OH! My Lady |FAIRVERSE Book 2|

AUTHOR's NOTE

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Text copyright © 2021 by VICTORIC VAL

All rights reserved. No part of this book be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the AUTHOR a.k.a ME.

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Hello my dear readers,

A few heads up before you all start this story.

None of the excerpt of this story has been taken from anyone's life or had any intention of hurting anyone if any part of this story seems similar to one's life. (I doubt it would though, but just to be on the safe side)

This book contains mild(or maybe not so mild) curse words and swearing. Reader's discretion is recommended before they start reading the text. (But there shall be no mature content if that is what you are worried about... Maybe! 😝)

And lastly, Do not forget to let me know what you think of the story through votes AND comments guys.

Thank you😉 And Enjoy!

P.S. FUN FACTS:

(I). I wrote chapter 51 while listening to WILLOW by TAYLOR SWIFT.

(II). The cover picture (BOOK COVER) is of Reuben in all his regal glory (≧▽≦)(≧▽≦)(≧▽≦) #Amafangirlhim 😆

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REUBEN.

The light was blinding, almost dyeing the scenery before me into a pallid plane of silvery white. And amidst that blinding light, I saw her. She wore the same unadorned white dress that she usually liked to be dressed in, her hair in a loose plait, tumbling down her thin shoulders, and those green eyes alit with the same optimistic enthusiasm, a hint of innocent mischief in her insipid beautiful eyes.

"Benny..." She turned her head towards me and took my name, with the most familiar tone ever.

"...Mother..." I heard myself speak, the words falling out of my lips before I could even realize it.

She smiled that bright playful smile of hers, just like I had remembered her in my memories. Like a little girl upto no good.

"My Dear, may the wind be on your back; As you stand in the light, may love burn your soul bright. May you be ever more brave, for know that those you love don't go away, they walk beside you every day." She said in her pleasant soothing voice; the words all too familiar, sounding like that of a soft feather, tickling onto one's heart.

And then suddenly, I saw that identical fire that took her away from me years ago, lighting up in raging flames, the prior tranquil panorama now engulfed by a crimson firestorm. And she stood there, submerged into the myriad of flames, almost consumed by the ravenous blaze.

"MOTHER!" I shouted in distress, nervousness and anxiety overwhelming me like no other. It had been years since I had felt such crushing restlessness, as though my breath was stuck in my throat, inhibiting my lungs from absorbing in any air. I knew none of this was real, but the feeling was so so tangible, I couldn't bring myself to differentiate between the dream and the reality.

"Unseen and unheard, but always near. I walk beside you, I am right here. In life, I loved you dearly, in death I love you still. So my dear, break away from this fear, and you will see your way appear." Her words were placid, as soothing as a gospel, as serene as the breath of spring.

And then, the dream changed, and I felt a sense of falling, as if I am entering a part of myself that was hidden deep within.

The next moment, I realized that I was taken back to my distorted past, the memories that my conscious mind had decided to shut off all this while came rushing back and weaved for me what one would call a nightmare.

Soon, my skin felt as though it was the surface of a boiling stew. Beneath the thin skin bubbled acrid, the pains of my past leaving my blood, seeking release. I woke up to an inferno. The smoke billowed black across the place, filling my lungs. The coughing was instant as were the tears that washed over my eyes due to the fumes.

I stood there on that same warm summer evening, shaking, unable to believe what my senses told me was true.

There I saw myself, only younger, rooted petrified to my spot as I watched my mother and my brother being stranded in the avid flames of fire. The smoke was being carried to the left by the wind, and it was raining down dirty ash like black-snow.

I watched myself watching them helplessly being devoured by that cursed inferno once again. My mother's body was wrapped tightly over the tiny body of my little brother, shielding him from the hot flames of fire as she cried and screamed for help. But there was no one there to hear her pleas as the flames scorched her skin and singed the surrounding vicinity. I could once again feel my heart pounding so hard that I felt it would lurch right out of my chest, my cheeks were wet and my body was bathed in cold sweat. I wanted to rush to them, but I soon realized that I was solidified to my place, unable to move even a single muscle. All I could do, was watched the wretched scene replay itself in front of me in absolute helplessness.

I watched myself yelling and shouting for help but in this big lavish golden palace which was usually filled with people from top to bottom, there was not a soul in sight as my younger self's desperate eyes scanned left and right for signs of someone to beg for help.

And then, just like I remembered, I saw myself jump into the angry flames to save them, my voice sounded like words formed of smoke, my lungs seemed to have been charred, but I didn't care. I plunged into the fire like my life depended on it while my mother's pitiful shrieks got even more despairing as she cried for me to stay away. But I was a deaf man at this very moment. My feet stepped forward onto the red-hot charcoals of the once glamourous Peony palace, sweltering my skin into fiery burns. But I cared not what forewent for me to save my only kin.

"Mother! Give me your hand. MOTHER." I could see that half of her was already a blistering sear, her once beautiful appearance was now a scalded blotch, but I didn't care at all. As long as she lived, all could be salvaged.

My mother weakly handed over my unconscious brother to me, saying, "Go. Save your brother. He's too young to understand this world. Shield him until he is able to stand on his own and make him someone worthy of love and respect."

"MOTHER NO! NOO!" I cried in mere desperation; a kind of despair that strangled me alive. "NO! I WON'T LEAVE WITHOUT YOU."

"My boy, mother is so proud of you. I know you will be a great man one day; may the wind be on your back; As you stand in the light, may Love burn your soul bright. May you be ever more brave, for know that those you love don't go away, they walk beside you every day." And I watched her push me away, letting those abominable flames devour her whole in the very next second.

I was awake in my bed, my eyes, wide-opened. My brain, feeling as though it was shot through, and coughing from the tail end of a cold. My heart was still pounding against my chest and the sheets were twisted around my limbs. My back hurt right from the base of my spine to the tail bone. It was the most intense nightmare I've had in a long while, and I was never more glad to see the light of the day.

I sat up on my bed, wheezing for air. Cold sweat was drenching my body all over, and I moved my hand over my already messy hair, ruffling them back and forth in utter frustration. But I had not even taken a sigh of relief when Gilbert burst open my bedroom door and rushed into the room in a turmoil.

"What is the matter Gilbert? Don't you know I was resting? Even though we are undercover, I'm still your King. I would appreciate it if you maintained some discretion and knocked before you enter my personal chamber." I complained with irritation laced in my raspy morning voice. It is not that I was opposed to Gilbert coming into my room unannounced, but I was in a rather foul mood after the dream... No, the nightmare I had, so unconsciously so, I took it out on him.

"Apologies Sire, but something grave happened in the Palace yesterday. So I couldn't restrain my discourteous actions." Gilbert mouthed in hysteria, looking beyond anxious.

Gilbert's agitated actions got me unexpectedly nervous as well. I don't know why, I was once more reminded of the maniacal nightmare I'd just had.

"...What happened?" I asked in a tone of unease.

"Yesterday, in the dead of the night, a fire broke out in the Eastern palace where Her Highness and the prince were currently dwelling." Gilbert said in a grave tone.

"WHAT!" I almost lost my cool right then.

I wondered if that was why I had such a violent nightmare this morning. Lexter had a phobia of fire, and Lizzy was but just a frail lady. All kinds of dreadful thoughts hounded me as I felt a kind of bone-chilling cold wrapping itself around me and I was barely holding myself from shuddering in a frenzy under its assault.

"Your Majesty, My king! Please calm down." Gilbert's voice came to me in an anxious fit, as if sensing my oncoming outburst, "The Prince and Her Highness are alright. They just suffered some minor burns, but otherwise, they have survived the most critical point."

I hadn't known I was not breathing until I heard his words. I slumped back down onto my bed with a sigh of relief and tried to restore my calm as I spoke, "Find out everything about this incident. Don't let a single clue be overlooked. Someone dared to set fire to my Eastern Palace? Now he should be prepared to pay the consequent price for his treacherous actions."

There was a cruel flash in my eyes; rigid, cold and hard. An untold storm that was itching to wreak havoc if set free. Since they were not afraid of the foreboding pandemonium that would ensue and not even leave a shred of their miserable little lives, I didn't feel inclined to show mercy to them and decided to bring upon their much-awaited demise.