Chapter 112 - Just A Dream

"This is Emperor Lawrence's first Ball since he became Emperor, it is mandatory that we must attend," Mother said.

"I understand Mother"

"Good," she said as her eyes met Mint, in understanding, he bowed before leaving.

"There is one more thing you know" she began in a more serious tone taking my hand. "Your mourning is over, although you're still a widow, the official had some talks... I should have better explain this later but I know better"

"Mother, what are you saying," I said as a feeling overwhelmed me.

"The Officials have decided, you shall wed Emperor Lawrence, and become his Empress, it is expected that his bloodline should have a pureblood Warlock"

"What?" I yanked my hand away from her hold, frowning deeply. "No Mother I will do no such thing"

"I have no say in this, it is decided" She intoned looking away.

"Of course you do, Mother... You're my guardian in the Empire, they must have asked for permission through you", my eyes widened in realization. "You said yes, didn't you? You agreed to this marriage didn't you"

Her gaze fell for me. "Yes"

I gasped at her answer, how could she?

"It is for your well being, any Mother would agree to this for her child, and you're like my child, and I'm responsible for you... you have no lineage for this family, Sylvia you're only 19 years I'm not about to let you live your remaining life as a widow"

"It's my choice, Mother! I'm still married to Cedric" I said, raising my hand so that she would see the ring. "It has only been six months Mother, my wounds haven't healed and I don't... I don't think I can ever marry anyone"

"Nonsense!" she barked holding my arms. "Do not say such words... I understand you Sylvia, believe me I do, I still cry myself to sleep at night thinking about my boy, I lost his Father and now I lost him. It is so hard that I feel like giving up on everything and life. But I have you Sylvia, you're like my daughter and I want you to move on, WE have to move on, we cannot live in the past forever"

Tears filled my eyes, I moved away from her touch, I shook my head as I ran away. "Sylvia!" her voice calling me but I ran as fast as my feet could carry me, I stumbled to the hall as my heart ached, I do not want any of this, I can't I just can't. I squatted crying silently but my sobs echoed in the hall.

"Lady Sylvia" I heard Beowulf's voice as I raised my head, meeting with the black wolf.

"You said Cedric ended my misfortune, that he sacrificed his soul for it" I said between sobs and cries. "I don't think it ends Beowulf, this is hell for me, without him I cannot find happiness, without him everything has no meaning, I have lost my light" I cried burying my face in my palms as my cries echoed.

☆☆☆

"My lady"

"My lady"

"My lady"

I groaned as my head tussle and turn, there was a voice calling me to be awake but I was too far deep in my sleep and more there was something, in my peripheral vision I saw a great hall, the walls a black color, it looked like a cathedral and gave off an unusual presence.

"My lady"

I did not want to wake up yet there was this strong feeling I felt... to see the end of the dream, my mind traveled there were two enormous statues like guards, both had wings and held spears, they may be stones but it seemed like they were guarding something, what? I have to find out, my vision passed the two statues to a path just right at their center and then I saw something like a coffin? it didn't look much like it, it was heavily well crafted and served as some kind of bed. The stone guards were guarding this? But why and why was it so important? I moved further wanting to see what laid within it.

"Nicklaus" I murmured with wide eyes, his still body laid there inside, there were blue stones that glowed and it covered most of his body, there was something different, it looked like him but there was something different about him, his raven hair was long and spread out, and he looked bigger? I moved back, wait... this was twice bigger even the coffin he laid.

"Who are you?" At the echoing voice I turned to see a beautiful young lady, her beauty was enthralling with no words to describe it. How could someone look this beautiful? Her raven hair long falling to her waist, her skin a pale white like the moonlight making her look like a drizzling beauty that could charm even a woman. Gold dangling earrings graced her ears, she was dressed in a slender red gown that suited her well defined curves I could obviously see, she was heavily endowed, and the dress highlighted her skin even more, a black fur jacket on top that hung loosely at her arms, her gown was sleeves so I could still see her pale skin.

Her yellowish green eyes on me, they seem to glow and it enthralled me, it was like for a moment I was looking at Cedric's eyes, but were a different shade.

She tilts are head to the side. "Are you Yelena?" her voice echoed once more, as her eyes went wide.

"W-What?" I said drawing backwards by instinct.

"How are you alive?" she demands.

"I do not know what you're talking about" I said in a shaky breath, this was all a dream right? Then why, why does it feel so real, I gasped when she grabbed my hand.

"L-Let go of me"

"Et Res Yes Tes"

"W-What are you saying? Let me go!" I yelled.

"I'm coming for you".

My heart momentarily stopped at her words, by fear or panic? Maybe both. I could see how dead serious she was and it scared me to the bones.

"My lady!"

I gasped awake like I was drowning, I took heavy breaths as I looked around, I was back at my chambers so it was just a dream?

"My lady I was worried, I called so many times but you wouldn't wake up," my maid said.

"I-I'm fine" I said not just to her but trying to convince myself that I was, my body was still shuddering, I clenched my sheets tightly to fight the feeling.

"The french designer is here My lady"

"O-Okay" I answered moving my hand but I yelped in pain, my gaze fell on it and my blood ran cold, the exact spot that strange woman held me, the imprint of her hold was there, my eyes shook as it suddenly disappeared. What on earth?

"My lady are you alright?"

I wasn't so sure right now, I gulped.

☆☆☆

My heart was slamming, even I could hear it, I sauntered through the hall, my mind still drifting to the dream I had and how real it felt.

"Mistress"

I jumped turning to Mint who was suddenly beside me. "Are you alright?" he asked, noticing how jumpy I was, I remained silent.

"You didn't disappear from your chambers again"

Yes he was right, I woke up on my bed not the forest this time, I held my head, feeling dizzy. What was happening?

"Mistress," Mint said, holding onto me so that I wouldn't fall.

"I had a dream... it was too real... so real" I said rubbing my wrist. Who was that woman and what does she want with me and more, Cedric I saw Cedric, why?

"Sylvia!"

Mother walked towards us. "There you are, we have been waiting, time to check out your gowns, we can't afford to miss out tomorrow", she paused.

"Are you alright? You look pale" she said worried before looking towards Mint.

"I'm worried too Mrs. Hartford, seems like she had a nightmare"

"Oh dear, it's alright Sylvia, dreams are just dreams" she says cupping my cheeks.

Yes I should believe that, I gulped. It was all a dream, none of it was real... just a dream. I chanted to myself.

☆☆☆

My gaze on the mirror, I was still as Fayette tested the fabric on me, I gazed upon myself in deep thought, every of their discussion I didn't hear a thing, it was all silence for me, as I replayed the dream in my head over and over again. There was this feeling, this pull that kept taking me back to that hall, I kept going back there, and I kept seeing Cedric inside that coffin and that strange woman.

"Tomorrow I want you to look your best Sylvia", I finally heard Mother's voice.

She took my hand, a warm smile against her lips. "I want you to be happy.... all I want is your happiness, Cedric would have want you to be happy too"