Chapter 4
Seda
They walked quietly through long hallways where the gentle candlelight illuminated the vine-covered ceilings that appeared to reach the sky. Seda ran her fingers over Elco’s scales, noticing his little hairs standing with her touch and feeling his rumbling purrs through her palm.
She bit the inside of her cheek as her mind wandered to her brother and the friends she had left behind at the Wisps. Did they know where she and Elco went?
They passed through a pair of wooden double doors that stretched from floor to ceiling, with a sign reading “East Wing” in ornate, scroll-like lettering. At the end of the hall stood another pair of large double doors, with smaller entrances leading toward them along the corridor.
Seda felt a tingling sensation on her back and reached up to scratch, but she couldn’t reach the spot where her skin was irritated.
Luelle stopped at the fourth door and looked at them. “This room is designated for Elco. We had to move some furniture around to fit him comfortably, but the bed is large enough.”
Elco looked curiously at Seda as Luelle opened the door. Inside, a massive bed, big enough for ten people, lay in the center of the room, with a patio door on the opposite side.
They walked in, and Elco strolled to the door. “Can you please ask them to leave this open so I may fly freely?”
Seda looked at the women. “Will Elco be allowed to roam? He wishes for the exterior door to remain open.”
Luelle and the woman exchanged a hesitant glance.
Luelle cleared her throat before she asked, “Does he intend to eat the citizens of Umbrea?”
Elco growled, staring at Luelle with slanted feline eyes.
“He’ll not harm any citizens. I assume you have plenty of deer and other animals around?” Seda asked, ready to argue if they turned down Elco’s request.
“Yes. But please let him know he’s not allowed to eat the livestock either. That’ll cause problems.” Luelle looked between them, eyebrows raised.
Seda looked at him and chuckled. “You got that, Elco?”
“No citizens and no livestock. They never said anything about pets,” he grumbled.
Seda sighed and shook her head. “He agrees.”
Luelle nodded and unlocked the doors, and the fresh night air entered the room. Small floating green orbs blew in, like fuzzy bubbles flitting through the air.
Seda gasped. “What are those?”
“That’s our Umbrean magic, miss,” the other woman answered. “It’s nothing to fear. Just floats around the air as it pleases. We’re a magical and plentiful realm.”
The orbs surrounded Seda, gathering on her skin and tangling through her hair. A sense of peace and love gradually filled her, warming her from within and making her feel whole again.
“I’ve never seen them react… to anything,” the woman gasped by her side.
Luelle stared at Seda with wide eyes. Seda held out her hand, and the little orbs twirled around her fingertips like fireflies dancing through moonlight.
“You’ve always been special, moon-flutter,” Elco said. “Will you be okay while I explore the area?”
“Yes, Elco. I think my room will be near, right?” Seda looked at the women, and they nodded, their mouths open in awe as they watched the orbs flit around.
The woman in blue cleared her throat and said, “You’ll be in the room across the hall, the door straight on the opposite side of this one.”
The orbs gracefully left Seda and continued their aimless drift through the air around them. Elco walked to the doors and spread his wings wide when he exited onto the expansive patio, scattering the glowing orbs.
He flew off into the night.
“Follow us, miss,” the woman said to Seda as she held open Elco’s door for her.
Seda walked out and across the hall while Luelle pushed open the door meant for her.
She entered and inhaled a deep breath of the heady lavender aroma.
It was beautiful, unlike anything she had ever seen before.
The large bed was draped in green silk, with soft pillows and four elaborately carved posts that rose to the ceiling.
The sparkling stars and the enchanting orbs drifting across the night sky were visible through a glass ceiling that spanned the entire length of the room. Luxurious mahogany furniture was carefully arranged throughout the room.
The woman turned to Seda. “My name is Fran, and I am the head housekeeper here. If you need anything, please let me know. My team will be coming by periodically to check on you and prepare you for your days. You’re a guest of the king and will be treated as such.
Please let me know if you encounter any issues, dear.
Your closet is full of clothing to pick from, and the bathroom is through that door there.
” She pointed to the door on the left side of the room.
“A hot bath has been drawn for you.” Fran bowed slightly at her waist and walked out the door, leaving her and Luelle behind.
Luelle watched Seda with furrowed brows. “You aren’t human, not Fae, not a Lycanthrope. What are you?”
“I don’t know. I was raised believing I was human. Maybe I am just a human,” Seda answered with a shrug. “Can you tell me what to expect here? How are the people? How is Cahir?”
Luelle looked at her and chewed her inner cheek, turning her head to the side and staring out the window. “Cahir… Did you know Cahir was the name his mother called him? He never allowed anyone else to call him that after she passed. He took his given name, Ael, after her passing.”
Seda didn’t know that. She had only ever known him as Cahir.
Luelle continued, “People here are kind, usually. Right now, the women are acting like stupid fools because they think that Ael will be picking a wife soon.”
A sudden pang of hurt shot through Seda’s chest. He was a king—an unwed king. She should have expected this, but it never occurred to her.
She silently scolded herself for the fleeting feeling, reminded herself that she was upset with him.
Who cared who he married?
Luelle watched her intently. “Since you’re here, I’d be cautious around women you don’t really know. Not of me, of course. I’d rather die than try for his hand.”
“That other woman offered to be my friend—the one who was half-naked on top of him when I arrived.” Seda tried to hide her barbed tone.
“Hmm…” Luelle paused and chewed her cheek once more. “I’d be wary of that one. Let me know if you’d like a tour tomorrow. The library might be a good place to find information about your powers. I know Meir was trying to find some, but I’m not sure if he’s had any luck. He hasn’t mentioned it.”
Luelle walked to the door and turned back. “Is there anything else I can do for you tonight, Seda? Are you hungry?”
“No, thank you, Luelle. I’ll be fine,” she responded with a forced smile. The unease of this new place and these new people kept her hunger from surging, despite the meager food from her trip.
Luelle offered a small smile before walking out of the room and shutting the door behind her.
Seda sat down on the bed and looked up at the night sky. This place was beautiful. She felt comfortable in this room, but she was nervous about why she had been sent here. She needed to find the information and the stones to return to the door and the Wisps.
She went to the bathroom and noticed a large tub filled with foaming water, surrounded by dozens of lit candles that flickered across the walls. She had never taken a hot bath before, and a smile crept onto her lips.
After she removed her filthy clothing from her sore body, she dipped a toe into the steaming hot water. She slowly eased herself into the tub, savoring the heat that burned against her skin, wrapping around her like a blanket.
Goosebumps erupted on her arms, and she sank further into the water, dunking her head and letting her hair soak up the suds.
She popped up and grabbed a bar of soap, lathering it all around herself.
How long had it been since she had a proper shower?
Her last one was at the Camp, and that felt like weeks ago.
She shivered at the memory of Alexi watching her, but pushed aside the uneasy feeling and washed her hair, then grabbed the conditioner—a luxury in Joro—and ran it through her tangled strands.
The irritation on her back returned, and she smiled when she spotted a long washcloth. She reached for it and scrubbed it between her shoulder blades, letting out a small sigh.
She sank back into the water and rinsed the conditioner from her hair, remaining within until her skin began to wrinkle.
When she got out and drained the water, she spotted a fresh toothbrush and a small jar of toothpaste on the counter.
She rushed over to them, excited to thoroughly brush her teeth.
With a towel tightly wrapped around her, she walked back into the bedroom, exhaustion hitting her like a tidal wave. The thought of looking through the closet for something to wear sounded exhausting.
Dropping the wet towel onto the floor, she climbed into the silken sheets and nestled into the plushness of a bed for the first time in what felt like forever, closing her eyes and quickly falling asleep.
Sweet dreams of familiar snakes wrapped around her soul, comforting her, whispering sweet nothings into her ears, and softly caressing her body.