Mystery behind the ritual bath

Chapter 4

Ellie pov

Come to me. Come to me. Come to me Ellie Bakidoth!

A small voice whispered in the back of my head, that no matter how I tried to force my eyes open, my eyelids felt like lead.

"What's happening?" I murmured inwardly, couldn't help thinking of what was wrong with me.

I feel so tired and drugged. My head feels fuzzy like it's going to fall any moment from now.

I flinched the moment I found myself in a tunnel, and tentacles of panic gripped my shoulders.

A chilling sensation and suspense hung in the air, punctuated by the steady dripping sound of water.

"Hello?" I said, my voice laced with panic. "Is anyone here?" I moved silently, fearful of making a sound, and inclined my ears to catch any noise.

Suddenly, chills seeped into my spine as I felt a dreadful presence behind me. A whisper echoed: "Get the torch! Get the torch!"

A tiny voice whispered, "Look." I spun around but saw no one. "Over here," it said, and I followed the sound. I winced in pain as my legs kicked something hard and sharp.

Hot tears slipped from my eyes down to my feet and something flickered out of the dark, light.

That was a torch. I crouched to pick it up, heaving a sigh of relief.

"Right here. Right here princess!" the voice sounded from an extreme to my left.

There was a small opening.

I approached the wall, torch in hand, and ran my fingers over the stones. "Who are you?" I whispered, but there was silence.

My instincts took over, and I began to remove the stones, revealing a hidden passage. The stones seemed to have been recently displaced as if someone had deliberately concealed the entrance.

The idea of a cave being right there filled my heart. What if there are monsters?

The air became chilling.

My instincts urged me to step into the passage, curiosity getting the better of me.

"I'm waiting... come, Ellie," a voice called from within, sending a shiver down my spine. Hearing my name mentioned sent my heart racing, and fears swirled in my mind.

Swallowing hard, I squeezed into the narrow passage and jumped down to the other side.

The eerie air enveloped me, sending shivers down my spine. One part of me urged retreat, while the other part pushed me to explore.

I walked on, the wind howling around me, threatening to extinguish the torch's flame. I shielded it with my hands, grunting in frustration. As I ventured deeper, the mysterious voice grew fainter.

I arrived at the center of a grand, abandoned podium, this place might have served as a royal gathering place or court but now shrouded in dust and neglect.

A strange sense of deja vu washed over me as if I'd seen this place before, though I knew I hadn't.

The familiarity nagged at me, and suddenly, a memory burst forth, 'the dark tunnel, the whispering voice, the warnings; 'watch out and stay safe princess!' The connection sent shivers down my spine.

The biting cold intensified, and I spun around, to face the most terrifying creature I've ever seen in my life. My screams were trapped in my throat as I flinched. "Welcome, daughter of Mandra, future wife to Prince Abidziek of Anthrika kingdom," it said, its words dripping with an unsettling tone.

I tensed at the monster's words who looked like a feral vampire, but their voice was as smooth as butter.

"Don't eat me please," I begged, my eyes fixed on her razor-sharp talons, bloodshot eyes, and elongated mouth. Her smile was enigmatic, leaving me to wonder if it was a predator's snare or a genuine welcome.

"How do you know my name?" I demanded, my voice trembling with panic. "And who's Mandra?"

"That's just the tip of my talents. Your name is Ellie and your bloodline screams Mandra but let's leave all history aside as I have a purpose of calling you here." I raised a skeptical brow at her.

"Relax. The purpose involves me, you, and   Abidziek which you know as the feral prince. We are all entwined in one way or the other. You need me to survive tomorrow, the prince needs you to survive his feral state and I need the prince to get out of this place where my soul is trapped."

I raised an eyebrow, skeptical of her words. "So, let me get this straight," I said, trying to process the complex web of connections she was spinning. "You're saying we're all linked - you, me, and Prince Abidziek? And I need you to survive, the prince needs me to survive his... feral state, and you need the prince to escape this place where your soul is trapped?" I studied her, searching for any sign of deception.

She laughed. "The food you're going to eat tomorrow, the fragrance, and drinks would make the feral Prince tear you into pieces before you even get near him. You're just a pawn in the game, but if you agree to help me I'll also help you."

I scoffed, bursting into peaks of laughter. "The prince would tear me into pieces?" I laughed so hard. "Cheap tactics!"

There was silence.

"You don't believe me?" the voice asked.

"I met with the prince tonight and he never hurt me.  I had calmed him."

"And what makes you survive that? You think it was you being beautiful? Luck or fate?" Its lovely voice was beginning to sound cold and full of annoyance as it inched closer to me, baring its teeth. "I made you survive this night, but if you aren't going to help me I will definitely withdraw my help and let you suffer the fate of the other girls."

I shouldn't have said this but the words poured out of my mouth. "Make me understand your parables you ugly duckling and stop pouring me saliva!"

A sly smile graced its lips and a smirk. "Vicious rude thing you are, aren't you?"

"You know now? So yeah get straight to the point." There was a hint of command in my tone as I spoke.

"Look to your left wrist there's a yellow bangle and something which I'm not going to reveal to you now."

My gaze flicked to my wrist and I could see the yellow jade.

My heart twitched. This damn thing was playing games on me.

"How did you do this? You might have done it right now." I barked.

But instead of answering me, it said a different thing.

"I was trapped here by someone and drained of my powers. The realm was sealed off. While the person who was supposed to open the realm surfaced, he was made to go feral as a beast. That happens because of me." The figure said in a somber tone. "I'm saddened at the way he kills his people that he loves and cherishes and would've done anything to protect if he were sane."

I listened, but cautious of the being. I don't want to be swayed by her story then I ended up in her tummy.

"Such a sweet lie!" I rolled my eyes at it.

Something inexplicable marred its face. I wouldn't know if it was pissed off by my words.

Then in a sharp tone, it spouts the words. "Tomorrow you'll be seeing the Prince and you'll die. The poison that normally makes the Prince go berserk is in what you bathe in, and eat, and the fragrance you will put on tomorrow. It will make the Prince see you as a threat, and rip you into pieces." My eyes widened. "For you to believe me. Once you leave here, you'll wake up in your room with a petal flower in your grasp. Secondly, the queen would visit and prepare you for the second visit to the prince, and the bangles around your wrist would be ripped off."

"Then you will panic but if you need my help, just rub on your right ears three times and mutter EMi Ki O BERU. OLUWERI JE ME NI PE!"

I didn't see it coming cause I was lost in thought, but immediately after her words, she blew some air in my face.

And I stirred and twitched from my sleep. This time the surroundings were my room and not the cell where the prince was.

I had at least expected to wake up in the feral prince's bed and not here.

The monster's words replayed in my head.  "For you to believe me. Once you leave here, you'll wake up in your room with a petal flower in your grasp."

My gaze drifted to my hands and... my heart fluttered right under my chest.