My phone buzzed on the nightstand beside me and I tired my eyes away from the television to pick it up. I frowned as I looked at my mother's contact again. She had been calling me every day, which was odd. Worrying that something may have been wrong, I broke my rule and picked up the call. "Hey, mom."

"Queen, I've been so worried," she said, relief flooding her voice. "Where are you? I went by the palace, but they told me you weren't there. Are you in danger? If-"

"Mom," I said calmly. "I'm fine. I promise."

The line remained quiet for a few seconds and I toyed with the silk material of my robe, not understanding why she was acting so strange. There was usually never space in our conversations for awkward silences like we were having now. My mother loved talking...and I loved talking to her.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

"Umm, yes." She cleared her throat. "Where are you?"

"I'm staying at a hotel in Juva for a few days."

"Queen, I have the entire villa to myself. Don't waste money when there is more than enough space here. I'd like to see you more often anyway and I'm lonely here. Come stay with me."

That wasn't a bad idea...I didn't mind splurging on the room here, but I did miss her. I suppose it was time to find a more permanent place to stay considering chances were my stay at the palace was over.

"Okay," I answered. "I'll be there tomorrow."

"Alright sweetheart," she said, her tone not reaching its usual bubbly one. "I'll prepare your room. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay. Love you." The line was quiet. I would've thought she hung up if I couldn't hear her soft breathing through the line. "Mom?"

"Bye." The line went dead, making me furrow my brows as I set my phone down. What the hell was that about? She and I had a pact. With me being human and living in a world full of creatures that would prey on me, we could never be sure I'd make it home or see her again. We always told each other we loved one another. No matter how angry we were at one another.

She didn't say it.

"Weird," I muttered, shaking my head and ignoring the sting in my chest at it.

A knock at my door interrupted my stupid conclusions about whether or not she was upset and I tossed my phone down before heading to the door. When I opened it, I was greeted by the pizza delivery boy I had been seeing almost every day...multiple times a day sometimes.

"Ms. Queen." He smiled down at me. I winced at the fact that he knew my name. You knew you truly hit rock bottom when you were on a first name basis with the pizza guy.

"Hey...Josh," I greeted him.

"Here you go," he said, passing me a bag as he read the receipt to me. "Your marinara spaghetti with meatballs...light on the Parmesan cheese as you requested. An order of garlic bread and a small garden salad on the side-"

"I ordered a pizza," I said slowly.

"I was surprised it wasn't pizza as well," he said with a smile. "But I think it's a good thing to switch things up sometimes."

"Sure..." I nodded. "But that's the wrong order. I remember ordering a pizza...the same pizza I've been ordering for the past four days."

"Well, here's the receipt." He handed it to me and my eyes scanned it. My name was at the top along with the address to the hotel. Every item he said was listed on the small paper, yet at the very bottom...a small detail stood out like a sore thumb.

"This isn't my card number." I shook my head, glancing up at him.

"I don't know." He shrugged. "I just deliver, but that was what was in our system. Do you want me to return it?"

"I'm not going to return free food, Josh." I sighed, accepting the bag from him. "Thank you." I passed him a tip and he gave me a large grin before retreating down the hall.

I kicked the door closed, looking at the receipt in confusion as I walked toward the table. I sighed, understanding that there may have been a mix up on the order, and set the things down. Whoever was eating my cheese pizza instead of me, had better cherish it. My stomach churned, reminding me that I didn't need the cheese anyway and I blew out a breath as I rubbed my stomach. I wanted to treat myself on my binge, but I had over done it. I knew that.

Tonight would be my break, I guess.

I opened the food, not sure if I would like it considering I had never eaten it before. If my four day pizza binge here wasn't evidence enough, I hated change. Seeing as I was too lazy to order all over again, I opened the white paper bag and pulled out the hot aluminum packagings.

I took the lids off of everything, sitting at a seat at the table as I looked down at everything. Here goes nothing. I picked up the fork, poking at the food. As hesitant as I was, it looked mouthwatering. My stomach grumbled as the smell of it filled my senses and I sighed, deciding to take a bite.

"Damn," I moaned as it hit my tastebuds. Maybe I had pizza for so long that it made this amazing, but it tasted like the best thing in the world. I moved to the garlic bread, screaming as I tasted the rich buttery taste melt in my mouth. I never cried over food before, but I almost shed a tear.

I spent the next hour or so eating as I watched a random movie and when I was done, I felt more revitalized than I had in days. I finally managed to get to my bathtub with wine fantasy. I cried as I thought I would, but it felt good.

I was okay. Not happy, yet not miserable.

I was going to be okay.

No matter what happened.

꧁꧂

"It's right here," I said to the taxi driver as he pulled up to my mother's fenced property. The villa consisted of three houses surrounding the main property in the middle- that's where my mother stayed. The rest of the small houses surrounding it had served as a "decoration" for most of my life.

No one lived there.

I found it sad, but my family was very protective of the people allowed within the gates of the villa.

I paid the driver before exiting the car and grabbing my suitcase from the trunk. I'd have to go back to the palace to pick up the rest of my things one of these days, but I didn't exactly know how to contact Syn. His phone would just ring until it reached his voicemail. I knew it was unlikely that he'd answer, but I wanted to just try. Could I be blamed for missing him?

I wondered if he thought about me at all.

Probably not.

"Thank you." I waved to the driver before walking towards the large gate and typing in the security code- my birthday. To me, that wasn't the brightest idea...but I wouldn't argue it. I'd forget anything else.

I stepped back as the gates spread open, leaving me space to pass through. I stepped onto the cracked stone winding path leading to the house and winced as I looked around. This place was always creepy, but my mother adored it. Dead trees surrounded the property as crows sat on the branches, cawing at intruders- perhaps warning them away.

A noble act.

Thankfully, this was one of those places that couldn't be judged by the outside. Unlike its familiarity to a cemetery out here, the warmth and comfort inside fiercely combatted the eeriness.

I walked up the weathered cobblestone steps to the large oak door and knocked, patiently waiting for my mother to open it. After a few moments, the door swung open and she gave me a welcoming smile. "Queen, come in!"

I smiled at her, walking in as she opened the door. I paused at the foyer, looking around at the modern decor before turning back to her. "You redecorated?"

"Yes, I did."

"Recently..." I said slowly, taking note of the empty cardboard boxes in the empty dining room.

"Yes," she said as she walked to my side.

"You only decorate when you're stressed, mom."

"Like I told you." She took my luggage from me. "I've been worried about you." I gave her a sad smile, feeling guilty that I had caused her unnecessary stress. My mother never talked about it, nor did she ever get help for it, but she often fell into long depressive states where she'd remain in bed for weeks at a time without talking to anyone. It was usually after large fits of paranoia where she thought demons or ghosts were watching her.

I studied her fidgety behavior as she dragged my suitcase down the steps to the living room and I crossed my arms. "Mom, have you been taking your medication?"

She laughed softly, shaking her head as she glanced up at me. "No, I'm alright."

"You're acting a little strange."

"I stayed up all night and I've had six cups of coffee," she said as she stretched.

"Oh, okay I guess."

She pulled her long blonde hair into a ponytail before looking back at me and tilting her head towards the hallway. "I'm sure you remember where your room is?"

"Yes!" I said excitedly, scurrying to the bedroom. It had been years since I'd been here. I didn't think I'd miss it so much, but this was the first place I came to when my parents adopted me. I remembered locking myself in the room and ignoring their multiple attempts to connect with me out of fear. Slowly, I let go. Starting with leaving my door unlocked when I was here, to leaving it fully open after a few months.

Those were the best moments of my life.

...When I was young and ignorant of the true nature of my father. He was so nice in the beginning.

I stepped into the room, ecstatic that exactly nothing had changed. My pink covers and fluffy pillows decorated the Queen bed. The bench lying in front of the high windows beside my library was untouched and my paintings hanging on the walls still looked as shitty as they were when I made it.

"I missed this place." I looked towards my mom who was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed as she smiled at me. "Oh my gosh!" I squealed. "You didn't throw away my snow-globes!"

"I still don't understand why you have so many." She giggled. "But no, I didn't touch anything in here. I always hoped you'd come back permanently. Maybe this can be a room for your daughter in the future."

Well...

I didn't say anything in response. Just gave her another smile. Me taking the villa and raising my future family here was a big dream of hers- she had been telling me for years.

But it wasn't my dream.

With as short as my life would be in comparison to hers, I wanted to do things that made me happy. Advice she had given me but hadn't applied to herself. I wanted to build a house in the field Henry left for me. That was my dream.

"Anyway, settle in and meet me in the living room. I'll make popcorn. There's something I'd like to show you."

"Okay." I smiled. She pushed my suitcase into the room and closed the door behind her, leaving me to unpack and reminisce on old times. I changed into more comfortable clothing after putting my things away and stretched before leaving the room and closing the door.

My eyes scanned the corridor, letting my mind take images of the home I used to know. At the end of the hall, the same large door with several locks faced me and I furrowed my brows in thought. When I was a child, Xyla and my parents were very secretive when it came to questions I had about that room. They each had sets of keys for it, yet I was told to never even think about going in...

If my mom was going to give me this place, surely it was time that I knew. Right?

I tore my eyes away from it, shaking away the goosebumps I got from the mystery. I walked towards the living room where my mother instructed me to go, but my steps slowed around the corner as I heard her hushed voice speaking to someone.

"Come at midnight," she whispered. "...no, she'll be sleeping."

I raised a brow, slightly smiling as I scoffed. No wonder she was able to leave my father so easily after all of this time.

She was seeing someone.