I STOLE HER IDENTITY

- MARILIA –

“She is getting away!!” Someone yelled from behind me. I sprint faster, clawing through the thick bushes, ignoring the branches that scratched me. They were right behind, I could smell them. My heart pounded against my chest as I fought fear so I could keep a clear head. For a moment, it worked and I noticed something. They were closing in with caution. It was weird; slavers normally hunted down runaways aggressively. Well, it didn't matter, because it was to my advantage.

Day was breaking. I was nearing a crossroad. I left my scent on both roads just as dad taught me, hoping it would throw them off for a while. Then I hid. They slowed at the crossroad and started wondering which way I went. I could hear anger voices but I also heard something else; wheels. It sounded like a carriage and turned and started towards it. The vehicle soon began to come in view. There was a crest on it; the crest of the Lycan kingdom of Blood Moon

I shifted back immediately I was close enough. My legs trembled and I could barely stand. I forced myself into the room and fell to my knees blocking the carriage. The prickly rocks tore my skin. I clenched my jaw and bit back the pain. The guards around the carriage drew out their claws and barred their teeth at me.

‘Please… please…” I panted, pointing desperately behind me. “Help me please. Wolf hunters... I escaped.” 

“Go away. We cannot help you!” A guard yelled at me. 

“Please.” I rubbed my palms together. “Don’t… don't leave me at their mercy. Please save me.” I begged.

“I told you we can’t. Leave you dirty breeder.” The wolf guard growled. He walked angrily to me and grabbed me. He mercilessly dragged me over the rocks and onto the roadside. “Filthy wolf.” He cursed. 

I lay there, gripping my chest. Tears burned my eyes. My frustration spilled over into anger. I jerked myself up and shot him a bloody glare. I opened my mouth to yell back but then, someone cut me short.

“Let her come into the carriage. She is a creature created by the goddess like all of us; we should not be so unkind to her.” 

The guards halted, turning to look at the entrance of the carriage which opened slightly. They bowed and stepped aside. Some of the guards came to me and helped me into the carriage. The vehicle continued on its way, immediately I sat down. I curled up in a corner and stayed there. Silence fell for a while. The whole time, the lady kept staring at me.

“Who are you?” she finally asked.

“A runaway, nothing more.” I replied instantly.

The lady sighed and I heard the sound of something shuffle. “Look at me and tell me to my face who you are.”

I turned. Immediately I saw her face, my eyes widened. She… she was beautiful with long blonde hair rolling down to rest on her fair shoulders. Her eyes were deep blue and yet had a touch of grey. She smiled angelically at me. Her glee enveloping my heart with so much warmth I couldn't speak. But what was really puzzling was that she looked like me, exactly like me.

 “Are you alright?” was the second thing she asked. I nodded.

She took out a white handkerchief and offered it to me to wipe the dirt all over my face.

“You look terrible.” she remarked, humorously.

I tried to smile but failed. “My name… is Marilia.” I muttered. 

“Marilia. I am Marlene, daughter of King Draven and bride of Prince Ryder Klaus." Her voice sunk into a whisper and her smile suddenly vanished.

“Thank you for saving my life.” I handed her handkerchief to her.

She smiled and then curled her eyebrows a little, in curiosity.

“Your face…, without the dirt it looks… it looks like mine.” She leaned over a bit and stared real hard. “No, not a bit but a lot. A girl who looks like me suddenly stumbles into me on the same day I make my first trip back home in 30 yrs, that’s too much of a coincidence.” Her voice grew cold.

My lips parted, to explain but then something else hit me. “Wait… Did you just say she was the bride to Ryder Klaus, Alpha Magnums Lucien Klaus’s second son?”

“Don’t be too surprised.” she said, looking out the window, almost like she read my mind.

“I am returning home to get ready for the wedding.” Her voice had that sad tone again.

“I’ve been roaming the world. Well; those days are over now. I bet they don’t even know what I look like anymore.” I felt pity for her. She looked at me.

“You haven’t answered my question.”

I gulped. ‘What was I going to say?’ Before I could think things through, the carriage suddenly braked hard. She fell forward, handing on me. Howls filled the air outside. We heard her soldiers yelling that she should stay in the carriage. They were under attack. The princess ignored them. She tried to look outside. Immediately, she opened the window, the carriage turned over and started to tumble. We screamed hysterically, trying to get out but before we could, the carriage fell off a cliff. 

The last thing I remember was the inside shattering over rocks the moment it hit ground. I blacked out immediately.

**********

DAYS LATER

“Ahhh!!!!"

My body shot up from the bed. I gasped, gripping my side. . The room spun before my eyes and it worsened the throbbing pain in my head. I winced, holding my head in one place. The ache refused to subside.

“My lady, be careful.” an elderly voice spoke. I felt her hands hold me and a cold towel place itself on my head.

“Hold it, my lady.” She said and I did just that.

“Is it another bad dream again?”

I didn't respond. My head was hurting. I sincerely wished she would stop talking.

“Oh dear moon goddess, please heal my lady, she has suffered enough."

I heaved and shut my eyes. I guess some wishes don't come true.

“Do you need me to brew some pain relievers?” She asked, concerned.

With my eyes half-open, I looked at her. The incandescent lights in the room made it easy to see her. She was a plump she-wolf dressed in servant clothes. They were clean but threadbare. She wore a gloomy look. I searched her face in my head but nothing came up. 

‘I don't know who she is’.

“My lady, talk to me…” she tried to hold my hand, I retracted them immediately.

“Who are you?” 

“My lady?” She gasped in shock. “What do you mean?” She tried to touch me again. I retreated, the towel falling in the bed. My hands went for a hair brush lying on the pillow.

“Stay away from…me.” I thrust the brush at her.

“Lady Marlene, calm down. It’s not gotten to that."

“Who are you?” I asked again, sternly.

“Okay,” she touched her chest. “I am Anastasia, your nanny. You're in your bedroom. Do you remember now?" Her eyes were full of light. It was obvious she was lying which surprised me because none of those names made sense to me. At that moment I felt a sudden urge to look around. My eyes went to the drapes. They were golden yellow and sweeping the polished floor that reflected the queen-size bed I sat on. I caught a glimpse of the giant wardrobe left of my bed, a mirror was standing next to it.

I froze, staring at the reflection before my eyes. The hair brush trembled as I lifted my hands and touched my face. 

“Who did you call me again?”

“Princess Marlene.”

I cupped my mouth. ‘Oh dear goddess, she thinks I’m the princess.”