{Forgetting Who You Are}
The sun shone into a room. Anastasia slowly opened her eyes. "Where am I?" Anastasia asked. She massaged her head as she walked to the door.
Anastasia went downstairs, people stared at her like she was an intruder. She entered a dining room, where she met people eating breakfast. "Where am I? Who are you?" Anastasia asked.
Everyone looks at Anastasia. "Guinevere? What are you doing here?" Adeline asked. Anastasia stood still processing everything. "When did you get here?" The duchess asked. "I don't know"
Adeline met Anastasia, she held her hand and led her to the table. "Who are you?" Anastasia asked. "I am duchess Esther, what are you doing in my mansion?" The duchess asked.
"I don't know.... I don't even know who I am" Anastasia said. "What?" Adeline asked. "You are joking right?" Adeline asked.
Anastasia sat down with her hands on her head. "What's your name?" The duchess asked. "I don't remember either" Anastasia said. "Your name is Guinevere... You are supposed to be in the castle not here" Adeline said.
"Castle?.... I don't remember.... I... Don't remember my own name" Anastasia said. "Eat something first, then we will discuss more on the issue" The duchess said.
Later in the evening a carriage stopped Infront of the castle, Rose came to greet them. "Aunty, you're here early. I wasn't expecting you till next week" Rose said. The duchess came down together with Adeline.
"Well we had an unexpected turn of events" The duchess said. "I don't follow" Rose replied. "Come on, don't be scared" The duchess said. Anastasia stepped out of the carriage.
"Guinevere!!!" Rose rushed to her and hugged her. Anastasia gently pulled away. "Do I know you?" Anastasia asked. "Yes it's me, Rose" Rose said.
"I don't know you" Anastasia said. "What? What do you mean?" Rose asked. "That's why we are here" The duchess said.
They got to the private study, Azriel was seated with a wine glass in his hand. "Azriel, I need you to look at this" Rose said. "I don't have time for this games. I still need to find Guinevere" Azriel said.
"Hey uncle" Adeline said. Azriel looks at Adeline and the duchess. "What are you all doing here?" Azriel asked. "Well, I found something of yours in my mansion" The duchess dragged Anastasia into the room because she stood outside the door.
"Guinevere?" Azriel stood up, he went to her without hesitation. He took her cheeks, Anastasia stepped back. "Do I know you? Do you know me?"
Azriel froze in shock. "What does she mean?" Azriel asked. "I don't know. She woke up in my house, I don't even know how she got there. But she currently doesn't remember anything at all, not even her name" The duchess said.
"Is this a joke? Guinevere I have been searching everywhere for you... It's been seven days, How can you suddenly not remember who you are?" Azriel asked. "You're scaring me..." Anastasia ran out of the room.
She bumped into someone. "My lady" Hannah said in surprise, she hugged her. Anastasia pushed Hannah.
"I don't know who the hell you are. I don't know where I am or who I am.... Leave me alone" Anastasia said. "What are you talking about? I am your right hand maiden. I am Hannah and you are Ana...."
"Do not allow her to leave the castle" Azriel's voice was loud and firm. Hannah held Anastasia, she tried to break free but she couldn't.
"Let me go... Let go of me... I swear to everything I hold holy if you don't let go of my hands this minute I will fucking end your fucking life" Anastasia said. Azriel made his way to Anastasia.
"Don't come close to me, you perverted psychopath... I swear I will slit your throat right here and now...." Anastasia slapped Azriel on the face the moment he got close.
Everyone gasped in shock and surprise. Azriel grabbed Anastasia by the waist, their faces were just inches away. "You need to rest, let me take you to your room" Azriel said despite the fact that she slapped him Infront of his subjects.
"I go nowhere with you, crazy demon" Anastasia said. Azriel buried his head face on her shoulder. "You need to get some rest, I promise to take you wherever you want to go when you wake up. Just go sleep"
"Okay" Anastasia slowly closed her eyes and collapsed in his arms. Azriel wonders how this girl makes him do things he has never done before.
Luke and Charles met everyone in the study room. "How can she not remember who she is?" Charles asked. "It's common for a dragon to erase the memory of a human so they wouldn't hunt them in the future" Luke said.
"It erased her entire memory" Rose said. "It appears so" Luke said. "How do we get her memories back?" Azriel asked. "I honestly don't know" Luke replied.
"This is all your fault Luke" Azriel said. "Woah, relax Azriel don't get carried away" Rose said. Azriel closed his eyes, he tried to suppress the anger growing inside of him.
"Someone must die for this incompetence" Azriel said. "No, there shall be no blood shed today" The duchess said. Azriel punched Charles. "Fuck, what did you do that for? I wasn't the one who ask you to bring the girls close" Charles said.
Azriel grabbed Luke's collar and threw him out the window. Rose tried to hold him back but he kicked her. "Azriel stop this madness" The duchess said. Azriel flew out the window without another word.
With minutes the castle was filled with dead bodies. Rose, Charles and the duchess tried to stop Azriel from killing Luke but it was pointless.
Azriel held Luke by the neck, Charles used his magic to hit Azriel on the head. Unfortunately that didn't work because Azriel left Luke and went after Charles.
"I have had enough of this nonsense" The duchess said. Big chains came out of her wrist and tied Azriel across his neck, hands, waist and legs.
"You are going to calm down and you are going to keep your emotions in check. Take a look at your castle, look at the damage you have caused. Your wife is fine, she's inside. It's just old memories, create new ones with her. Don't hurt your family, including the poor wizard who was trying to help you and your people. If you want her safe then stop making the tasks difficult for them. Now I am going to release you but if you misbehave then I would leave them on permanently. Remember what happened the last time" The duchess said.
Azriel's eyes came back to normal. "I have hurt her.... She's in pain. Rose check up on her" Azriel said. Rose gave a nod before leaving.
"How are you feeling?" The duchess asked. "Good" Was all Azriel could say. Charles rushed to Luke. "Are you alright?" Charles asked. "No, it feels like my bones were riped apart" Luke said.
"It's a good thing you didn't die. It would be bothersome to get a new royal wizard" Azriel said. "Nice to see you too" Luke said.
Rose entered Anastasia's room. She found her crawled up on the bed, she rushed to her side. "Hey, are you alright?" Rose asked. "Don't touch me... What are these marks? Why do they hurt? What have you done to my body?"
"You need to relax... Your are fine, it's just fever" Rose said. "Don't lie to my face, this has nothing to do with fever. My body looks like the map of the entire continent. What are you hiding from me? Why do I have a feeling you are lying to me?"
Rose took a deep breath. "Guinevere please get some rest. I know you don't remember now but you knew the reason why this happened to you in the past. But she asked everyone to remain silent about it, you said it triggered an old memory" Rose said.
Anastasia sat up straight, she stares at the ground for a while. "I really can't remember who you are, you seem to know me pretty well" Anastasia said. "Yes we are very close"
Anastasia tilts her head, she looks at Rose. "That's not possible, we can't be friends. You are a princess and I'm just a nobody" Anastasia said. Rose smiles at Anastasia.
"You are my friend, regardless of my title. Besides you never had a problem with it before" Rose said. "Perhaps I was so blind to think we could be friends.... Anyway I remember you said your name is Rose right?"
"Yes" Rose replied. "Alright Rose, I hope you can help me remember who I was in the past before all of this" Anastasia said. "I would be honored to help you" Rose said.