A Dangerous Inheritance

Chapter Four

Oh damn, why is my body so sore? It's as if I did a thorough workout on top of an already thorough workout. Well, that or someone has been throwing me around for an hour while I was unconscious. In any case, even the tiniest of movements hurt.

It would be so easy to just fall asleep in this state, especially since the thing I'm lying on is extremely comfortable.

Yet, there is something I have to do, something I have to remember. But what?

I... I remember Cecelia getting hit by those three arrows but after that, nothing. It's a complete blank.

Right... Cecelia is dead. I won't hear her voice, see her smiles or hear her laughter anymore. There will be no more late night talks, lectures or advice. Not only that, but I have lost a dance partner, a mentor, a friend and a mother figure.

Now that I'm able to process and understand this information, the tears have started to flow.

Every single memory that I remember involving Cecelia floods through my mind. The good, the bad and the memorable.

There are so many, so many memories that are precious to me. And now? Now, I'll be unable to make any more due to the person who took her life away, the person who has robbed us of an amazing individual.

Worst part is, every time I miss her will be a reminder of what happened, of the pain... and the regret. If only I didn't listen to Cecelia, she would still be alive. Here, with her family. It's because of me that she is dead, and this is something that will haunt me to the day I die. All I had to do was disobey her, and she would be alive.

I wouldn't blame Diana, Lily Brian if they hated me after this. I had the power to do something but I did nothing else but watch. All because, deep down, I knew that Cecelia was the same as me. A warrior.

Will this too be my fate? Am I destined to die in battle as long as I remain here, in this world? How many more of my friends will die before it's my time to go?

Before I'm able to continue on with my regret, someone wraps their arms around me and my face is buried in their hair. Whoever it is, is quietly sobbing as they hold on to me.

Opening my eyes, I quickly realize that I'm unable to see anything. I'm not sure if it's because there is something covering my face or if the hair is simply that thick. I didn't feel anything before so it must be the latter.

Huh... the hair is really soft.

Whoever it is, is clearly in need of comfort, something that I and the others probably need right now.

As I try to hug the person, I can feel my shoulder muscles move, but for some reason, my arms remain where they are. I would say that my limbs are tied down, but I can't feel anything on my wrists. No ropes, no metal, nothing.

How strange.

I try to lift a leg up but it meets the same issue as my arms. My knee and hip raise up but my ankle doesn't.

Just what is going on? Am I being held down with magic? If so, does this mean that I'm with the enemy? That can't be since someone is holding onto me and crying... unless, of course, if that person is also captured. At the same time however, if I'm not with the enemy then why am I being held down?

Is this what that feeling is about? Did I do something that I can't remember? Whatever it was, it must've been bad if I'm being immobilized by magic.

"So... he's finally awake," says a familiar voice.

The blanket of hair slowly rises off my face, and as the light filters through the gaps, I realize that the person hugging me was Eridel. Makes sense. Out of everyone I know, she is the most likely, between her, Diana and... Cecelia, to hug me.