Chapter 8

As I open my eyes, I stare up into someone’s eyes. Not knowing what else to do I scream. Quickly the person covers my mouth.

"Relax, it's just me," the person says.

As my vision clears, the person comes into view. "I don't think it's just you," I say, my voice hoarse because of the screaming, to Persephone. I look around and see that I'm back in my room. How did I get here? I have no idea.

"How are you feeling?"

"I don't know. What happened?" I sit up slowly and Persephone hands me a glass of water, which I drain before she even has time to sit down next to my bed.

"What's the last thing you can remember?"

"We were going to your mother because you thought I was your long lost sister and then-"

"What's wrong? Is everything okay?!" the queen shouts as she runs into my room closely followed by Shamus.

As she lays eyes on me, she smiles and says, "It's a good thing you woke up."

"Ye got us worried there fur a sec, lassie," Shamus says, from his place near the door.

I smile. "I'm fine, really. I just have a hard time remembering how I got here. That's all."

"So you don't remember what happened after you came back to the sunroom?" the queen asks.

"I vaguely remember you asking me some questions and, well, examining me but what happened next is still a little foggy."

"That's okay," Persephone says. "We can just tell you what happened and after that, you can come with us!"

The queen walks over to Persephone and says, "Maybe we should give your sister the time to get used to the idea first, before deciding what our next step is."

"Whoa, wait a minute," I say, making everyone stop with what they are doing to stare at me. "You mean to say that all that 'you're my sister' stuff is actually true?"

"Of course, it is, silly," Persephone says before her mother can stop her. "When I say something it is the truth. It always is."

I smile, I can't help it, the way she said that is just so adorable. "That may be what you think, Persephone," I say, swinging my legs over the edge of my bed. I try to stand up but as the room seems to start spinning as I do, I decide to sit back down.

"Are you feeling alright?" the queen asks, clearly concerned.

"I'm fine, just a little light-headed, that's all. It will pass soon enough."

"Em?" Persephone says, sitting down next to me. "Will you come back with us to the palace? Will you come back home?"

'Home', it sounds so normal when she says it, but isn't this my home? Here where I'm with Madame and Drew. I look at Persephone and she looks back, a pleading look in her eyes.

An image flashes before my eyes, a little girl, her huge blue eyes locked with mine, a pleading look in them.

As fast as the image comes, it's gone. But it was long enough for me to make a decision.

"I would love to see the castle, but I don't know if I'm ready to stay there yet."

"I think it's a good idea for you to just stay for a few days, just to look around, and see for yourself if you are ready to stay with us. Does that sound like an idea?" the queen says, sitting down at my other side.

"That sounds like a great plan," I say with a smile.

"Great, do you have anything to take with you?"

In a few minutes, everything I own is packed and ready to go. I walk to the carriage together with Persephone and the queen, who I suppose I should be calling Mother now. As we approach the carriage, Drew comes walking towards me. Shamus, the protective guy he is, steps forward, ready to catch Drew before he can get to us.

Gently I place a hand on his arm. "It's okay, he's my friend." Looking back at the queen I ask, "May I have a minute? To say goodbye for now."

"Take as long as you need," she says as she and Persephone get inside the carriage.

I walk towards Drew. "Hey, you."

"Hey."

"Are you okay? What's the matter?"

"Well, you're a princess now. That means you're even more out of my league than before."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't act like you don't know," Drew says, turning away.

"Drew," I say quietly, turning him back around. "Please tell me what's on your mind. I really don't know what you're talking about."

As he looks into my eyes, I see tears in his. "Em, I-I like you, I have for a while now. I-I thought you knew."

I look at him, not knowing what to say. "I'm sorry, Drew. I didn't know. I always thought you just saw me as a friend."

"Em, are you coming?!" Persephone yells from inside the carriage.

"I guess I have to go," I say reluctantly, as tears well up in my eyes.

"I guess so."

I give him one last kiss on his forehead before I turn away and say, "I like you too."

I run towards the carriage and get in as quickly as possible, trying to prepare myself for my new life.