41. Princess Davina
Chapter 41
Princess Davina
“Running away from something doesn’t
do anything except put distance.”
— Rob Halford
I started to run, trying to leave the weight of heavy betrayal behind me as I put on a burst of speed.
I got into a rhythm where the tightening of my muscles is the only thing I can concentrate on. I headed deeper and deeper into the forest, letting the run wipe away my pain and confusion. The faster I went, the better I felt. But now that the adrenaline has worn off, fear begins to creep in.
The darkness has thickened to the point where I can barely see my hands in front of me. The forest is a labyrinth, and I’m unsure if I should go left or right. I’m wasting precious seconds, trying to figure out where to go. My swirling thoughts are my only company.
It’s far too risky to be alone here, but I can’t stand the thought of staying inside that palace. For the first time in my life, I’ve made a decision entirely on my own, and it feels liberating.
I won’t accept a life I don’t deserve.
I glance around, the hairs on my arms rising with warning. I don’t even want to think about what other horrors might be lurking in these woods. What else besides Shadows could be here.
By some miracle, I haven’t encountered anything yet, and I’m trying my best to be quiet, to pull myself together and make my way through the forest until I find my way home.
My head is pounding, and my lungs burn, as though they might be bleeding. The crunch of old, dry leaves underfoot seems deafening, echoing through my pain-filled skull. No matter how long I run, the forest remains dense, a sea of towering trees.
But I don’t stop running.
Finally, I catch a whisper of muffled voices. Exhaustion makes my body ache, but I know I’m close.
I freeze, my breath hitching in my throat.
My heart hammers wildly as a Shadow emerges from the darkness, its formless presence blending seamlessly with the night. My breath catches in my throat, and I instinctively step back, the snap of a twig beneath my foot sounding like a thunderclap in the oppressive silence.
The Shadow remains still, hovering as though observing me. I can feel its gaze, despite the lack of eyes. Fear coils tightly in my stomach, threatening to paralyze me.
I force myself to focus.
This is not the end, Davina.
Summoning every shred of courage left in my trembling body, I sidestep, inching away from the Shadow. My mind races, and the labyrinth of the forest presses in on me from all sides, every tree a potential trap.
Left, or right?
Just as I brace myself to hide, the Shadow shifts. It glides away from me, eerily smooth, yet the dread settling over me remains.
I need to move. Now .
Desperation drives me left, my legs protesting with every agonizing step as I force them into motion. The forest blurs around me, branches clawing at my skin like skeletal fingers. I stumble but push forward, the Shadow’s presence looming behind me.
Exhaustion claws at my limbs, and I’m so tired.
So tired.
My legs betray me, and I collapse to the cold, unforgiving ground.
A hell of a headache wakes me, and I pry my lids apart one at a time, my face scrunched in preparation for light.
As my vision clears, I realize I’m in my room—my room in the castle. The familiar surroundings offer a small comfort despite the pounding in my head.
The heavy, dark wood of the furniture, the rich tapestries on the walls, and the scent of lavender and old books fill my room, evoking memories.
A knock on my door breaks the silence, and before I can say a word, it swings open.
Father strides in, his face a mixture of annoyance and relief. “Thank the Gods, you’re alive.”
His words feel hollow, but a wave of relief washes over me to be home. I stare at him, struggling to form a coherent thought. “How—” I wince, the scratch in my throat making it unbearable to speak.
“You were unconscious when one of my hunters found you,” he explains. “What were you doing out there?”
“I need water,” I manage to rasp out.
“Wait here.”
Feeling oddly relieved to see him, a memory starts reeling in my head. His words on my birthday before I left. “I can visit you sometime.”
He never did.