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Four weeks.

I had four weeks left to find out what happened to Malloreigh, four weeks to change my faith. And most importantly, four weeks to break my curse.

Every day that passed by, was are day gone to waste. There wasn't much I could do here while I was still in the forest. That is why I had to leave it.

Father's request to see me seemed like the best option. Maybe I would find some clues there. It was after all the place where it all began. Who said it couldn't be the place where everything ends, too?

My aunts were hesitant about leaving the forest, they feared that something would happen to me. They always seemed to be worried nowadays.

Aunt Kara wore a constant frown. And even Aunt Melody, who had never gone a day with at least smiling once, hadn't cracked a smile for the past few days. Dark clouds seemed to have overshadowed our minds.

But my aunts weren't the only ones who were worried. Fear had once again found its way into my mind, reflecting in my dreams in the form of Malloreigh. Every night he would haunt me while I was asleep. His dark eyes drilled into my soul, his laughter echoing in my mind.

Sometimes I wondered if maybe there was no reason for his dark heart. What if he really just enjoyed torturing others?

But then a voice in the back of my head would tell me to not lose hope, to hold one to that small piece of light. Sometimes I listened to it and brushed away the dreadful thoughts. But sometimes the voice was too faint and too far away to reach me. Then I would stay up the whole night, wondering about my future, and how much of it was left.

The bottom of my dressed brushed against the grass as I strolled through the forest. I took a deep breath of the fresh air as I tried to remember as much as possible of the place I called home. In only a few hours, we would leave for the kingdom.

I didn't know when and if I would come back. Father requested my immediate presence at his castle. The letter he sent my aunts two weeks ago didn't reason his demand, though. My aunts were hesitant about following his request. But now that I knew about my past, my real past, they had to let me get to know my father.

"Isn't it a beautiful day, Ray?" I sighed as I strolled through the forest. Ray let out a long crow as he swung through the air.

I breathed in the smell of fresh grass, a smile appearing on my face.

Before I knew it, I found myself back at the clearing. Memories of Philip rushed through my mind. I had avoided this place for the past week. I wasn't ready to face Philip after what happened the last time I saw him. I didn't even know if he would be here.

I looked around, it seemed as if no one was here. The feeling of disappointment settled in on me. I didn't know why, thought. Maybe it was because of the fact that I hoped to see him again, even if it was just for one more time before I left for the kingdom.

Taking a deep breath, I swallowed down my disappointment. After all, this was my last day in the forest for a long time, if not forever. I wanted to fill this day with happy memories.

I looked around one more time, my ears awaiting the sound of Doner. But nothing happened.

My mouth formed into a sad smile. Maybe it was for the best, I thought.

I turned around, ready to head back home, when I felt a presence behind me. I looked over my shoulder, expecting an animal. But instead my eyes widened in surprise when they caught the sight of Philip standing on the other side of the clearing, Doner right beside him.

I stood there frozen, not knowing what to do.

We stared at each other for a while, both trying to come up with the right words. Suddenly, his lips stretched into a wide smile, almost making my heart stop.

Before I know what was happening my feet started to move on their own. Philip met me half way and embraced me in a tight hug. We held on to each other, both of us not wanting for the moment to end.

After a while we let go off each other and took a step back. Not knowing what to say I looked down at the ground and bit my lower lip nervously.

"So," he said after a while, breaking the silence. I looked up into his eyes and waited for him to say something. "You remember now, right?"

"Yes," I answered, nodding eagerly before going back to biting my lip.

"What happened while I was gone?" he asked me. He sounded confused and almost sad about what happened.

I let out a deep breath I didn't know that I was holding. I already expected him to ask me that question. "It's a long story," I said after a moment.

"I have got time," he said with a shrug.

"Alright," I said and sat down. Philip didn't hesitate to follow my lead and sat down beside me. Without waiting for another response from him, I started to tell him about everything, well, almost everything. I told him about how I found the knife, how I wanted to return it to him but couldn't, how I woke up, up until to the point where we met again.

I didn't tell him about my aunts being gifted or about the part of me being a cursed princess. Not because I didn't trust him, but because I was afraid of what he might do once he found out about it. I was afraid that he would look at me differently. That he would wear the same look of pity my aunts threw at me when they thought I wouldn't notice it.

A part of me just wanted to hold on to something normal, something that had nothing to do with my other life, the life I knew nothing about. And these hours I had spent with Philip at the clearing, talking about everything and nothing, was that something. Something, that I knew I would treasure in my heart.

"So you're leaving the forest?" Philip asked.

I nodded, sadness suddenly overcoming me. For so long, I had wished to leave the forest. But now that it was finally happening, I felt sad. This was probably the last time that I was going to see Philip, and the thought that I would have to leave soon, didn't make it easier for me to say goodbye.

"But why? I thought your aunts didn't want you to leave."

"Things have changed over the past few weeks. I really wished that I could tell you, but I can't."

I couldn't tell him that I was leaving to go live with my father. I couldn't.

Philip nodded and looked ahead. I let out a deep breath and picked at the grass next to me.

"Will you ever come back?"

I looked up to Philip, who studied me carefully, and shrugged. "I don't know, probably not for a long time."

"So after today, I won't see you again?" he asked, already knowing the answer to his question.

I only shook my head and looked around for Ray. The raven sat on a tree, he looked at me with a crocked head before letting out a craw. Slowly, he spread out his wings and lifted himself up into the air.

Letting out a sigh, I stood up. Philip followed my lead and stood up as well.

"I need to go now; my Aunts are already waiting for me."

"So this is goodbye, then?" Philip looked at me with sad eyes.

I nodded, not knowing what else to say. Silence overcame us as we both stood there not knowing what to say. After a moment of hesitation, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him.

"I wished I wouldn't have to go," I said.

"It's probably the best," he said, holding me close. "Now you will at least get to see the villages and the castle."

"But I won't see you anymore."

Hey guys! I know that it's a really short chapter, but I figured it would be best to end it here. What do you think? Did you like it? I would love to hear your thoughts on the chapter. And if you liked the chapter, make sure to vote! Thank you so much!

Tessa