So... where were we again?
Oh yea, so I got decapitated. As I was losing consciousness while blood pooled around on the floor, time abruptly stopped. Lysander and his cronies were motionlessly in place, and I noticed that pool of blood began receding back into the two parts that were my body and head.
My eyes shot wide open as my line of sight began righting itself, and I felt my head viscerally connect back to my neck, with a pain so sudden and sharp I screamed. Only my neck probably wasn't attached tightly enough to my head, so I was opening my mouth without any sound coming from it. Just a breathless, urgent, yet silent cry that my murderer would never hear. I heard slurping noises as the last little remnants of my blood got sucked back into my body, and then everything was happening in slow motion. Lysander moving backwards, as his actions undid themselves, all while a weird but sharp static filled the air. I watched in horror as my actions, everyone's actions basically got rewinded up until this body, Demetra's body, my body, was about to walk to Lysander with a cup of tea, and that was when I noticed a faint glow on my chest.
When I looked down, I was shocked to see a necklace, the necklace Hakeem gave me on our third anniversary as it glowed golden. Our favorite color. Tears welled up in my eyes as I figured that this was a sign that it isn't over, that he still loves me, because he had sent me with a good luck charm to the beyond.
And if it is glowing, then maybe, just maybe, there was a way for me to get back to him, my home and my love.
There's still time, I thought as I steeled my resolve. I will get back home, and I will find Hakeem and we will be happy because now I truly know that it isn't over yet. We aren't over yet... but first I need to get out of here.
I did my best to remember everything, every little detail of what just happened, and the storyline for the hell I was living in. Who is Demetra, and what was happening at that very moment?
Well, the second part is easy. I am in the scene where Demetra, one of the villains, planned to poison and kill the princess of this story, while trying to take herself out of the suspect list by enticing Lysander, the prince and soon to be King of Resperia. But that all goes to shit because Serafelle's lady-in-waiting, Deardra, noticed that Demetra's lady-in-waiting had done something to the tea and immediately rushes to her side to dispose of it before the princess can drink the full glass. The princess survives, Artemis tattle-tales, and I get my head chopped off.
And it's not like Demetra even liked Lysander, she is just a cold, evil, and calculating individual with a lust for power, and will do anything to get it. Especially since she was supposed to be betrothed to the prince before the protagonist came into the picture.
Plus, Lysander is a little prick until later on in the series anyways. He says that he loves Serafelle, and protects her, a little too much if you ask me, but he definitely doesn't mind when Demetra comes along and seductively "wags her tail" (if you know, you know). He only lashes out after she does something so horrible to Serafelle that he can't even try to deny it. Not to mention that Artemis hates Demetra because she turned his betrothal down to get with Lysander for a shot at the throne. Serafelle is kind, but got caught in the crossfire of two meatheads and a cunning snake, so she occasionally got hurt... a lot.
So, how do I get out of this situation, I thought, but barely had enough time to process it because the rewinds had completely stopped and now time was moving forward. Me with a tray of tea laced with aphrodisiacs, and "my" lady-in-waiting going to deal with the Princess. I walk up to the door of Lysander's office before a guard lets me in, and despite my trying to not continue, I seductively saunter inside.
My body acted as though it was programmed, like this is what it was meant to do, but I know now that no matter what, I can't let it. I have bigger fish to fry.
"What do you want Demetra," Lysander gruffly says as he is looking at paperwork at his desk.
Now, I'm guessing this is where I make my choice, because it wasn't hard to do something a little out of place for Demetra and I flipped him off while still holding the tray.
"My Prince," I start, and almost immediately stop myself. I want my voice back. Not because I hate British accents, not at all (I actually find them very hot), but because I know who I am and that this is a choose your fate type play.
"Demetra," he growled, "don't test my patience by dawdling, speak."
Alright, time to make my move.
"Sir," I start, "I will come clean..." I take a breathe, steadying myself, "There is someone trying to poison the Princess, and you need to stop it before she drinks the tea that was prepared for her."
Now, I know that this sounds stupid, cause why would I make it so obvious that Serafelle is going to die? But I figured, if he is rushing to the princess, that gives me leeway to try reach "my" lady-in-waiting in time and get out of here with her in tow. That way I do not have a death on my conscious other than my own.
"What," he yells, and almost instantly is lurking over me, and I drop the silver tray, tea cup and all. Damn this guy is freakishly tall. No time to dwell though.
"Yes Your Highness, you must go to her immediately. I heard someone talking in the corridor, though I know not who, and they will give her the tea when she and the ladies at court are having their tea party." Hopefully, he doesn't immediately kill me.
"And why, pray tell, are you so invested in making sure that Serafelle is safe? What do you have to gain from her not being harmed," he sensually asked while brushing his fingers up my collarbone to my cheek. I figured Demetra wouldn't let herself be toyed with (I never really got invested in her character), so I casually, but carefully pushed his hand away from my cheek.
"Because I am tired of having to fight for your affection, when you are only bothered to care for your own personal gain and having your member taken care. I am no temptress, I am the daughter of the Duke, and I will no longer be treated like the 'common tramp' you see me as."
His face was a mix of shock and disbelief, then slightly terrifying as his eyes widened and he spoke all too calmly after being called an entitled man child.
"Demetra. Are you alright," he asked, and I knew that this was probably another moment of near-death. Because who would ever tell the Prince no?
Demetra would. I straighten, and decide to look him right in the eyes, defiantly.
"Never better Your Highness. Now are you going to continue to fiddle with me, or are you going to save your beloved?"
He stands there, almost paralyzed that his constant "one-night stand" was denying him his conquest. And I felt it too. This body clearly has a yearning for him, a very primal yearning. Animalistic even.
But I need to get back to Hakeem, and he isn't even my type now that I have actually seen this character face to face, so I force this body to calm itself.
Back to Lysander. He still looked bewildered for about another three seconds before giving me a short nod, and rushing out of the room, almost like a flash before I see him halfway down the hallway.
I walk out of the room to find Demetra's maid, sorry lady-in-waiting, but then remembered that I don't even know the layout of this freaking castle.
"Fuck!"
...
"Oh my god, I can cuss," I exclaimed, before cringing at the accent I somehow forgot I have. Then I decided to rush after Lysander. Because if the Princess is going to get poisoned at her party, Demetra's lady-in-waiting would be there as well.
So I began running after him, before tripping on the hem of this body's dress, and face-planting into the floor.
"You know, they seem so comfortable in the stories," I muttered while I got up, grabbed the front of my dress and began running after Lysander.
He was extremely fast. When I would take three steps, he would take at least fifty almost at the exact same time. I was amazed at this even though I felt like I was forgetting a very important part of this story, but I had no time to dwell as it looked like he was nearing what seemed to be the doors to a very big room. Probably the ballroom. He went inside, and as I neared the doors, I snuck behind the wall and peaked inside. And oh my god, this room was amazing!
From the webcomics that I have read over the years, it seemed not like a ballroom, but a reception room that led into an even bigger bedroom. It had gold accents all over the walls, and exquisite paintings hanging on every one.
Damn, these people are uber wealthy, I thought, and then I saw the princess. And even though I had never really seen a good picture of the protagonist, since the cover mainly had a picture of a man and beast, the details that described Princess Serafelle Caelia couldn't even live up to the real thing.
She literally looked like an angel: long, cascading redish-gold hair, bright blue eyes, a smile that would send anyone crazy, fair, snowy skin, and a laugh that put everyone else to shame. She was indeed the embodiment of "Princess." Everything I was not. I almost felt jealous, before her voice sang out from her beautiful lips.
"Prince Lysander," she said as she and the other ladies around her stood and curtsied, "to what do I owe the pleasure of such an honorable visit?" Damn, she's hot.
Shit, Diana. Get yourselftogether, I thought as I lightly tapped my head. Lysander just nodded for them to sit, and then moved to her side.
I noticed that he moved... gently around her. Like she had never seen the terrifying side of him that I had been witnessing since I got here. He picked up the teapot that was next to her ever so carefully, before taking the top off and giving it a sniff.
"My Prince, is there something wrong," she asked before he put the lid back on and put the teapot back on the table. Then he kneeled at her side and gently, gracefully, took her hand.
"My Lady," he said, and I could see that all of the other ladies in the room stiffened and blushed like little schoolgirls, while this body got extremely agitated. I could feel myself glaring at them. I forced myself to play it cool just in time, because Lysander looked in my direction so quickly, I almost died from a heart attack. He continued with Serafelle.
"May I take a gander at your cup? I was alerted that there might be something wrong with it, and I want to make sure that you are safe and well," he said, almost like a father talking to their child. Now I know why he was so aggressive with me. He probably saw Serafelle as a treasure to care for and nurture, while he got to satisfy himself with me to hold back those urges.
What a fucking prick.
As they were making weird googly eyes at each other, I scanned the room, looking for anyone who seemed... guilty. Each servant girl that I glanced at either looked completely enamored with all the lovey-dovey antics or was looking into the distance in front of them, only snapping out of it when called upon. Then I saw one girl who was thin, dark, and skiddish looking, and she looked completely out of place, and was sweating. Bingo.
I needed to get to her somehow, but because of the still of the room, there would be no way of me sneaking in and out with her in tow without the Prince noticing and killing us both.
"My Prince," Serafelle started, completely knocking me out of thought, "if you believe that my life is in danger, then I entrust your instincts will keep me safe." Lysander nodded, picked up the cup, and put it to his nose. The entire room stood completely still, like everyone simultaneously held their breathe. Then the chaos started.
Lysander, clearly having found something, threw the tea cup to the floor, and shielded Serafelle with his arm as he started shouting to have the guards round up everyone. The ladies began getting to their knees and pleading for mercy, and the maids began bundling up together, almost like shielding each other from doom.
Now, I thought as I rushed inside of the room, making sure to stay low as to not attract any attention admits all the chaos. Then I grabbed the girl I believed to have been working for Demetra, yanking her out of sight, before holding up my finger to my mouth as she looked at me with worry.
I then led her out of the room, thank god there was too much going on for everyone to notice that we left, and then I lead the girl down the corridor. As I looked back at her, every time she would seem more and more.. skeptical. I couldn't blame her though, today has been a lot of firsts for everyone it seems.
"My Lady," she started, "I did everything you asked, and yet I thought that you would be with the Prince. So why was he in the Princess's room? It was almost as if, he knew what to look for. Like someone had told him."
Damn she's good. I had to think of something fast.
"I changed my mind uh-..."
Shit, I don't know her name. She sighed.
"Cypress, My Lady. Like how I mentioned earlier this morning, my name is Cypress," she said with a recognizable sadness, almost looking like Hakeem whenever I chose reading over being ready for date night.
Let's rewind, and come again, I thought as I stopped walking, turned towards her, and grabbed her hands. I needed to remember that even though I want to change the narrative, people aren't going to accept me acting like myself too quickly. I needed to make them believe I am Demetra, and then throw in pieces of myself to make it seem as though Demetra actually had a change of heart. So I got poshy.
"Look Cypress," I started, remembering that I have to sound regal, "I have had a change of heart, and I want to insure that we do not lose our bloody heads, should we get caught. So, I am giving you a chance to run away before the Prince finds out who did this and comes after you and your family." She looked extremely worried, and I felt like it was working.
"What should I do, My Lady," she said with tears brimming on the surface of her eyes.
"Go to my quarters, take any jewels and trinkets you can carry, find your family, and run very far away. Go and start over, but know this... if the Prince is able to find you, he will be the least of your concerns." I glared as I uttered the last words, but I swear I didn't mean it. I wanted to scare her just enough to take me seriously, but I can't deny that I felt like a jerk.
As she began to leave, I remembered that I didn't know my way around this giant castle, so I guess I needed help again.
"Wait," I called, and she stopped.
"Yes, My Lady."
"Where is the exit that the servants use to get out of the castle? A-and where are my quarters," I asked as she tilted her head, looking confused. "I was shoved out of the way of the Prince, and knocked my head, so everything is a little discombobulated."
She walked back, and took my hand as she led me through the hallways into what was probably my room. Or Demetra's room.
It was so beautiful, but obviously had some darker tones to it unlike Serafelle's, like you could tell that the inhabiter was an evil person. I snapped out of my trance, took what looked like a bag, and began filling it up with anything of value.
Once the bag was full, it seemed like Cypress had finished acquiring what she wanted, and got me a cloak, almost like she knew I wanted to flee as well. Then she led me to the servants' corridors, and out a doorway into the most luscious, and magnificent view I had ever seen.
The trees looked majestic, and the ocean view from this hill was to die for. I almost felt bad that I wasn't able to experience this with Hakeem, and then Cypress pulled me away so abruptly, whatever soundtrack was playing in my head seized up like a broken record.
I heard the bells in the castle go off as Cypress helped me onto a horse before getting on one herself, and I followed her out of the castle's bustling courtyard and into the open, majestic and freeing wilderness.
See you never you prick, I thought as I pictured Lysander with his girl, as I rode off behind Cypress, hoping that it was the last time I would ever see them.