Nightfall arrived, and Elena's anxiety grew. She dreaded the darkness, fearing the return of the haunting dream.
At dinner, Queen Sophia asked, "Do you want me to stay with you in your room tonight?"
Elena shook her head. "No, mom, just stay with dad. I'll be fine."
Queen Sophia's expression showed concern. "Are you sure you'll be alright?"
Elena reassured her, "Yes, mom, I'll be fine."
Queen Sophia hesitated but decided to respect Elena's wishes. However, she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease and decided to keep a watchful eye from a distance.
Elena, determined to confront her fears, spotted a maid carrying a tray with empty used plates,cups and knives. She stopped the maid, took a knife,the maid widened her eyes in shock,Elena quickly spoke up, "Don't worry, I'm not going to harm myself. I need it to cut through something."
The maid bowed and left. Elena entered her room, locked the door, and steeled herself for what was to come.
She stood in the middle of her room, knife in hand, and said, "Show yourself! Tell me what you want. Don't hide in the shadows, scaring everyone away."
The room began to chill, and Elena's heart pounded, but she refused to back down. Suddenly, a majestic figure emerged from the darkness.
He was the most beautiful creature Elena had ever laid eyes on. His long hair flowed like silk, and his silver eyes shone like glittering stars. He seemed to float rather than stand.
Elena swallowed hard, her fear momentarily forgotten. The creature, Ramel, smiled, but it was a cold, mirthless smile.
He said, "You asked me to show myself, although this isn't my true form. This is only my human disguise."
Ramel's gaze fell upon the knife in Elena's hand, and he laughed. The knife suddenly left Elena's grasp and landed in Ramel's hand.
He examined the knife, chuckling. "You think you can kill me with this? I doubt it."
Elena found her voice. "What do you want? Why are you tormenting me and my family? Who are you?"
Ramel's smile grew wider. "When you have a visitor, at least offer them a seat."
Elena stood firm. "I won't offer someone who's come to torment me a seat."
Elena felt an unseen force propel her toward Ramel. His grip closed around her neck, his breath whispering against her face. "You want to know who I am?" he whispered, his voice dripping with malevolence.
As Ramel spoke, his transformation began. His teeth elongated, his hair grew longer, and his silver eyes blazed red. Horns sprouted from his forehead, their twisted curves gleaming in the dim light.
Elena's voice was frozen in her throat. She couldn't scream, couldn't shout. Ramel's grip held her captive, his eyes burning with an otherworldly intensity.
Before anyone could comprehend what was happening, Ramel's body began to contort, his human form dissolving into that of a fearsome beast. He released Elena, and she fell to the floor, gasping.
As the beast stood before her, its voice thundered, "This is my true self." The sound was deafening, like two voices speaking in unison. Elena cowered, her heart racing.
Summoning her last shred of courage, she asked, "Who... who are you? What do you want?"
The beast's gaze burned with an inner fire. "Your birth," it growled, "released me. I want to know why." As it spoke, its body began to shift, transforming back into the handsome, yet menacing, human form.
Ramel's eyes blazed with fury. "Your birth set me free. I was bound for centuries, long before your parents were born. But your birth... your birth released me. I want to know why. What significance does your insignificant birth hold?" His voice dripped with malice, his words cutting deep into Elena's soul.
Elena's voice trembled. " I don't know what you're talking about. Don't you think it's just a coincidence?"
Ramel's gaze intensified. "I don't think it's a coincidence," he said, his voice low and menacing.
Just then, Queen Sophia's voice echoed from the doorway, "Elena, are you talking to someone?"
Elena turned back to the door and said, "No, mom, I'm just reading."
Queen Sophia replied, "Well, I think you're reading out loud."
Elena responded, "Alright, mom, I'll try to keep my voice down."
As Queen Sophia left, Elena turned back to Ramel and said, "You claim to be a powerful being, yet you say my birth set you free. Why didn't you come to me when I was a child? Why now?"
Ramel sneered, "I had my reasons.I was watching, waiting for the perfect moment to strike."
Elena stood tall, despite her fear. "Now you're here, claiming my birth released you. What do you want from me? Why don't you go find someone more powerful to tell you what you want to hear?" Elena spoke rudely.
As soon as Elena spoke, she felt an unseen force lift her off the ground, sending her flying across the room. She crashed into the wall with a loud thud, groaning in pain.
Ramel's voice was icy. "When you speak to me, show respect."
"I will be back!!!" With that, Ramel vanished into thin air, leaving Elena shaken and battered.
Elena's body ached all over, but she didn't want to worry her parents unnecessarily. She decided to go to bed, hoping that rest would alleviate her pain. With great effort, she dragged herself to the bed, but lying down felt like resting on a rock. The bed seemed to exacerbate her discomfort.
Despite her best efforts, Elena couldn't sleep throughout the night. Fortunately, when she finally managed to close her eyes, she didn't have the recurring dream that had been haunting her.