Chapter 44

Huddled in the corner of my room clutching my teddy bear, I listen as swords clash and guns fire. I knew those sounds, my father making sure I knew how to wield both even. Today was my sixth birthday and the party ended hours ago. So why are people fighting?

"Mama?" I whimper out, clutching my teddy tighter while shivering. No one answers but the silence.

"Princess Allisara?" Someone whispers my name as light footsteps come my way. Realizing it is my Maid Rainnah. Throwing my teddy to the side, I rush to Rainnah's open arms and cry. She soothes me, begging me to quiet down as she rushed to help me dress. She chooses a long sleeve dress with a cape wrapped around my shoulders. It is late spring and I wonder why she is dressing me so warm. Once dress, she carries me into her arms and rushed to the secret door hidden in my closet.

"Hush, little one. They will hear you." Rainnah hushes as she holds on tightly to me, her worry filled voice shaking as she does her best to keep us hidden in the shadows.

"I want my mama and papa." I whimper out, clutching Raina's shirt.

"I know Allisara. But we need to get you to safety." Rainnah coos, pulling me closer to her. I try my best to stop crying, my lips quivering as I burry my face into her shoulder. Rainnah's footsteps are barely audible and I keep quiet. Something tells me I can't make any noise with all the gun shots, screaming and fighting in the Palace.

The stairs finally come to an end with a small passage way leading to the way out ahead. Rainnah sighs with relief, tightening her hold on me and quickening her steps.

"Just a little further and we will be free." She whispers, I nod. I see Rainnah smiling as she rushes into the cold night, sticking to the shadows of the trees as she tightens the cloak on me doing her best to keep me warm. Finally she rounds the corner to find who she is looking for, a black horse saddled and ready to run. A man in armour sits on top of the horse with a young boy in his lap – the blonde playmate and a knight in training.

"Listen to me Princess." Rainnah begins, her tone urgent and making me pull away to look at her.

"The knight will take you to safety and when the time is right, we will return you home." She places me on my feet, looking into my tear filled eyes I know she is trying not to cry, trying to be strong for me, but something tells me I will never see her again. Reaching into her pocket, the Rainnah retrieves a necklace and carefully places it around my neck.

"This is from your parents. Know that they love you with all their heart." With these final words, she lifts me into her arms for one last hug before passing me to the Knight, tears in her eyes as she watches the young boy wrap his arms around me. The scent of pine is relaxing and I know with my friend I will be safe.

"Protect her." Rainnah pleads to the knight. He looks down at us, patting my head gently before giving Rainnah a nod as a silent promise. He flicks the reigns and the horse takes off, galloping away into the darkness. I look back to see Rainnah crying, waving good bye before rushing into the Palace, my home fading away.

Jolting awake drenched in sweat, I look around the room as the sounds of fighting fades away with the dream... nightmare...

"Memory." I whisper. My hand reaches for the necklace around my neck, but then I remember I left it in my jewelry box in my bedroom. I had turned six that day. Had just celebrated with my family and friends. And it was all taken away from me.

The bed shifts beside me and I know that I must have woken Sky up.

"You okay?" He mumbles, slowly sitting beside me. I nod, not sure what to say as I take in the memory and replay it over and over again in my mind.

"Alli you're crying." He pulls me into his arms, hands rubbing my back as he soothes me. I hadn't realized I was crying until he pointed it out and now it seems I can't stop. I sob, allowing myself to feel the pain of loosing my family, of loosing Rainnah. She ran back into the Palace after getting me to safety and I know from the way people avoid talking about her that she died that same night.

I am not sure how long I cried, but my tears finally stop and I hiccup for breath while Sky helps to calm me down, placing light kisses on top of my head. Slowly I pull away when I feel like my crying is done and I felt his hands cup my face, his thumbs moving to wipe away the last few tears.

"Was it a nightmare?" He asks, his green eyes filled with worry. I shake my head no, taking a deep breath as I think about the last scene of watching Rainnah run into the Palace.

"No, a memory from the night of the rebellion." I whimper out. He pulls me to his chest again, rubbing my back gently and my arms snake round his waist. His steady heart beat calms me and I close my eyes. He doesn't smell like pine like he usually does.

"What do you remember?" He asks quietly, running his finger through my hair.

"How I woke up feeling something was wrong and how quiet the night was." I take a deep breath.

"My Maid, Rainnah, had found me in my room and had helped me out of the Palace. She brought me into the waiting arms of a knight. He was the apple farmers son if I remember correctly." I continue to explain, a smile on my face as I think about the boy that was with him.

"That same boy was there too, the one I keep seeing in my memories." I finish. The room stays silent after my confession. Sky asks if I have remembered that boy yet, but I tell him no I haven't. He hums, and I get the feeling he is slightly disappointed.

The early spring air is chilly like it was that night and I begin to worry. It's never been this quiet before.

"Something's wrong." I whisper, pulling away from Sky and looking towards the window. The door opens slowly, causing Sky to push me behind him on the bed as a silhouette appears in the doorway.

"Its me, we need to go." Lia's voice rang out. I quickly grab a pair of shoes I left in the closet and shove them on as Sky and I make our way towards her, our guns in hand in case something happens.

"Ron and Liz?" I ask.

"Right here." Came Liz's voice and I sighed with relief.

"Where are the others?" Sky asked as we make our way through the house and out the back door.

"Here. We grabbed supplies." Came Alice's reply as she appears behind us, Mika and Alec staring out the front window.

"Five men, all carrying what we think to be explosives." Alec explains grimly as the two men back away from the window and make their way towards us. Sky nods, looking to Liz and Ron who carry bags in their hands. The bare minimum that they can carry.

"Ron, Liz we need to leave. I know you love this house but it is not safe here." I explain to the two, catching tears glistening in Liz's eyes.

"We know Alli. We packed what we could with Lia's help." Ron explains grimly, taking my hand in his and giving it a reassuring squeeze. I nod, not sure what to say to the two. Silently we creep out of the side door that is connected to the garage. I know the two own an old van, one that is rarely used but kept in good condition. Stepping into the garage, Sky and Mika help everyone climb into the van, before they quietly open the garage door and climb into the front seats. Sky haven driven here many times is the one behind the wheel while Mika lowers his window, gun ready to shoot if need be.

Silently the car turns on and creeps slowly out of the garage. We all hold our breaths as we look for signs of the assassins before Sky turns on the lights and drives off. Suddenly a loud explosion sounds behind us, shaking the car and the many half-built houses on the street.

"My house." Liz cries out, turning back to look at the now burning structure. Ron takes his wife in his arms, comforting her as Sky drives away. I close my eyes as a few silent tears fall. All the memories I had spending my days with Ron and Liz in that house flash through my mind. Without them, I would never had survived for as long as I had.

The drive to the Palace is tense but as we arrive to the main entrance I spy Ellisia, Adam, grandmama, grandfather and Arian standing there waiting for us.

"Mia called us, are you okay?" My grandmama asks as we climb out of the old van, pulling me into her arms after giving me a once over.

"We are fine, just overwhelmed." I answer, resting my head on her shoulder. Ellisia steps forward with four Maids, introducing herself to Ron and Liz and explaining that a room had been prepared for the two. They look to me, Liz's face wet from tears, and I nod, telling them to go rest. That I will see them in the morning to talk about what happened and where we will go from here. My grandfather suggests we all should head to bed and talk about what happened today in the morning. Sky agrees and after being reassured by Arian that security has been doubled after today, we all make our way to our respective rooms. I don't argue with Sky when he follows me into my room, the doors closing behind us. Before I can say anything I am in his arms, his lips pressed to mine in a heated kiss.

"What-what was that for?" I ask breathlessly when we pull away looking into his eyes, the deep emerald green seeming darker, more feral.

"Just because." He mumbles, his voice husky. Confused, I allow him to lead me to bed where once we are under the covers I find myself once again in his arms. Sky is quick to fall asleep but I find myself wide awake listening to his steady heart beat and even breath.