Trapped

I Wake parched. I Attempt to lift My Self from the bed in search of a cool drink. My body is too weak. I Will My eyes to Focus out of this daze. Voices Fill My ears.

"YOU have Gone too far this Time, Xavier." I Hear The Prophetess Speak.

A disgruntled snarl Fills the room. "SHE is exactly Where I Need HER." HE sneers.

"And what of THE CHILD?" She seethes.

"SHE is not the First I have Taken into MY Care." HE cooly replies.

"YOU have Seen The VISIONS, Xavier." She Whispers.

"Tell ME I AM wrong, Prophetess, and I Will leave HER Be." HE Challenges.

Silence Fills the Air.

HE Shifts, and I Feel My Self Being Lifted.

"Xavier.." The Prophetess reacts.

"WE ARE leaving. Now." Xavier growls.

A soft hand touches My face. "Be Well, Será. GOD is With YOU."

I take a Deep Breath and exhale.

"This is the only Way." Xavier States.

"Water.." I weakly Speak.

A thick, warm liquid pours between My lips. I swallow insatiably.

"To Help HER Sleep." The Prophetess Explains.

My Mind fogs, and I succumb to the darkness once again.

***

When I Wake again, I Find My Self on a massive bed, wrapped in luxurious, blood red silken sheets. I turn My head, lightly tapping it upon a large Gold tray Filled with Fruits and Cheese. A Jeweled Goblet catches My Attention. Immediately, I sit to Drink. The cool, sweet Juice pours down My throat, Quenching My thirst. I drain the liquid and Reach for the Grapes, hunger leaving Me uninhibited in My concerns. The Fresh, Ripened Fruit is Divine upon My lips. I moan in Delight. I Inspect the Fruit further, picking up a Gorgeous red Strawberry and a small slice of white Cheese. The Combination Explodes into a Fine Flavor Delicacy. Pouring My Self another glass of the Delicious Juice, I continue Feasting upon the Beautiful platter until I am Satisfied.

I Look around the small room curiously, taking in the Sights of a Intricately-Designed Trunk, a Rich Mahogany Armoire beside a standing Mirror, and Complimenting Writing Desk. An Ancient oil lamp burns brightly atop the Desk. Intrigued, I drape My legs over the side of the bed to Stand. I wobble slightly, as I regain My bearings.

"Where am I?" I Whisper quietly to My Self.

I catch a Glimpse of My Reflection and gasp. I hardly Recognize My SELF. A Flowing Ivory Chiton covers My frame with Accents of woven Gold. Featherweight Golden Sandals strap Upwards of My calves. Jeweled bangles clink softly upon My wrists. My Auburn curls have Been loosed, framing My Fresh face and blood red lips - a thin, Golden-Leafed band tucked neatly into My hair. I Stare confusedly.

I Reach for the door. Locked. My HEART patters in Concern. I am trapped..

I Begin to panic, pacing the tiny room furiously. "How Could HE?!" I Think to My SELF. "How Could HE Treat Me like a caged animal?! I am not HIS Property! I Have DUTIES! What Will Happen when The Council Finds Me Gone?" Fear floods My entire Being. "The King.. He Will Attack My People.. He Will Find The Children.. Oh GOD!! What Have I Done? What was I Thinking Allowing My SELF to Get Involved with this MAN WHOM I still Know nothing about? How Could I Have Been so Irresponsible?!" My Breaths Come in shallow gulps. "And The BABY! How Can I Align My SELF with THE KING of The Eastern Shores while carrying another MAN's CHILD?! I Have Doomed THE QUEENDOM.."

The door clicks, and the handle turns. MY HEART beats wildly as I await the person on the other side.

A young Woman Enters and bows her head, curtsying low to the ground. "MY QUEEN. THE KING has Requested YOUR Presence."

"THE KING??" I Ask puzzled. "Who are you?? And where am I??"

She Smiles a Genuine Smile, turns and Leads the Way. Stunned, I Follow. Together, we walk Silently. A Warm Breeze Envelops My Skin. Seagulls sing all around Me. The Sun Shines Bright. The Corridor continues Forth out onto an open Air Breezeway, Beautiful red Clay Bricks forming Stunning Archways. Deep red and purple Grapes Drape from the Vines above us. Elegant Clay pots line the Walkway, each Filled with Tasteful Collections of Tropics and Flora. I Shift My Gaze to the Breathtaking View Splayed out before Me. I Pause, Overwhelmed by the Miraculous Beauty of the Shimmering Sea Gently Washing upon the white Sand Beaches below us. I am Amazed by the Depth of the Ocean's Clarity.

"YOUR HIGHNESS." The young Woman Speaks.

"I Have never Seen anything like This." I Breathe.

"Yes. She is Beautiful." She Agrees, Waiting Patiently.

Unwillingly, I pull My Gaze away and continue Walking. At the end of the Corridor, we Arrive in a large open room. Sheer flowing curtains Dance with the Breeze, Welcoming us as we Enter.

"Please Wait Here, MY QUEEN." She Guides Me to the Center of the room. A richly-Colored Mosaic Patterns the floor, Revealing the Mergence of The Sun and The Moon Seamlessly Woven Together in a Balanced Harmony. I Study its Intricate Detail in Wonder.

When I finally Look Up, I am alone. Slowly, I turn, Realizing I am Standing in the Center of a Seaside Palace Designed to Replicate the Symbolic Mural. Symmetrical Corridors Curve outwards. I Have no Recollection from which Corridor we Came. Crystal Clear Waters Surround My every Border. "This is an Island." I Whisper. My eyes Widen.

A Gentleman Approaches. He is tall and Handsome, with features that Resemble Xavier's - dark, Tamed waves, Ambered eyes, chiseled jaw line. "Is this Where HE is from?" I Think to My Self.

"THE KING Will Be With YOU Momentarily, YOUR HIGHNESS." He bows Gracefully without irony. I nod quietly, uncertain as to How I Should Respond. He exits the room.

"What Do YOU Think of THE PALACE, MY QUEEN?" A Commanding Voice Inquires from behind Me.

I turn to See a God-like Man Decorated in an Olive-white Himation of Luxury. A thin, Leafed crown sits Elegantly upon His head. He has the same Gold-flecked eyes as the Gentleman prior, yet His Build is much taller and His Aura Powerful.

I blink, Clearing My Thoughts before I Answer. "Are there Words?"

"Few." He remarks.

"It is AWE-INSPIRING to Lay Witness to GOD'S CREATIONS." I Breathe.

"Indeed." He States, circling Me slowly - Observing My every Detail until We are Standing face to face. "YOU are the First WHO Dares Request an Audience with THE KING. Do YOU Believe YOUR SELF to BE WORTHY of HIS PRESENCE?" He Questions.

My HEART skips nervously.

"I Did." I reply.

He arches a brow. "Did?"

"At the Time of My Request, I Do Believe I Was WORTHY." I respond.

"What Changed?" He Inquires.

"I Have since Laid with a MAN, Been defiled by another, and I now Carry THE CHILD of a MAN WHO is not My Husband." I Steel My Self.

"WHO is THE FATHER of YOUR CHILD?" He Questions.

"The MAN with WHOM I Laid."

"Do YOU Regret YOUR Actions?"

"I Do not." I Say.

"And what of YOUR Husband?" He pries.

"I Do not Know How to Answer." I stiffen.

"Try." He presses.

"It was an Arranged Marriage to Save his Father's Kingdom. Sebastián has and will always Be a philanderer. He Will Be Charged with Treason due to his Relationship with The Northern King." I Hesitate. "He was never WORTHY of Me."

"I SEE.." He takes a Step Closer, peering Deep into My SOUL. "This MAN WHOM YOU Laid With. HE IS?"

"I Do not Know." I falter.

"YOU Do not Know or YOU are afraid of THE TRUTH?" He continues.

"I Have Lived My Life with Logic." I Explain. "HE Awakened MY HEART."

"WHO IS THIS MAN?" He Commands.

"I Know very little about HIM." I TRUTHFULLY Admit.

"How very Voyeur for a Woman of YOUR Stature." He Smirks. I Steel My Self against His criticism.

"And the defamation?" He Ponders aloud Inquisitively.

"The Northern King." I firmly reply, My eyes flashing dangerously.

"WHY?" His eyes darken.

"I am Protecting Sebastián's fathered Children. He Saw a Better Opportunity to Claim the Blood of My Children."

"YOU Intrigue Me, YOUR HIGHNESS." He Leans in, Breathing in My Scent. "YOU Protect The Children of your worthless husband, yet YOU Could not Protect YOUR SELF."

MY HEART stills.

"YOU Mention nothing of THE CLAIM Placed on YOU."

He Studies Me.

"Was it The King?"

"It Was not." I seethe.

"The MAN With WHOM YOU Laid.. What is HIS NAME?" He Questions.

I remain Silent.

"Tsk. Tsk." He scolds Me. "YOU Have Been so Forthcoming, YOUR HIGHNESS. Do not stop now. YOU Have nearly Gained My TRUST." His dark eyes Begin to storm. "HIS NAME." He Demands.

"I AM HIS, AND HE IS MINE." I Breathe.

I hitch My Breath as a dark, Powerful Energy Fills the room, the Skies raging into a Sudden Storm. MY HEART pounds wildly.

He Steps Aside and disappears into one of the endless Corridors.

A tall, Powerful Figure looms in the shadows of a blackening Corridor. "AVERY!" A Deep Booming Roar Echoes loudly, Reverberating off the Walls. "SHE IS MINE!" THE KING of The Eastern Shores Emerges from the darkness.