Chapter 14: chapter 14

As Amelia stepped into the dimly lit room, the familiar scent of burning wood from the hearth greeted her, but tonight it felt less like home. Her mother was waiting, arms crossed, her face a mixture of worry and anger."Where have you been, Amelia?" her mother's sharp voice pierced through the quiet. "Do you know what time it is? You're not a child anymore to be wandering off like this. You're a young woman! And you need to act like one."Amelia froze, clutching the edge of her cloak. She had expected this, but it still stung.Her mother didn’t stop. "How do you think this behavior will reflect on us? How would we ever marry you off if you keep gallivanting like this? No decent man will accept a girl who doesn’t know her place."The words felt like stones hurled at her chest, but the next ones crushed her. "We received a letter today. From the Duke of Alden. His son has taken a liking to you."Amelia’s heart sank like a stone into deep waters. The room spun for a moment. The Duke’s son? She had only seen him from a distance during the town’s festival, and even then, his cold, disapproving gaze had left a chill in her bones.Her mother’s voice softened slightly, but not in the way that brought comfort. It was the tone of someone making a decision for her. "This is an opportunity, Amelia. From now on, you will do as I say. No more wandering. Do you hear me?"Amelia’s throat tightened, and she could barely get the words out. "Mama, please," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I will do as you say, but… please don’t make me marry him. Not now. I’m not ready."Her mother’s face hardened. "You stupid girl. Do you have any idea how lucky you are? He’s the son of a Duke. A Duke! We’re nothing but poor folk, Amelia. We don’t come from noble blood, but still, he has taken a liking to you. Do you know what this could mean for us? For you?"Tears welled in Amelia’s eyes, spilling over before she could stop them. "But I don’t want this, Mama. I’m not ready. I’m not even eighteen yet," she pleaded.Her mother’s sharp glare silenced her. "Enough! Stop talking nonsense. You’ll be eighteen in a few months. When I was your age, I was already married to your father and tending to a household. You’re fortunate, Amelia. You’ll have wealth, comfort, everything you could ever dream of."This discussion is over. Prepare yourself for the marriage. That’s final."Amelia stood rooted to the spot, her chest heaving with silent sobs. Words escaped her, and even if she found them, they would do no good.From the corner of the room, her little brother, Adam, watched the scene unfold. His small fists were clenched, his lips quivering as he tried to be brave. As their mother stormed away, Adam ran to Amelia, his small hands tugging at her sleeve."Don’t cry, Amelia," he whispered, his voice breaking as tears streamed down his own cheeks. He reached up, wiping her tears with his sleeve. "I don’t want you to go. Please don’t leave us."His innocence broke something deep within her. Amelia knelt down, wrapping her arms around him tightly. "Oh, Adam," she whispered, her voice cracking. Adam buried his face in her shoulder, his sobs muffled. "Can’t you tell Mama no? Amelia hugged him again, her tears soaking into his soft hair. For a fleeting moment, she wished she could live in his simple, hopeful world. But reality loomed too large, and her heart grew heavier with each passing second.The family sat around the modest wooden dining table, the dim glow of the oil lamp casting flickering shadows across their faces. The air was thick with the aroma of roasted vegetables and freshly baked bread, but it was what Amelia’s father said next that stole everyone’s attention."Mr. Gravel has invited us to their house this coming Sunday," he announced, his tone steady yet deliberate.Amelia froze, her fork poised mid-air. The morsel of food in her mouth seemed to expand, lodging itself in her throat. She coughed lightly, reaching for her water, her mind racing.Her mother clasped her hands together, her eyes lifting heavenward. "Oh, thank you, Lord!" she whispered fervently. "This is the opportunity I’ve prayed for."Amelia’s chest tightened. She looked down at her plate, saying nothing. The word marriage lingered, unspoken yet loud in her mind. It felt like a storm cloud looming over her future.As soon as dinner was over, Amelia excused herself and stepped outside. The cool night air kissed her cheeks as she walked aimlessly through their small garden, the gravel crunching beneath her feet. The stars above twinkled faintly, but her chest felt heavy, as if the weight of the sky had fallen on her shoulders.She made her way to the back of the house, seeking solace in the quiet. That’s when she noticed it—a shadowy figure standing just beyond the bushes.Amelia froze, at first she thought it was her father . “Papa?” she called, her voice shaky.But the figure didn’t move. It was tall, broad-shouldered, and eerily still. Then, without warning, two massive black wings unfurled from its back, their span so wide they seemed to block out the moonlight.Amelia gasped, stumbling a step backward. Before she could even comprehend what she was seeing, the figure leapt into the air and disappeared into the night, the sound of his wings slicing through the silence.Her breath hitched as she stood there, rooted in place. “What...what was that?” she whispered to herself.Gathering her courage, she approached the spot where the figure had been standing. Her eyes fell into the ground, and there it was—a single black feather, long and glossy, catching the moonlight in its sheen. She bent down, her fingers trembling as she picked it up.It felt oddly familiar. Her mind raced back to the other feather she had found weeks before . It’s the same. The crisp night air clung to Amelia’s skin, but she barely noticed. Her mind was reeling, her fingers still tightly clutching the black feather. She stared at the strawberry bushes, she couldn't believe what she just saw.“Amelia, what are you doing out there?” her father’s voice called again, closer this time. “Come inside, my dear. You’ll catch a cold.”Startled, she slipped the feather into her apron pocket and hurried toward the house. “Coming, Papa!” she called back, her voice shaking slightly. She ran to him, her steps uneven on the garden path, and he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.“You’ve been wandering around for too long,” he said with a faint smile. “Is everything all right?”Amelia hesitated. For a fleeting moment, she wanted to tell him about the winged man and the feather. But how could she explain something so strange when she didn’t understand it herself?“I’m fine,” she replied softly, avoiding his gaze.He studied her for a moment, his expression thoughtful but not pressing. “All right, then. Let’s go in. Your mother would have a fit if she knew you were out here in this cold.”Together, they stepped inside, the warmth of the house wrapping around them like a comforting blanket. Amelia murmured a goodnight to her parents and retreated to her small, cozy room.As she sank onto her bed, her heart was still pounding. The feather felt heavy in her pocket, as though it carried the weight of a thousand questions.She laid back, staring at the ceiling, the night’s events replaying in her mind. Then a chilling realization struck her—a memory she had buried, thinking it was nothing more than a strange dream.I’ve seen him before.She sat up abruptly, her breath catching in her throat. “It was him,” she whispered to herself. “The man with the wings. I saw him in my dream.”  The dream had been vivid, haunting. She remembered the man standing in a place that felt both real and surreal, his black wings spread wide, But now...now he is real.“How can my dream become real?” she thought to herself. A soft knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts. Her mother peeked inside, her face etched with concern. “Amelia, are you all right? You’ve been quiet since dinner.”Amelia forced a smile. “I’m fine, Mama. Just tired.”Her mother lingered in the doorway, as if sensing there was more to her daughter’s unease. “I know you’re worried about the marriage proposal ” she said gently. “But everything happens for a reason. Trust in God’s plan.”“Goodnight, my dear,” her mother said, closing the door softly behind her.Amelia lay back down, her hand slipping into her pocket to clutch the feather once more. Its texture was smooth, yet it seemed to buzz faintly with energy.