Chapter 5: Kiss Beneath the Stars
The air in the palace felt suffocating, thick with unseen stares and whispers. Shapira knew a weight needed to be lifted. William, his gaze softer than usual, looked at her, as if sensing the same restlessness. "Let's go, Shapira," he said. "There's a forest out there, a place where the walls don't have ears."
Shapira looked at him and asked, "Where are we going, William? Is it safe?"
He nodded and answered, "We're going somewhere quiet. A place that always calms me when the pressure in this palace becomes too much." William led the way, gesturing for Shapira to follow. They slipped out through a seldom-used side door, crossing the dark palace garden, now lit only by the stars. Every step they took felt like shedding the chains that bound them. The night air was cool against their skin, a welcome relief. The sound of crickets began to fill the air, far more soothing than the whispers of nobles.
"Is this what you always do?" Shapira asked as they walked deeper into the forest, where the trees towered over them as if in an embrace. "Do you often escape from the palace?"
He stopped, looking up at the dense leaves that veiled the sky, and said, "I used to. Especially after … after Anya." William's voice was much lower now, filled with a tone Shapira recognized as grief.
Shapira looked at him and asked, "You want to talk about her, don't you? Princess Anya?"
William exhaled heavily. "She was a light in my darkness," he continued. "Life felt so full of color when she was with me. Every laugh, every smile … it was like a never-ending melody. Do you know that feeling, Shapira? To feel someone's presence fill every empty space inside you?"
"I … I can imagine," Shapira answered, her voice trembling slightly. Her heart felt heavy, as if she could feel the grief William carried. She looked at him, sensing an invisible thread beginning to weave between them. A new and frightening bond now tied her soul. William was now looking at Shapira, his eyes searching for something, perhaps an unspoken understanding.
They kept walking. The sound of dry leaves under their feet was now the only rhythm in the silent forest. A few moments later, they arrived at the edge of a small, tranquil river. William pointed to a large rock by the water, inviting Shapira to sit. The moon had risen higher, its light reflecting on the river's surface, creating a shimmering silver path.
William sat beside her, their shoulders almost touching. He gazed at the calm river and said, "Anya and I used to come here often. We talked about our dreams, about the future we imagined together. Those dreams now feel… so distant." William's tone now held a deep longing.
Shapira looked at him. "Do you have any regrets?"
He nodded slowly. "I regret that I couldn't protect her." He turned, his gaze on Shapira so intense it was as if he saw both the past and the present in her at once. "That fear … that helplessness … it still haunts me every night. Have you ever felt a fear that great, Shapira? A fear so paralyzing it makes you feel small and meaningless in the face of destiny?"
Shapira stared back at him, a wave of complex emotions stirring within her. "I … I've felt a part of it," she said, her voice faint. William slowly raised his hand, his thumb stroking her cheek. The touch felt like an electric shock, yet it was gentle and warm. William moved closer, his eyes radiating a longing so deep, so pure, that Shapira had never seen in anyone else.
"Shapira," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the rustling leaves and the flowing river. He leaned forward.
Shapira felt his warm breath on her skin. Her heart pounded. She knew what was about to happen, and her body, despite her fear, responded. Her eyes fluttered shut as William's lips met hers. A kiss. Gentle, full of longing, and yet so foreign. Shapira returned it for a moment, feeling a spark ignite inside her. Sweetness, pain, and confusion all mixed into one.
But she pulled away quickly, her breath coming in gasps. Her eyes flew open, staring at a now-surprised William. "I … I can't," she whispered, her voice laced with fear. She stood, backing away from him as if the kiss were a curse. "This is wrong. It's too soon. There's so much … the consequences." Her body trembled, not from the night's chill, but from an emotional turmoil she couldn't comprehend.
William rose, his hand reaching for her, but he didn't dare touch her. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice full of regret. "I … I didn't mean to be so forward. It's just, I couldn't stop myself. Do you feel it too, Shapira? This unbearable longing?" His eyes now held a deep yearning, but also confusion and a hint of pain.
Shapira didn't answer, only shaking her head slowly. She couldn't say what she was feeling. Afraid. Afraid of Anya's shadow, of a destiny that felt so heavy, and of the consequences of the love she felt growing in her heart. She was afraid that William's heart still yearned for Anya. She couldn't be a replacement. She wasn't Anya. She was Shapira.
The next day, the palace felt colder and more hostile than usual. Shapira felt sharp gazes following her down every hall, whispers that stopped the moment she approached. Isabelle, with that sly smirk always on her face, was spreading her poison.
"Did you hear the news?" one servant whispered to another as Shapira passed them. "That the woman from another world … she's seducing Prince William for power? Did you see the way she looks at him, like she wants to devour him?"
Shapira heard the whispers, though she tried to ignore them. Her chest tightened. She kept walking, pretending not to hear. A sharp pain pierced her heart, making her feel isolated. William passed in front of her, his gaze meeting hers. A flash of doubt crossed William's eyes, but he still approached, standing by her side, though he still seemed hesitant.
"Are you all right, Shapira?" William asked, his voice low, almost inaudible. He glanced around, as if sensing the same tension. "I've heard some nasty whispers. They're hurtful, aren't they?"
Shapira looked at him. "I'm isolated here. I'm just a servant. Why do they always look at me like this?" Her tone held a deep anguish. "Do you know what it's like to be shunned, William? To be the target of every baseless slander?"
William stepped closer, his expression sympathetic. "I know what it's like to be a target of criticism, Shapira. But this is different. They're jealous. Can't you see how they look at you? They see something special in you, something they don't have." William sounded hesitant, as if he himself wasn't sure what he was feeling. "Are you sure this is only about slander, Shapira? Or is there something else bothering you?"
Shapira stared at him, her heart racing. William seemed to want to open up, but he was still reluctant. She couldn't bear the weight of this secret any longer. The isolation, the fear, and the whispers from the mirror were forcing her to reveal everything. She knew William might not believe her, but she had to try.
"William," Shapira began, her voice strained, "I have something I have to tell you." She looked around, making sure no one was listening. "Since I arrived in this world, I … I've been having dreams. Not just ordinary dreams." She swallowed, her hands trembling slightly. "I dream that I'm Anya. I see things she experienced. I see her happiness with you in that flower garden. I see her … feeling your love. And then …" Her voice faded to a near whisper. "I see her death."
William stared at Shapira, his eyes wide with shock. "What are you saying? How is that possible?" He stepped closer, his face a mask of profound confusion.
"Isolde's face in my dreams … it's so much like my mother's from my world," Shapira continued, now trembling. "And that song … the same song Anya sang. I've heard it since I was a child. And the whispers from the mirror in my room … it calls me 'Anya.' I'm scared, William. I'm scared that I … I am her." Tears began to stream down Shapira's cheeks, revealing her deepest fear. She was afraid that she was Anya's reincarnation, and that Anya's fate would become her own. She was afraid that William's love for Anya would always haunt her, and that she was just a cursed shadow.
William looked at Shapira, the doubt gone from his eyes, replaced by a deep understanding. He raised his hand, gently stroking her cheek. "Shapira," he said, his voice so soft, so reassuring, it made her heart melt. "Listen to me carefully. You are not Anya." He looked into her eyes, trying to convince her. "The dreams, maybe they're residual memories, or even magic connecting you to the past. But that doesn't change who you are now."
William pulled Shapira into his arms, holding her tight. "I love you, Shapira," he whispered, his voice filled with pure sincerity. "I love you for who you are. I love your courage, your kindness, your intelligence. I love every part of the Shapira who is here, with me, right now." His embrace felt so strong, so protective, making Shapira feel safe for the first time since she arrived in this world. Her tears flowed harder, but now they were tears of relief and emotion.
"Are you sure?" Shapira asked, her voice choked with emotion. "You don't see her in me?"
William loosened his hug slightly, gazing at her face. "I see flashes, yes," he admitted, "but they're just shadows of the past. You are what's real. The you who brought light back into my dark life. Don't you feel it, Shapira? A bond stronger than just memory?" He kissed her forehead gently, as if sealing a promise.
However, the moment of peace was short-lived. Suddenly, the sound of an explosion shook the palace. Screams echoed from the distance, followed by the acrid smell of smoke. William and Shapira turned at once, their eyes meeting with the same worried look.
"What's happening?" Shapira asked, her voice filled with panic.
William drew his sword, his eyes glinting with determination. "Dark magic!" he yelled. "It's Varkhiel! They're attacking!"
They ran back into the palace corridors, where chaos was erupting. Soldiers were running in a panic, trying to protect the civilians. At the end of the hall, orbs of dark energy flew through the air, hitting the walls and causing deafening explosions. One of the orbs shot straight toward Shapira, too fast to avoid. Shapira could only gasp, her body frozen in fear.
"Shapira, look out!" William shouted. He leaped forward, shoving Shapira to the floor. The magic orb slammed into the wall behind them, creating a massive hole and a thick cloud of smoke. William shielded Shapira with his body, his back to the blast, the danger barely missing him. He hissed in pain but didn't move.
Shapira looked at him and asked, "William! Are you hurt?"
He turned, his breath ragged. There was a long gash on his arm where stone fragments from the blast had hit him. Fresh blood was flowing from the wound. Shapira saw it, and her heart sank.
"I'm fine," William insisted, though his voice was strained. He looked at Shapira with a deep intensity. "Are you all right? You're not hurt?"
Shapira shook her head. She looked at the wound on his arm and said, "Why did you do that? You risked your life for me." Her heart was filled with a mix of fear, guilt, and a new realization that hit her with full force. William … he truly cared for her. More than just duty, more than just the shadow of Anya. This was love.
William moved closer, taking both of her hands. "Because I can't lose you, Shapira. Not after finding you. Do you understand? I won't let anyone hurt you." His voice was firm, filled with unshakeable resolve. He looked at Shapira, his eyes radiating courage and a profound love. "We'll face this together. I will protect you. And you … you'll protect me, won't you?"
Shapira looked at him, tears welling in her eyes. "Yes," she whispered, her voice full of promise. "I'll protect you, William. I swear it." Now, amidst the chaos engulfing the palace, amidst the dust and smoke, Shapira realized she had found something far more precious than anything she had left behind in London. She had found a genuine love, a bond she believed could defy destiny. But she knew this was only the beginning. The threat from Varkhiel was more real than ever, and the whispers from the mirror in her room felt closer. What would come next? And was their love strong enough to face the coming storm? Shapira looked at William, who stood steadfast beside her, ready to face whatever came. But somewhere far away, in the unseen darkness, Isolde smiled. A smile full of vengeance, a smile that hid a much larger plan. A plan to reclaim what she believed had been stolen from her. A plan that would test the limits of Shapira's love and courage to their breaking point. What would Isolde do? And would William remain loyal when the full truth about Shapira was revealed? These questions now hung in the air, inviting a deep sense of dread.