Chapter Five

I couldn’t stop my hands from shaking as I sat with my body pressed against the door of the car, the king man was sat a short distance away from me but just from the manner he was sat, I could see he wanted to get closer to me. My heart was pounding in my chest as the worried thoughts of what may lay ahead for me consume my mind, how on earth have I landed myself in this situation?

I try to avoid looking at the man at all costs, I was worried if I stare at him for too long he would lash out like Patrick does. But the times he would turn to look at me, he would either smile or send me a look of sadness. I could sense that he wanted to speak but also knew, I wouldn’t reply.

I turn my full attention to the window watching the whole world pass us by, I’m seeing more of the world than I did before I was locked away for all of those years. We were quite far away from the village, back in his speech he told the town that his kingdom isn’t far from the village. But from this car ride alone, it seems like it’s further than he made out. The trees start to thin out and what seems to be a mountain road fills my view, but as we start to ascend upwards I spot the most breathtakingly beautiful castle I have ever seen in all my life.

There was one long road that led up to huge gates at the front, the road that we were driving along. Why is this man taking me to his castle? I know he said that he was a King and everyone addressed him as such, but why would he want anything to do with little old me?

During my mini questions to myself, the car reaches the gates which are soon opened and we drive straight through. The view from inside the gates was also so beautiful, the road carried on to the very front steps of the castle where a huge fountain made up a sort of roundabout like situation. I was mesmerised with the sheer beauty of my surroundings that I hadn’t noticed the car had stopped, I only snapped out of my trance when the kings door is opened for him.

This was when the panic that I had previously felt made a reappearance, I once again move my body so I was as far as I could get away from the door. Once the king was out of the car, he turns around and bends slightly so he could look at me once again.

“I know you must be tremendously terrified and confused, but what I told you back at the village remains true, I will look after you Evermore, I promise. All you have to do right now is trust me, this will all make sense soon.” He says holding out his hand for me to take, where my eyes sort of fixated on it for awhile.

He was correct, I’m terrified on what may lay ahead for me and if this all is some kind of trap. But I know that all my feelings are justified, any sane person put in my situation would think the same thing. But I don’t know why, whenever I look into his eyes, I know keep down in my gut that he will look after me. In some odd way, I feel safe whenever I’m in his presence which is a feeling I don’t think I have ever felt before.

I gulp before slowly reaching out my hand to take his, he doesn’t move an inch to not scare me so I will back into the car door once again. After a few short seconds, my hand was in his where the same sparks as before dance over my skin. He sends me a smile before slowly helping me to get out of the car, where the fresh cold air whips through my hair as I stand up straight.

“Thank you Evermore, now I will show you to a safe bedroom where you can rest after the events that have occurred.” He tells me once I had somewhat adjusted to my surroundings, I look up shyly nodding my head whilst he moves my hand to wrap around his arm.

He sends me a kind smile before we both begin to climb the high steps, the worried feelings that should be pulsing through my body were non-existent. Just as he did back at the village, whenever my hand is placed in his I calm down in some odd way. Before too long, we had reached the top of the steps, where the most elegant looking lobby stood in front of us. As we enter, every person that stood in his presence stopped and bowed at him as we went by.

Just from the way he holds himself and his movements, you can see that he holds great power within him, it sort of radiates out. I gulp once again as we pass many people, all of which bow when we walk past them. The hallways were filled with oil paintings and what looks to be very expensive artefacts, if I lived here I would be worried that I would knock something over. Do you think something like that has happened here before?

After quite a lot of walking, we arrive at a door where two men stood outside. They also bow their heads before opening up the double door, where as we walk into this room, a huge bedroom with a balcony and the biggest bed that I have ever seen stood. Once we were in the room, the door was closed behind us.

“This is where you are going to be staying, somewhere safe where you can sit and relax.” He says breaking the silence as I pull away from him slightly, the beauty of the room around me getting most of my attention. “I know the disgrace of a man back at the village said that you do not speak, I can assure you that while you are here with me, you do not need to be scared and can speak freely whenever you wish.” He says which does make me turn to look at him a little afraid, I haven’t spoken in so many years that I sometimes worry if I’ll ever be able to speak again.

I just look at him scared, there are so many questions that I have but due to me not speaking, I can’t ask any of them. He looks me in the eyes once more, where I think he knew I wouldn’t be uttering a word for awhile. He lets out a sigh walking over to one of the bedside tables, he pulls out a notebook and pen walking back over. I start to worry that he was angry at me for not speaking when he told me to, that I sort of flinch away slightly and put more distance between us.

He stops walking and looks over at me, I could see he was studying what I was going to do next. He slowly walks over to the bed and places the pen and paper down. Before taking steps backwards holding his hands out.

“I am not going to hurt you Evermore, I promise. But I want to be able to communicate with you, until you feel ready to talk with your voice, you can use the notebook and pen to be able to talk.” He says looking down at the notebook in middle of both of us, I have to hand it to him, that was a good idea.

I slowly and very cautiously, take steps towards the bed to retrieve the book and pen. He had put them right in the middle of the bed, my arms were nowhere near as long as his which meant I had to climb on the bed slightly to be able to reach. Once they were both in my possession, I scurry away and stand where I previously was, this time with the notebook and pen in my hands.

“You can ask me anything that you would like, I will attempt to answer every one to the best of my abilities.” He tells me with a smile which only makes me look down at the paper, I nod opening up the first page to the fresh notebook whilst taking the cap off the pen.

I did have to pause for a second to think of what I should ask, yes I had many questions that I wanted to ask but now I was put on the spot, I was kind of hitting a brick wall on what I should ask. I decide to just start with the basic questions, I look away from him for a second and begin to write my question. Once I was done, I turn the book around so he could read.

“What’s your name?” I ask in my neatest hand writing, I actually haven’t wrote with a pen and paper in so long.

“My name is Axel.” He smiles enjoying that I build up enough courage to talk to him, well in my own way anyway.

I start to think of the next question I could ask, I mean I started with the normal basic question, even though I’m pretty sure he had already told the town what his name was. But in my defence, I was attempting to survive Patrick’s death grip on my arm. But I soon think of my next question, which was definitely an important one.

“Why have you taken me here?”

I won’t lie and say this next question was giving me a little anxiety, he’s been so nice to me so far but I was worried this would stop whatever act it was that he has been playing. Once I turn the notebook around, I see him pause for a second to think of his answer, which didn’t make my anxiety any better.

“There are so many things that are going to happen and things that will show themselves to you with time, many things that are much too complicated for me to sit and explain to you in this moment. But with time, you will understand them all when you are ready to do so, but until that happens, you will have to trust me and allow me to look after you.” He says which did make me look a little confused for a second, what sort of things is he talking about? But that wasn’t the only thing that was confusing me.

“Look after me?” I write before quickly turning the notebook around, he reads it where a slight smile fills his lips as he nods his head.

“I will protect you with every ounce of my being, I promise.” He says which once again confuses me, I tilt my head to the side still not really understanding what he was getting out.

This action does cause him to let a little laugh out as he looks over at me, which does make a little smile want to form on my lips at the thought of making him laugh.

“Once again, this is a topic that will make sense to you soon.” He laughs which seems to be his answer for everything, perhaps I need to rephrase the way I’m writing my questions.

“No one has ever looked after me before.”

Once I turn the paper around so he could see, a flash of anger soon takes over his expression which frightens me all over again and I start to take steps away from him. He realises this and takes a deep breath in to calm down, my heart rate not doing the same thing.

“I apologise for reacting in that manner, I just need you to understand that now you are a part of my life, I will protect you always.” He informs me placing his hand on his heart, telling me he swore without actually telling me. “Now I think it is time that I ask you a few questions.” He smiles taking a very small step closer to me, the thought of him asking me questions that I couldn’t answer did scare me, but he did answer my questions so it’s only right that I do the same thing.

“Is your name really Evermore?” He asks also starting the questions off easy, I didn’t have to write anything so I only nod my head confirming that was indeed my name. “That is such a beautiful name.” He tells me with a smile which did make me look down to stop the blush that formed on my cheeks, I also loved my name which was the only thing I could thank my mother for.

“Is that man I spoke to at the village your step father?” He asks which once again I didn’t have to write anything, so I nod my head confirming that Patrick was indeed my step father. “Did he used to abuse you?” He asks the mood changing in the room once he did, I gulp nodding my head confirming his suspicions.

This once again causes his face to flash with anger but he was able to hold it off this time, I take a look down at the floor for a second that question reminding me of memories that I wish would leave my head.

“We do not have to dive into any of that further for the time being, are you getting hungry as I can have some of my cooks prepare some food?” He asks which has to be one of the first times anyone has asked me that question, I was a little apprehensive to answer it. “Okay let me rephrase, when was the last time that you had something to eat?” He asks thinking if he changed the way he asked me, I would be able to answer but I really had to think on this one.

“Around a week ago.” I answer nonchalantly, my body has been used to not having barely any food for weeks on end, I always eat the leftovers from Patrick and the girls.

Once he read my answer, his eyes go wide and he immediately, clenches his fists attempting to remain calm as to not scare me any further.

“That is not acceptable, I will have some cooks prepare you some food to eat immediately. I also want to send a doctor over to do a full check up afterwards, if that is okay with you?” He asks which I will admit, caused fear to creep through my senses again but I soon calm down when I think to ask him the next question.

“Will you be there?” I ask nervously turning the book around, this once again makes him smile at my question.

“I will be right by your side.” He smiles which did calm me down where I nod telling him it will be okay. “I just have some work to do but I will be back before the doctor arrives.” He tells me taking steps towards the door behind him, I smile nodding my head but did feel a little sad that he had to leave.

“Thank you Axel.” I quickly write before he leaves, he opens up the door but shakes his head.

“It is me that needs to thank you, I will be back soon.” He smiles before he walks out of the room, both doors closing behind him.

I turn so I was now facing the balcony, how my life has changed in a matter of a few hours.