Fate of the Blessed
Chapter 17

Shanti

I rubbed my eyes as I tried to focus on the school work in front of me but I struggled with division at the best of times however, today was different. I didn’t feel well as I had woken up with a headache and my body just didn’t seem like my own; it was like I was floating. I shook my head at the thought; it was silly.

My memory shot back to the morning when my mum had shouted at me for taking so long to get ready. She often told me how useless I was or what a burden I was. I had begged her to stay off school, but she pushed me out of the front door saying she was too busy to look after a sick child. I had debated going to my Auntie Junes, but I decided against it. The walk to school was torture, as every muscle in my body ached. I told myself I would be better once I got there.

My concentration was ebbing, and the entire world around me moved as if I was underwater. Nausea hit me, and I swallowed bile. I tried to put up my hand to call the teacher, but my body wouldn’t obey. A panic rose in the pit of my tummy, something wasn’t right. As I tried to stand, my legs crumpled beneath me and I fell to the floor with a crash. The contents of the table came with clattering to the floor.

I heard the screams of my friends and the panicked shouts of my teacher calling for help before a sweet nothingness took me into oblivion.

My eyes shot open as I gasped for breath, the memory of my dream causing me to panic. I didn’t know where I was the surroundings were unfamiliar. As I tried to sit up, a white-hot pain shot through my shoulder. I cried out in response as I flopped back down.

I winced as I attempted to sit up, but the pain shot through my shoulder again. My head swam with the intensity of it, stray tears fell on my cheeks. This time I pushed through the searing, scrunching my face tight as I did so.

I placed my hand on my forehead, closing my eyes as a swirling dizziness came over me. The room was spinning like I’d been on a roundabout too long. Another wave of nausea washed over me, and I struggled to keep the contents of my stomach from coming up.

I moved my hand back to my shoulder. I tenderly prodded it to realise it was clean and bandaged. A wave of terror hit me as I remembered the attack by the Saja! 

Oh my goodness, Tae! 

“Tae” I shouted as I went into panic mode, but nobody responded. They must have got him! A sudden aloneness washed over me and I swung my legs from the sofa to try to stand, but when the sickness hit, I slumped back down. The tears fell again. A howl of anguish left my lips.

“Where are you?” I said between sobs, but a deafening silence fell over the room.

I stopped as I noticed a curious pair of silver eyes staring back at me, a small curious smile dancing on her lips.

Silky pearl-white hair snaked down her back, cascading over her shoulders, braided in places. She had the most innocent looking silver eyes I had ever seen. However, a power radiated from her, making me think she was anything but. Her white chiffon dress pooled at her feet, and a well-worn flute sat in front of her on the table. 

“Hello.”

I did not know who this woman was, and for all I knew, she could’ve eaten Tae-Seong. I stopped as the thought took hold. My smile faded and an expression of horror replaced it. No freaking way. The pearly-haired woman smiled back, but she did not respond. 

Oh, goodness, she’s going to eat me too. 

The woman continued to smile, which was unsettling me.

“Can you not speak?” I said, trying, in vain, to plaster a believable smile back on my face.

 Keep her talking, wait, no, I mean distracted, keep her distracted. How on earth am I supposed to get out of this one?

Orphne shook her head and covered her mouth with her hand. I slumped onto the bed. Now I’d never find out what happened to Tae-Seong if the lady in front of me couldn’t speak. It was now all up to me to save Amara, get home and find him, too. As I was thinking I hadn’t noticed Orphne move or the bed sink down until an arm was delicately placed around my shoulder. They took care not to knock my wound. I couldn’t help but relax, and my shoulders slumped forward as I sobbed. 

“I want my Daddy.”

I continued crying until I noticed the big black paw that rested below her feet, so I paused. My eyes followed up from the paw and I saw the 3-headed dog it was attached to.

“Oh, shitake mushrooms!” I screamed, jumping and running behind the table, my wound forgotten.

The dog, who was sleeping peacefully, startled awake and panicked. Its 3 heads looked around anxiously and with a whimper it too hid behind the table, shaking next to me. 

This puzzled me. It was a freaking massive 3-headed dog with paws like a bear, teeth sharp like razors and jet-black fur. Surely it wasn’t scared of me? The thought made me giggle. I stood and walked over to the massive hulk of a dog. Orphne rolled her eyes and sat back down. Just as I was reaching my hand out to touch the hulking dog, a voice I didn’t recognise bellowed out. 

“Orphne, my girl, we’re back.”

The door swung open, and a glimpse of shock spread across my face when I saw a rather burly looking gentleman standing in the doorway. Cerberus darted over to him and hid behind his legs. He looked up, staring straight into my eyes.

“Well hello there, it’s good to see you’re awake.” He said.

I could only nod in response.

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