Chapter 157 - A Shadow Reaching Out
In the evening Anastasia gave the necklace to Jor'gas who was ecstatic. "Do you know this is so precious that it can buy us meals for a year?"
Anastasia felt happy for her. "What time is the wedding? Will we witness it?"
"It will be after the sunset and yes we will get to witness it closely." She said chirpily, and then went on to explain how Seraph sidled with her on the issue that had taken place in the morning.
Anastasia couldn't wait. Though she would have loved to sabotage their wedding, it was too late. If she did that, she knew she wouldn't last even an hour, and at this point of time when she didn't know how to go back, survival was extremely important.
She was surprised that Seraph took her side. He was wiser between the two. However, Anastasia couldn't think of what Etaya's reaction would be after seeing her during the wedding. In those two hours Jor'gas helped her to get dressed. Being the palace maids, they had to wear their uniforms—a black long skirt with a white shirt with black buttons.
The wedding was indeed very private. Only the king and the queen along with a few nobles were there. It was being performed in a temple in the east wing by their priest. Etaya was wearing a gown that was woven from golden thread. She had opened her hair and a gold crown was sitting on her head. She glittered amongst the crowd.
When Anastasia looked at Kar'den, she recalled him immediately for she had seen him during the wedding ball in Vilinski. The demon looked… nefarious. His wife was standing beside him, but he was only looking at Etaya as if he was stunned by her looks. From what Anastasia could feel, Etaya was well aware of it. Her disgust for her aunt multiplied a thousand times more.
Seraph was all eyes for his wife but he did glance towards Anastasia who was standing in the far corner.
The ceremony was conducted and soon the priest asked them to exchange rings. Before doing that, Seraph again looked at Anastasia nonchalantly.
Jor'gas elbowed her and whispered, "Be careful Natsya. He has his eyes on you."
Anastasia felt she could puke. She couldn't feel more disgusting than this. She clutched her medallion and caressed it. She closed her eyes and prayed, 'Find me Ileus. If you can see me, feel me, just come to me.' There was desperation in her plea. She missed him every single minute of the day and she wondered what he might be going through. A shaky breath left her mouth when her body trembled on the inside.
"You are husband and wife," the priest announced.
Anastasia opened her eyes to see that the couple was being showered with pearls and tiny gems as was customary. She couldn't believe that she just witnessed her aunt's wedding with the prince of Zor'gan. What did it mean apart from the fact that Maple and Aed Ruad were half demons? She needed to understand it deeply. Why did Seraph never show up? Why did Etaya never take her babies to meet their father? Did Seraph die or did he just leave Etaya for good? If he was alive, then Anastasia had to find him when she got back… if she got back...
Etaya's gaze fell on Anastasia and her expression became tight. She peeled her gaze away from her and then turned to Seraph who was smiling at her.
Once the wedding ceremony was over, the servants were asked to go to the main dining hall where the feast was supposed to take place. It was almost midnight when the feast was over and Anastasia went back to her room. Jor'gas stayed back because the chief cook had asked her to help him.
"I will take care of your son," Anastasia assured her and left. In the room, she raised her eyebrow in surprise when she saw her son, Sae'ror, still awake. The boy was nearly ten years old and Anastasia had a soft heart for him. The horns on his head were like tiny buds and she would often find herself smiling at them. "Why aren't you sleeping?" she asked as she walked to him and sat on the edge of his mattress.
"Do you know that today I went to the sand dune where I found you?" he said, looking out of the window.
Anastasia frowned. "Why?"
"The sand dune still stands there. Tiny sand dunes shift, but this one hasn't. I am surprised Natsya. Why hasn't it shifted?"
As if jolted, Anastasia's eyes became wide and her skin lined with goose bumps. "Can you take me there?"
"Do you want to go now?"
She nodded. Who knew that the dune would stay there for long? Perhaps this was the key to go back. Seeing his hesitation, she said, "Your mother is very busy. She will come late."
Sae'ror jumped up in excitement. "Then let's go!"
When Anastasia reached there, Sae'ror left her hand. "See? It is still there." His breath was ragged out of thrill.
Cautiously, Anastasia climbed the little dune and clutched her medallion. 'Can you see me, Ileus?' she asked, she prayed, she desperately prayed. 'If you can, please take me back.' She whimpered and then sank on her knees.
"Watch out!" Sae'ror shouted with panic in his voice.
Anastasia spun her towards him but the boy had lunged at her and pushed her down. Several moments later when Anastasia got up, she found him panting with confusion and fear written all over his face. "I— I saw a sha— shadow reaching out for you. It wanted to eat you," he said.
She held his shoulders. Gods, did Ileus really listen to her? Could he feel her? Suddenly she felt angry with the little boy who wanted to save her. She shook him out of frustration. "Did you see the shadow?"
"Yes!" he rasped and freed himself from her tight hold. "It was like a small amount of black smoke that flowed towards you like water, but I was so scared. I thought it would kill you!" The child's eyes were wide with panic.