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“Cross my heart and hope to die,” I assured her, with a cross over my heart, which assured her that I really meant it. Now that she was smiling, I decided to do whatever she wanted. “Do you want the two of us to read? Or maybe you want to do something else?”
I tried my best to forget the knowledge that had just been revealed to me, but it was difficult. As I sat there, my heart heavy with the knowledge of the imposter who had taken my husband’s place, a vortex of thoughts and emotions swirled within me. I couldn’t help but wonder about the real Adrian, the man I had loved, the father of our daughter, and the person who had been abruptly replaced by this stranger.
Where was he now, and what had become of him? The questions echoed in my mind like a haunting refrain, each one a reminder of the enigma that had infiltrated our lives. Had Adrian been captured or harmed in some way, his identity stolen by this imposter? Or was he trapped in some other realm, unable to return to us? The possibilities were as elusive as the truths that remained hidden.
The weight of responsibility bore down on me, and a sense of determination welled up within. I couldn’t allow this charade to continue, couldn't allow this imposter to remain in our lives. The journey to uncover the truth, to find my real husband, and to protect our family had become an imperative that I could no longer ignore. But I needed help with this one. I couldn’t do this one my own.
For the time being, I had to focus on my daughter. I had to keep her safe. I decided that she would be with someone at all times, with me preferably, but when not, one of our most trusted servants would keep an eye on her always. I couldn’t allow her to be alone with that… thing, whatever it was.
A shudder of fear exploded through my body. Was it really so? Was this doppelganger really everything bad in Adrian? The bad blood, as Father called it? I needed to learn more from Mother’s books, and I wanted to do it immediately, but I had to stay with Cass. She needed me. And I was a mother first, then everything else.
“I want to draw,” Cass’s voice brought me back to the present moment.
“You always want to draw,” I chuckled.
“That is my favorite thing in the whole world!” she exclaimed joyfully.
“Then, drawing it is,” I nodded, taking her by the hand and pulling her off the sofa. “Are we going to your room?”
“Yes,” she confirmed.
A minute later, we were there, kneeling on the floor by an even bigger window, surrounded by millions of crayons, talking about the beautiful landscape that we were about to draw. I was actually more focused on Cass than on my own drawing. Her sweet face was a portrait of concentration. The vibrant colors spilled across her piece of paper, bringing to life the world as she knew it, a world of imagination and innocence. I still remembered that world. I longed to be a part of it, but I knew that was impossible. Now, it was my duty to protect that world, which belonged to my daughter, and I could only do it as an adult, as a mother.
But despite the warmth of our shared moment, my thoughts kept drifting back to my husband, Adrian, and the imposter who had taken his place. The mystery that had consumed our lives weighed heavily on my heart, overshadowing even the simple joy of drawing with Cass.
Cass, sensing my distraction, looked up from her drawing, her eyes filled with curiosity. “Mommy, what's wrong?”
I forced a smile, wanting to shield her from the complexities of the situation. “Oh, nothing, sweetheart. Just thinking about something.”
She returned to her drawing, but I knew that my daughter was perceptive beyond her years. She could sense the unease that lingered in the air, the absence of her father, and the enigma that had disrupted our lives.
As I continued to draw alongside Cass, I resolved to uncover the truth about Adrian, to find him, and to bring him back to our family. The journey would be fraught with challenges and dangers, but I was determined to reunite with the man I loved and to protect our daughter from the shadows that had cast a pall over our world.
Chapter Seventeen
Adrian
The sound of the doors unlocking stirred me from sleep. I sprang to my feet, trying to banish the last remnants of sleep from my mind. I needed a clear head. I waited for the doors to open impatiently.
When they did, I realized it was the same guard. He entered silently, not carrying anything. Instead, he was slowly approaching me, his eyes staring me down. I looked behind him, waiting to see the other guard, but there was none. Our eyes met again, but he quickly shook his head. That was enough of a sign for me to remain quiet.
He mouthed the words outside.
I figured, he was referring to another guard who was waiting outside. We weren’t alone.
“Hands,” he told me roughly.
I did as he bid. He shackled my hands, then I allowed him to lead me towards the door. As I passed through the threshold, I realized I was right. There were two more guards standing there, waiting for us to come out. They circled me, as if I were the most dangerous criminal in all the kingdom and ushered me down the hallway.
I had no idea where we were going. A million possibilities appeared in my mind. Fear gripped me that they might throw me back into the hole. I instantly knew that I would not allow that to happen. I would fight with all the strength that I had left.
We continued walking through the labyrinthine series of passages and corridors. My enigmatic ally was standing to my right. I kept glancing at him occasionally, with the corner of my eye, but his gaze was focused in front of him. I couldn’t ask him anything. Even a low whisper could be easily overheard, echoing in this darkness. I had to wait, although I had a million questions, and from what it seemed, he had some of the answers I was looking for.
I felt as if we had been walking for hours, when finally, we found ourselves stepping out into the open air of the garden, the cool breeze a stark contrast to the dim, oppressive interior of the castle I had been confined to. My eyes were momentarily blinded by the sudden shift from darkness to light. I blinked heavily against the sun’s rays, shielding my eyes from the stark luminosity.
“Move!” One of the guards pushed me, because I stopped, unwilling to keep walking with my eyes closed. I couldn’t tell which guard it was that spoke. Not that it mattered anyway. What mattered was that I had to obey.
As the guards guided me through the garden, I couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of relief. After what felt like an eternity of confinement in darkness, the sensation of sunlight on my skin was a revelation. I blinked against the brilliant rays of the sun, my eyes slowly adjusting to the newfound brightness. The garden stretched out before me in a riot of color and life, a stark contrast to the oppressive gloom of the interior. Vibrant blooms swayed in the gentle breeze, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of flowers and earth.
