Chapter 4

Asleep



  She sat up, confused, and looked around the room. Why was she not at the palace? And why was she wearing different clothes than she had on when she fell asleep?

Where was Daniel?

  She immediately jumped out of bed at the thought of him, got dressed, and ran towards the palace. She received stares from other people in town at her panicked state, but she ignored them.

  She stood in front of the gate now, ordering the two guards to let her in. But they wouldn’t let her.

 “Listen, I don’t understand what games you guys think you’re playing, but I will have you two punished if you don’t let me in and see Daniel right now.”

 “The prince is having his breakfast, Miss. We suggest you leave before we call the cops on you.”

 “What? I—I’m married to him! Call him over right now. You guys should be obeying me!”

  The banter between her and the guards continued when she saw Daniel walking down the steps of the Palace entrance. She smiled at him.

  He’s okay.

  She’d feared Atlas had done something to him. Was the wax doll made just to scare her off?

  He had a frown on his face as he walked over to them. He sent Eloise a quick nod before speaking to his guards.

 “Is everything alright here?” he asked. 

 “Yes, sir. This crazy woman just seems to want to talk to you. But we’ll get rid of her,” one of the guards said, stepping towards her. 

  Eloise glanced over at Daniel in panic and confusion.

 “Wait,” Daniel spoke. “I know her, let her in.”

  She sighed as the gate opened and immediately ran up to Daniel, throwing her arms around him.

 “I’m so glad you’re okay,” she whispered.

  To her shock, he shoved her off, not even a second later. 

 “Eloise, this behaviour is extremely inappropriate. What do you think you’re doing?” he asked, brushing his jacket off with disgust all over his face.

 “I—I don’t get it. What's wrong?” she asked, confused and hurt out of her guts.

 “Listen, I know we’re friends, but you shouldn’t touch a prince like that. Are you out of your mind? I’m getting married in a few days, for god's sake.”


  What?


 “But—But you’re married to me. Don’t you remember? We got married yesterday.”

 “Eloise, this is getting ridiculous, and I suggest you leave. And for your information, we are not married—”

He bent down and held his stomach abruptly, grunting and screaming out. My hands reached forward quickly. “What— What’s going on?”

“Aah—It’s burning—”

  Her eyebrows twisted in a knot as she realised. The burning wax doll.


  Atlas. He’s behind all of this.


  She never got married to Daniel, because Atlas never allowed her to wake up.

  None of it was real.

  She’d been dreaming all along.