Teleportation.

Kaltain Kingdom

Leiya

My eyes slowly opened and I was immediately attacked by the throbbing pain in my head. I tried to lift my arm to rub my temple but I realised soon enough that I was too weak to move.

“You're stubborn Leiya." I heard beside me.

I slowly turned my head to the left and noticed Helion sitting in the chair a few metres away from my bed.

“An attribute that is mostly associated with being brave,”

His lips formed into a smile and he chuckled slightly.

“But also being stupid."

I wanted to roll my eyes at his demeaning tone but I just wasn't strong enough. I didn't understand why my body was so weak. It was like I was struck down by a thousand horses, one after the other.

“What happened?"

I managed to whisper. I felt even weaker after the words left my mouth. He immediately cackled, making me regret using up my energy to ask.

“You hit a wall. My wall."

He said plainly, throwing me into a state of confusion. He noticed and laughed again. Deep down, I wished I could fight back, but it felt like suicide.

“What do you mean, your wall?"

This time, it wasn't as overbearing to speak as the first time but I still felt weak. He looked at me for a minute before getting up. He walked to my bed and softly plunged himself close to me. If I had the energy, I would have moved away from him but I didn't. Instead, I lay there, perceiving the strong smell of burnt tree from him.

“I mean that I have built a protective hedge around my kingdom," he began, speaking with a sense of pride and achievement.

“The forcefield is made of strong dark magic that lasts forever, and no one can go through it.”

He then looked down at me with a grin sick enough to make me feel even more uncomfortable. I really wished he would go back to the chair.

“So then, how does one go out or come in if no one goes through the hedge and it stays up forever?"

At the end of my question, he got up and clasped his hands together. I let out a sigh of relief when he moved away from me. He walked to the foot of my bed and I managed to pull myself up.

"Teleportation Leiya.”

He announced gleefully and in a heartbeat, he was gone from my room. I genuinely didn't look or feel surprised, I was used to him appearing and disappearing from my room at will. He just gave it a more fancier word.

I waited, thinking that any minute now, he was going to appear and parade his magical abilities in front of me. However, he didn't. I lay back down and my thoughts went to Nayla. I fought back my tears as I imagined what she was up to and if she was okay.

Hepthan Kingdom

Nayla

Taera braided my hair softly as she had been doing for the past few months, but this time the reason behind her braiding was different. We didn't chat like we always did when she did so. She didn't tell me about how silly her kids could be, and I didn't tell her stories about how wonderful my mother and sister were.

Against all odds and beating all imagination, it was my wedding day. Never in the entire twelve years of my life had I imagined I would be married a few days before my thirteenth birthday. Although nobody knew I was turning thirteen soon. In fact, no one knew how old I really was, but Taera knew I was young. Too young to be wedded off to a family I have never met, but what could she do to stop it?

No one could do anything to stop it. Any one who dared would have their heads holding them up in a tight rope with their legs hanging in the air. I wanted to cry but I couldn't. I wanted to scream but I also couldn't. Instead, I sat there, in a flowing white dress, watching in silence as Taera braided my hair beautifully.

“All done," she announced when she had knotted the end of the final braid to body of my hair.

“You look absolutely stunning my dear."

She took my hand, gently helping me to my feet. I had never worn a pair of heely shoes in my life and I really hoped when I finally did, I was going to have some practice.

“Thank you Taera.”

I beamed as I tried to walk in them. I had barely gone far when my ankles fumbled and I almost plunged into the hard, wooden floors. Thankfully, Taeras' saving hands were swift enough to catch me.

“Careful now,"

She whispered as she held my hand firmly.

“We want our beautiful bride to be able to walk herself down the aisle.”

She added, causing me to giggle. I always imagined my father walking me down the aisle and handing me over to the handsome prince I would fall in love with. Of course, falling in love would take place after my father's approval but it was certainly better than marrying a stranger I had never set my eyes on.

My thoughts were thrown to the back of my head when I heard a banging on the door.

“The king and his visitors await.”

A guard announced, holding the door wide open. I took one look at Taera and I could see her subtle struggle to put up a cheerful appearance for me. Deep down, I could tell she was scared, for me. Like me, she didn't know the family I was getting married into. Above all, she didn't know if I was going to survive that family or the marriage.

“It's going to be okay Taera,"

I could almost feel myself moved to tears but the words of my father continued to ring in my thoughts and ears. He didn't teach me to fear and if he was here, I knew I was going to get smacked in the face for showing an ounce of fear.

“I'm going to be okay.“

I mustered up a weak smile and I noticed the tears welling up in her own eyes. Taera and I had grown fond of one another, and we both knew we were never going to see each other again.

We heard the guard clear his throat, throwing us out of our shared emotional moment. She quickly also cleared her throat, walked up to me and took my arm in hers.

“Let's go get you married.” her eyes smiled at me and I at once felt a bit at ease.

With that, she led me out the room and down the hall. Amidst the bulging eyes of the maids and guards we walked past, I looked back briefly. I also knew I was never going to see that room ever again, and it felt like I was leaving the last piece of my sister behind. Forever.