An Escape.

An Escape.


Aerila's POV

“Ugh! My head.” I groaned in pain, struggling to sit up. The rustling of sheets filled my ears and I slowly opened my eyes to see that I was in a small room.

“Where am I?” I muttered, staring at my feet poking out from underneath the sheet. “My baby.” My hand instinctively pressed against my tummy and a sigh slipped off my lips.

The baby is safe.

My eyes swept around the place before I turned my feet, pressing them on the floor as I got up. My vision blurred a little and I staggered, trying to hold on to something.

“Vaelora?” I called, pushing my heavy legs toward the door. Memories of what happened before I blacked out flashed through my mind and my heart raced as I thought of the worst.

Had she been caught by Nyxion? Did Verek inform his brother where we went?

Many thoughts ran through my mind as my hand twisted the knob and I pulled the door open. A cold breeze kissed my skin, followed by the strong scent of alcohol.

“Umgh!” My hand flew to my mouth as the sudden urge to vomit took over me. At that moment, footsteps sounded outside and I lifted my head to see a woman stopping in front of me.

“You're awake.” Her face stretched wide into a smile. My eyes followed her arm and I saw the alcohol bottle in her hand, and my brows pressed tightly together in disapproval.

Her eyes followed my line of sight and a gasp left her lips.

“Oops, I'm so sorry. I got bored standing guard at the door and decided to get something to keep me awake. However, it appears that your body can't accept it. I'll get rid of the bottle.”

She turned around to leave but I stopped her quickly.

“Before you leave,” I said, and she turned to face me. “Can you tell me where the lady who brought me here went?”

“Mm. I don't know exactly where she went. All she told me was to stand at this door until you woke up. Oh, and she also said she bought tickets for the next ship leaving this place.” The girl moved back and stretched her neck toward the entrance far away from us. “That’s strange. She should have been here by now.”

She turned to face me with an awkward smile.

“Looks like there will be a little delay.”

Vaelora wasn't here. Did she leave me behind? It was understandable. No one enjoys working for my uncle. It would have been strange if she were still around by the time I woke up.

I glanced down at my dress and noticed that it had been changed.

A soft sigh left my lips and I returned my attention to the girl. By this time, the urge to vomit had already died down.

“Is there anything else I should know about?” I demanded. I was already planning how to escape this place before someone found me here.

Her fingers pressed against her jawline and she hummed.

“No. She didn't say much because she was in a hurry. Oh, I have to leave now. I have other things to take care of. I'm sure you can stay put until she returns. I already worked for the service I was paid for.”

She shook the bottle in the air, then turned and left the place. I stood there in silence and turned halfway back toward the bedroom.

My eyes fell on an envelope on the dresser beside the bed. I returned inside, locking the door behind me.

After getting close to the drawer, I bent down and picked up the letter, my fingers grazing its surface.

I turned it around and saw the sender's name.

\[Talon\]

“That's right. I remember asking Vaelora to deliver a message to him.” I quickly tore off the seal and took the letter out.

My hands unfolded it quickly and my eyes scanned through the contents.

“I received your letters days ago, but there's nothing I can do to stop this war. Your mate killed my people without justifiable reasons, and now you are asking for a peace treaty when it was already given in the first place. This is enough reason for me to believe he is toying with me.

By the time this letter gets to you, my men will have already crossed through your borders into your territory and will be killing your people. They won't stop until Nyxion begs for mercy.

I will give you a simple word of advice. Leave his side and join me. I see who you truly are. You do not deserve to stand beside a madman who is still mourning over his deceased mate.

I will be waiting for you.”

My throat went dry as my eyes scanned through the last line. I closed the letter, putting it away, and stared at the empty space before me.

My hand clenched tightly as the memory of Nyxion discarding me without even an ounce of guilt in his eyes flashed through my head. I glanced at the door and bit my lip hard.

It looked like I already had my next destination.

I got off the bed and checked the drawers to see if Vaelora had left the tickets before she left.

My hand pulled open the last drawer and a blue ticket with a ship printed on it sat neatly inside. I snatched it and walked out of the room without hesitation.

“North Dakota!”

I stepped out of the inn and made my way to the shore where other ships were being loaded. A huge ship closed in on the shore and a man hopped down from it, waving his hand as a signal while shouting.

“North Dakota!”

“Grab your suitcases, Eline!” a mother yelled at her child as people bumped into them while moving toward the ship.

My hand pressed against my tummy while my other hand took out the blue ticket and glanced at it. My eyes squinted when I saw the name.

Dakota.

It's the ship that was taking me to Talon's territory.