Chapter 284

I blinked away the remnants of sleep.

My eyes fluttered open, the warmth of sunlight filtering through the lace curtains greeted me.

I found myself lying on the familiar couch in Grandma Jo's living room, the scent of lavender and cinnamon lingering in the air.

Confusion clouded my mind as I tried to recall the events that led me here, my memory shrouded in a dense fog.

Blinking against the brightness, I attempted to sit up, but a sharp pang shot through my head, causing me to wince. Lucas appeared at my side, his concerned gaze fixed on me.

"Shana, you're awake!" Lucas's voice cut through the fog of my thoughts, and I turned to see him kneeling beside the couch, his expression etched with concern.

"Lucas?" I croaked, my voice hoarse and raspy. "What... what happened?"

I tried to push myself up, but a dull ache pulsed through my head, grounding me back onto the plush cushions of the couch. Prince Alex stepped closer, his expression a blend of concern and urgency.

I frowned, shocked to see him here. "Alex? What are you doing here?"

Prince Alex offered a sympathetic smile. "I'm just as surprised as you are to be here, Shana. But I noticed something wasn't right during our training session, and when you passed out, I knew I had to get you somewhere safe."

I blinked, trying to process his words. "Passed out?"

"Do you remember anything?" another voice asked, and I looked to my right to see Professor Black standing there.

The sight of Lucas, Prince Alex, and Professor Black gathered around me in Grandma Jo's cozy living room sent a jolt of surprise through my senses.

Their presence together in one room felt surreal, like pieces of a puzzle that didn't quite fit together.

"What's going on? Why are you all here?"

Lucas exchanged a glance with Prince Alex before answering, his expression grim. "We need to talk to you about what happened, Shana."

I shifted uncomfortably, the gravity of their collective demeanor setting my nerves on edge. "Okay, but can you please tell me why Prince Alex and Professor Black are here? It's kind of freaking me out."

Prince Alex stepped forward, his eyes reflecting a mix of concern and determination. "I'm here because I care about you, Shana. And Professor Black... well, he might have some insight into what happened to you."

"Have you ever crossed through the portal before?" I asked Alex.

He's only known the Ethereal Palace to be his home since he was a child.

Alex shook his head. "No, I haven't. Maybe once when I was little, but I can't remember. But when I saw you collapse during training, I knew I had to do something."

"How did you know where to go?" I questioned.

"Well I've heard you and Lucas talk about Grandma Jo's house many times. It sounded like the safest place to take you, so I created a portal and brought you here."

"I appreciate that, Alex," I said softly, touched by his concern. It was strange to see him out of his usual element, but it was comforting to know he was looking out for me.

Alex shrugged, a modest smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Just doing what any friend would do."

Professor Black interjected, his voice carrying a note of urgency. "Shana, what happened to you during the training session? Do you remember anything unusual before you lost consciousness?"

I furrowed my brow, trying to recall the events leading up to my blackout. "I... I remember feeling dizzy and disoriented. And then there was this sharp pain in my head. Everything became hazy after that."

Professor Black nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Shana. Your situation is quite... unique. There are aspects of it that I may be able to shed some light on."

I swallowed hard, a sense of foreboding settling over me like a heavy shroud. Whatever they were about to tell me, I had a feeling it wouldn't be easy to hear.

"I explained a bit of my side of the story to them already," Alex clarified. "You scared me that day."

"You scared all of us," Lucas added, his brows pulling together. His eyes were gentle as they assessed me.

I could only imagine how scary it was for him to find out that I too, had fallen unconscious just like his father. The news couldn't have been easy on him, and I felt horrible knowing that he was suffering.

A pang of guilt tightened my chest as I took in Lucas's worried expression. He had been shouldering so much responsibility lately, and now, here I was, adding to his burden.

"I'm sorry, Lucas," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't mean to worry you."

He reached out and took my hand in his, his touch warm and reassuring. "You don't need to apologize, Shana. I'm just glad you're awake now."

I managed a weak smile, grateful for his understanding. Despite the chaos swirling around us, his presence anchored me, reminding me that I wasn't alone in this.

"How long has it been since I passed out?" I asked, looking around the room.

"It's been two days," Professor Black answered, his tone grave. "We were worried when you didn't regain consciousness sooner."

Two days? The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, sending a surge of panic coursing through my veins.

What had happened to me during those two days? And why was I only just waking up now?

How had I lost track of time so completely?

"What happened to me?" I demanded, my voice tinged with urgency.

"We're not entirely sure," Professor Black admitted, his expression troubled. "But whatever it was, it left you unconscious for an extended period."

I swallowed hard, the uncertainty of my situation weighing heavily on my mind. How could I have been unconscious for two whole days without any memory of what happened?

Lucas exchanged a glance with Prince Alex, a silent exchange passing between them before Lucas cleared his throat, his expression grave.

"We need to talk, Shana," he said, his voice laden with seriousness. "We know there's more to the story."

"But I can't remember anything..." I trailed off, trying to search through my brain for any memory of what could've caused this.

"I know," Lucas replied gently, squeezing my hand reassuringly. "It might be difficult to do now since you've just woken up, but I want you to try to remember what you were doing two days ago."

I closed my eyes, trying to access the murky depths of my memory. It felt like grasping at shadows.

"I... I don't know," I admitted, frustration tingeing my voice.

Lucas nodded, his expression sympathetic. "Take your time. There's no rush. But anything you can remember, no matter how small, might help us piece together what happened."

I took a deep breath, attempting to recall the events leading up to my sudden blackout.

Flashes of fragmented memories flickered in my mind's eye, but they were disjointed and unclear.

"I remember... traveling through the portal with Liam," I began slowly, the memory surfacing like a distant echo.

My voice trailed off as I struggled to grasp the memory, but it slipped through my fingers like sand.

"Then what?" Lucas prompted gently, his eyes fixed on mine, urging me to continue.