Chapter 4 Chapter 4.

No... It can't be. He couldn't have broken his seal that quickly.

Panic surged through me. There was no way I could survive the realm's fatal threat all alone, my essence was weak. So I settled for the only survival instinct I had left... Run.

I turned immediately, heading for the door but stopped in my tracks when he spoke.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

My pulse drummed loudly in my ears. This was the only way out. If I perish, I perish.

With everything in me, I bolted out the door, screaming my way down the hallway. "Help! Vaelric is in my room!"

The guards I ran by on my way rushed down to my room while I continued screaming my way to the King's chamber.

I forced the entire palace awake and alert from my screams.

The King met me halfway to his chamber alongside the Queen and a troop of soldiers, their swords already halfway out the sheaths, ready to defend.

"Your Majesty..." I gasped heavily. "Va... Vaelric..." He didn't let me finish, he led the way to my bedroom and I followed them, breathing hard.

As soon as we entered my bedroom, I pointed at Vaelric. "There! He's right there! Cease him!"

Swords left their sheaths, several powerful immortals released their spiritual essence, their eyes swept across the room, looking for heavens know what.

Then one by one... they lowered their weapons. I got confused.

"He's right there!" I pointed out again but they just weren't listening to me.

Finally Aria clapped slowly, very slowly. "Bravo, Allyssa. Bravo. You successfully played a prank on the entire palace."

"What is a prank? Vaelric is right here before us and none of you is making an attempt to cease him," I shot back.

She scoffed. "How can you pull up such a thing with such a straight face? You are talented, Allyssa. Very talented."

"Allyssa, there's no one here asides us. How can you pull such a prank on all of us?" Evander spoke. Aria's older brother.

"Why would I do such a thing? Vaelric is right here, aren't you people seeing him?"

"They can't," Vaelric spoke and my eyes widened. I pointed to him instantly. "He spoke! He just spoke. He's right here. Cease him."

"That's enough, Allyssa." King Orion finally spoke.

I turned to him, "Your Majesty, he's—"

"I said that's enough," he cut me off, his voice harsh.

I knew better than to keep quiet. I couldn't understand what was happening. Vaelric was right there. Why weren't they seeing him?

"I'll turn a blind eye to this. It shouldn't be repeated," he said with finalty in his voice.

Despite the lump in my throat, I forced a response. "Yes, Your Majesty."

With that, he turned and walked out of the room with the guards and soldiers with him along with Evander.

Queen Ana remained along with Argar and of course Aria. She wouldn't leave if Argar was still in here with me.

Queen Ana walked to me and touched my forehead. "Get some rest, Allyssa."

"Your Majesty, I—"

"It's okay, Allyssa," Argar cut me in. "There's nothing for you to worry about," he said with assurance in his voice. "It's just your fear getting the better of you."

"Well in my opinion, she should really see the royal physician tomorrow," Aria slurred.

"Aria!" The Queen scolded and Aria rolled her eyes.

Queen Ana faced me again. "Get some rest, child, and don't worry about anything because there's nothing to worry about, okay?"

I nodded, short of words, my eyes glassy with tears.

With a soft kiss on my cheek, Queen Ana left with Aria and Argar who gave me one last reassuring nod before leaving.

The door clicked shut, leaving me alone with the demon.

I turned to him instantly, anger flaring up in my veins. I grabbed the nearest vase and hurled it at him. It passed straight through his body and shattered against the wall behind him.

My blood ran cold.

The vase... It had passed straight through him. What... was he?

"What... what did you do?" I demanded, confused, and forcing my tears to stay back in.

"Nothing," he replied smoothly like it was the most normal thing to say in this situation.

"Nothing?" I almost laughed. "Nothing? And yet they couldn't see you? Nothing and the vase just..."

"Yes," he answered simply.

I scoffed, my hands in my hair, pulling it up in utter confusion.

Maybe Aria is right. I do really need to see the royal physician.

"I need you to do something for me," he said.

I ignored him, going to my bed. He wasn't real. He's just my hallucination.

I climbed into my bed, and tucked myself in, then shut my eyes tightly.

"Allyssa," that familiar voice from my dreams called.

My eyes flew open to find Vaelric standing in front of me. I paled instantly.

"You're... it was you? You're the one... that voice in my dreams?" I stuttered.

"Now will you listen to me?"

As much as I didn't want to, I sat up. "I'm listening."