David spoke, “we ruled an island nation called Selira. One-night pirates attacked. They burnt everything. They killed everyone. Kat’s last words to me were, ‘grab Sarah and run.’” He sobbed. “That’s what I did. I grabbed you and ran. We hid for days in the damp darkness of a cave. When the tide rolled in I would have to put you on my shoulders to keep you from drowning. We could hear people screaming all around us. We could smell burning flesh. I waited days after the screaming stopped before I brought us from our hiding place. Everything was in rubble. James and his troops were the first friendly face we saw.” He was lost in the past.
She stormed past David. Orion wanted caught her but he knew he didn’t have the strength. It was James that blocked her path. “Let me go,” she half sobbed, half screamed.
“No.”
“I have wanted to tell you all of this. I just didn’t know how.” David snorted. “The reason you don’t have any memories is because I had them erased.”
“What?” She turned around.
“I though it was best for you. I didn’t want you to live the nightmares of the past over. I have tormented enough for the both of us.”
“Erased indeed. Then why am I having nightmares?”
“You mentioned nightmares before, what kind?”
“What kind? Why does it matter what kind? Why do you think I can’t sleep? I see images in my nightmares, images that I don’t understand. Smells, screams, I can feel the darkness.”
“I can only assume it wasn’t a permanent fix.”
“Why?” She sobbed, “why would you do this to me?”
“I love you Sarah, you are all I have left. I did it to protect you. I did it so that someday I could tell you the truth.”
Sarah was shaking. “What about you? What do you have to do with this?” She glared at Orion?
“Nothing, I have only begun to learn about your past.”
“Why?” She snapped.
“Sarah,” David spoke. “The rings have our royal crest on them. After that painting was made, your mother had hers turned into a necklace.”
“My mother.” She looked at James. “Get out of my way.” She screamed at him.
“Please stay.”
“Why?” She sobbed. She turned to David, “I want to rip your heart out.”
“Maybe the nightmares will go away.” Orion suggested, “It’s time to heal Sarah. I always knew something was eating at you. I never knew what.”
“Why do you want me to heal when you want to die?”
He was crushed. She couldn’t have hurt him more if she would have just smacked him. He lowered his head and let her go. She stood there for a moment in shock before running out of the room.
