NIYA'S POV:-
My heart was pounding so hard in my chest that I could barely hear myself think as I ran through the dense woods, my feet pounding against the earth with each step.
The wind whipped my hair into my face, but I barely registered it as my mind was consumed by a single thought: I had to reach the light up ahead. It was my only hope of escape.
"Niya, run!" My Nani's voice was a distant echo in my ears as I pushed myself to go faster, my breaths coming in short gasps. I could feel the black figure behind me, its presence a constant threat that made my skin crawl.
Just as I was about to reach the light, the figure caught up to me, and I felt a feather-light touch on my shoulder. Panic consumed me as I realized I might never escape.
"Don't look behind you, Niya! Keep running!" Nani's voice was urgent, but it felt far away, like it was coming from another world.
Suddenly, I jolted awake, my chest heaving as I sat up straight in bed. It took me a moment to realize where I was, and when I did, relief flooded over me.
"Hey! hey!! It's me," Cedric's voice broke through my confusion, and I saw him approaching me with a glass of water.
I took the glass from him, feeling grateful for the support. The nightmare had been so vivid that I felt disoriented and shaken, but Cedric's presence gave me a sense of comfort and safety.
"Where am I?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"You're in my room," Cedric replied, his eyes filled with concern.
"Okay," I said, taking a few deep breaths to calm myself down. The adrenaline from the nightmare still coursed through my veins, but I knew I had to push it aside and focus on the day ahead.
"Are you okay?" Cedric asked, his voice gentle and caring.
"Yes, thank you," I said, giving him a small smile to show my appreciation.
"Good. Well, get ready for the office," he said, turning around and walking towards the door.
I took another deep breath and got out of bed, feeling grateful for Cedric's support. The nightmare may have left me shaken, but I knew that with his help, I could face the challenges of the day ahead.
****
As we made our way towards the office parking lot, Blake's car caught our attention as it was parked right beside us. The warm sun rays had already enveloped the surroundings, and Blake stepped out of his car, taking a deep breath of the fresh morning air.
"What a lovely day," he murmured, his eyes flickering with joy.
I couldn't agree more and chuckled as he playfully stuck his tongue out at me. Cedric, on the other hand, was less amused and grumbled, "I feel like a father with two kids now," earning a collective eye roll from all of us.
But as always, I couldn't resist teasing him, and I whispered, "Well, you'll be a father soon enough." Cedric let out a groan, and Blake's ears perked up.
Suddenly, Blake came to a sudden halt, his eyes wide with shock as he bellowed, "What?"
I immediately tried to backtrack, stuttering, "Nothing." But it was too late. Cedric shot me a deadly look, and Blake had already engulfed me in a tight embrace.
"Blake, I need to breathe," I gasped, trying to wriggle out of his grasp. "I didn't know you two performed the deeds," he wiggled his eyebrows, glancing between Cedric and me.
Cedric let out a deep sigh and muttered, "Goddess! I can't take this nonsense this early in the morning," as he pushed past us.
Feeling embarrassed, I quickly tried to explain myself, "It's not what you're thinking; I just meant it in a different way."
Finally, Blake rubbed his head in confusion and asked, "So you're not expecting?"
I shook my head, and we all laughed it off, relieved that the misunderstanding was cleared up. The warm sun continued to shine, and we made our way towards the office, our spirits high with the relief of a cleared-up confusion.
As I led Blake towards the elevator, I felt the weight of the upcoming workday bearing down on me. "Now stop talking, we have work to do," I said firmly, hooking my arm over his and leading us both to the elevator.
But as soon as we stepped out of the elevator, the atmosphere was charged with tension, and Cedric appeared concerned as he spoke with the police officers. My heart began to race, and I approached Rachel to inquire, "What's the problem?"
Her response made my blood run cold. "They discovered a body in an alley near our office," she explained, gesturing towards the police officer who handed us the photo of the victim.
As soon as I saw the photo, my breath caught in my throat, and my eyes struggled to stay focused. Niel's face was swollen, his lips shattered, his throat sliced, and his clothing soaked in his blood. It was a horrifying sight, and I felt my stomach churn.
As everyone around me stared in shock, I took a few steps back and fled the area, rushing inside the restroom to empty my stomach. How was this possible? I had seen Niel yesterday, and now he was dead. It was like a cruel déjà vu, but not in a good way.
Outside, I could hear the sound of thumping footsteps, and an authoritative voice called out, "Are you okay, Niya?"
Struggling to compose myself, I dried my tears and patted my cheeks with tissue paper before opening the door and smoothing my clothing.
"I'll be there," I replied, trying to steady my voice.
As soon as I stepped outside, Blake and Cedric were there, their expressions worried as they asked, "Are you okay? What's the matter?" Their concern was touching, but I was still reeling from the shock of seeing Niel's dead body.
cleared my throat and tried to shake off the uneasy feeling that had been lingering with me since I saw the photo.
"It's nothing," I said, forcing a smile as I looked at the two men standing in front of me.
Their faces twisted with concern, but I didn't want to burden them with my problems.
"You may tell me, Niya," Blake, always the empathetic one, gently prodded.
"It's nothing Blake, everything is good," I said with a smile.
"Tell me already, you know. Neither he nor I will let it go," Cedric, on the other hand, had a more direct approach.
"I said nothing, I just felt sick after seeing that photo," I shrugged, trying to downplay the situation.
"You know what? I don't believe you. So you should start speaking now, because you've been acting strangely lately, and now this. So simply say the truth," Cedric crossed his arms and tapped his feet impatiently.
"I'm not sure if you'll trust me or not," I fidgeted with my fingers, feeling uneasy.
"Niya, I will always trust you, therefore every word you speak is true to me," Blake reassured me as he rested his hand on my shoulder.
"OK," I muttered, shifting my attention between them. "When you told me not to attend the meeting, after you left, I was still standing there near the elevator when I saw Niel," I said, finally mustering the courage to speak up.
"You mean after you had that panic attack?" Cedric asked, and I nodded in confirmation.
"Yes, he didn't appear normal; his lip was busted, his face was swollen, and his throat had been slashed, and his shirt was drenched in blood. Exactly like the police officer's picture," I explained, feeling a chill run down my spine as I recalled his horrifying appearance.
"Hello, guys?" I cleared my throat, expecting them to say something.
But their sudden reaction caught me off guard. They both looked at each other and then quickly turned around and ran away as if they had seen a ghost. They fled as if their asses were on fire, as if I were a plague.
"Hey, wait up! Where are you going?" I called out, but they didn't respond.
I was left standing alone, confused and scared, wondering if what I had witnessed was real or just a figment of my imagination.
"I don't know why they don't trust me," I grumbled as I turned around and made my way to my office. It seemed like every move I made, every word I spoke, was being watched and questioned by my colleagues.
Suddenly, I felt a hand grab my own and I yelped, ready to defend myself. "Hey, hey, it's me," Blake said as he quickly grabbed my wrist. I let out a relieved sigh, feeling embarrassed at my initial reaction.
"Are you insane? Why would you scare me like that?" I scolded him, feeling my heart still racing in my chest.
"I apologize for forgetting about you for a moment. Now hurry up, Cedric is waiting." Blake pulled me along, his grip firm and confident, as if I were a child he was leading by the hand.
"Hurry up, Niya," Cedric shouted from the car, grabbing the nape of my neck and practically forcing me inside.
"Oyeee," I rubbed my nape, feeling like a prisoner being dragged against my will.
"What am I to you?" I asked through gritted teeth as Cedric started the car, Blake sliding into the passenger seat.
"I'm sorry," Blake apologized meekly, looking genuinely remorseful.
"Seriously? Blake, you treat me like a child and drag me around. Cedric treats me like I'm a dog," I complained, feeling frustrated and belittled.
"Be quiet, and you'll get treats like a good dog," Cedric smirked, his words dripping with condescension. I narrowed my eyes at him, feeling my anger building up inside.
"Fuck you," I huffed, crossing my arms and leaning back in my seat.
"Where are we going?" I asked, trying to distract myself from the tension building in the car.
"You'll find out soon," Cedric responded cryptically, and the rest of the trip was filled with an uncomfortable silence.
Finally, the car screeched to a stop, and I looked out the window, my eyes widening at the sight in front of me. "What are we doing here?" I asked, turning to Blake and Cedric, who were speaking with guards outside.
"You'll find out soon enough," Blake replied with a small smile, opening his door.
"Come out," Cedric instructed, holding the door open for me. "And close your mouth, you're drooling," he added with a sneer. I rolled my eyes and stepped out of the car, trying to ignore his insults.
Much snobbery?
"You're at fault for that, when did you turn out to be such a gentleman?" I playfully jabbed Cedric's shoulder, teasing him for his sudden courteousness.
"I've always been a gentleman, just not in your situation," Cedric shrugged as he began strolling towards the palace, his posture emanating a sense of authority.
"Can you recall the first time?" I nodded, amused by the memory as Blake smiled at our exchange.
"I do, but how is this location visible now?" I turned to find the butterfly perched on Cedric's shoulder, silently hoping that it would bite him.
"What are you laughing about?" Blake inquired, trying to catch up with us.
"Nothing important," I shrugged, savoring the moment with my lovely spouse.
"Welcome back, my child," Queen Jeveria greeted us warmly, her bright eyes shimmering with happiness as they connected with mine.
"Jeveria," I exclaimed as I ran up to her and embraced her, basking in her warm embrace.
"It's great to see you again," she said as she hugged me tightly, her affectionate presence making me feel at ease.
"Do you think you've gained weight?" She gave me a sidelong glance, teasing me as usual.
"Yeah, I could have," I rubbed my chin sheepishly, trying to hide my smile.
"Obviously, she does nothing but eat," Cedric muttered under his breath, drawing a frown from Jeveria and an elbow from Blake.
"Ouch!" Cedric exclaimed, rubbing his side.
"That's not how you talk about your wife, beta," Jeveria scolded Cedric gently, her voice laced with a hint of annoyance.
"I'm sorry, your highness," Cedric apologized, looking abashed.
"Say that to her," Jeveria pointed at me, indicating that he should apologize to me directly.
"It's all right, he didn't mean it," I shrugged, letting Cedric off the hook.
"What brought you here?" Jeveria asked, turning to the main topic of our visit.
"Ask them," I said, gesturing to the two men beside me.
"We've come because we believe there's a rogue mind fairy out there," Cedric said solemnly, his expression serious and determined.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Rogue mind fairy?" I exclaimed, my heart racing with a mix of fear and curiosity.
Jeveria gave a small, knowing smile and motioned for us to sit down. "Come on, let's sit and talk about it," she said, her voice soothing and calming.
As we settled onto the plush couch, Jeveria poured us each a steaming cup of tea and set out a plate of delectable cookies and dried fruit.
"It's for you, Niya; take it," Jeveria said with a chuckle, her amusement at my shock evident. I gratefully took the cup and held it tightly, my hands trembling.
"Beta and Gamma, please take your tea as well," she said to my companions, who both nodded and took a sip.
I cleared my throat, trying to compose myself. "So, what exactly is a mind fairy?" I asked, my voice shaky and uncertain.
Cedric spoke up, his voice low and serious. "Do you remember when my sister was seeing things five years ago? She was able to glimpse into the future and predict how individuals would die."
Jeveria nodded in understanding, her expression solemn. "I recall."
"And she started falling sick," Cedric continued, his brow furrowing with worry. "That's when you told us about the mind fairy."
Jeveria finished his thought, her tone grave. "It's because a mind fairy was influencing her and attempting to take over her body."
"Yes," Cedric confirmed with a nod, his eyes fixed on me with concern.
Jeveria sounded genuinely concerned. "How is your sister doing now?"
"It's not about her," Cedric admitted, his gaze never leaving me. "We believe a mind fairy is influencing Niya."
I gasped, the sound catching in my throat as I tried to process what was happening. Cedric quickly came to my aid, gently patting my back as I coughed and sputtered. His touch sent shivers down my spine, I felt a flutter in my stomach. But I quickly pushed the feeling aside.
This was too important to be distracted by anything else. A mind fairy was real, and it seemed to be after me.
My heart was racing as I tried to make sense of the situation. "What? Why me?" I blurted out, feeling a surge of panic rising within me.
Jeveria's voice was soft and soothing as she tried to calm me down. "It's alright, Niya. Let's talk about it," she said, gesturing for me to come and sit beside her on the couch.
Cedric's gaze shifted towards me as he spoke up. "It's because she's seeing things, Niya. She can see how people will die."
My mind was reeling with the implications of his words. "Since when?" Jeveria asked, her expression serious.
"Since yesterday," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
Jeveria placed a comforting hand on my head, her touch warm and reassuring. It felt as if she was delving deep into my soul, and the sensation was both comforting and unnerving at the same time. It was like I knew her, like she had been a part of my life for a long time.
But Cedric's harsh voice broke the spell, causing both Jeveria and I to jolt out of our trance. "Jeveria, what's going on?" he demanded.
Jeveria wiped away a tear and gave a small chuckle. "Don't worry, it's not a mind fairy."
Cedric and Blake exchanged a confused glance. "Then what is it?" Cedric pressed, clearly not satisfied with her answer.
Jeveria's expression turned resolute. "I'll investigate it and get back to you," she said firmly.
I felt a knot form in my stomach as I listened to Jeveria's words. There was something off about her, and I couldn't shake the feeling that she was hiding something.
"All right, then, let's go," Cedric declared, his tone decisive as he rose from his seat. Blake and I followed suit, ready to leave this place behind.
But Jeveria's sudden outburst stopped us in our tracks. "Wait, everyone!" she exclaimed, regaining her composure.
"No, I believe I must leave. There are numerous issues that must be addressed Cedric politely declined, stating that he had to leave.
But Jeveria wouldn't take no for an answer. "Please stay because there is a small party tonight. Your parents will also be in attendance," she insisted, and eventually, we acquiesced.
As we settled in for the evening, Jeveria referred to a girl my age as Zoe. "Yes, your highness," Zoe said, bowing.
"Zoe, take my daughter and show her the room. Request that Robert show these gentlemen their room," Jeveria commanded.
Zoe led me to my room, but as we walked, I couldn't help but feel that something was off. Jeveria's behavior was strange today, and I couldn't shake the feeling that she was hiding something important from us.
Why did she cry when Cedric said we were leaving? And why was she so insistent that we stay for the party? These questions swirled in my mind as I tried to make sense of the situation.
What did she see that made her so upset? And what does it have to do with me?
I could feel a sense of foreboding hanging over me, and I prayed that no more problems would come my way.
*****
***JEVERIA'S POV***
My heart ached as I stared into her captivating eyes. It was as though I could see into the depths of her soul, where darkness and despair lurked, masked by a facade of beauty.
Why did she have to endure so much pain and suffering? Wasn't it enough for her to bear already?
I knew that her life would never be the same after what was about to happen. Would this event finally bring her the peace she so desperately craved, or would it unleash a tidal wave of sorrow?
My mind raced with questions and fears, wondering if this incident would grant her the long-awaited relief she sought, or cruelly strip away all that she held dear.
"Oh, mother, please take mercy on her." I pleaded, With tears welling up in my eyes.
___________________
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Author's Note:-
Dear readers,
I just wanted to let you know that this chapter has been edited since its original posting.
I hope the changes have improved your reading experience and made the story more enjoyable.
As always, thank you for your support and for taking the time to read my work
If any mistakes please let me know
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❣️🕊️PEACE🕊️❣️