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Poppy
Poppy was falling.
For several minutes she had been falling through worlds, traveling at high speed, not understanding how it happened.
Walking through the bloody forest, Poppy tried to find a way out of this endless mysterious place, but for a long time her search ended with her going deeper into the forest.
Rustling.
Another rustle.
Poppy stopped, listening to the sounds around her. It was getting dark and the sun had almost set, allowing the beautiful moon to light her way.
She loved the night, because it was the only part of the day when she could be herself and enjoy life like the rest of the people of Massadonia, but now the thought of being alone in a city that even the most skilled soldiers feared, only gave her a shiver. A few seconds later, the sounds grew louder, as if someone was approaching her.
Poppy pulled out her dagger, looking around for the threat. And then she saw them.
A huge group of cravens running right at her. Seeing their numbers, she realized that trying to fight them was a crazy idea, so she chose the only option she had - to run.
Poppy ran as fast as she could, trying not to look back to see these poor crippled souls trying to catch her and kill her. When she realized that her breathing was failing her and she was no longer running as fast, she was really scared.
"This was a bad idea," Poppy thought. She had finally decided to choose something for herself, to make that choice and escape from the cruel hands of the Duke and Duchess who had made her life a living hell. But this is how it all ended, in a few seconds these creatures will catch up with her and tear her apart like a piece of meat. It was over.
Penellaphe was ready to stop and at least try to fight for her life, but then she saw a glow beckoning her. It looked like a portal, shining with white light like the moonlight.
Once upon a time, Ian, her brother, had read stories about portals like this, but she had never believed that such things could exist in the real world. Realizing that she has no choice but to jump into this mystical place, she does so and falls.
Her cloak, which she stole from one of the maids, Britta, is now billowing due to the strong wind blowing at her back as she falls. Poppy is still clutching her dagger, which Victor gave her. Victor. How is he? When Duke Teerman finds out that she ran away from under his nose, he will be very angry, and he will probably punish Victor for it. Now she realizes that this is a huge mistake, she shouldn't have run away. Now everyone she loves will suffer because of it, and it's her fault.
Sadness became a lump in her throat, and tears were already accumulating in her eyes, ready to spill over at any moment.
"I'm going to die an idiot," Poppy thought. And then finally her buttocks touched the ground, of course it wasn't a very pleasant contact and she would probably have a big bruise on her ass, but she was glad that at least she wasn't going down some strange desk that appeared out of nowhere. Getting to her feet, she looked around, surrounded by a forest, not like the Blood Forest, but still very beautiful and peaceful. The dark branches of the trees covered the sky, but the full moon seemed to illuminate the place.
"Where am I?" Poppy asked herself. She had no idea where she was and how to get out of here. From these thoughts and the feeling of helplessness and fear, tears flowed down her cheeks, blurring her vision. But she was distracted from her crying again by a noise nearby.
"Is it the cravens again?" Poppy thought. But whoever was standing in front of her could not possibly be the creature she had been running from a few minutes ago. It was a man standing in front of her.
A handsome man.
He was tall, his black hair almost blue under the moonlight, his black shirt and pants made his figure even more mysterious.
"Who are you?" asked a deep male voice. Poppy looked up at his face. She had never seen such a color of eyes in her life. They were purple.
"Are you mute or something?" he looked angry, or maybe tired?
"Where am I?" remembering her recent tears, she began to wipe her eyes with her hands, although she realized that she looked very funny. She hadn't had time to find a proper pair of pants and shirt when she ran downstairs, because the women in Massadonia wore nothing but puffy dresses, at least the ones she had seen in the Duke's house, so she had to wear the only non-white dress she had. The dark red color accentuated her wine-colored hair, and perhaps if she hadn't been so crying and disheveled, she would have said she looked beautiful.
"You are in Velaris. In my Court. I ask you again, who are you?" His gaze slid over her with a curious look. With his hands in his pants pockets, he towered over her. The way he stood already showed that he was the Ruler here.
"I am Penellaphe. Penellaphe Balfour." her voice broke treacherously, indicating the predicament she was in.
"My name is Rhysand."
Rhysand
Sitting in his office, a glass of whiskey in his hand, he gazed at the night sky and the moon, which shone brighter than the sun.
He hadn't slept again.
He just couldn't.
Each time he woke up from nightmares, remembering the bodies of his mother and sister, whom he had not been able to save. These events haunted him, not allowing him to live in peace. Not much time had passed since their deaths.
Only one year.
And for beings like him, one year was nothing. He became the High Lord of the Night Court after his father's death. Many people in his position would have been happy to finally take the highest status, to become the High Lord, but not Rhys, not for these circumstances.
Once again, he was immersed in thoughts that caused pain in his chest, forgetting everything that was happening around him, until a strange feeling brought him out of his thoughts. It felt as if something was wrong, as if his Court was in danger. Opening his senses, he felt a kind of attraction to one of the forests surrounding the city, and without thinking for a second he moved there.
Standing in the dark forest, Rhys saw a young woman standing in front of him. As she turned to face him, he noticed rivulets of tears running down her cheeks.
The girl was crying.
Without understanding why, Rhys had the urge to kill the person who made her cry.
"Who are you?" he said, thinking that this was a Fae from the Day Court, who had crossed the border to escape from someone. If that were the case, he would have helped her and provided her with everything she needed. But the woman did not answer, only looked at him as if he were a statue. It was beginning to annoy him.
"Are you mute or something?" She looked at me with her beautiful eyes, and I already regretted asking her so rudely.
"Where am I?" came the woman’s voice.
Oh, she's talking.
"You are in Velaris. In my court. I'm asking you again, who are you?" Rhysand tried to look into her beautiful bright green eyes, but he couldn't help but look down at the lovely dress that fit her perfectly. He was surprised to see the curves, because most women in Velaris preferred thinness, thinking it made them more attractive. And that was a complete foolishness, because this woman was gorgeous. Her hair color reminded him of Vanserra’s family, but it was more red than ginger.
Could she have escaped from the Court of Autumn? The thought crossed his mind, but that would have been very risky of her, because as he knew, escaping from that Court was almost impossible, especially for such a fragile woman.
"I am Penellaphe. Penellaphe Balfour." Penellaphe said. Her voice was a sin, so velvety and yet so strong.
"My name is Rhysand." he said and smiled.