Chapter 36 Part 2
Elena’s P.O.V
My head felt heavy and I could feel the room spinning but a familiar wave surged through me. Sitting upright, I glanced around an unfamiliar room before involuntary vomiting over the floor. Gasping for breath, I flounced back on my pillows, feeling my head thump painfully. Was it the start of the dreaded morning sickness or was there something more sinister going on? What had happened to me? What was that purple fog? And most importantly, where the hell was I?
Once the pain had subsided in my head, I once more sat up and surveyed the room. The room was elegantly furnished with thick red woollen carpets, floor-length red silk curtains lined the arch windows, blowing gently in the cool breeze. The walls weren’t made of thick, dark oak like the rooms back at the Alpha Prince’s Palace were so I knew that I was no longer in his Palace. The walls in this room were light and it made the room look clean and airy, which suited me much better to my tastes. I made a mental note to discuss a major renovation with Kieran once I got back to him. His Palace would look so much better if it had this light and airy décor. I eyed up the elegant white furniture and large oil paintings of unfamiliar people lining the walls while large bouquets of flowers sat in tall vases in every corner of the room. The sudden loud cry of a bird outside made me frown in surprise. It wasn’t a particular sound that I usually heard back in the city. Yes, there was birdsong, but this sound was unusual and strange. Swinging my legs out of bed, I stumbled towards the window and pulled back the curtain, allowing in even more light and gasped at the sight I saw.
As far as my eye could see was golden sand and a brilliant blue ocean. I could smell the sea salt in the air and the cool, salty breeze gently toyed with my hair. Breathing in gently, I felt relaxed and happy. I always dreamed of coming to the coast and now I was finally here! The views were stunning! I leant out of the window a little further and craned my neck further to the right. I could just see the edge of a busy harbour and small town, which was definitely not part of the city. Finally realising that I had been kidnapped, my happiness quickly faded away and panic began to set in. Who attacked me? Who’s Palace was this? What was I doing here? And what did they want with me? Was my baby safe and more importantly, where was Kieran?
Determined to find out some answers and find out what was going on, I marched over to the wooden door and grabbed the handle tightly. As fast as I could, I tried to pull the door open, only to find it locked. Furiously, I began to rub my now pained shoulder as I banged on the door loudly with my hand. Hell no, was I going to take being locked up in a strange room! The angrier I became, the angrier my wolf became. I briefly toyed with the idea of letting her out to tear down this door, but I didn’t know what was on the other side and who was in the castle. I didn’t think it was wise to destroy such a beautiful room and decided against it. Someone would have to hear me shouting surely!
“Oi! Hello! Is anybody out there!” I yelled loudly, hammering the door with my fists. “Let me out! This is bang out of order! I am pregnant for god’s sake! Kieran will not be happy when he finds out about this! And he will find me! I know he will and you will all be in big trouble!”
The sound of a key being turned in the lock made me stop shouting and step back as two guards promptly marched in and eyed me carefully. They too were dressed in armour, but I didn’t recognise the crest displayed loudly on their chests. Their eyes twinkled under their visors, but oddly, I felt safe in their presence, as if I already knew that they wouldn’t hurt me.
“I see you have finally awoken little miss,” one of the guards laughed gently. “We’ve been keeping an eye on you due to your delicate disposition. You’ve been sleeping for quite a while.”
“Who are you and where am I?” I snapped angrily. “Why did you bring me here?”
“That’s just it,” the guard chuckled. “I didn’t bring you here but I know who did. You need to calm down little miss. The stress isn’t good for the baby. Come with me now and all will be revealed.”
“How do I know that you aren’t going to do something to me?” I asked suspiciously, even though I knew they wouldn’t. “Where are you taking me?”
“Well if you follow me, you will find out,” the guard smirked. “Come. You must be hungry. You need to eat!”
Sighing impatiently, I nodded thankfully at the two guards, feeling the hunger begin to grow in my belly. If the guards wanted to hurt me, then they would have done it by now. Silently, I walked out of the room and followed the first guard while the second followed close behind me. We walked down endless amounts of corridors filled with candles burning in polished gold holders, flowers sitting in tall vases, while all of the arched windows looked out onto the ocean. Everywhere I looked were more oil paintings of strange-looking men, women staring lustfully at you while lying half exposed on chaise lounges and pictures of wolves, fighting with exposed fangs or curled up with their cubs. Was the owner of this Palace a werewolf? We continued down a long corridor until we met a large set of golden doors, just like the ones in Kieran’s Palace. The guard leading the way stopped and knocked loudly, leaning his head intently and listening out for a voice. A soft feminine voice called out, making me frown in surprise. A woman had me bought here?
The guard pushed open the heavy doors with both hands, causing them to creak loudly. Nervously, I followed him inside and peered around the room, gasping in surprise. The room was light and airy and made up of three walls with high, ornate ceilings. The fourth wall had completely disappeared, allowing the room to look out onto the ocean and the beach. Scattered along the polished marble floor was gold chaise lounges, soft fur throws and plump scatter cushions. My eyes fell on the many beautiful women that were dressed in thin floaty dresses of all colours, lying on the chairs or spread out over the floor on the cushions and throws. Their dainty chatter abruptly stopped as they turned their heads to look at me in wonder. Feeling myself blush, I lowered my head and made my way over to a beautiful woman sitting on an intricately carved glass throne. Smiling, she waved me over and as I stood in front of her, I felt her warm eyes scanning over me. As I looked up, my eyes surveyed the crinkles on her soft skin, revealing that she was slightly older. Her long brown hair shone like melted chocolate over her dainty shoulders encased in a white lace dress. The lady suddenly stood up and made her way over towards me, before enveloping me into a tight hug, which I nervously tensed up in fright.
“Don’t be afraid my dear,” the woman soothed gently, pulling away and looking at me gently. “I won’t hurt you. I’m glad to have met you, actually.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t know who you are,” I replied nervously, taking a step back. “What am I doing here?”
“I’ve bought you here to keep you safe. There is a plot against you,” the woman explained, smiling mischievously. “I know about the baby. Fathered by my own son.”
“Your son?” I replied, confused. “No, you must be confused or have the wrong person. The father to my baby, his parents are dead.”
“I see,” the woman replied thoughtfully. “You see, I haven’t got it wrong at all my dear. I am in fact the old Queen Nerissa. I am Kieran’s mother!”