Run Away
The head maid turned to me, her expression a mix of surprise and consideration. She had grown accustomed to my presence within the palace, tending to my duties as Lucian’s maid. My sudden offer to venture beyond the palace walls was unexpected.
After a moment of hesitation, the head maid nodded. “Okay, Alicia. You may go, but two other maids would go with you too. Get the things in the list and come back straight. Don’t you guys wander around anywhere. Remember your identity.”
Gratitude welled up within me as I agreed to her terms. Soon two maids came to accompany me, and together we left the palace grounds. The prospect of stepping outside, even for a short while, filled me with both excitement and trepidation. It was a small taste of freedom, a glimpse of the world I had been forced to leave behind.
The bustling market was a riot of colors, sounds, and smells. It was a stark contrast to the pristine but stifling atmosphere of the palace. I relished every moment of this brief excursion into the outside world.
As we shopped for the items on the head maid’s list, one of the maids, a younger and more adventurous one, suggested we check out a nearby coffee shop.
“There’s a fantastic coffee shop just around the corner,” she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Their coffee is absolutely amazing. You guys have to try it.”
The idea of enjoying a cup of coffee in a quaint little café tugged at my curiosity. But another maid, more cautious and aware of the consequences, immediately protested. “No, we shouldn’t. We should head back to the palace right away. If we get caught, we’ll be in serious trouble.”
However, the thought of returning to the palace without experiencing even a small taste of freedom felt like a missed opportunity. The younger maid’s enthusiasm was infectious, and soon, I found myself agreeing.Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.
“We don’t get many chances like this,” I said, my voice filled with a mix of excitement and rebellion. “Let’s go, just this once.”
With our decision made, we followed the directions to the coffee shop.
The coffee shop had a cozy and inviting ambiance, quite different from the grandeur of the palace. As one of the girls went to place our orders, the remaining two of us settled at a table, eagerly awaiting our drinks. For me, this was a thrilling experience, my first taste of the world beyond the palace’s confining walls.
However, the excitement was tinged with a hint of nervousness. This area was predominantly populated by werewolves, and I couldn’t deny the growing discomfort of being the only witch in the vicinity. As I glanced around, I couldn’t help but notice the subtle reactions from some of the patrons. They had likely identified me by my unique scent, and their expressions ranged from curiosity to open disgust.
It was a stark reminder of the deep-seated animosity between our two worlds. Despite my attempt to blend in, I was a foreign presence here, and my very existence seemed to unsettle some of the werewolves around me. The invisible barrier between our species, it appeared, was not easily breached.
~ Lucian ~
I strode out of my room, the need for caffeine urging me to fetch a cup of coffee. I located a passing maid and ordered, “Go and tell Alicia to bring me a cup of coffee.”
The maid, slightly flustered by the king’s request, replied, “I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but Alicia is not in the palace right now. I can bring you coffee if you’d like.”
My heart skipped a beat at her words. “Not in the palace?” I asked incredulously. “Where is she, then?”
The maid hesitated for a moment before answering, “She went out with some other maids to buy things from the market.”
My eyes widened in alarm. The memory of Alicia’s threat to run away from the palace echoed in my mind. Could she be making an attempt to escape? I couldn’t afford to take any chances.
Without a moment’s hesitation, I berated the maid in front of me, anger lacing his voice. “How could you let her leave without my permission?”
The maid stammered, clearly frightened by my fury. “I-I’m sorry, Your Majesty. She said she was going shopping with some other maids, and I didn’t think…”
I hurriedly exited the palace and made my way to the room that served as a temporary command center in the palace’s vast lawn. There, I found the Omega of the Pack. David was a young man with finely sculpted features and a strong build. He looked up as I entered, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern.
“Prepare the cars,” I instructed him urgently, wasting no time with formalities.
He frowned, clearly taken aback. “Alpha, what’s going on? Why the rush?”
I didn’t have time to explain the complexities of the situation. I needed to act swiftly to ensure Alicia’s safety. “There’s no time for questions,” I snapped. “We have to get to the market immediately. Hurry up.”
Understanding the urgency in my tone, David nodded and sprang into action. He barked orders to the pack members nearby, and soon enough, the cars were prepared and ready to go.
I wasted no time and got into one of the cars. We had to reach the market quickly; I couldn’t let her slip away now.
Sitting in the car, my mind raced with a mixture of frustration and worry. Alicia’s words from the previous day echoed in my head like an ominous warning. “I will run away from here, and I will never come back,” she had declared, her determination palpable.
I couldn’t shake off the anger that surged within me as I remembered her audacity. “I will break your legs once I find you. You think you can run away from me,” I muttered to myself, my hands went into a tight fist. The image of her defying me, challenging my authority, infuriated me to no end.
I knew I had to find her, to bring her back to the palace where she belonged. But the turmoil she stirred within me was maddening. I had to admit, this girl was unlike anyone I had ever known. Her spirit, her stubbornness, they were driving me to the brink.
My frustration mounted as I navigated through the streets, trying to find her. “Can’t she just sit quietly without causing trouble for me?” I grumbled, my patience wearing thin.