Chapter 3 — Somewhere Safe and Ghost City

I told my father about it. But he said that he never really knew anything about my mother's past nor life story. They just married each other and when I was born, she died.

I told him the possibility that I have the blood of a witch, and that my mother has been one when she was alive. But he won't accept it. He doesn't want to believe it!

The mage Elias was talking about came early the next morning and inspected me. He tried taking off my blindfold but I won't allow him.

"Your Highness, I can't inspect you if you won't take off this fabric."

"But I told you that if I open my eyes, people get killed. You really still want to try?"

He sighed impatiently. "Your Majesty, if she won't do it I can't do anything to help her. I need to inspect her eyes."

My Father, Cassio, and Elias were in the room, too. Watching how this mage will treat me. My father allied with him and told me it'll be okay. The mage was really persistent.

"Okay, then..." I said. "One last question, Mage. What do you have there to protect yourself? Do you have magical powers to shield yourself?"

He chuckled lowly. "I created a magical amulet years ago and it was effective against evil magic. Believe me, your eyes won't hurt me."

"T-Then, it's only you who wears it? The others do not?"

"No, they don't, Princess."

I bit my lip and nodded. "Father and the others, kindly go behind me. I want to make sure nothing will happen to you."

Maybe they hesitated because it took seconds before I heard footsteps going behind me. When Cassio said they're all at my back, I nodded and untied the rope. I am wishing that nothing will happen bad, that the mage is right of this plan.

"Open your eyes, Your Highness."

And so, I did. I gasped when there's tiny force going out of my right eye and the next thing I saw are birds flying everywhere in front of me. I barely managed to close my eyes, but I did.

"W-What happened?"

I heard shuffling and I immediately covered my right eye with my hand. I gaped when I saw the same burned body in front of me. Although it's unrecognizable, I know it's him. The mage is dead!

I shut my eyes tightly and cried endlessly. This just really proved that I did all those deaths!

"I told him it's dangerous but he won't listen to me!"

"Y-Your Majesty... He's dead."

I thought I'll dream over and over about what happened since yesterday. I thought I'll see Lumin and Johanssen, trying to blame me for their deaths. But dreams like that, they didn't came. Just that same dream since weeks ago... In the beautiful and rainbow-colored meadow. Where I am standing in the middle, enchanted with what I'm seeing. There's a woman's voice calling me. But before I could see her, I'd always wake up from sleep.

Trial began the next day and that even worsened the guilt and insanity within me. They all wanted me to die and repay for what I've done. Some even said that the king should take responsibility, too. Because I'm his daughter.

The trial ended in chaos and it hurted me that after King Lucas' years of building up our Kingdom, our Nation, it ended up like this. People died, people in disorder, and people are in rage.

I was silently sitting on the bed when I heard a knock on my door. It was father. He gave me a gift. A new silky blindfold. It was soft against my eye and light, too.

"If only I know the answers why you're like this, then you wouldn't have to suffer," he said as he carresed my cheeks. "But Ciara, whatever the reasons are, please don't hate your mother. The Queen is a very beautiful kind of person and I know she doesn't want this to happen to you."

I smiled and nodded.

"How about the trial, Father? People want only one thing and they won't stop until it happen. They want me dead."

He sighed heavily. "I won't let them kill you, Ciara. You're the only thing that makes me alive. Without you, my daughter, I will only live in sadness and pain. I promised your mother that I will protect you and love you, no matter what. I won't let you die. Not in my watch, Princess."

That night, it was very cold and windy. Seemed that winter is approaching.

I sat on the couch near the fireplace and covered myself with a blanket. I can't see anything and for three days, I'm slowly getting to be used to it. But I don't want to be used to it. I want it off my eyes. Because in darkness, I can see the gore scenario in my head. Replaying. And every memory brings the same guilt and agony, especially when I remember Lumin and Johanssen, my greatest friends that I killed.

My thoughts stopped when the door opened loudly that made me stand up warily.

"Ciara!"

"F-Father? What's wrong?"

He pulled me in the arm and led me somewhere. I was on my bare feet and still wearing a sleeping gown.

"Immediately get her a bag of dress and food that can sustain her needs for days!" His voice was laced with urgency.

"Yes, Your Majesty," answered Cassio.

"W-Why? What's happening?"

"Ciara, listen to me. The townspeople are here to kill you. I need to cast you somewhere where no one can find you so you'll be safe. Don't worry, Cassio will go with you. He'll take care of you for a while."

"B-But where? How long am I going to stay there? Why don't I just face the people? I'll accept their wrath-"

"No!" He shouted. "You're not going to die. You're going to hide with Cassio until I can think of a solution to your illness. Understand?"

"B-But..."

I felt the damp ground on my feet and the cold immediately wrapped around my body. We're outside now, maybe at the back part of the palace.

"Cassio's here. He will accompany you and will protect you. Come now, mount the horse!" He ordered.

I shook my head and clung to him tightly. "Father, I'm afraid!"

"Don't be," he whispered. "You're a brave woman, Ciara. You can do this. You need to do this. Don't worry, we'll see each other soon. Now go! Before they see you!"

When I didn't let go, he forcefully lifted me to mount the horse. Then another person mounted, too. It's Cassio. He wrapped something around me and the cold lessened. I was crying terribly when he readied the horse and made me hold to thr rope.

"Father... Promise me, we'll see each other soon. Promise me!"

"Yes, Ciara. I promise! Cassio, please take care of my daughter."

"I will, Your Majesty! Hee-yah!" And when the horse started galloopping away, endless tears flowed from my eyes.

*

I'm freezing. The cold rushing of air, the loneliness and fear, they all mixed up sending endless shivers to my every nerves. I gasped when Cassio suddenly accelerated the horse's speed and I felt him tensed behind me.

"What's wrong, Cassio?" My voice sounded sickly with all the cold.

"We're passing the southern borders of Craggerham, Princess. We've disposed the Krams this morning but we need to be more cautious. They might attack us."

I swallowed hard as the fear addend.

"Tell me, where are we going exactly? In Los Tianos? Mandalli?"

"Not there, Your Highness. King Lucas ordered me to bring you to the Ghost City. It is the only place where people won't look for you."

"H-Haldorre, you mean?" If fear could kill, I'd be dead on the spot right now. Haldorre is the sixth and the smallest city of Uretah, and also the excluded known fore years now.

Decades ago, it was said that Haldorre is the most beautiful city. Abundant, prosperous, lively and respectful townspeople lived there. But one day, they were all just gone. They completely vanished and left no traces to where they go.

Replaced by the big trees, thick vines, weird animals, and most of all, all there's left are voices. Wailing voices.

Haldorre is in the south-west part of Uretah, which is closest to the kingdom of Praia Anesthera. People passing the border said that the once largest marketing town of the whole country, became haunted and they called it, Ghost City. Because ghost lurks there and never they left. It is believed that the townspeople died there, that explains why they vanished. But no one can explain how they died.

"Do you believe in ghosts, Princess?" Cassio's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "You were trembling and quiet when I told you about Haldorre. Perhaps you know the story about the ghosts in the city?"

"I do. And I don't really like the idea of going there. Can't we go to other kingdoms and hide? Averydam? Paleitine?"

Cassio sighed. "As much as I don't want to bring you there Princess, I agree to what the king said. Sooner, the townspeople will find out that you escaped and will look for you. They will look from cities to cities and will spread rumors about you. We can't pass the borders without getting killed from now on. But in Haldorre, we'll be safe. No one will think of looking for us there."

I thought of what he said and I can't deny that he's right. Who would hide in that ghost city anyway? "But, how about the ghosts? Aren't they going to harm us?"

Cassion chuckled lightly. "Passers-by has told lots of stories about Haldorre but I never knew of stories that someone died there. In fact, Haldorre has been the zero-crime city over centuries. I believe no one will hurt us there."

But that couldn't ease my mind even a bit.

The night is getting colder and I know we're a long way from home. The road sounds wet in ecery step of the horse and tiny rains are starting to fall. Cassio pulled the coat higher so it could cover my head from the rain. But it still wetted my face and the blindfold, too.

"Will father be okay there, Cassio? If the people knows I'm gone, won't they hurt him?"

"Believe in your father, Princess. For years, he became a good king. I know that despite this chaotic problem, people still respect him. They will listen to him."

It was tiring after minutes of riding the horse. I unconsciously leaned in his chest but when I realized what I'm doing, I straightened my back again.

"I'm sorry..."

"You must be tired, Princess. If you want, we can stop for a while and rest."

"C-Can we? Aren't people chasing us?"

"No one's chasing us, Princess. We'll pull over and rest for a while."

I can't say no. My back feels numb and I feel the cold seepinh through my skin. Cassio told me that there's a big tree that can hid us from the windy night and the people passing the road. With a low ho, the horse came to a stopped.

Cassio climbed down first and assisted me after. I gasped when I felt dampness beneath my feet.

"Your Highness, you should've told me you have no shoes! You must be cold!" He exclaimed and seconds later, he gently lifted my feet and put something on it.

"I'm sorry, I forgot. Father just pulled me so I had no time to change...my clothes."

He sighed. When he's done with putting my shoes on, he secured the cloth around me and held my hand.

He's right. Inside the big tree, it was not that cold and the wind isn't that loud. I'm thankful that nothings creeping on my skin, yet.

Cassio let me lean on his shoulder. As I was dozing off to sleep, I thought of one thing.

"I heard you were getting married with someone? Is that right, Cassio?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Then, what happens to you now? Won't she be angry that you were out protecting me?"

I heard him sigh. "Your Highness, it's just the four of us who knows about your escape. And as for my fiancee," he paused. "She's not the most of my concern right now. Because I ought to protect you with all my life, Princess Ciara. The most important woman of Kingdom Uretah."

I smiled in the darkness. "Thank you so much for helping me, Cassio."

I slept for minutes and I felt like it's not enough to regain my strength. But Cassio's voice woke me up from sleep and I was shocked when I didn't saw him beside me.

"Come on, give us your money and stuffs or we will kill you!" I heard another loud manly voice.

When I stepped outside of the tree, the commotion stopped.

"Cassio? What's happening?"

"Ciara, stay there! Don't touch her-"

I gasped when someone grabbed my elbow and smelled my neck. Out of fear, I pushed him really hard.

"W-What's happening? Who are you, people?!"

"Hmm, you're keeping a slave here! Not really a good knight, aren't you?" The voice said. "Get her and we'll sell her to Anasthera!"

Then, there's the hands again that pulled me by the arm.

"Let me go, you scoundrel!" I shouted. But he didn't listened.

"Why do you even have these blindfolds? Let's take it off, shall we? I want to see your face."

My fear intensified. I searched for his arm to stop him but I couldn't. Cassio and I shouted when the blindfold was untied and fell somewhere. I shut my eyes tightly and kneeled on the ground.

"P-Please... Go away! I don't want to hurt you!"

"What is wrong with you? Look at me!" He then grabbed my chin and that startled me. I opened my eyes and prepared myself for the worst case scenario.

His eyes widen and he stumbled few feet away like he saw something horrifying. My eyes widened, too. He's not dead?!

"Cassio..." I called and turned to him. He and the man pointing a sword at him was shocked, too. But he recovered first and took advantage of the situation. He kicked the bandit's hand and the sword came flying through the air. Then, he punched him hard on the face and he was knocked out. I looked at the other man and he was still in shock. I glared at him and he suddenly rode the horse and took off, leaving the other man.

Cassio went to me and he can't also believe what he's seeing. "Your Highness, your eyes... They're of different colors..." He whispered, mesmerized.

"I know, Cassio. And you didn't die nor them!" I said happily. "What does this mean? Am I safe to go back now?"

His smile suddenly dropped. "I'm sorry, Princess. But we still need to go to Haldorre. That man will probably tell the townspeople what he saw. They will chase us so we need to leave."

That made me sad. But the thought that my eyes can't kill earlier made me happy, too. I smiled and nodded as our journey continued.