Chapter 9: Uanda

Cloe was silent.

"This man really has the audacity to sit there and tell me that he paid eight million dollars to save my life," she thought.

She was on the verge of going ballistic.

"We had to get you out of there somehow..."

"Ok so... what's your name?" she asked trying her best not to lose it.

"Derek " he answered.

"Derek your brainwashing isn't going to work on me...I'm not like those other girls that you might have locked away somewhere... so cut the crap and tell me what exactly what the hell is going on" she asked, her voice laced with bottled-up frustration.

Derek pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Maybe I was wrong...you aren't ready to hear this," he said quietly.

Cloe got up and walked toward the door.

Turning the handle. It was locked.

"Do you want to leave?" Derek asked

"If you don't start making sense I will..." She said turning to face him again.

Derek sighed.

"Based on how you are reacting now I don't think you'll accept the truth" he stated.

Cloe took a seat in the chair that was directly facing him across his desk.

She waited for him to continue.

After quietly scanning her face he continued.

"Let's start from the beginning... It would be best if you do not interrupt..." he said

Nodding she waited for him to continue.

" You are not a slave in any way... the locked doors are to keep you in check until your memories come back" he paused letting that sink in.

"Eight million dollars was paid to get you away from Mr. Dallas without him causing an uproar... You are currently at this estate for your own protection as you are being hunted by people who want to hurt you... because you are the last remaining member of the Sapphire family, who were very important people."

Pausing again he scanned her face for a reaction.

"Your family is the rightful ruler of the Uanda dimension, and as the last royal member, you are to inherit all of Uanda... These people do not plan on allowing that to happen and they will do everything in their power to prevent this from happening. It is my duty to prevent those people from getting to you and to ensure that you secure your role as Uanda's rightful leader...But that won't be happening anytime soon as you are currently unfit to rule" he explained.

There was silence.

"Are you finished now?" she asked

"Yes"

"And I'm supposed to believe this without a second guess?" she asked.

"I don't expect you to completely accept it now but in time it will make sense... When your memories come back..." he said.

Cloe's resolve broke.

A sob rang out in the room. She had tried her best to contain it but she lost in the end.

"Why does that keep coming up... I haven't forgotten anything, I'm not crazy...I know I'm not" she said trying to comfort herself.

Crossing his elbows on the desk Derek leaned forward.

"I know it's a lot to take in and it's totally normal to feel the way you do...Just give yourself some time" he reassured her.

She stared down at her lap.

Unconsciously fiddling with the key, she wiped her tears.

"Do you want us to go get something to eat?" he asked.

Cloe could never say no to food.

"Sure " she answered sniffling.

**********

Cloe hadn't realized how hungry she was until the food was placed in front of her.

She dug in without hesitating.

Derek had asked her to tell the chef what she wanted.

She had chosen cheese ravioli.

"It's not as good as how mom used to make it but it's good..."

Dereck stood on the opposite side of the kitchen island facing her.

"The weather's clear-"

"Look, mister... I'm not in the mood for small talk especially when I'm hungry-"

"If you'd just let me finish..."

"Hmph" Cloe continued eating.

"I was going to say the weather's clear enough to show you around the estate grounds" he finished.

Cloe froze.

"Aren't you worried that I'll try to make a run for it?" she asked confused.

"Perish the thought... Plus if you try you'll be hopelessly lost as there is nothing but forest for miles around" he informed her.

Cloe motioned to her injured arm.

"But what if I need medical aid?" she asked

"We have a doctor"

Cloe choked on her food.

"Plus there is one last thing that I must test..." he said staring at her.

Cloe set her fork down, she had lost her appetite.

"What do you need to test?" she asked cautiously.

"You'll see"

Cloe felt her stomach drop.

She pushed the plate away.

"Are you finished?" he asked motioning to the half-eaten food.

"Yeah..." she answered.

"Let's get going then."

"Umm... what I actually meant was... no I'm not finished," she said slowly pulling the plate back toward herself.

"Ok..." he said raising his brows at her.

She ate slowly.

***********

Cloe walked behind Derek dragging her feet.

They were at the back of the estate walking toward the oasis that she had seen from her window earlier.

"What's he going to do?"

He stopped.

They were at the edge of the river that ran through the oasis.

Cloe stopped a few steps behind him.

"Why are we here?" she asked.

He was silent.

She stepped back.

It was getting dark quickly as the sun had already set, the trees looked large as they loomed over her

"Derek..." she took another step back.

"Derek I... I'm going back inside..." she said turning to leave.

"Why?" he asked

"Because it's getting dark," she said her voice trembling.

He turned to face her.

"Are you afraid of the dark?" he asked.

His eyes were glowing.

"W-wha... Your eyes" she stuttered.

Suddenly thousands of fireflies began to float up from the river. They flew toward her.

She stood frozen to the spot as they got closer.

When they got closer she saw that they were actually very tiny people that glowed. Their wings were moving so fast they disappeared.

They flocked toward her casted arm pulling the cast off in no time.

"What's happening?!" she called out to Derek who stood watching in amusement.

Her arm began to glow, she looked down to realize that she was levitating a few inches off the ground.

"What's going on?!"

She felt a rush of warmth course along her spine to her head.

Intense dizziness followed, her vision grew blurry until dark spots began to appear.

The last thing she saw before passing out was the key, it floated up off her chest glowing.