Elias stood there frozen, he was not sure if this was the dream or he had woken up from a long nightmare.
She watched him confused and took a step closer. He took a step back, making her confused and frowning. He pinched his arm with force but he felt the pain reminded him it was not a dream.
She smiled again, this time with more softness than he had ever known from her. "You don't have to be alone anymore."
But something twisted in his gut. This wasn't real. She had never looked at him like this. She never would. Her affection had always been a mask for power. He tried to step back, but she didn't let him.
"Let me go!" he warned her with a cold look on his face that stunned her and she let go instinctively.
Elias turned to run away. But he was once again shocked to see the person in front of him.
"Lina?"
"Elias!" His breath hitched as Lina ran toward him from the manor. She was dressed in a beautiful dress and looked more beautiful then he remembered. Her face was glowing with excitement.
"Elias, do you know? Lady Caldria brought me here too! She said I could stay with you since I am your only family! Isn't it great? We can live here together. No more hiding, no more running."
She wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tight. And his knees nearly buckled with the impact.
"Lina, you can not be here." His voice was filled with pain but the young girl did not hear any of it.
"We are safe now, big brother," she said, grinning up at him. "We can be happy."
The roses bloomed brighter and the sky looked clearer. Caldria reached for his arm with open affection. Lina tugged on his shirt with a bright laugh adorning her face; it was like his dream had come true. He watched both of them and his vision slowly started to blur. He tried to remember something, but it was fading away and he could not remember it anymore when they hugged him.
"We will get married soon, Elias. We would live a happy life." Caldrea whispered as she leaned on his shoulders.
His mind screamed that he was forgetting something and he tried to pull away from Lina, but her arms didn't budge. He turned to Caldria, and her eyes were glowing with joy.
Lina still held onto his waist as if she had never known pain. Her eyes sparkled as if the world had never wronged her. She was safe. How could that be wrong?
"Isn't this what you wanted?" Caldria whispered again. "Freedom, and a family with me!"
"But this is not true. It couldn't be true." he freed himself from their grip and took a step back. The guards looked at him in question again but this time he didn't care. His gut feeling was telling him he should run.
But as he ran toward the exit, he found an old man standing there. He smiled looking at Elias. He was the lord of the manor, Lord Chrison, the viscount of the manor. He was Caldria's father and an arrogant noble. But the way he smiled at Elias felt benevolent and kind.
"Elias," the lord greeted him in a deep and kind voice. "I was wrong about you." When Elias did not react to his kind words, the man did not mind it. He took a step closer and patted on his shoulders with a soft smile and his face softened.
"You are not just a servant. You have shown strength, courage and loyalty. I see that now. And if you're willing, I would like you to become part of our family."
The world seemed to pause around Elias as he stared at the man, his vision blurring again and he felt confused, muddleheaded. Part of their family? The voice echoed in his mind and a strange pleasure was felt.
The lord extended a hand. And Caldria and Lina walked closer and stood beside him. Caldrea beamed, her fingers brushing Elias's shoulder as if encouraging him to take that final step.
"You belong here now."
"It's true, Elias!" Lina added quickly. "Everyone is so kind here. They gave me my own room! There's a library, and a swing, and.." she laughed, spinning in a circle. "They said I could study painting. Can you believe that?"
She reached for his hand and tugged it gently.
"Come on. Let's go. They're waiting for us in the dining hall. I made you a drawing. I even saved dessert for you!"
She was beaming with joy. He should be happy for his only sister. But something in him did not let him. He looked at all of them in confusion. This was the life he had always wanted and all his wishes were coming true. Yet he was hesitating. Why? Perhaps, he was only being paranoid. There was nothing to worry about. He should take that hand and follow them.
His fingers twitched. His feet remained rooted to the garden path as Lina and Caldria began walking ahead, laughing, calling for him to follow. But his mind… something was wrong. He closed his eyes, trying to focus. To grasp the thought slipping away from him. There had been something important he was sure he was forgetting.
"Come with us," Caldria called sweetly, holding her hand out. "All the pain can end now."
He shook his head. Pain? Why would there be "No…" he muttered.
Caldria's smile faltered.
"What's wrong, Elias?" she asked, stepping closer. pain if this was real? And suddenly, he remembered.
His gaze shifted back to Lina, whose smile flickered just a little. It looked so perfect that it could not be real at all. She had been suffering for a long time.
"No…" he muttered, taking a step back. Caldria's smile faltered only for a second before shining again but that was enough for him to take another step back.
"What's wrong, Elias?" she asked, stepping closer but he evaded her touch.
"This is not true! Lina is not here."
Lina's face contorted for the briefest moment, but then reset in the most charming smile he had ever seen.
"No, I'm right here. Look," she said, reaching again for him. "It's me."
"You are not her," he whispered, taking a trembling step back. "And this isn't real."
The sky flickered and a distant rumble broke the silence.
"Don't you want to be happy?" Caldria asked again but this time it was shaper and almost desperate. "I am offering all that happiness now. Why are you hesitating Elias?"