Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
I woke to my name being whispered to me. Light pouring in behind my eyelids. The soft fabric of the sheets warm against my skin exposed from the thin sleeveless nightgown.
What a horrible nightmare that was. I tore open my eyes. My body heavy with exhaustion.
Grandmother’s gasp rang through me, echoing off my skull. I cringed at the sound.
“You came back to us,” She cried, her hand reaching for mine.
“Of course I did?”
“You’ve been asleep for three days Vespera, dear.” Her tone grew worried. Her hand moving to stroke my ruffled hair from my face.
“How could I have slept that long?” I didn’t believe her. I wasn’t out that long. It was only a dream.
“You really don’t remember do you?” Her voice softened.
“Remember what?” I croaked, my throat suddenly dry. No. This couldn’t be happening. This wasn’t right. It was wrong. Everything was still grey.
I sat up too quickly. My body screamed with agony. My right side of my abdomen feeling as if it was tearing apart.
I almost howled in pain. What was this?
Grandmother’s voice rang out for Arthur. Two pairs of footfalls raced up the hall.
The two men burst in, Arthur with a bandage in hand and Victor with a pair of scissors. The sight of a blade causing vomit to rise in my throat. It wasn’t a dream. It was real.
“No.” The word fell from my lips.
“I am so sorry, Vespera.” Arthur’s voice sounded sincere. As if he felt responsible for my attack.
My head spun. Confusion setting in.
How was I alive? I was carved like a beast. My hand trembled as I lifted my hands to my chest just above my breasts.
“I’m sorry. The scars will remain.” Victor’s voice was thick.
I clenched my eyes closed, fisting my hand in my sheets.
“Who?” I said softly.
“Who what, dear?” Grandmother said gently.
“Who attacked me!” My words rang loud, bounding through the silence.
“We aren’t sure.”
“Then become sure. I want them hanging from the gallows!” I cried, laying back in bed.
Arthur gripped my arm. A small prick in its place.
The world faded to black once more.
The world spun beneath me. Sticks and stones littering the forest floor, sharp against my bare feet. Rain pattered around me, landing softly on the branches of the trees above. The scent of the earth filling my nose with the calming scent of the downpour.
My hair stuck to my face with each gust of harsh wind. A tremor ran through my spine. I turned through the forest. No one lingered.
My voice was hoarse as I called for anyone at all to hear me. Slight crunching caught my attention from the left. Branches crushing under weight. I stilled bracing for the person.
Long dark hair flicked behind a tree before a tall woman in white stepped out. Her long damp hair loose around her waist. Her feet bare and covered in muck. Her beautifully cheerful smile on full display, brightening the dark woods. Her eyes alight with the purest of joy.
“Do come on, my love,” She called. Her arms stretched out to me. I moved forward. The sting of tears lining my eyes. My heart leaping to life as I took a step toward the woman whose soul I ached to see again. Movement sounded behind me. Quick footsteps hurrying forward, heavy and purposeful. A deep chuckle sounded close to my back, another tremor running through me. The chill of a hand pushing into me radiated from my chest. I glanced down, watching in horror as the man walked through me. As if I wasn't there.
My mother beamed at my father, watching as he approached her. The moment he was in arms reach she leapt upon him. The two locked in a passionate embrace. My heart creaked inside me. I had always remembered them like this. Never the arguing or the fighting. Just the love that filled their hearts day in and day out. A love I had once longed for but grew to despise.
Love weakens you to your surroundings. Love can twist a person apart and put them back together but it can just as easily leave them broken and in pieces on the floor. The tears on my face began to fall harder. The rain still falling over them. It was my mother who pulled away first.
“We must protect, Vespera,” My mother said softly, a sense of urgency in her voice.
“Nothing will happen to her.” Father insisted, his voice smooth and loving. The familiarity crushing my heart. Another thing I desperately ached to hear.
“He will come for her, John. As he always has and will do.” She urged as he lowered her to the ground. Father towered over her as he brushed a kiss to her damp forehead.
“Adele, nothing will happen to her. I swear on my life that no one will take our daughter away.” His gentle stroke of his thumbs against her cheeks brushing calmness over her skin. Mother’s eyes flickered closed, leaning into the touch.
“Our child will be safe.” Father insisted once more.
The lie settled deep in my bones as I watched. An internalised anger now threatening to break free.
I wasn’t safe. He left me. Alone. He left me to be attacked. He failed her.
“He failed you!” I screamed at her. “He failed you!”
My words falling on dead air. I stood forward, my anger running through me. He was meant to protect me but he failed.
“He failed you,” I screeched. Willing for her to hear me. To see me. To see the strange and horrific wound on my chest. My anger simmering to despair as the rain fell heavier. As if it too felt the weight of my emotions.
“He failed us.” My voice shook as a sob wracked through my body. “He failed us both.”
When I awoke, I was alone in my bed. The forest now but a distant memory to be lost. The warmth of the room filled my bones. My mania from earlier still simmering beneath the surface. I needed to act as if all was well. Or they would send me to the asylum three towns over. I shuddered at the thought. I wasn’t hysterical. I was in pain. I was confused.
What in God's name had happened to me? Why had I seen my parents? What did they mean he was coming for me? Had they known my attacker all along? And surely the brief single colour I saw was not real. It can’t have been. For it was only Death's hand that touched me. I looked at my hand. Now clean from any blood. Still the same pale hand. I moved up the bed. Preparing for the pain. Only there was none.
“Curious.” I noted to myself. The drug that Arthur injected me with was truly working wonders.
I managed to shift from the bed with no further pain. Rolling all of my limbs and joints. None stiff.
“Lady Vespera!” Mary’s voice called from behind the door.
I responded before thinking. “Come in.”
Mary opened the door slowly, cautious for what she might see.
“You should not be out of bed, my lady!” Her eyes widened like saucers at the sight of me.
Panic ran through me. I needed an excuse. My eyes ran over the room before me. The empty crystal glass on my bedside table throwing light in the afternoon sun.
“I was desperate for a drink, you see. So I thought I would fetch myself a glass of water.” the lie fumbled from my lips. Nice one, Vespera. Really believable.
“You should have called for me.” Mary lightly scalded before collecting the glass. Offering a silent warning to get back on the bed with a nod of her head. I withheld my sigh of relief as I lowered myself.
Mary came back with the glass in hand, her eyes lined with concern. I made an effort to smile despite how mixed I had felt. The smile fell flat as Mary eyed me, her gaze falling on my partially exposed chest.
My smile dropped. No doubt this would look vile when I took the bandages off.
Mary shook her head as if shaking whatever thought she had before picking up a hair dress from my dresser.
“Seeing as you are up and walking, we should prepare you for dinner. You have not eaten in three days.” I nodded weakly. Not willing to fight her. I needed to find out who knew what about my attack.
Mary dressed me in a low cut gown. “So the pressure doesn't touch the wounds,” She had said as she loosely tied the laces on the light grey gown.
The dining hall was empty when I arrived. The pain in my abdomen slowly ebbing back in. I lowered myself to my usual seat and waited for the rest of the house to arrive. A waiter came and poured a glass of deep wine to which I swallowed quickly. Requesting another. He didn’t say a word as he poured another. Voices echoed in the hall beyond. I strained to listen.
“You will find, sir Maaier, that the house may look imposing but it is simply just a facade. Keeps the gossips at bay.” Grandmother joked. I snorted into my glass. Of course she makes light of this horrid situation.
“This is the dining hall.” She continued. I expected her to stop and open the doors but her voice drifted away. Who could she possibly be giving a tour to in a time like this? I stood slowly. Following the sound of voices into the kitchen. The pain in my belly throbbed. My chest however not radiating a single discomfort.
My hand found the spot on my stomach. Holding it against it as if that would do anything to help the pain. I pushed forward.
“This is where she was found.” Grandmother’s voice carried from the kitchen. “We are ever so glad that Victor had found her when he did. The poor soul was torn to pieces right here on the floor.”
I neared the door, keeping my footsteps quiet. Why was Victor the first to find me? He was the first to retire to bed and the furthest away. Surely he would have slept through my scream?
“Your granddaughter was stabbed here, you say?” A deep velvety voice spoke. Warmth tingled within me. Who was this strange man? I leaned against the doorway. Stabilising myself as another wave of dizzying pain overtook me.
“Yes. I was terrified of losing her. Vespera is my humanity, you see. She is my one light in this gloomy existence.” Her tone thickened with emotion.
“Then I will do my very best to keep her safe. We will find who did this, Lady Florian,” The deep voice said.
The pain in my abdomen throbbed once more. I stumbled forward. My feet falling out from under me, knees hitting the cold marble flooring. My name fell from Grandmother’s lips as she hurried toward me, thick skirts swishing around her. I clenched my teeth. I was a fool for leaving my bed. I was too stubborn for my own good.
Grandmother’s thin hands looped around my shoulder pulling me upright.
A second set taking my waist, pulling me up gently to face them. The sight before making my mouth run dry.
The man was easily the tallest I had seen. Strength exuding from his form. Eyes so dark I could see myself reflecting in them. His long hair tied back in a knot behind his head. His skin a middle shade of grey, not too deep, not too light. An interesting mix.
The man's thumbs smoothed circles over my waist whilst grandmother rubbed my shoulders.
My hands gripped the man's arms for support, hard flesh pressed against my fingers. A warmth pooling deep inside me that I had never felt before.
“Maaier. This is Vespera.” Grandmother’s voice drifted from behind me. I couldn't focus on anything but the smirk that filled Maaier’s plump lips. My own tongue running along the seam of mine. By God. What was wrong with me? I shoved him away quickly, as if burnt by his lingering touch.
“Please excuse me.” I faked a smile. Maaier bowed low before me.
“Of course. We can introduce ourselves formally later.” His velvet voice soothing against my frayed nerves.
Like hell we would.
I turned on my heel, shaking off Grandmother.
Now where was Arthur and that magical tonic?