She cried herself to sleep. The next thing she remembered was hearing someone’s voice which was shouting in pain. She gasped and woke up , to her surprise she noticed that she was lying on a bed . she was unable to open her eyes due to the bright moonlight that shown through the large balcony of the room , At an instant she knew that she wasn’t at her grannies place. She was still able to hear the voice. At that very instance what she wanted to do was to go look at for the person who was shouting in pain. She ran out of the room, she turned towards her left and noticed a large hall way with rooms side to side on both the sides. There were lamps hung up near each room’s entrances. She heard the noise from the room right next to her. She ran towards the room and peeped into it. There was an old lady on the floor chocking with her hands on her throat. Astrid ran towards her, the room was quiet dark with a lamp at the corner of the room.

 When she reached the old lady, she slowly said “ ..wa..ter...” in a quavering voice . Astrid noticed that the old ladies hand was pointing towards the water jug. She quickly ran towards it and helped her drink the water from it. 

Astrid thought to herself “ why am I helping her? Is she the one who kidnapped me? What should I do now?”. While she was thinking these things she heard footsteps coming towards the room. The foot steps noise was heard louder and louder as they reached the room. There were two guards at the front who immediately stood outside the door entrance. Then later two guards came in stood sideways staring face to face.

 Then came in a tall blond guy in his late 50’s followed by a blond lady in her late 40’s. As soon as the entered the room both the man and the lady ran towards the old lady and helped her to sit up. The man looked at the soldiers and asked them to bring the light. He took it and came near the lady to check if she had any wounds . Astrid stood there not knowing what to do but as soon as she saw the old ladies face she froze. The man moved the light towards Astrid and asked “ Who are you?” but she was unable to take her eyes of the old lady .

 Her hands started to shiver, she was very confused . She thought this was a dream but she could feel sweat dripping from her forehead to her cheek. Suddenly she heard a trembling voice, “ Dion, she has come for Preston”.

“ Preston? Why?” asked the man.

“Well he wanted to see her regarding the black bridge” said the old lady.

“ How can she help him with that mother? She looks very young to do it. You need to talk to him about this. He only listen’s to you”. Said the man.

Astrid stood there not knowing what to do, her head ached a lot. She thought of running away but noticed guards near the door with swords. But a part of her wanted to talk with the old lady.

“How could she look just like my grandmother? Am I having some delusions? But this feels so real” thought Astrid to herself.

Later that man turned towards her, “Tomorrow bring her to the court room” said the man and walked out of the room.

Astrid heavily breathed and at an instance turned to look at the old lady, but she wasn’t there. Then suddenly she turned to look and noted that she was going to the dark corner of the room. She turned to look at Astrid and said “Follow me” with a smile.

Astrid was already afraid but looking at the old lady’s smile reminded her of her grandmother which gave her a little comfort, she followed the old lady.

Inside the room there was a pitch dark corner, the old lady went near it and moved a block on the wall, then suddenly the ground opened and appeared a staircase which led them down. She followed the old lady down, there was a door at the end of the stairs and the whole place was very dark.

The old lady opened the door then suddenly the moonlight flooded the dark room. They walked outside. The view outside turned on a big smile on Astrid’s face. The huge trees, the beautiful flowers, the air that blew which had a sweet smell and the mild sound of the cricket made her very happy. Well more than that the old lady standing besides her looking just like her grandmother made her even more happier because it bought out her best memories with her grandmother. Astrid suddenly came to reality and started asking every questions that has been going on in her mind to that old lady.

 The old lady showed the same warm smile and in her sweet voice she said “ Sorry dear, I cannot answer these questions but my grandson will!”. Astrid was quiet astonished because the old lady had the same blue eyes as her grandmother, the same voice, smile.

Suddenly they heard something jump from the tree in front of them. She was not able to see because the dark shadow of the tree fell upon it . Well she saw a pair of green eyes looking at them. It looked like a beast, it started walking towards them.

 Before it was about to come into the light out from the shadow a tall guy with an orange hair and a sexy smirk came towards them. He walked towards them with his hands inside his pockets. His eyes locked into hers, he came near them and stood near the old lady. The smirk vanished but instead a serious face was put on. Astrid expected him to react in a surprised way but he looked at her with not even a little reaction on his face.

“Dear, this is my grandson Preston Lee Xyaire”. Astrid then asked “ granny is he the guy who can answer my questions?”.

 Suddenly Preston came front “ Astrid I think you should call her madam Serine because calling the kings mother granny will not be well welcomed here” said Preston with a wide smile and his head tilted side way.

“ Okay he is cute but what is he even thinking? You think I care if she is the mother of the king ? bakka!” thought Astrid to herself but she had a cute smile on her face and replied.

“ Then you must be the prince am I right?”.

Suddenly his face turned angry he quickly walked near her but suddenly wrapped his hands around her shoulder and said “ naah, you can call me Preston or maybe lee ” said Preston with a laugh. Then quickly he removed his hands, he then bends to Astrid

“ You don’t need to be afraid. You are going be here for a while. So please feel free to talk to me. I will guide you through everything okay?” said Preston with a sweet smile.

Astrid looked at him , she slowly inhaled the fresh cool air.

Then all of a sudden “ Are you kidding me? Why am I going to be here for a while ? I need to go, my parents are going to search for me!!” shouted Astrid in a high pitched voice.

Preston chucked a bit. “ I a sorry Astrid but my grandmother told my father that you had come here to spy for me. Well you can not leave now. You understand ? just wait for a few days I will tell him that I had sent you for spying and you can leave.

“What if he asks for me later” asked Astrid with a angry face.

I’ll tell him you died” said Preston with a serious look.

“ okay.. but how do you know all theses stuff ? you weren’t there in the room then” Asked Astrid in a sarcastic tone.

Preston cutely smiled and looked at the tree from which he came down.

 “ I saw you from there “ said Preston pointing to the huge tree.

“Wait.. how did you climb this tree?” and before she could ask Preston another question, Suddenly the old lady held her hands. Her eyes were filled with tear. She slowly whispered “ I have been standing here and yawning for the past 20 minutes. Can I go to sleep now?”.

Astrid thought to herself “ she may look like my granny but she is nothing like her. Stupid hag...”

Preston held Astrid’s wrist . “ okay madam Serine, please do rest yourself. I will take care of the rest” said Preston as he quickly bowed as lady Serine left.

“ Astrid are you ready? We are going to go the forest learwood be careful and never utter anything until I say so, okay?” asked Preston.

“ but why should I come with you…?” asked Astrid in a confused way.

“ Well since Sir Dion said that he wand to meet you tomorrow right. Since you are introduced to him as a spy he might ask you few questions. Since you are a young girl I don’t think he might expect much from you but I don’t want you to look like a complete fool in front of him. So I will teach you few stuff . Listen carefully to what I say okay?” said Preston as he started walking towards the forest.

“ okay..” replied Astrid.

“ I really don’t know what shit is happening around me….what are my parents going to think when they don’t find me at home? I don’t know what I am spying for, who is this guy? He already knows my name? the old lady was just like my grandmother ..but how? . I think I am in a big trouble” Astrid thought to herself as she followed him.

Name:Preston Lee Xyaire

Born: 25th October, 1996

Zodiac: Scorpio

Height: 6ft 3

Nationality: American-Chinese

favourite food: Meat

The above image is a creation of mine. Please do not copy.