CHAPTER TWENTY
1289 Words
JELENA
"My lady, what's wrong?"
The strange woman from earlier comes rushing into the bathroom and I am currently standing in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection in complete disbelief.
"My lady, what's going on?" she asks again.
I slowly turn to look at her, my mind still struggling to process what I am seeingz the woman standing in the mirror looks nothing like the person I remember.
The eyes are mine and the feeling inside my chest is mine but the face staring back at me isn't.
"I'm sorry, my lady, but we have to get you ready before the team arrives for your makeup and final fitting."
I force myself to clear every trace of emotion from my face, I have no idea what is happening right now, I don't know where I am, I don't know why I look different and I don't even know if I am alive but one thing I know for certain is that I cannot give myself away at least not yet, until I'm sure of what's happening her
Questions flood my mind one after another.
Am I still supposed to be marrying Aaron?
Was my fall somehow an illusion?
Did I survive the fall and wake up in some strange future where none of that happened?
Or did Aaron choose another bride after trying to kill me, and somehow I am trapped inside her body?
The possibilities make my head ache and nothing makes sense, I feel as though I have been dropped into the wrong life.
The woman before me looks human enough, but something about this situation feels completely wrong.
Still, if what she said is true and I have a wedding to prepare for, then I need to play along for now tatch and observe and maybe gather information.
The first thing I need to know is my name.
"I'm sorry," I say, pressing a hand against my forehead. "I have a terrible headache right now. Could you remind me what my name is?"
The woman freezes and her eyes widen so much that I almost laugh despite the situation.
She looks as though I have just announced the end of the world.
"My lady," she says carefully, "I couldn't possibly utter such rebellion."
I blink.
Rebellion?
What kind of place am I in?
"It's alright," I say softly. "I genuinely can't remember anything right now. If you could help me, I would really appreciate it."
She studies me for a long moment, I can practically see the debate happening inside her head.
Finally, she sighs.
"Okay, my lady but this has to remain between us."
I immediately become alert.
"My lord cannot find out about this."
My lord?
Whoever that is clearly isn't someone she wants to upset.
"Your name is Jelena Valerie Hayden."
The world stops and I forget how to breathe.
What.
The.
Hell.
"Did you just say..." My voice comes out strangled. "Jelena Valerie Hayden?"
She nods.
"And I'm getting married today?"
Another nod, I stare at her in complete shock like this has to be some kind of cruel joke, a twisted trick or punishment from the universe.
How is this possible?
My name is Jelena.
The body's name is Jelena.
Even the surname is same but nothing about this makes sense, I swallow hard before forcing myself to continue.
"What is your name?"
"Andrea, my lady."
At least now I have something, a name of someone who might unknowingly help me understand what is happening.
"Alright, Andrea." I try to sound calm. "You mentioned that I'm getting married today. Who exactly am I marrying?"
I pray my question doesn't sound suspicious and Andrea's expression immediately softens, almost like she's relieved that I am asking something normal.
"Lord Calhoun, my lady."
The instant those words leave her mouth, a chill races through my body.
Lord Calhoun.
The name strikes something deep inside me, like distant memory, warning or violence, danger ans blood, I don't know where I know that name from and I why hearing it makes my stomach twist but every instinct inside me screams the same thing.
Danger.
My heart begins beating faster, the feeling is so intense that I almost stagger backward.
Who is Lord Calhoun?
And why does my soul seem terrified of him?
I force myself to remain composed, Andrea doesn't appear to notice my reaction or perhaps she's too focused on preparing me for the wedding, I glance toward the bathroom door.
A strange sensation brushes against my awareness of several footsteps approaching.
"They're almost here," I say.
Andrea looks confused.
"Who?"
"The people coming to help prepare me."
Her eyes widen and she simply stares then she hurriedly reaches into the pocket of her dress, a small device vibrates in her hand.
She looks down at it before looking back at me.
"My lady..."
I immediately know something is wrong.
"What is it?"
"I just received a message."
I raise an eyebrow.
"And?"
"They've only just arrived at the front gate."
A strange silence ensues and Andrea continues staring at me cautiously and if I am not exaggerating fearfully.
I realize what she's thinking.
How did I know?
The truth is that I don't know, I simply felt them, the same way I once felt danger approaching and maybe this body has abilities of its own but either way, explaining that would be impossible.
So I simply shrug.
"Just a guess."
The answer clearly doesn't convince her but thankfully, she doesn't press further and instead, she nods slowly and heads toward the door, I wait until she disappears before releasing the breath I've been holding.
The moment the bathroom door closes, I lean heavily against the sink, my reflection stares back at me, still unfamiliar but no longer completely frightening because now I know something important.
My name is still Jelena Valerie Hayden.
The owner of this body.
No, I stop myself immediately.
The current owner.
Me, if I am trapped here, then this body belongs to me now, at least until I understand what happened, my gaze travels across the unfamiliar face again.
Who was she?
What kind of life did she live?
What kind of woman was Jelena Valerie Hayden before I woke up here?
And why does everyone seem so afraid of Lord Calhoun?
The questions continue piling up and far faster than I can answer them.
Then there is Andrea, the way she speaks to me and she reacts to certain things, the concern in her eyes feels personal.
Like she knew the original Jelena well and perhaps they were friends or perhaps servants and nobles interact differently here.
Whatever the reason, Andrea clearly notices changes in my behavior which means I need to be careful care of every word I say, reaction I give and expression on my face.
One mistake could expose me and until I understand this world, exposure is the last thing I need, I push myself away from the sink and look around the bathroom.
The luxurious marble and golden fixtures, elegant decorations, this is not the home of an ordinary woman.
Jelena Valerie Hayden clearly comes from wealth, power and status and now, apparently, she is marrying a man named Lord Calhoun.
A man whose name alone makes my blood run cold, I don't know why fate has brought me here, don't know whether I am dead, alive, dreaming, or trapped between worlds but right now, none of that matters.
For now, I have only one objective which is survive today, learn everything I can and figure out exactly who Jelena Valerie Hayden is because from the look of things, I have a wedding to get through.
And a very long day ahead.
- Writer
