Chapter 95 - A Dream Or An Illusion

''I know that,'' Adrian said. 

Esme was stunned. When her Aunt told her about this, she thought no one was aware of it. Her lips thinned, ''What else do you know that I am not aware of?" 

A furrow formed between his brows, ''Esme, I have some news about Arlan.'' 

''You found him? How is he?" 

''He didn't tell you about this?" 

Esme shook her head. ''Aleister is held up by the court matters. I have yet to see him.'' 

''I see.'' 

Esme walked towards him, ''Brother, where is Arlan?" 

''In Nevesray,'' He took in the sight of her shocked face before he continued, ''My men were looking for him there and it seems someone caught sight of him in our kingdom.'' 

''But how? He was here in Visteria then how did he end up going to Nevesray?" 

''You don't have to worry about all of it.'' 

Esme stopped in front of him. She sat beside him before opening her mouth, ''He is our younger brother-'' 

''Esme, you know the truth now. He is not your brother so there is no need for me to pretend anymore. I am not leaving him to die. I will find him and he will be safe in Nevesray so stop worrying about him,'' Adrian pushed himself to his feet while speaking indifferently, ''And once he is found, you will be leaving this place.'' 

Esme quietly glanced at his retreating back as he walked out of her room. 

Sometimes, he did not feel like the brother she grew up with. All this while, he was only pretending to be concerned about Arlan's disappearance? Even if Arlan is his half-brother, he is a young boy. Why must he hate him to this extent? And if she did not bring it up, was he going to pretend forever? 

He knew about Arlan's identity. What more does he know that he will never speak of unless she brings it up? 

'Once he is found, you will be leaving this place.' 

His words continued ringing in her mind and Esme did not know how long it was before she drifted off to her dreamland.

Soon, she found herself surrounded by darkness. It was pitch-black and Esme could barely see anything. This was the place she saw last time where she woke up being suffocated by those creepers which chained her legs to the place. 

But this time, before those creepers could appear, Esme started walking. Although it was dark, she did not stop for a moment until her hand hit something solid. 

Esme pushed the thing and it made a creaking sound and in the next moment, her vision was blocked because of the sudden light that encased the place. 

She covered her face with the back of her hand for a few seconds. When she removed her hand from her face, Esme was greeted by the sight of the vast sea in front of her. The water was sparkling under the moonlight and her eyes shimmered slightly. 

Esme had just taken a few steps towards the sea when she got reminded of what happened the last time. She almost died by drowning. If Aleister did not come, she did not know what would have happened. 

''No, I can't…'' she believed this was just a dream but everything appeared so real to her. 

It was just like how she saw Liz. The woman was holding a silver glass filled with red liquid and she was walking in the direction of Aleister's room. But Adrian did not see anyone. Despite thinking it was real, she came to realize it might have been an illusion. 

Esme took a step back from the sea, followed by another one. But it was as if every time she took a step back, her feet became heavier, her body was turning weak. Her fingers curled into a fist. 

She had felt this before, the slightest desperation to reach out to the ageless sea, to let the sparkling water graze her fingers. She had felt this many times but today the desperation was intense. 

Her body felt dry and her throat was parched. ''Just a little bit…'' her determination wavered slightly and Esme once again walked forward. She continued walking till the waves hit her feet and she stopped when the water reached her waist. 

A soothing sensation shot into her veins and she closed her eyes, tilting her head back as the wind caressed her face, ''Ah…'' a gasp escaped her mouth when she felt a prickling sensation near her ankle. 

The pain soon disappeared but before she could sigh in relief, she felt continuous pain in her legs. Both her legs pressed together and she felt as if her skin was being torn. Her eyes welled up with tears and she bit her bottom lips, her hands moved in the water and all of sudden, she did not feel her legs anymore but she was not drowning. 

Before she could comprehend it, a similar pain shot up near her chest, and Esme winced, her body writhing at the sensation of something being ripped out of her skin. 

And then she saw it…

And then she saw it, what appeared on her skin, it was grey, just like her eyes but it was glazing under the sparkling moonlight. And followed by the appearance of one, more of them appeared. 

''Ahh…'' A scream escaped from her mouth as her chest rippled with pain, a tear rolled down from the corner of her eyes, turning into a pearl as it dropped inside the sea. 

Esme opened her eyes and looked at the thing that appeared on her upper body. 

Scales…

These were scales…

So shiny that it blinded one's vision under the moonlight. 

So sharp that it cut off her gown to shreds, revealing her waist. The scales only covered her breasts. 

She hugged her body to cover herself instinctively but those scales did not cut her skin. 

As the dull ache near her waist faded, Esme slowly moved her palm down to her waist and she could feel the texture on her fingers. 

...

A/N: I am planning to change the cover and title of this book in some time. Just letting you all know so you are not confused about it. 

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