Chapter Four

"What! You went to your hometown again?" Derek asked, his tone so sharp, it almost cut me through the phone.

Immediately I got back to my motel, I decided to called Derek and tell him all about what happened as I'm returning tomorrow anyways. 

"Yes," I said simply, bracing myself for his response.

I only heard a long sigh, "Wasn't that the place from where you came looking so dejected four years ago? Why would you go back?"

"I had some things to sort out, and I've done that now. " I replied, and he just stayed silent.

I know that he is unconvinced with my answer, but he will have to take it for now. A part of me felt guilty for holding back the real reason I came, for holding back the real story of my life and how I ended up at the shores of the Netherlands, but this is my armor. The less he knew about my ugly life, the better for him.

"Derek, there's no need for you to worry. I'll be on my way after getting something tomorrow" I reassured, and he gave a dissatisfied sigh.

"Ana, I have to be worried," he said softly.

 "What happens if you are unable to return as simply as you said? What if they don't want to let you go?" he asked, and I stayed silent for a while as I recalled Darian's pleas.

"Nothing of that sort will happen, Derek. I'll be fine" I promised, the words feeling empty.

The line went silent for a while, before Derek spoke again.

"Don't let them hurt you, Ana." He pleaded, his voice tinged with urgency and he ended the call as I gave a response.

"I won't" I whispered, promising myself more than Derek.

*******

As the taxi rolled up to the familiar gates of my home, I felt more dread than I did at the Royal Palace. The house looked more grandiose and luxurious than when I stayed here, a testament to my father's rise in affluence.

Affluence he got from renouncing his daughter to secure his position in court.

I stepped down from the taxi, and as he drove off I walked to the tall iron gates. Memories of laughter, fleeting moments of warmth, and the years of silent suffering flooded back, intertwining with the sting of betrayal. This house became a battlefield since my mother passed away, and I bore the brunt of it till I got married.

But now that has passed, I am now here to reclaim what is mine.

My gaze fell to the guard who looked at me suspiciously, his brows creasing at my hooded form. My long, hooded black gown obscured my face, leaving only my eyes visible. It was better this way—easier to hide the woman I'd become from those who once reduced me to nothing.

"Good day. I am here to meet my father" I greeted politely.

"And who are you? Do you have an appointment?" he asked, and I scoffed.

"Of course an appointment"  I thought to myself, biting my comment and instead searching for the letter I wrote to him in my bag.

"Will this suffice?" I held it out to me, and he snatched it to read.

He muttered some words as he read it, glancing at me with disdain before disappearing inside. After a while, he returned and opened the gates and I stepped in. My chest tightened as I walked down the brick path, gazing at the places where my fondest memories were. They have been renovated to look more elegant, more lifeless…. More cold.

As I got to the end of the cobblestone path, I saw the large door open to reveal my father. His expression was hard and his posture was rigid, clear indication that the years only made him colder. He narrowed his eyes at me as he would a stranger.

"Zara" he uttered, his voice sounding foreign to my ears. "Why are you here?"

"I am here to collect what belongs to me, nothing more" I replied, bracing myself under his tall gaze.

His lips curled in disdain"You have lost the right to claim anything from the day you became a disgrace to this family"

The words hit me harder than I'd expected it to, but I was not surprised. No matter how much of myself I gave up it would never be enough, so I will never be a worthy daughter in his eyes.

Refusing to back down, I pressed further. "I am not here to argue, father. I only want to collect my late mother's box and I will be out of here"

"I am entitled to that much aren't I?" I challenged, and he stood silently for a while before stepping aside.

"Make it quick." He said, his tone clipped and I stepped into the house.

The scent of sandalwood hit me as I entered, and the hushed whispers of my step mother and my half siblings suffocated me as I climbed the stairs. On getting to my room, I saw the door was slightly open and I peeked hesitantly through the gap.

My heart twisted on seeing it become a storage unit, all things belonging to me were cleared and in their places stood stacked boxes or old furniture. 

Shaking off the heavy feeling, I stepped in and began combing through the room for the box. I found the small shining metal box tucked into my closet after a few minutes searching, and I let out a sigh of relief as I clutched it to my chest.

 This was my mother's legacy, and no one can take it from me.

'Taking things that don't belong to you, Zara?" A mocking voice broke through the room, and I turned to see my stepmother looking at me with a sneer.

I walked up to the door and met her gaze evenly. "I am not like you, I actually have a right to be here."

The reaction on her face was satisfactory as I pushed past her to leave. 

"Do and run back to the hole you crawled out of. Otherwise, you will soon be dead and forgotten like your pathetic mother" 

Her words sliced through me, but I did not stop walking until I got out of the gate. It was only then I let a lone tear fall down my cheeks, reminding me why I should never return. 

"Take me to the airport" I instructed as I entered the taxi, and the driver sped off immediately.

However as we neared the airport road, the driver seemed to show signs of concern.

"Miss, this car has been tailing us since we left that house," he said, and I turned to see a black SUV behind us. 

"Who could this be?" I thought to myself, but as my eyes fell on the plate number and I saw the Royal Insignia, my blood boiled.

"Stop the vehicle sir" I said to my driver, and he parked for me to bet out.

The SUV stopped as well, and a man alighted from the car and walked up to me. He brought out the scroll, and read loudly.

"Miss Zara Hamzat, it is the Royal decree of the Sultan of Akhar that you are summoned to the Palace with immediate effect" and I saw black.

"Is your Sultan mad?" I yelled, unwilling to hold back my fury again. 

"Miss, it is either you follow us on your own, or we seize you by force" he only replied, and I chuckled bitterly.

This is what I get for honoring a request? Despicable. 

"Take these words to your Sultan: I would rather die than spend a second more in this land" I spat bitterly, narrowing my eyes at the man who stood unmoving before walking to the taxi.

I need to get out of here, and fast.

As I grabbed the handle of the car door, the man spoke up again.

"Seize her."