Darkness. Endless darkness. No matter what she did, Serenah couldn't see or move. She felt nothing. Smelled nothing. Saw nothing. Heard nothing. Only silence. Even the taste in her mouth was missing. She just wanted to wake up and see the sunlight. The last thing she remembered was the lights of the punishment chamber and the gleeful laughter of Amanah as her sister and father whipped her battered body until she fainted.
She didn't understand why she was being punished so much. Had she not done everything Autem asked of her? Why couldn't he make it stop?
"Why blame me?"
Serenah flinched, winced, and closed her eyes against the sudden bright light. That voice! It was Autem.
"Open your eyes, Chosen One."
Reluctantly, Serenah opened her eyes and gasped. Before her was the forest of High Knob. Only there were blackened and dying trees. In the distance, smoke billowed in the sky. She could hear the cries of warriors battling and the clang of swords clashing.
Her gaze was pulled to the right at the sound of a wolf's howl. She stared as a pack of wolves surged forward like a tidal wave toward the sound of battle. A sense of urgency and unease raced through her. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest. She found herself running after the wolves.
They entered an open meadow in the middle of the dying forest. She spotted her father's troops attacking Cornibus, Succo, and Figura Muta warriors. The wolves that preceded her joined her father's enemies and assaulted many Poten warriors.
Horrified, Serenah watched the intense battle, her eyes scanning the fighters for others she knew. Her breath left her when she saw Romeo, Danny, George, and Liz charging toward the battle.
"No! Run away! This is not your fight!" she screamed at them. Serenah hurried toward them, stumbling as she tried to reach them. She came to a halt when her father and Amanah made a beeline for Romeo and her friends. She watched in horror as her father and sister slashed at Romeo and the others.
The spray of blood from the sword strikes arced through the air and landed on the ground. Their heads left their bodies and rolled across the ground, stopping at Serenah's feet.
A wail of sorrow was ripped from her throat as Serenah sank to her knees in grief. With trembling fingers, she reached out and stroked Romeo's cheek, his eyes wide in shock. She closed his eyes and sobbed her anguish at the death of her one true love.
"Why did you allow this, Autem? Why!" she snarled, chest burning with hatred and sadness.
"I allowed nothing. What you see here is a future result of your choices."
Serenah surged to her feet, glaring at Autem, who had appeared before her, his face expressionless.
"My choices? What the hell do you mean by that? I've done everything you asked. I'm still doing what you've asked of me. How can this be the future?"
"Noblese oblige, Serenah. To those with power comes responsibility. You cannot run from it. You must embrace it."
Enraged, she yelled, "I am not running from it!"
"But you are. You have not told your fated one the truth of who you are, nor about your father's and sister's true faces. You wish to be released from my divine order. I will not allow it. You will fulfill your duty as my Chosen One. If you continue to ignore my will, you will only suffer more pain in the future. You must have faith in my orders."
"You ask too much," she whispered brokenly. "I am out of faith. I just want to have a peaceful life with my fated one. Please, release me."
"If I release you, Romeo will die."
The coldness of his words froze Serenah in place. "What do you mean, he will die if you release me from your will?"
"Whether you like it or not, his fate is linked to yours, as are the fates of all those in your inner circle that you call friends. If you don't go against your father and sister and the darkness that is approaching, death is the only thing that awaits those you truly care about."
"Am I to be nothing more than a harbinger of death, just like I was for my mother?" Serenah murmured, tears dripped down her face, her heart hurting from Autem's words.
"You are a nexus. Your choices will shape the future. Make the right ones," admonished Autem.
Serenah bowed her head in defeat. She was conflicted and lost. Did she dare try to change the possible fate of everyone? Was she really that important? She just didn't know anymore.
"Now, my Chosen One, go back. Obey my will." Autem stepped toward her and flicked her in the forehead.
Serenah yelped, tripped, and fell backwards into darkness.
~***~
Lael resolutely dialed Romeo's number. She wasn't surprised when he answered it on the first ring.
"Sera!"
"No, this isn't Sera. I'm her friend, Lael," Lael told him. She waited as he cursed before speaking again. "I'm calling because I'm out of things to try."
"What do you mean?"
"She's been unconscious for a week now. I'm hoping that if she hears your voice, she'll wake up."
She heard Romeo's hiss of surprise and anger. She waited for him to compose himself and say something.
"Put me on speakerphone."
"Gladly."
Lael pressed the button and placed the phone near Serenah's face. "You can talk now. The phone is beside her."
"Sera, beautiful, I need you to please open your eyes and talk to me. I've been worried sick about you. I need to know that you're alright," Romeo pleaded.
Nothing happened at first, and Lael let out a frustrated sigh. Was this idea doomed to fail?
"Sera, please, my heart aches so much because I miss you. Please say something," begged Romeo.
Lael got ready to turn off the speaker when Serenah's eyes fluttered open for a moment, and tears rolled down her cheek before her eyes closed.
"Romeo, she opened her eyes!" Lael shouted. She brushed away the tears and gently caressed Serenah's cheek.
"Really? She opened them? Why didn't she speak?" he demanded.
"I don't know! I'm just glad she opened her eyes." Lael decided not to tell Romeo about Serenah's tears. "Thank you for speaking to her. Once she wakes up, I'll make sure she calls you."
"Wait," Romeo said, but Lael disconnected the call.
"I'm right here, Milady. I'll keep watch until you're ready to wake up."
Smiling, Lael stroked Serenah's hair and put her phone on silent. She didn't need anyone calling and aggravating her princess.