Chapter 17
MADDISON
When the door opens up, and the scroll and book get shoved through it, my already confused state turns into a full mess of a puzzle without all the pieces. The door closes again, and Finn and I trade a look before standing up and hurrying over.
I pick up the scroll while Finn collects the book. When I unroll the scroll, I discover that it’s the map Mr. Averson had when we were in that room, and he was giving us that big speech about who I really am.
“This is the map your dad had,” I mutter as I hold it open in front of me.
“And I think this is the book he had,” Finn says as he fans through the pages of the book, his blond hair sticking up in a wild mess.
“Why the hell would he give us this stuff?” I glance from the compartment door to one of the cameras.
“I have no idea, but let’s make the most of it and see if we can figure out why my father went off the deep end and thinks there’s some sort of curse.” He starts toward the bed, and I follow.
“Good idea.” I climb onto the bed and get comfortable, my back resting against a mound of pillows propped up against the headboard.
Finn sits beside me, and we eat the food we were given earlier. I’m hesitant at first to eat it, questioning if it’s been poisoned, but Finn reminds me that his father doesn’t want us dead.
It’s potatoes, chicken, and a roll, and it’s delicious. It makes me wonder if a chef made it, and Finn tells me he’s certain one did, since most Royals don’t know how to cook.
As Finn reads through the book, his frown becomes more and more prominent. The map I’m assessing has me frowning just as profoundly. It’s of the world, only it contains more islands and a sort of centerpiece of land that has a star on it. Beside the star are the words: Royal Flame Kingdom.
It makes me think of the maps I saw in Grey’s house, and I find it kind of odd. Does Grey know what’s happening to me? Did this map come from him?
I could be being paranoid, but maybe not. After everything, I think I’m going to remain suspicious of everyone. Well, except Finn and River.
I smooth my finger along the Royal Flame Island. “Have you ever heard of this place before?”
Finn leans over my shoulder to look at it. “I’ve heard rumors of it, but most people believe it’s an urban legend.” He sets the book aside and takes the map from me. “What I’ve heard about it is that many, many years ago, the king and queen ruled the world from this island.”
“You mean the Everfords?”
“No. I’ve never heard of any names. Just that people believe there’s a hidden island somewhere out in the middle of an ocean.”
“Do you think it’s real?” I ask as he hands me back the map.
“A few days ago, I would’ve said probably not, but now, who the hell knows?” He picks up the book and shows me the page he has it opened to.
On it is a drawing of a crown covered in black roses, similar to the necklace I have, the one that led us down this rabbit hole to my secret lineage, and behind it, decorated with the same flowers, is a throne. On top of the page are the words: rosa sanguinis malediction.
“Do you know what that means?” I point to the words.
Wisps of blond hair tumble into Finn’s eyes as he shakes his head. “I don’t. I’m not even sure what language it is.”
“Latin.” I tap the word rosa. “And that means rose. I’m not sure what the other words mean, though.”
Finn stares at me with a combination of amusement and intrigue.
I angle my head to the side in puzzlement. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
He shrugs without taking his attention off me. “You’re just amazing. That’s all.”
I arch a brow. “Why? Because I know Latin? Did you think because I come from a poorer side of town that I’d be dumb?”
“No, not at all. I just think you’re amazingly smart and wanted to point it out.” He gently brushes his fingertips along the side of my head. “This right here is one of the most beautiful things ever.”
I blush, heat annoyingly blooming in my face at his compliment.
He totally notices and grins. “Is the infamous cool as hell Maddison blushing?”
“No,” I lied. “I just…” I groan in frustration. “Okay, I am. So what?”
His amusement dwindles. “Why?”
I scratch at the corner of my eye, feeling twitchy.
“I don’t know. I mean, I’m used to people complimenting my looks and even my running abilities.
Never mind, though. It’s… People don’t usually view northsiders as smart.
Even my scholarship to The Royal Academy wasn’t given to me because I’m smart.
” I drag my hand down my face. “Everything about my life seems to be a lie. I’m worried what other secrets will come out. ”
He laces his fingers with mine. “Not everything is a lie. Me, River, Lily, and even Noah like you because you’re you, so maybe hold onto that, and even though I know you’ll struggle with this, maybe you can trust us to be there for you no matter what.”
My stomach suddenly feels all fluttery. “How do you know I have trust issues?”
“Anyone who pays attention to you can tell that.”
“And you’ve been paying attention?”
“I think considering some of the stuff I said to you over the last few days, that you know I have.”
Those butterflies go wild like a bunch of lunatics.
Resisting the urge to squirm, I instead joke, “Aw, my very own football, pretty boy stalker. Lucky me.”
The corners of his lips quirk. “I wasn’t stalking you.”
“Liar,” I smirk at him.
He traces his tongue along his teeth, trying not to smile.
“I did have my own stalker, though,” I point out as I set my empty plate over on the nightstand.
He frowns. “Right. You were getting those messages from that unknown number.”
“Which was probably from the society.” I momentarily pause. “Why is the society helping your father?”
“Because he’s on the head committee of the society,” he explains, picking up the book again. “And when you join the society, you make a vow to protect all members, but the head committee is the one in charge. They get the final say on everything.”
My lips tug downward. “And all of the members just obey, no matter what these committee members tell them to do?”
He nods with a sigh as he flips a page in the book. “It’s basically like a cult.”
“You’re in it, though,” I point out tensely.
While the thought has crossed my mind, I don’t really believe it. But being who I am, I need to hear him say that he didn’t know.
His eyes widen as he notes my expression. “I didn’t know they were going to do this.”
I believe him quicker than I expected, but… “If they had told you about their plan, would you have done it?”
“Fuck no,” he says, his gaze boring into me.
“That’s why they didn’t tell me. I was already problematic with some of the demands they were making, and if it weren’t for my father, I’d probably have been kicked out a long time ago.
River was the same way. Many members didn’t want him to join.
This puzzled me, but now it makes sense.
They didn’t want him finding out about my father’s plan. ”
“Do you think your father was worried about you guys joining and then finding out?”
“No. He wanted us to join because if we didn’t, our family would look bad.”
“Still… He had to be worried one of the members would let their plan slip.”
“He’s a cocky bastard who thinks he can get away with anything, so I’m sure he thought that, but I’m sure he also thought he could control the situation just like he’s been controlling us for most of our lives. And my mom too.” His tone wobbles a bit at the mention of his mom.
I recline back against the headboard. “Are you worried about her?”
He turns the page of the book, glancing at me. “My mom?”
I nod. “Do you really think she’s helping my real mother?”
He glances at the cover of the book. “I do. The way my dad said it… He was too annoyed for it not to be true.”
We fall silent as he begins reading through the book again.
I can’t stop thinking about my real mother, though.
Ellie, the only person in this world who ever took care of me.
Except she lied to me, but she did it for a reason.
To protect me. It still hurts, though, and I wish she’d have told me sooner.
I mean, I understand why she didn’t when I was younger, but I’m an adult now.
I think about the last message she sent me, which, I guess, could be kind of viewed as a warning. She was clearly in trouble when she sent it, perhaps even in danger.
“Do you think they’re okay?” I utter softly as I glance at Finn. “My mom and yours?”
Worry fills his eyes as he whispers, “I sure hope so, but at this point, I really don’t know what to think about anything.”