~Zayne~



As I laid my head down on my soft and blank pillow, all I could think of was Emily.


What could possibly be going through her head right now?


She probably thinks I hate her right now? I really wish I could tell her everything but it might just make things worse.


All these thoughts going through my head, I could barely sleep. I spent most of the night rolling from one end of my bed to the other.



Scccr Hhh


The loud and annoying noise from my alarm, forced me up from sleep.

I fluttered my dull and bulgy eyes open. The sun casts its warm glow on all the corners of my room.

I got up from my bed, and as my daily routine is, walked up to the window of my room.

I glanced through the whole castle in my sight.

Admiring what I have been blessed to rule over.

KNOCK

KNOCK


'That must be Emily, this is my chance to make things right"


'Come in!"


As the figure walked in, catching a sight of her, all my hopes dashed out the window in an instant.

I couldn't believe my eyes.


'Who are you?" I asked the lady who walked into my room, my tray held firmly with her hands.

She had blue wavy hair, and her eyes were a mixture of green and yellow.



'I'm Veronica, I'm new to the maids quarter" Veronica spoke in a very high tone, her voice very loud.


'Where's Emily?"

I couldn't care any less for breakfast, all I want is to see Emily.


'She said she can't serve you today, she's not feeling up to it"


An instant ache filled my heart. Emily is too angry to even serve me.

Have I really offended her that much?


Telling her the truth might be the best option I have right now.

'Drop the tray of the stool and then you can be excused '

I said to Veronica, she did as ordered and left my room.


How could I speak to Emily, when she doesn't even want to see me.


'Oh shit!"

Glancing at the clock it was 10 am already, I was late.

I freshened up and got dressed, ignoring my breakfast I dashed out of my room.


I had to meet up with Luther and Rowan.

We were scheduled to meet with Flora, after reports said she woke up yesterday.


We scheduled the meeting at a private location in my emergency room. It is located just by the garden.

The room is only used for discrete and important meetings.

Only royalty or very important people at the castle are permitted to step foot in it.


When I arrived, Rowan was the only one there.

He sat quite comfortable on a sofa.

'Luther isn't here right?"

I asked rhetorically.

Somehow, Luther always seems to outshine me.

Even when I think I'm late, somehow he does one better.


'Okay, we'll have to wait then"


'Have you spoken to Emily yet?" Rowan asked, his question was almost inevitable.


'NO, she doesn't want to speak to me at all.

She is really forcing my hands to tell her my secret, but I can't"

I felt almost helpless in this situation.


'Zayne, don't you think telling her might not be a bad idea.

I mean….. '


'Stop talking. I'm not going to tell her Rowan. It's not an option"

Telling Emily isn't an option for me. I can't afford to tell her.

She won't even see a future with me, if I transform into a beast every night.


'Zayne, listen to me. You have to tell her, there's no other way.

I'm sure she won't run away from you, because she loves you no matter what"


Really? Does Emily love me that much?


'Hello Losers!!!"

A stern voice snapped me back to my senses.

Luther!

'About time you came"

I tried my best to be as polite as possible to Luther.

Luther always seems to drive me crazy.

He shows up late and walks in like he owns the world and calls us losers.


''So we can start.

I want you guys to come with me to visit Flora, today"


'Why?" Luther cut in, his tone very harsh and dismissive.

'Okay, according to reports from the medics, she's now okay.

And she wants to share with us what she saw before she got stabbed.

So come with me, let's go!"


I stood and left, Rowan following just behind me.

Luther was surprisingly a bit hesitant, but later met up with us.


The emergency room was just a few minutes away from the clinic.


We reached there in no time and went in the direction of the ward room and to Flora's room.

She laid peacefully on her bed, my eyes squinted closely.

Her face was pale and grey.


'How are you feeling?"


'I'm getting better, thanks" she said, her voice very faint.


'Are you sure you want to do this now? If you can't we can leave it till your ready"

Luther asked, his voice coming from behind us, as he stood at the door.

Luther to my surprise really didn't seem curious to find out who the person who almost killed Flora is.

Je probably doesn't care much about Flora or anyone who isn't Luther.


'It's fine, I can do it now"

He raised her head from the pillow and gently pulled her body up to an upright position.


'What was the experience you had that day?"


'Well, I just came from my daily delivery of bread to the townspeople.

Walking through the castle gates, there wasn't really anyone.

The whole yard was practically empty.


I was walking a bit quick to reach my room, when a sharp claw pierced into my skin and then my flesh from behind me.

I let out a loud cry in pain, before receiving several more stabs to my back in quick succession.

I drop dead to the floor, my eyes shut close. But as he walked away, I managed the will to flutter my eye open taking a small glance at him as he walked away"


'Can you remember his face?" I asked. We were so close to catching our culprit.


'Ahhhh…. ' Flora squinted mightily, her brows furrowed as she tried so hard to recall the face.

'I can't right now , my head is terribly aching"


'Okay, no rush. Take your time well just come back tomorrow"

It was best we didn't stress her too much, after all she's just beginning to get herself.


'Quick recovery Flora"

We exited the clinic with a feeling of being so close to knowing our culprit.


'So what now?" I asked Rowan as we stood outside the clinic. Luther had since left the castle.


'You can meet with Emily and tell her everything"


'NO, I'm not!"

A piece of me desperately wants to tell her everything, keeping no secrets from her.

But the other piece is scared that if I do, she won't see me the same, she might be scared to even look me in the eye.


'Zayne, come on, you can do it.

I know Emily more than anyone else, even you. And I know she loves you more than anything, be you a beast or a king"


Rowan's words stuck in my head, as I pondered on it.

'Phew!

Okay I'll tell her"


I left Rowan to himself and walked towards the castle and to the maid quarters.

I slowly walked through the hall, taking each step at a time.

I reached her room and stood at the door.


'I can do this, I can tell her" I muttered words of encouragement to myself.


KNOCK

KNOCK

I gently knocked on her door and anxiously waited for her to open.

I could hear her soft steps walking up to the door.


'Hello!"


Emily stared at me without saying a word.


'Please I want to talk"


After a short moment to think, she finally excused me to her room.

I took a seat on a wooden stool sitting across from her.


'Talk!" Emily said in a stern voice, her attitude was as though she wanted nothing to do with me.


'Look, Emily I'm sorry about yesterday, I really am.

I didn't mean to scold you like that, I just got upset. Please forgive me"

I said to her in a very remorseful tone.

She barely flinched at my apology, her gaze was still fixed away from me.

She couldn't even look me in the eye.


'You want to know why you saw me naked in the forest, not once but two times?"


Emily finally turned towards me. As she gently nodded her head.


'Phew!

I am cursed!"


'Cursed? Why? How? And by who?" As expected the questions began raining from Emily.


'I was cursed as a price for Maya's death. A curse that turns me into a hideous beast every night.

So I can medicines every night to keep it under control"


'What? Zayne this can't be true" Emily was left in total awe by what I said.

Her face is a picture of disbelief.

I couldn't blame, even I wouldn't have believed myself if I never saw myself transform to it before.


'Zayn, you don't have to lie to me. A curse? Hideous beast?

I want the truth Zayne not a cooked up story"


'I'm not!"

I yelled at Emily yet again, my voice very harsh. I let my emotions get the better of me yet again.

'I'm sorry I yelled like…. '


'Out! ' Emily said, her voice stern, laced with a stirring rage.


'Emily, I'm sorry please!"


'You come to my room, only to lie straight to my face and then yell at me again

Just leave me alone please!"

Emily couldn't hold back her emotions. Her eyes were heated up, a few tears escaped down to her cheeks.

She was really hurt by me. I never wished to do so.

'Please, Emily , believe me. I'm not lying"

I pleaded to Emily's deaf ears.


'Okay then show me, let me stay the night with you and see you transform into the beast"

Emily was giving the right suggestions, but I can't let her stay the night with me.


'NO! You can't. I will hurt you, if you stay anywhere near me during the night"


'Leave now Zayne, I'm not buying this"

Emily walked up to the door and opened it. I slowly walked out of her room, but not without taking a last glance at her.


I reached my room, the pain of her stern words to me, bit at me.

I slammed the door past me in fury as I walked past it.

How could I let the joy of my life be so angry at me?

I knew telling her my secret was a very bad idea.

Now not only does she hate me, she also thinks I'm a liar..

How foolishly of me to follow Rowan's plan.


I laid flat to my bed, my hands crossed behind my head as I stared up at the ceiling.

My eyes were wide open, I couldn't sleep, not until an hour before dawn.


KNOCK

KNOCK


I woke up to a loud banging on my door. The noise almost jumped me up from bed.


KNOCK

KNOCK

The knock came again, this time with more force used.


'Zayne!!!, Zayne!!!"


A voice tinged with urgency called my name from outside my room.


I quickly opened the door to see Cedric. This better be good.


'Zayne, you need to follow me to the clinic now!"

Cedric said.

He dragged me from my hand out of my room.

I couldn't quite understand what was really happening.

'Cedric what's happening?" My eyes were still a bit heavy, but I managed to navigate my way with Cedric to the clinic.


We walked to Flora's room, there were a few people standing just outside it, their faces looked distressed.

I reached Flora's room to find her bed empty as a nurse carefully dressed it.

'Where is she?" I whispered to Cedric's ear.


'Sir as of today's morning, Flora has been declared missing"