He was here. Again. Hiding in the shadows. But Heaven didn't have to see him, to know that he was here. She could feel his presence. Whenever he arrived, the room would turn cold, until his touch inflamed her.
Heaven felt the other side of the mattress sink. He was getting into her bed.
No!
She lay still. She could neither speak nor move. Her body, her breathing, her heartbeat, everything stilled. Her ears strained, her mind conscious of his every movement.
Suddenly, cold fingertips brushed her arm. Heaven recoiled inside in distaste. She wanted to move away from him, but she couldn't. Her body refused to listen.
As his icy fingers trailed down her arm, Heaven shut her eyes tightly, praying for this nightmare to end. It didn't go well with the stranger in her bed. Suddenly he grabbed her harshly and turned her around so she was lying on her back. He loomed over her.
"Open your eyes." He commanded.
Heaven's eyes fluttered open, only to find herself looking into a pair of smoldering silver ones. They were metallic and gleaming in the dark. It wasn't the first time she had seen them. He had been here many nights before.
At first, he would only watch her from a distance. Not because he wanted to, but it felt as though there was a barrier between them, keeping him from getting close to her. But slowly he broke through the barrier, and that's when she began to see him, and when he began to whisper things in her ear. Things she would forget as soon as she woke up, together with his face. But those eyes she could never forget.
His hair fell over his face as he leaned closer. Wait! What was he about to do?
"Kiss you." He smirked.
No! No!
As his lips came closer Heaven opened her mouth. She was screaming, but no sound was being heard.
No! Stop!
"Stoooop!!" Her voice echoed in the entire room while her eyes shot open. Her hand flew to her throat as she sat up. Thank you, Lord, she thought. Her voice came back.
A moment later her two personal guards barged into her room, almost breaking the door. They quickly looked around for any threat before looking at her.
"Your Highness, are you all right?"
"Yes, I am fine." She assured, "You may leave."
They took one last look before leaving the room.
Heaven put her hand on her chest. Her heart was pounding so hard. She dreamed of him again.
Why?!
This was getting strange and scary.
The first few times she had been scared too, but she would forget her fear soon since she couldn't remember anything from the dream except his eyes. But the more she dreamed of him, the more she could remember, and now she remembered everything once she woke up. She could even feel his touch on her skin. As if he had been in her bed for real.
Heaven was getting concerned. She used to disregard her fear with the explanation that it was only a dream. But now things were different. For every night that he came, he was getting closer to her, and that scared her.
After getting dressed with the help of her two handmaidens, Heaven made her way to the great garden. Every morning she would have breakfast with her parents there. When she arrived, her mother was already seated at the table, sipping tea from a small cup.
"Good morning, mother." Heaven greeted.
"Good morning." Her mother smiled as she looked up from her cup of tea.
As Heaven got seated, she could feel her mother watching her closely. Here comes the scolding again, she thought to herself. What has she done wrong this time?
"Is everything all right?"
"Huh?" Heaven got thrown off by the questions. She had been expecting a scolding.
"It looks like you are not getting much sleep." Her mother commented.
Well, when a stranger gets into your bed at night, there isn't much sleeping to be done. Not that she could tell her mother. That would be scandalous.
A maiden. Having a stranger in her bed. It would create havoc. But Heaven didn't have to worry about that since this stranger was nonexistent.
"I am fine mother," Heaven assured.
She could see that her mother wasn't convinced, but Heaven didn't want to explain by lying.
"How is the selection going for you? Is there someone you like yet?"
Oh, no. This was the last thing Heaven wanted to talk about. Since she turned seventeen, and now she was almost nineteen, everyone was waiting for her to get married. The entire kingdom was waiting as if it was their own wedding.
Heaven could understand. It was a political thing. Since her parents didn't have a son, the only way to secure the throne would be for her to get married. Her husband would then be the future king of Decresh.
Heaven couldn't imagine any other man on the throne except for her father. He was a great ruler, loved by the people, yet feared.
"No, mother. There is nothing to like about those men." Heaven sighed, thinking back to all the men who came asking for her hand.
They were powerful men, either very rich or royalties. But the only reason they came to ask for her hand was the throne. They wanted more power, and the way to gain it was through her. She hated that they looked at her as a tool to gain more power. Heaven didn't want that kind of husband.
"Those men?" Her mother raised a brow questioningly.
"Yes. Those men who are only looking for power. That is not what I am looking for."
"Then what are you looking for?" Her mother asked, tilting her head to one side and listening curiously.
Heaven grabbed an apple from the table. "I want what you and father have," she replied before taking a bite.
"And I hope you find it. But things won't come to you, so you have to keep meeting these men. Hopefully, you will find someone you like."
"But mother, please. I don't want to do this anymore." Heaven pleaded.
"Then how do you intend to find a man?"
"Maybe I can find him if you let me go out."
Her mother shook her head. "Heaven we spoke about this many…"
"I know, I know. It's dangerous and all." Heaven cut off. "But nobody will recognize me. I can dress like other people and blend in."
Her mother shook her head again. "You know what. Speak to your father about it."
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To be continued!
