Am I home? Is this a dream, or am I dead? It is eerily silent. It is dark. Somewhere in here there is a dim light casting shadow. I blink, opening my eyes wide to see clearer. This is a bedroom, but I’m not sure if this is my bedroom back home? I’m on my back and comfortable, warm, and dry. I touch myself to make sure that this isn''t a dream. I am here, wherever here is? I run my fingers through my hair and check the color; black which means that I have been resting for a while. Slowly and ever so quietly, I sit up. No one is here. I lift the sheets and examine my body, running my hands over to feel for pain and areas that I can''t see just to make sure that I am okay. I seem fine. This is so weird. The last thing that I remember is the thought that this was it; I was dying alone because I couldn’t bring myself to the surface. It was the hardest thing that I ever fought for; a breath and knowing that the battle was lost; that was my last memory. I think hard, was there something that I missed when I was in the water? No, I was for sure alone before it all went dark; there was no site of Shaylo coming to my rescue, or even Sitrus for that matter.


    The bed is just like my bed at home, silky sheets and netting surrounding the bed. The air is warm, and it is the middle of the night. Restless and uncertain on where I am, I get off the bed and walk around the room. The walls are a sphere and are all finished warm wood textures. I touch them recognizing the pattern of grooves from the grain. A single arched at the top closed door is on the opposite side from the bed. There is a window on the left off to the side and it is open with a breeze coming though the sheers. My limbs are working, muscles are a little sore, but nothing is broken. My lungs are tired and sore, as if I have been running full force for hours, but none the less, I am okay. I approach the window and look out trying to figure out where this is exactly. I look out and learn that I am up at least four levels. The window is big enough that I can sit on its wide ledge and lean out to get a better view. I am in some kind of tower; it looks to be a corner tower. I do not see any other window ledges nearby, but it is hard to tell with the spherical shape of the structure and with the fact that it is dark. There could be another window a level above, or below that is simply just out of sight. The adjacent flat walls that extend from the tower do have windows and the one closest to me is a fair distance. If I shouted, I am sure that if someone were in that room, they would hear me. The window over there is open. There is no sheen from glass, and I see the faint movements of its sheers. It looks like there is a dim light projecting through. Below my window is a yard that looks to be set up for leisure. There is grassy open flat space that starts on the far end and near me; there is a pool with a large fake waterfall surrounded by lush vegetation, trees, and the glimpse of flowers and plenty of shrubs. A patio surrounds the pool with chairs and lounge beds. I know where I am; I leave the window, setting my sights on the door, tip toeing towards it and try turning the knob. It is not locked! Hmm I have no idea how long I have been here, or what has happened. Could this entire dilemma with Princess Rosaleen and King Wolfrim be settled? My heart starts racing and the sudden surge of adrenaline hits; I want to know what has happened and who else is here.


    Staring at the door, do I dare? Yes, do it. I slowly open it without a sound and peek through to a dark hallway with red carpet laid out on a grey stone floor. It is quiet, too quiet, but despite the eerie feeling that I shouldn''t be doing this, my curiosity takes over. It is making me brave or stupid. I am not sure which? I creep down the hall and around a corner. There are more hallways only this time I see the glimmer of a faint light under a closed door. This must be the room with the open window. It''s quite a way down, I cautiously tip toe forward and listen, nothing. I become aware of what I am wearing, a sheer nightdress and I am bare foot. My toes are cold from the stone floor. I won''t go back. I am already halfway there. Still no noise, as I approach this closed door. I make the effort to stand up straight and knock gently.


    Tap, tap.


    I wait and listen. I hear rustling and wait. I am about to knock again when the door creaks open. Shaylo.


    In a hushed voice she asks, “What are you doing up?”


    I wanted to ask the first question, and I lose for a second my train of thought and ask, “What do you mean, what time is it? How long have I been asleep?”


    She yawns as she answers, “A couple of days. Come in, there is no sense waking everyone up, it is the middle of the night.” I follow her into the bedroom.


    “You rescued me?” I question.


    “Yes, I pulled you from the water just in time and brought you to the shore. Once I knew you were breathing, I went for help, and we eventually made it back to the Palace.” She takes a seat on a red velvet couch, and I take a seat on a cushion chair.


    “I thought you were going to let me die.”


    “I thought about it, but where would that get me? It won''t bring Shrago back and besides none of that would have happened without Rosaleen, or Newlyn setting things in motion. It’s more their fault than yours.” My palms start to sweat at her candidness.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    “Are you mad at me for what happened to Shrago?” I ask.


    She reaches for me and pulls me close so that we are face to face, in a strained whisper she answers, “Not a day goes by that I don''t think of him, wishing I could see his face, touch him and hear his voice.” I gulp; I feel her grief, she is angry, “You killed him, you stupid girl.” Her fists are clasped so tight holding the collar of my nightshirt that I feel her trembles.


    “Shaylo, I didn''t have a choice.”


    In a slightly raised, but strained voice she answers, “You’re not kidding anyone, you had a choice.” She lets go of my collar and I call back in the chair.


    I can''t let Shaylo win this argument or have her convince herself that this was how it was, because how she understands it is not right. “Shaylo, you listen to me, Shrago was already as good as dead when I brought on his death; his head was smashed in. If I had done nothing, he would have died a more painful death. This is why I had done what I did.” She’s gazing hard into my eyes and grasps me firmly again holding me there; I continue, “Yes, he attacked me and had he not been on the brink of death I would have given Rosaleen a non-death type of sentence for his assault on me, I swear this to you.” Her stare cuts through the dimness into me. Shaylo is debating on taking her frustration out on me again. She just pushes me away in one strong shove. I don''t say anything about it, there is no point.


    She paces the room for a few minutes to calm herself. “Shaylo?” I whisper.


    She sighs, “What?”


    “Where could I make myself a snack?”


    I catch her surprised, sideways glance, but quickly, she changes her expression as she realizes that my hunger is weighing more heavily on my mind than her grief; it has been a while since I last ate.


    “Come with me.” She grumbles and we leave her room, exiting right and walk down the hall. Then down the stairs that seem to go around and round as we descend. My eyes are fixed on the red carpet as we walk, then through a short hallway that opens into a large space. It is unlit and we tiptoe across to the opposite side. There are giant windows down the right, overlooking the same view that I had from my bedroom. We enter a second hall and at the end go through swinging doors that make a creaking sound. We are in some kind of grand kitchen. Not one where you would sit to eat a meal, but one designed for food preparation. Shaylo turns on the lights as she crosses the room, gathers two stools and brings them over to a counter, motioning me to sit down.


    She prepares some toast with some sort of dark sweet spread, brings our snacks over to the counter, and hops up on the second stool next to me and we eat.


    I ask her in a hushed voice, conscious that the building is quiet, and the Palace is asleep, “Why did you bring us back here?”


    “Taylan, just let it go, you know why.”


    “What good does this do? It won''t bring him back.”


    She swallows a bite, “I know that, but you need to understand that I need to get even. Locking me up in a horse stall and then killing my spouse, and never telling me what had happened. They need to pay for this, and I will make it happen and you my dear are going to validate everything.” She sips some water to wash down her toast. I have already finished mine. She takes our plates to the sink, cleans, and puts them away in an overhead cupboard.


    I ask, “How does any of this help me get my sister back? Did you even take a moment to think how all of this would affect me? You are putting me right in the middle and I don''t want to be a part of the feud. If I do what you ask, then what happens to my sister? Did you even take a moment to think about me?”


    “Don’t be all self-righteous, your sister won''t come into harm’s way, your right, you, and Ashlea aren''t a part of this. I promise that she will be kept safe.”


    I don''t know what to do here. Everything is in the balance. Ashlea, being able to see my mom and Saydira again, and I think the start of a forming relationship with Sitrus, although he has lied about keeping watch over me while on this journey with Shaylo. If I side with Shaylo, Sitrus will view me as a traitor and so will the Princess, her servants, and her mother. If Rosaleen somehow overcomes this dilemma, I can guarantee some form of retribution will come to me either directly, or indirectly. The truth of this matter is there is no good side. This imposter King Wolfrim took control because he was once being controlled and Princess Rosaleen is no angel either. She has blood on her hands. The truth is, I must decide and right now, it is to side with Princess Rosaleen because my family and loved ones are within her grasp, however way you look at it, but Shaylo doesn’t need to know this.


    Shaylo whispers, “Let''s head up to bed.”


    I am anything, but tired. I can investigate my room in hopes that it will speed up the day to come. There is one last thing that isn’t answered that I need to know, I murmur as we are walking back through the Palace, “Shaylo do you know where Rosaleen is?”


    “Not for sure, some have spotted her ship not far from here, but those reports haven''t been confirmed.”


    “Do you think she will return?”


    Shaylo shrugs and with a smug expression she says, “It all depends on if she has good insiders, or any for that matter. If she knows that I have returned to the castle, the best thing for her would be to turn that ship around, go as far as she can and never return. I know her type, Rosaleen is too proud, she may return, or she may not, but I am sure that we will know soon enough.”


    We have made it to Shaylo''s bedroom door, “Good night, Taylan.”


    “Good night” Shaylo closes the door behind her, and I walk down the hallway and around the corner to my own room. It is odd how she considers me a key piece to her game and yet she doesn’t worry herself with watching over me, but then again, we have stayed together during the entire time of traveling. She knows that I have nowhere to go. I have no idea how to get home, no understanding of where Ashlea is right now, and I haven’t a clue how I would leave without being noticed, or if anyone is watching for that matter? Shaylo knows me too well. This is no good, will Rosaleen return with Ashlea?