Licorice Love

Chapter 3: Scarlett's P.O.V.

"S-Scarlett?" The one with the curly black hair stuttered.

Well, two of them have curly black hair. This was the one with two different colored eyes. I'd never seen anything like it. Her right eye was emerald green and her left eye was golden. A scar ran down that side of her face, right down her golden eye. I wonder if that's why it's a different color...

"Oh my Goddess," the blonde one muttered, staring at me with wide eyes.

They seem shocked. They obviously know me, but... do I know them?

My memories have come back slowly, in spurts. Not all of them, but very few. Mostly ones from my childhood, which didn't seem that great. Other than that... it's foggy. I hear voices and get images, but it all happens so fast that I can barely understand it. Not enough time to try to concentrate on it.

I wish I could remember them.

"You're Scarlett, right?" the one crouching at the cell bars asked me.

Her face was blank of any emotion. It kind of reminded me of someone, but I couldn't say who. Her glowing eyes were captivating. I felt like she was reading right into my soul as she looked at me. Her features seemed familiar in a way that I couldn't describe...

"Kee... you look a lot like her," the blonde one commented softly, clearly still in shock.

"Yeah," the other one agreed. "Like... a black-haired, green-eyed version of her..."

Obviously, this is a revelation for them. I'm a bit lost, however. I'm not too sure if we look alike, since I haven't looked in a mirror in well over 20 years.

The way they're acting is strange though. They said my name. They know who I am. They're shocked to see me here. But why are they acting like this is the first time they've ever seen me?

"Her memories have been locked," the one named Kee said.

"Locked away?" The black-haired girl asked. "Why?"

"I don't know," Kee replied, still staring at me. "I've never seen a spell like it before."

"What does that mean?" the blonde one asked.

"It means that it'll take work," Kee said as she stood up and turned around to face them. "We can't tell Pops about this yet."

"What? Are you crazy?" The blonde asked incredulously.

"We can't," Kee insisted. "Not with what we're about to do."

"Kee..." The black-haired girl said softly. "This is his mate... Everyone thinks she's dead."

Kee's eyes flickered to me for a brief moment.

"It'll cause complications," was all she responded with.

Complications with what I wonder.

"Kee, you can't be serious," the blonde said. "I'd do anything for you, Kee, but don't ask me to do this. You know how I feel about the mate-bond."

"I know," Kee replied. "I'm not saying we keep them apart forever. Just for now."

The blonde clenched her jaw.

"What are you proposing then?" the black-haired girl asked.

My, they are so young. I wonder what they're doing here. Those guys only kidnap small children. I rarely ever see teenagers, let alone young adults. And they aren't being escorted or chained.

What are they doing here then?

"I'll take her and hide her," Kee said. "I'll work on unlocking her memories. When I defeat Pops... you can take him to her. We can set them up for a new life somewhere. Anywhere they'd want."

"What if they want to be with their family?" The blonde asked angrily. "Ya know, since she's been gone all this time."

Kee sighed heavily.

"Bexley, you know this is how things have to be," she said.

Bexley huffed and crossed her arms.

"He'll be happy to be with her anywhere she is," Kee said softly.

"Yeah, but what about her?" Bexley asked, gesturing to me like I couldn't hear them or anything. "What about your dad? Your uncles? Your cousins? Your siblings? What about them?"

"They can visit," Kee stated before spinning to face me.

"Visit?" Bexley asked incredulously. "Kee, think about what you're doing-"

"What I'm doing is what I am meant to do," Kee snapped, spinning around to get in Bexley's face. To Bexley's credit, she didn't back down in the slightest. "I can't let these plans be interrupted, and it's not my fault that they can't live in Hell or the academy. That'll be up to Pops and how his ego is feeling. They won't be allowed to stay in Hell, but... I have no say over where they go after."

"I still think this is a mistake," Bexley said, shaking her head. "I understand, but... to continue to keep them apart..."

"It's only for a little while," Kee promised. "One month tops. I promise."

"And if that month ends, and you haven't taken over?" Bexley asked.

"I'm still going to work on the memory lock," Kee replied. "I'm sure when she gets her memories back she's going to fight me until she sees him. I promise that if she remembers first, or I don't take the throne within a month, I'll still take her to Pops. Okay?"

"Fine," Bexley gritted out.

I wish I knew what they were talking about. I'm so utterly confused. I have no idea who Pops is. I do know what mates are though. I remember learning about them as a kid.

Did I really meet mine? Why is this girl keeping me from mine? Is she scheming against my supposed mate? If that's the case, why do I feel so calm around her? Like I know she won't hurt me. Like I know that I can trust her. Like I know she's doing the right thing.

I stood up and stumbled over to the bars. All three of them looked at me, but I kept my eyes on Kee. She truly is stunning. Something about her features hurts deep in my chest.

"Who are you?" I asked in a whisper.

"My name is Akeehla, but you can call me Kee," she told me. "This is Bexley and Nix. They came here to rescue the kids and were told you were down here. So I came to check it out."

"Why?" I asked, staring into her glowing eyes.

"Because they work for me before anyone else," she replied.

Before anyone else?

"My sister sent them here to rescue the kids," Kee told me, as if she had read my mind.

"You and your sister don't work together?" I asked, trying to gather information.

The corners of Kee's lips twitched upwards.

"Not always," she said. "We have different agendas."

Is that a good thing?

"Why... do you seem so... familiar to me?" I asked her.

"How about we get you out of here and I can explain more?" She suggested before turning to the other two. "Call Tia to get the kids out of here and somewhere safe. I'll take Scarlett to my castle. She'll be safe there and Pops won't be able to sense her."

"You sure about this, Kee?" Nix asked timidly.

"Yes," Kee replied.

In the blink of an eye, Kee was inside my cell. Before I could question it, she grabbed my hand and then we were somewhere else. I looked all around to find us in what looked like a bedroom. It was neat and appeared untouched. The walls were made of a stone-like substance. There were four windows on one side of the bedroom, and a fireplace across from where a sofa sat.

It was a spacious room. The black marble floors were glossy and had an air of elegance. The bed looked inviting, but then again, my bed for the last 20 plus years was a dirty, old mattress on the floor. Sometimes the floor was more comfortable.

"This will be your bedroom while you're here," Kee told me as she crossed her arms. "You can wander the castle, but you can't leave. Even if you try, the castle won't let you. I'll arrange a Demon I trust to be here for you when I can't be. In case you need anything."

I'm not sure what to say to that. Apparently, I just traded in one prison for another. However, this one is a lot nicer and way more spacious.

"You aren't a prisoner," Kee said. "I will take you to your mate when the time is right. Right now... I'm not sure how Pops will act. I can't do unpredictably in this situation."

I furrowed my brow in confusion.

"I can hear your thoughts," she answered my unasked question.

My eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"I try not to pry, but it's difficult at times," she told me.

"Uhm," I mumbled, unsure of how to respond.

Kee sighed and slapped her hands on the sides of her thighs.

"Are you hungry? Thirsty? A bath? I can get you anything you need," she said.

"That would all be great, but," I replied, taking a step towards her. "I'd like to know who you are first."

"I told you, I'm Kee-"

"No," I interrupted her gently, softly shaking my head. "I want to know who you are to me. I can tell that we're connected in some way. I don't understand it. I have this... immense trust and care for you. Why?"

Kee seemed reluctant, but ultimately took a deep breath.

"I'm Akeehla Morningstar, 8th born to Lydia and... Kasyn Morningstar," she said, and I patiently waited for her to continue. "I'm your granddaughter. And Kasyn is your youngest son."

I felt like the floor had been swiped from under me. This was news. Good news, yes, but... I already know I've missed so much. Now my granddaughter is holding me hostage. How much more will I miss?

"Hey," Kee said as she placed her hand on my arm. "I promise that it's going to be a happy ending for you."

How can she promise me that?

"Believe me," she said with a smile. "I always make sure the people I love get a happy ending."