Chapter 18: chapter 18

When Amelia opened her eyes, she found herself lying on her bed. The room was dimly lit, and her mother’s worried face hovered over her. “Amelia, wake up, dear. Are you feeling okay?” Alexis’s voice was soft, but the concern in her tone was unmistakable.Amelia blinked, her mind groggy and heavy. She turned her head slightly, glancing out of the window. The world outside was cloaked in darkness. A vague sense of unease stirred within her as fragmented memories began surfacing. I was in the forest. How did I get back home? she wondered, her mind racing to piece together the missing moments.The faint rustling of leaves, the sound of her own frantic breaths, the sight of glowing eyes in the darkness—they came flooding back like shards of a broken mirror. And then she remembered. She had been chased by a wolf, its guttural growls echoing in her ears. She remembered falling from a cliff, the sensation of weightlessness as the ground rushed up to meet her. But something had caught her. Someone.He had wings. Large, black-feathered wings. The image of the man was burned into her mind, his face eerily familiar. It looked like Ivar. But how could it be him?“Amelia?” Her mother’s voice broke through her reverie, pulling her back to the present. Alexis’s eyes were filled with worry. “Are you okay, darling? Do you want to sleep a little more?”“No, Mama. I’m fine,” Amelia replied, though her voice wavered slightly. She forced a small smile, hoping to reassure her mother.Alexis gave her a doubtful look but sighed. “Alright. Come eat something. You’ll feel better.”Amelia nodded and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She felt an ache in her muscles as though she’d been running for miles. After freshening up, she joined her family at the dinner table, though her mind remained elsewhere.Her father, Eric, was waiting for her with a stern expression. “Where have you been all day, Amelia?” His voice was firm but tinged with exasperation. “You knew today was important for us. We searched everywhere. Do you have any idea how worried we were?”Amelia’s heart sank under his gaze. She couldn’t tell the truth—not about the forest, the wolf, or the winged man. “I don’t remember,” she lied, lowering her eyes to avoid his. “I went to sleep last night, and after that… everything is blank.”Her father stared at her, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. Alexis placed a hand on his arm, trying to calm him. “Eric, she’s clearly unwell. Let her rest,” she said gently.Amelia felt guilt coil in her stomach. “I’m sorry, Papa. I think I just need some sleep,” she added quickly, rising from her chair.Her father sighed, his frustration giving way to reluctant concern. “Fine. Go rest. But this conversation isn’t over, Amelia.”“Thank you,” she whispered before retreating to her room.The night was long and restless. Amelia lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as the events of the forest played on an endless loop in her mind. It couldn’t have been Ivar. He doesn’t have wings. That’s impossible. But… it was him. I’m sure of it.She tossed and turned, haunted by the image of those dark wings and Ivar’s face—so familiar, yet so foreign. Who was that man? And why did he look like him?When morning light finally crept through her window, Amelia got up, her body heavy with exhaustion. She busied herself with her usual chores, hoping the routine would distract her from the turmoil in her mind.Her mother’s voice rang out from the kitchen. “Amelia! Why are you up so early? You should be resting.”“I slept so much yesterday, Mama,” Amelia replied with a small smile. “I couldn’t sleep anymore.”Alexis appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands with a towel “Are you sure? You had us all so worried last night.”Amelia nodded, managing another weak smile. “I’m fine. Really.”Alexis frowned, her gaze lingering on Amelia. “Hmm,” she murmured under her breath, shaking her head slightly before returning to her work.Soon, there was a hurried knock on the door. Before Amelia could answer, the door burst open, and Lucy, her closest friend, came running inside. Her face was flushed, and her eyes were wide with worry.“Amelia!” Lucy exclaimed, breathless. “Where have you been? Everyone was so worried yesterday. What happened?”Amelia paused for a moment, “I’ll tell you everything,” she said softly, her voice steady. “Wait here for a moment.”Without another word, Amelia walked to her mother, who was in the kitchen. “Mama, Lucy wants to go to the market,” Amelia said, keeping her tone casual. “Can I go with her?”Alexis glanced at her daughter and then at Lucy, who was waiting anxiously by the doorway. “Okay,” she said with a nod. “But don’t be late. You know how I feel about wandering around too much.”“Thank you, Mama,” Amelia said, flashing her a quick smile. She walked back to Lucy, who was pacing outside the house.“Come with me, Lucy,” Amelia whispered, her voice low and almost conspiratorial.“Where?” Lucy asked, her brows furrowing in confusion.“Just come,” Amelia replied firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.Lucy hesitated but followed as Amelia led the way, her steps purposeful. The two walked in silence for a while, the morning sun casting long shadows on the snowy path. Soon, Amelia veered off the road, heading toward the dense forest that bordered their village.“Amelia, what is this about?” Lucy finally asked, her voice trembling slightly. “Why are we going to the forest?”Amelia turned to her friend, her eyes glinting with a mix of determination and unease. “I will to tell you what happened yesterday.”As they walked deeper into the forest, Amelia recounted the events of the previous day, except the winged man incident. Her voice was steady, but Lucy could sense the weight of her words. By the time Amelia finished, Lucy had stopped in her tracks, staring at her friend in disbelief.“Oh my God, Amelia,” Lucy whispered, her voice shaking. “You really did that? You’re not joking?”The forest was quiet, with only the rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird breaking the silence. The air was thick with an almost ominous calm as Amelia and Lucy trudged through the uneven path leading deeper into the woods."I knew Ivar was a scum," Lucy blurted out, her tone laced with frustration. "I don’t even understand why you trust him. Stay away from that man, Amelia. I can sense danger in him. Now, why are we heading towards the forest?"Amelia glanced over her shoulder but didn’t stop walking. "I wanted to ask him something," she replied simply.Lucy sighed, throwing her hands in the air. "I see you still didn’t learn your lesson," she said, shaking her head in disbelief.When they reached the spot where the river curved and disappeared into the dense forest, Amelia paused. She turned to Lucy, her expression resolute. "You wait here. I’ll go and talk to him."Lucy immediately shook her head. "No, Amelia, I don’t think this is a good idea," she said firmly, her voice tinged with worry.But Amelia wouldn’t back down. "I have to do this alone. Please, Lucy, help me this time," she insisted, her eyes pleading.Lucy hesitated, her lips pressed into a thin line. Finally, with a reluctant nod, she gave in. "Fine. But don’t take too long."Amelia offered a small, grateful smile before stepping into the forest. The shadows seemed to close in around her as she walked, her steps cautious yet determined. She hadn’t gone far when a voice, calm yet teasing, broke the silence behind her."You don’t have to go too far to find me. I’m here, so talk," the voice said.Amelia spun around, startled and surprised. It was Ivar, standing right behind her, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable."How do you always find me?" she asked, her voice tinged with both suspicion and awe.Ivar ignored her question, his gaze steady. "Why are you looking for me again?" he asked, his tone indifferent."I wanted to ask you something," Amelia replied, trying to keep her voice steady."Then ask," Ivar said casually, gesturing for her to continue.Amelia took a deep breath. "How did I get home yesterday?""I don’t know," Ivar replied with a mocking smile. "You left me yesterday. Maybe by walking?"His nonchalant tone irritated her, but she pressed on. "Did you save me yesterday?" she asked, her voice firm.Ivar’s gaze locked onto hers, his expression suddenly serious. "What do you think?" he asked, his voice low and enigmatic."I saw you," Amelia said, her tone growing more assertive. "It was you who saved me yesterday, and you had those large wings on your back. Black, feathered wings."At that, Ivar threw his head back and laughed loudly, the sound echoing through the trees. "I think you had a terrible dream last night," he said, a mischievous smirk curling his lips."No, it wasn’t a dream. It was real. I know it," Amelia insisted, her tone unwavering.The smirk remained on Ivar’s face as he stepped closer to her. "So what if it was me?" he asked, his voice dripping with mockery.Amelia narrowed her eyes at him, determined. "Where did the wings go? Show me your back," she demanded, stepping closer and reaching for his shirt.Ivar chuckled, catching her hands before she could proceed. "Wait, my lady," he said, his tone playful. His grip on her hands was firm but gentle.Then, with a deliberate slowness, he leaned in closer, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. "I will let you have my whole body," he murmured, his voice low and teasing, "Just let me feel your lips with mine."Amelia’s mouth fell open in shock, her mind scrambling to process his audacity. She quickly gathered herself, her cheeks flushing with a mix of anger and embarrassment. "How dare you?" she snapped.Ivar chuckled again, clearly enjoying her reaction. "You have to pay the price, my lady, to see me naked," he said, his tone infuriatingly smug.Frustrated by his twisting words, Amelia clenched her fists. "I don’t want to see you naked! Just show me your back, okay?" she said, her voice rising in exasperation.Ivar’s grin widened, and his eyes sparkled with amusement. But he said nothing, leaving Amelia to wonder if she’d ever get a straight answer out of him.Amelia stood in the silence of the forest, waiting for Ivar to answer her. But instead of replying, he turned his back to her and began walking away without a word. His casual retreat infuriated her."Wait!" she called out, rushing to stand in front of him. Her eyes blazed with determination as she blocked his path. "You’re not leaving until you answer me."Ivar halted, his intense gaze locking onto hers. For a moment, the air between them felt charged, like the calm before a storm. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and deliberate. "I have secrets, my lady," he said, his words laced with a mysterious weight. "It would be better if you didn’t know them. My world is different from yours. Don’t involve yourself with me. You will only get hurt."Amelia blinked, astonished by his cryptic response. She took a step closer, searching his face for answers. "Are you threatening me?" she asked, her voice steady but edged with defiance. "Who are you exactly?"Ivar’s lips curled into a smirk, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Trust me," he said, his tone mocking yet strangely serious, "you don’t want to know who I am."Amelia’s patience snapped, her frustration boiling over. "Fine, don’t tell me then!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the trees. "But I already know who you are. You’re a scum!"Her words hung in the air like a slap, and for a moment, Ivar’s smirk faltered. But before he could respond, Amelia turned on her heel and stormed off, her anger propelling her through the forest.When she emerged from the trees, Lucy was waiting for her, her face filled with concern. "Amelia, what happened?" Lucy asked, stepping closer.But Amelia didn’t answer. Her face was a mask of fury, and she brushed past Lucy without a word, heading straight for home.