tried telling them I know the captain of the guards but they wouldn’t listen. My feet and hands have been tied and I was blindfolded. I wanted to scream but I couldn’t. Nonna is gone, she’s not gonna sing to me or cook for me. I stayed and didn’t move for major part of moving out of the forest. I could hear different voices but I don’t know where they were coming from .

I couldn’t bring myself to accept, who are these people, why did they kill Nonna, What do they want from me? I kept asking myself

Where’s Damian? Were this rogue wolves? I was so confused that I didn’t realise we stopped. I heard different voice but I was too shocked to try to figure where we were

“Finally she has stopped screaming” I heard one say. “She’s feisty, that one, i wouldn’t mind having my way with her. Too bad she isn’t to be touched” another said

My head kept spinning, I shouldn’t be touched, who ordered these people? I couldn’t bring myself to complete the thoughts forming inside of me “Did Damian lead them to me?” He would never do that I said to myself.

How long we spent on the road, I didn’t know, all I knew is we stopped and I was being shoved into a room. One of them removed my blindfold and said to me “Try to behave yourself, little one, we need you looking your best.” He had a sinister smile on. My wrists and leg were unbound and I was allowed to move round the little room with a little plate that contained cheese and dough. And a gourd filled with water. Thete were no windows, just a tiny bed and a thin blanket. I looked at the welts on my wrists, thought of Nonna and fresh tears fell of my face. “I should have listened, I should have never gone out.”