Kamrynn's POV
I sit on the edge of my bed, staring at the test results for what feels like hours. The words on the paper blur together, but their meaning is crystal clear: Eloane has been poisoning Rmonica. The Luna has trusted her with everything, and this is how Eloane repaid her.
The enormity of the situation makes my head spin. I can't just sit here and pretend I don't know the truth. But what am I supposed to do? March up to Rmonica and shove the results in her face?
No.
I shake my head, the sick feeling in my stomach growing heavier. Eloane would find a way to twist the narrative, to paint me as the liar. She'd probably call me jealous or vengeful, claim I planted the pills or tampered with the results.
And even if Rmonica believed me, what then? Eloane is carrying their child. They wouldn't be able to punish her, not without jeopardizing the pregnancy.
I bury my face in my hands, frustration clawing at me. I'm trapped.
Later, while helping Tiona clean the dining hall, my thoughts remain clouded with indecision. I hardly notice when Tiona pauses to ask me something.
"Kamrynn? You alright, dear?"
"Huh?" I blink, startled out of my haze. "Oh, uh… yes. Just a bit tired."
Tiona frowns but doesn't press further. "Don't overdo it, alright? You've been working hard lately. Maybe take a break."
"Thanks," I murmur, though my mind is already elsewhere.
I replay every interaction I've seen Eloane have over the past few weeks. Her whispers with Raelan, her secretive nature, the letter she sent that day… Who was she communicating with? Could this be bigger than just jealousy?
If she's working with someone, I have to find out who. But how? I can't exactly confront her-not with her already watching me like a hawk. She knows I'm onto her so she's probably plotting how to kick me out of the palace. I need to be extra careful. I can't afford to make mistakes now.
That night, I collapse onto my bed, exhausted from work and from the mental strain of keeping this secret. Sleep comes quickly, but it isn't peaceful.
The dream starts in a bustling marketplace, filled with vibrant colors and the hum of traders shouting their wares. Stalls line the streets, brimming with glittering goods and exotic treasures. I see Rmonica standing at one of the stalls, her attention caught by a stunning blue gem displayed in an ornate velvet-lined box.
Eloane appears beside her, smiling warmly. "Isn't it beautiful?" she says, her voice dripping with charm. "A gem like this is a rare find. It's perfect for you, Rmonica. You know you can trust me."
Rmonica hesitates, her fingers hovering over the gem. "Are you sure, Eloane? It's just… it's so much. How can I be sure it's real?"
Eloane's smile widens, her tone soothing. "Would I lie to you? This gem is as genuine as they come. You deserve the best, don't you?"
Slowly, Rmonica nods. "Alright," she murmurs, pulling out her pouch of coins. She hands over a small fortune without a second thought.
The moment the gem is in her hands, Rmonica studies it closely. At first, it gleams brilliantly in the light, almost blindingly so. But then, the light dims. Tiny cracks begin to spiderweb across the surface, and its vibrant blue dulls to a lifeless gray.
Her face crumples with confusion and betrayal. "Wait… this isn't right." Her voice trembles as she looks at Eloane. "This is fake. Eloane, this is fake!"
Eloane doesn't flinch. She shrugs, her expression unreadable. "Maybe you just don't appreciate what you have," she says, her voice cold. "Besides, the deal's done."
The marketplace vanishes in an instant, and the dream shifts.
Now, Rmonica is sitting alone in a dim, desolate room. The air is thick with sorrow, almost suffocating. She's clutching a photograph in her trembling hands, holding it so tightly her knuckles turn white.
Tears stream down her face as she sobs quietly, the sound hollow and heart-wrenching. "I've lost it," she whispers, her voice barely audible. "The most precious thing in my life… it's gone."
I try to see the photograph, to understand what she's mourning, but the image is blurred, impossible to make out. Whoever-or whatever-it is, it's clear her grief isn't about the gem. Her entire body shakes with anguish, and the devastation in her eyes cuts into me like a knife.
"Why did this happen?" she cries, her voice breaking. "Why did you take this from me?"
Her sobs echo in the darkness, and before I can move to comfort her, the scene shifts again.
Suddenly, I'm in a suffocating void of darkness. The silence is broken only by the slow, deliberate drip of liquid. My breath catches as I realize I'm standing in a pool of blood.
My eyes dart around, and I see Eloane lying on the floor, lifeless. Blood pours from a deep wound in her chest, staining her clothes and pooling around her body. Her glassy eyes stare into the void, frozen in shock.
A masked figure looms over her, holding a bloodied knife. Their movements are deliberate, almost predatory, as they take a step closer to Eloane's body, as if admiring their work.
My heart pounds painfully in my chest as I watch the figure. Their face is hidden, but their presence is suffocating. I try to move, but my legs are rooted to the ground, paralyzed with fear.
The masked figure slowly turns toward me, their gaze piercing even through the mask. My breath catches as they raise the knife, blood dripping from the blade in steady, deliberate drops.
They step toward me, each movement calculated and heavy. The sound of their footsteps echoes eerily, mixing with the soft squelch of blood beneath their boots.
Panic rises in my chest as they raise the knife higher, but just as they reach me-
I jolt awake with a sharp gasp, clutching my chest. My heart hammers against my ribs, and cold sweat drenches my skin.
The dream clings to me like a shadow, its images burned into my mind. I pull my knees to my chest, trembling, unable to shake the heavy sense of dread settling deep in my stomach.
"What the hell was that?" I whisper, clutching the sheets tightly. My heart won't stop pounding and my feet feel cold like ice. The nausea clings to my throat but I quickly push it down. I need to stay focused.
I take a seat by the window, staring at the sunrise. My dreams are becoming unbearable. First the garden, now this. They're so random, yet so vivid.
"Am I losing my mind?" I mutter to myself.
I press a hand to my growing bump, trying to ground myself. The babies stir slightly, and it calms me, if only a little.
There's no time to dwell on the dream. Eloane's presence is a ticking time bomb, and I need to figure out her endgame before she makes her next move.
What if this isn't just about jealousy? What if Eloane is working for someone else, or following orders? The thought sends a chill down my spine.
I sigh, standing up and smoothing out my dress. "Enough speculating, Kamrynn. You need answers, not guesses."
But how do I get those answers without risking everything?
For now, I can only hope the dreams are just dreams. But deep down, I know they mean something. And if I don't act soon, I might lose the most precious thing of all: Rmonica.