I woke up gasping for air, the remnants of the dream still clinging to my thoughts. My surroundings were eerily quiet, save for the faint hum of my bedside clock. The gentle, almost ethereal feeling of the dream lingered—the soft firefly lights, the rustling of leaves, and the calm of the lake. It had been peaceful, tranquil even, yet the woman's warning still echoed in my mind.
"Do not give your full trust to anyone, especially that Male guardian of yours."
I shook my head, trying to dispel the weight of the dream. But even as I did, something in my chest tightened. Vleid, my guardian, the one who always stood by me—why would she say such a thing? Why would I doubt him?
I glanced at my bedside clock. The bright red numbers flashed - 2:00 p.m., and I groaned. How could I have slept this late? The weight of the dream, the strange warning—it all felt like it had sucked me into a world I didn't fully understand.
Just then, a sharp knock came at my door, followed by Vleid's voice, calm but filled with an unmistakable urgency.
"Alexa!"
I froze. For a moment, I didn't know if I should answer, if I should even leave the safety of my room. The words of the woman echoed in my mind once again. "Don't trust him."
But I knew Vleid—how could I ever doubt him? He had been nothing but protective, caring, a guiding force in this chaotic life I led. And yet, her warning… it seemed to carry weight, even though my instincts screamed that the dream was just that—a dream.
Still, there was a growing unease that gnawed at me. Slowly, I stood up from the bed, pushing away the disorienting haze of the dream.
"Alexa?" Vleid's voice again, a little louder this time.
I took a breath and walked to the door. When I opened it, Vleid stood there, his ocean-like eyes scanning my face for any sign of distress. He was ever so careful around me, ever so cautious, especially after the bombings and everything that had followed. His presence always made me feel safe, but now…
"You're up late," he remarked, his usual calm tone masking the concern behind his words.
"Yeah, just… didn't sleep well," I muttered, not sure how to explain the dream—or how to explain the nagging doubt it had planted in me.
Vleid didn't push me. He simply nodded, a slight frown tugging at his lips. "We need to talk," he said, stepping back slightly to give me space to step outside. "There's been some movement with the Shiro Clan, and we've got a lead."
I hesitated for a moment, thoughts swirling. The dream. The warning. And now this.
"I'll be out in a minute," I said, trying to shake the unease from my body. But even as I closed the door, I couldn't shake the words of that mysterious woman. Don't trust him. I felt like I was standing at the edge of a precipice, unsure whether to fall or step back.
I needed answers.
I walked into the dining room, trying to shake off the heaviness that had settled over me since waking up. The dream, that eerie warning—it clung to me like an unshakable fog.
As I joined the family, I found my place at the table. My thoughts still lingered on the woman in the dream, her voice echoing in my mind. "Do not give your full trust to anyone, especially that Male guardian of yours."
I looked across the room at Vleid, seated at the head of the table, his dark gaze already focused on me. His usual composed demeanor remained, but his eyes betrayed a trace of concern. I could sense it, even if he said nothing.
"So, what's the update?" I asked, forcing myself to focus. This was more important than my fleeting doubts. I needed to push past the unease and deal with the situation at hand.
Kian looked at me with a small smile, though I knew it didn't quite reach his eyes. There was too much going on right now—too many threats looming over us. "We've received intel. The Shiro Clan is moving faster than we anticipated. And Selene…" He paused, glancing around the table, "She's trying to orchestrate something major, something we're not prepared for."
I took a deep breath, trying to concentrate on the issue. But my mind kept circling back to the warning from my dream. Trust Vleid? Could he be hiding something from me? Could he have known more than he let on about Selene and the Shiro Clan?
I forced myself to focus on Kian's words. "Do we have any idea what she's planning?" I asked, looking at the document Kian had laid out in front of him.
"Not exactly," Kian replied, his voice low. "But we know she's been meeting with the underground in Europe, and there's a pattern in her movements. She's preparing for something big. And it involves more than just the Shiro Clan."
I stared at the document in front of me, trying to absorb the information, but my eyes kept flicking back to Vleid. He hadn't said anything yet, hadn't offered any insight. It was strange, how calm he was—almost too calm.
The silence stretched out between us as I struggled to maintain focus. It wasn't like Vleid to be so reserved. I wanted to ask him questions, to voice the concerns that were gnawing at me, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Not yet.
"Vleid," I said, finally looking at him directly. "What do you think of all this?"
He met my gaze without hesitation, his eyes unreadable. "I think we need to be prepared for anything. Selene is unpredictable, and if the Shiro Clan is involved, it could mean trouble for all of us."
I nodded, but the unease in my chest wouldn't go away. I knew something wasn't right, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
Later that night, as I lay in bed, my mind refused to quiet. The dream had been so vivid, so real. The woman, the lake, her warning… and Vleid. How could I doubt him? He had always been there, protecting me, guiding me. But now… now I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more beneath the surface.
I closed my eyes, trying to push the thoughts aside, but they only grew louder. The dream, the warning, the unease—everything was starting to blur together. I felt like I was standing on the edge of something I couldn't understand, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't make sense of it.
Suddenly, the room shifted around me. The air felt thicker, heavier. I was no longer in my bed, but standing in the same place as before—the lake, the woman in the sky-like dress, the fireflies glowing softly around us.
Her eyes met mine, and I felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity, as though I had known her forever. She stepped closer, her voice soft, but urgent.
"You must trust your instincts, Alexa," she said, her tone almost pleading. "Do not let anything cloud your judgment."
I wanted to ask her what she meant, to demand answers, but before I could speak, her gaze turned dark, her expression shifting with a new intensity. "Vleid isn't who he appears to be," she whispered, her words low, full of warning.
The ground beneath my feet trembled, and the peaceful lake began to distort, the once calm waters now swirling gently. The fireflies' glow flickered erratically, casting eerie shadows around us.
"His loyalty is not to you," she continued, her words slicing through the thickening air. "He has his own agenda, and it does not align with yours."
I wanted to scream, to run, but my body felt frozen, trapped by her gaze. "No… that's not true," I stammered. "Vleid would never—"
"Do not let your heart blind you, Alexa," she interrupted, her tone now sharp, almost like a command. "The truth is closer than you think."
And with that, everything went black.
I woke up with a start, my heart pounding in my chest. The air felt cold, and my body was drenched in sweat. The room was still, silent—everything was just as it had been before. But the dream… it felt too real. Too vivid.
I glanced at the clock. 3:30 a.m. It felt like I hadn't even closed my eyes before I was plunged back into that peaceful place.
I sat up, trying to steady my breathing. The woman, her warning, the shifting waters—it all felt like a warning.
I needed to know the truth. I needed to understand what was really happening, and I couldn't ignore the fact that the one person I trusted the most might not be who he claimed to be.
Vleid… who are you really?
I walked out of my room, the cool night air brushing against my skin as I made my way down the hallway. The house was quiet, but my mind was anything but. The dream haunted me, and the words of that mysterious woman kept echoing in my mind.
As I passed the veranda, I noticed Vleid standing there, his silhouette outlined by the soft glow of the stars. The curtains swayed gently in the breeze, moving almost as if in rhythm with the night. He was staring up at the sky, lost in thought, the peaceful expression on his face betraying nothing of the tension that had been building in my chest.
"Alexa? Can't sleep again? Your nightmares are getting worse," he said, his voice soft and concerned, yet still calm, as though nothing could disturb his usual composure.
I leaned against the doorway, watching him for a moment before speaking. "Yep, those dreams keep appearing. Maybe it's something to do with Astralis," I said, trying to gauge his reaction, looking for any sign of something more beneath his usual façade.
But instead of the surprise or curiosity I expected, he just stared at me for a long moment, his gaze unreadable. It felt like he was studying me, as if he could see right through me, but I couldn't decipher what he was thinking.
"Hmm," was all he said in response, his eyes drifting back to the stars as if my words hadn't fully registered with him.
It left me feeling unsettled, like I was missing something crucial. Something important that he wasn't saying.
abandoned me" he shortly replied.
ChatGPT said:
"Uhm, Vleid, question?" I asked, my voice hesitant.
He turned his head slightly, giving me his usual unreadable look. "Hmm? Go ahead."
I bit my lip, trying to figure out how to phrase what had been nagging at me. "Of course, you had a life before you came and picked us up here, right? Can you tell me what you were doing before all of this?"
There was a long pause, and I could feel the shift in the air as Vleid's gaze hardened, his expression becoming more distant. His eyes met mine, and I saw a flicker of something—surprise, maybe? Taken aback, even? It only lasted for a moment, but it was enough to make my stomach tighten.
"Ah," he finally said, his voice softer than usual. "Well, I was also a normal teen back there. Your grandparents, the King and Queen, took care of me, while my biological parents abandoned me," he added quickly, his words clipped and almost guarded.
The way he said it made my heart ache for him, but I didn't push. I could tell it wasn't something he liked talking about, and I didn't want to pry too much. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his past than he was willing to share.
"And..." I added, still prying, hoping he'd share more.
Before Vleid continued, he inhaled deeply, as if gathering his thoughts.
"And, I am the second prince of the defeated kingdom."
My eyes widened in surprise, and I was at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond. "It's okay if you don't tell me, Vleid. I'm sorry," I said quickly, feeling the weight of his confession in the air between us.
"You were curious about me, right?" Vleid asked, his voice tinged with a hint of concern. "Is this about your dream? Because you've been acting differently since they started."
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. Was he truly worried, or was it just his job as my guardian that made him act this way?
"Never mind. I'll figure this out on my own," I said, brushing it off, not wanting to press him further.
Silence fell between us, thick and heavy.
"I'll just head back to my room, and you do too," I added quickly, trying to change the subject so we wouldn't pry into each other's lives.
"Wait, Lexie."
His hand gently grabbed my shoulder, and I felt the warmth of his touch seep through the fabric of my shirt. It was a rare moment—Vleid was usually so composed, but there was something different about him now.
"Hmm?" I asked, turning to face him.
"You can tell me anything," he said softly, his tone almost vulnerable. "There's no reason to hide anything from each other, because we're bonded now. I mean… your mind bond... No. What I meant is, I'm your protector... I want to know."
His words caught me off guard, and for the first time, I saw a glimpse of him uncollected, not the usual stoic figure I was used to.
I couldn't help it—I chuckled, the sound slipping out before I could stop it.
"You're out of sorts lately, Vleid. Did something happen?" I asked, still holding back my amusement, though a small chuckle escaped as I looked at him.
Vleid looked taken aback by his own words, as if the confession had slipped out before he could even stop it. He stared at me for a moment, his expression softening.
"I just want to assure you that I'll always be by your side," he added, his voice steady but filled with sincerity.
I blinked, surprised by the weight of his words. Vleid had said something like this before, but this time, it felt different. It wasn't just something he said out of habit or duty—it was real. It was like he truly meant it.
I could almost hear the echo of the woman's voice from my dream. "Trust your instincts!"
A shiver ran down my spine, but I took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. I needed to stay grounded.
Reaching up, I placed my hand over his, resting on my shoulder.
"Thank you, Vleid, for everything," I said softly, my voice filled with gratitude. "Now, let's go back to sleep."
I flashed him a reassuring smile, trying to ease the weight of the moment. He gave me a small nod, and with one last look, he let go of my shoulder.
"Goodnight, Alexa," he murmured, his voice still unusually gentle.
"Goodnight, Vleid," I replied, feeling a flicker of warmth in my chest as I turned and headed back to my room, the lingering feeling of his presence giving me an odd sense of comfort.