Temporary New Home

Anastasia opened her eyes to the feel of something warm on her soft cheeks. She turned her head to the left and saw a young maiden tending to her wounds. The maiden was a bit taken aback when she saw Anastasia open her eyes.

"I'm sorry if it hurts, miss" The Young maiden apologized holding in her hands, a towel soaked in hot water. She was ordered to tend to Anastasia's wounds. Anastasia sat up from where she laid and she realized her current location had been changed from the dark eerie place to a luxurious bedroom. As she raised her head to look up, she felt a sharp pain in her eyes as the grand chandeliers aligned in the ceiling of the grand spacious luxurious room, was very bright and her eyes weren't used to the lights yet.

She looked around her and couldn't help but gasp a little. Her attention moved back to the lady beside her bed.

"I am Thyra. I serve as a servant to his royal highness, Lysander". She introduced who she was to the confused Anastasia.

'Royal highness? Lysander? Who is Lysander?' she said with confusion in her thoughts.

"It looks like my princess is confused at something!" Thyra asked sensing she wasn't okay.

"Who...who....who is Lysander? If I may ask!" Anastasia asked.

"He...is...I am sorry to put it this way but he was the one who brought you here!"

"Where am I?" Anastasia asked sweeping the room once more with her gaze.

"in the King's guest room".

Everything became clearer to Anastasia as she went deeper into the conversation with Thyra. The new mysterious man was not Amberjill. So that meant Amberjill had really burnt with his family. This man was Lysander and it looked like he was taking revenge. Lysander looked so much like Amberjill was there any relationship between he and Amberjill? Anastasia remembered what Lysander had said to her earlier, that he was going to let everyone of them including herself pay dearly. Who was he when the burning of Amberjill was none of his business? This were the thoughts of the princess.

"Thyr....Thyra?"

"Yes, my Princess?"

"What is Lysander's relationship with Amberjill?"

"My princess, it is known in our kingdom that Amberjill was the father of our king Lysander!"

'Father? I thought Amberjill was burnt together with his family. Did he have two sons?' Anastasia was in deep thought but she popped another question to the servant.

"How come his father was never king but he's king?" she asked but the door to the guest room opened and a man stepped in. He was a very tall and very fair man with just the right amount of muscles. His shoulder-length shiny jet black hair which was neatly combed waved gently behind him. His fragrance alone in the room could sweep a lady off her feet. But his handsome face was hidden in a highly decorative carnival mask.

He walked towards the two ladies and Thyra stood on her feet and gave a bow and scurried away as fast as she could with the items she brought in.

"Are you hungry?" He asked in a calm gentle voice which annoyed Anastasia to the brim.

"I want to go back home!"she said desperately.

"You can't!"

"Why? You brought me here and you should be able to take me back, Lysander!"

"You don't address me by my name!"

"Otherwise what? It is a sacred name that anyone who mentions it might get cursed and die?"

Lysander found himself sitting by Anastasia on the bed with his hands wrapped around her neck again? But this time round, he wasn't tightening his grasp. He just stared into her violet coloured eyes and she stared back turning it into a stare-off competition.

He released his grip on her and left without another word!

'What a strange man!' she thought.

She stood on her feet to take a bath. She opened the door to the bathroom and her jaws dropped again! The bathroom was straight, neat, with clean lines, uncluttered counter spaces and geometrically shaped.

The very large white bathroom sink placed on river rocks in the middle of neatly done black marbles looked so breathtaking. The golden lightings around the walls, the mini drawers and everything in there motivated her even more to go for a bath without fearing it's safety.

After her bath, she got dressed in a red loose gown and nicely styled her hair. She was going to make an escape from this place! She went back to her bedroom fully refreshed and dressed up ready for the crazy thing she was about to do. She tried opening her door but it was locked. She searched every single place in the room but could not find any key!!!!

Her door creaked open and a male servant stepped into her room with a golden food cart. Anastasia hid under her bed immediately he came in. He looked everywhere for her but didn't find her!

With tactics, she slowly climbed out from her hiding place. When the male servant closed her bathroom door after searching in there, she struck his head with a flower vase and he fell unconscious.

"YESS!!" she exclaimed and removed the clothes the servant was wearing! She changed into his clothes and tied her hair neatly so it looked trimmed. She wore his cap but still felt there was something missing.She searched everywhere but when her eyes fell on his face, she got it!!!!!

She went into the bathroom and brought out a new razor blade.She shaved the man of his chin beard and carefully stuck the small chin hair to her chin and went to the mirror to see how she looked!!! But immediately she saw the appearance the mirror reflected she let out a scream!!!!!

She touched her slightly swollen cheek and saw how bad her neck looked like! Lines indicating fingers were drawn all over her once pretty neck! She screamed louder and held her neck while sitting on the luxuriously tiled floor weeping.

Her door creaked open and Lysander stepped into the room. Immediately his gaze flew to the person sitting on the floor crying her eyes out! He just stared between the princess and the naked knocked out man on the floor with confusion.

Anastasia stood up from where she sat and threw her cap at him.

"HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO ME?" She asked breathing out furiously.

"What have I ever done to you? I don't even know you. You have a problem with my father? Face him like a man! Look at what you've done to me?" she screamed at him.

But he just looked at her with calmness as she slammed her hands against his broad chest. He looked at her wondering what she was trying to do in the first place, looking like a little man! Soon enough, she ran out of breath and leaned her head against his chest slamming it like she was stroking rose flowers. Sensing she was tired he carried her to the bed and gently placed her in it.

"Eat your food". He said and left without looking back..

"He is a total j*rk!" Anastasia said loud enough for Lysander to hear her.