Chapter 24 Ariah #2
On the rare occasion I see Iann, he pretends not to notice me. Even during dinner, he doesn’t look my way. Marcel tries to get him to engage a few times, but he surrenders no more than two word responses. Eventually people stop trying to speak to him and I feel he prefers it that way.
After dinner I try finding him, in hopes we can speak, but he disappears before I get a single glimpse. I even go to his room, but no one answers the door.
As soon as night falls, my time is up.
The necklace stays yellow as I move about the castle, but I have no doubt the Queen will be watching me soon.
Back in my room I put on my black outfit, the same one I wore the night my mom made me sneak into the Bettelrum house. Only this time my mother is not with me, or Luna, who practically carried me through that situation.
Two knocks rasp at the adjoining door.
“Come in,” I say to Chana.
She too is dressed in black. She is both helping, and acting as a spy for the Queen tonight.
Her eyes fall to the gem of the necklace. “Are you ready?”
It would be easier to just knock on Marcel’s door.
I’m certain I could seduce my way in, toy with him a bit and wait for the poison to carry him to sleep, but sneaking in means there will be no traces back to me.
It also means not waking up to him in the morning only to convince him that something happened between us, or worse, something actually happening between us.
Iann’s face comes into view, the image of him tightening my stomach. Guilt twists like a dagger in the back but I submerge the feeling.
If I ever want out of here, I need to fulfill the Queen’s requests and pretend to be on her side until the opportunity to leave arises.
“Not at all.” I pull out my fox mask hanging in the wardrobe. “I’m sure I don’t have much of a choice though, so it doesn’t matter.”
“You still have one. She’ll just ensure you suffer if you choose incorrectly.
” She gives my arm a gentle squeeze. “Let’s go,” she whispers before slipping on a mask of her own.
One that is as black as coal with pointed ears and traces of silver.
One that’s perfect for her dress. “He should be heading back to his room soon.”
Instead of going out of the door like normal people, we take the window.
From Chana’s small balcony we begin scaling the wall using the protruding stones to help us climb our way to the top.
Thankfully, being on the third floor makes a very short climb to the roof.
The darkness is an added bonus because it prevents me from seeing the ground.
I’ve never been afraid of heights but would rather not look down if given the chance.
“This way,” Chana says once we pull ourselves up and start running on the flat gravel roof. White light is the only thing to guide us from one end of the wing to the other.
Once we’re over the west wing she leads us to the edge and looks below.
“That’s his room.” She turns to me as I place the mask on and tie up my hair, until all curls are in a tight bun.
She looks down at my chest, at the necklace, before taking a rope and double knotting it around a nearby pillar, like she’s done this several times over.
“Better get going. She’ll be watching soon. ”
Wanting this night to be over, I don’t hesitate to grab the rope and use it to help me lower myself onto the balcony.
Once my feet hit the ground, I linger in the corner trying to get a better view of the darkened room. When I’m sure Marcel isn’t inside, I make my way through the unlatched door.
No one has lit any of the lanterns or candles that stand plentifully around the room;the only light that comes in is from the moon and the slit underneath the door, leading to the hallway.
His room is practically a replica of Iann’s. Most of the guest rooms are, which makes it easier to know where I need to go.
I rush to the liquor tray and find several options to tamper with. Through the handful of dinners I’ve had with Marcel, never once have I seen him touch wine, so I skip that. Instead, he always has the servers bring him a glass of bourbon.
I pull out the vial Sky gave me and shake two drops inside the decanter. To ensure this plan works, I grab one of the folded napkins and soak a corner in poison. With the damp spot, I run it around the rim of both glasses on the tray.
“You are a selfish individual. Do you know that?” Nearing voices send me jumping, almost causing me to spill the rest of the poison.
The voices come closer and I hop into a wardrobe in the corner. The door slams open and two bickering souls enter before the door closes.
Through a partial slit in the wardrobe doors, I see a servant who rushes to light the lanterns in the room as Marcel comes into view. His deep brown eyes are dark, darker than usual and his face is twisted with bitter displeasure.
Trailing behind him, and the one doing all the talking is Eli. Eli?
“You’ve done this to him once before. Might I remind you of Thana? How can you do this again?”
Marcel goes straight to the liquor tray and pops the cork to the bourbon.
“You may go now,” he says to the servant and then remains quiet until the door shuts and the footsteps trail away. “As I’ve stated a dozen times, I don’t know what you’re referring to Deean. If our brother has an issue, he’s welcome to come complain to me himself.”
I sink farther into the wardrobe. King Marcel’s letter is making much more sense now. The missing son. The laxed way Eli speaks to, and around, Iann, even the extra person in their party. All three Saden princes are here.
My hand flies to the necklace. It’s still yellow, but now I’m wondering if it’s broken. Surely the Queen will be watching me by now.
“You know he has an interest in the Queen’s lady. Or are you so caught up in your own interests?”
Marcel finishes the alcohol in one sip. His Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows the poison down.
“This discussion is over some Haymelian wench? They’re all fickle and of little interest to me.
The Queen suggested one and I said yes without thought.
As our brother should. We’ll be gone in two days’ time and never have to see this place or any of these people again.
Why does he care so much about one girl, especially one whom he barely knows? ”
“Is that what you told yourself when you slept with Thana? While our brother was out looking for riches for your future kingdom nonetheless.” Deean crosses the room in three long strides.
Right until he’s cozied up in his brother’s face.
They are nose to nose and not one of them is backing down.
“You are going to make a piss poor king. Your selfish ambitions will be the fall of Saden.”
Marcel squints. “Better my prideful ambitions than those of a drunk.” He shoves Deean back until his knees hit the side of the bed and he has nowhere else to go.
“I should have sent you back when I had the chance. I didn’t, for Iann, you know.
He’s the only one who still has hope in your pitiful ass.
Like I said, I don’t give a damn about whatever her name is.
” Rude. He steps back like he’s losing his balance.
Oh no, the poison is setting in and I need Deean to leave.
“I’m tired. Get out of here,” he orders, turning back to the tray and leaning against the table it’s set upon.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing, Deean. We’re done here.”
Deean takes a step towards him before finally deciding to wave him off and leave, done with the altercation.
Marcel’s breathing deepens as he claws at his chest. A dull red light fills the space around me. He now has the attention of me and the Queen.
He lets out a lowly cry before his body gives way and he falls to the ground with a thud. I give it a minute, in case someone has heard and tries to come in, before I make my way out of the wardrobe.
Racing across the room, I make sure the door is locked before I sprint back over to Saden’s future king’s prone form and draw my dagger.
Lifting Marcel’s arm, I force a slit across the top of his forearm and watch the blood surface.
The cut is oddly satisfying and comes without hesitation.
Before the blood has time to hit the ground, I let it drop into the vial, filling it to the desired level as I squeeze more out.
As I wait, I watch him carefully, partially expecting him to spring up and have my head for what I’m doing, but I keep going knowing that she’s still watching.
He looks so much like Iann lying there. His features cause a sudden ache in my heart.
If what Deean claimed is true, then Marcel knowingly slept with a woman Iann once loved.
And to Iann it looks like I’m just another woman stolen by his brother.
His cold actions at dinner and avoidance in the hall is justified, but I need him to know that this is out of my hands.
Once the vial is full, I apply pressure to the wound and make sure no blood has been left on the floor.
The necklace fades back to yellow and I feel my heart slow just a tad.
I tuck the vial carefully into one of my pockets and rush to the balcony. Cool air brushes over me, sweat instantly drying with the breeze.
My body stills when the rope is gone. I check the left side of the balcony but could have sworn I dropped down from the right.
Both sides come up empty. The rope is no longer there.
I look over, examining the wall in the moonlight.
It’s not like the wall near mine and Chana’s room. There is nothing to climb up on.
“Hey,” I whisper-yell without speaking her name and being as loud as I can without drawing attention. “Drop down the rope.” All I get is silence despite a few more attempts.
Chana is nowhere to be found, I have no way to climb up, and who knows when the Prince will be waking. This night is perfect.
Running out of options and time, I head towards the only exit left.
I unlock the door and let my hand linger on the knob.
I don’t open it right away. Something tells me to snuff out the lights, so I run around the room until I’m left with only darkness.
If I could carry him, I would drag Marcel to his bed and make him think he passed out, but I know I wouldn’t make it an inch trying to lift him.
I remove my fox mask and tuck it into a pocket. I could explain away the dark clothes but someone sneaking around with a mask feels more suspicious. Once I slip into the hall, I take one last look back into the room before I gently shut the door.
Turning around I prepare to sprint away in search of Chana, but my world stands still. Time itself is frozen and the only thing moving is my beating heart.
Iann stands down the hall, prepared to head into his room until he notices me. His face is hollow, and he has a hard time keeping his eyes on me.
“Iann,” I whisper, moving towards him, “Please, let me explain.”
He puts on a fake smile. “I would rather not hear the details. You can spare me that.” He taps a finger against his coat. “Plus, you don’t owe me anything.” His gaze is back on me, deepening, pushing forth guilt. Even though I didn’t do anything I know how it looks to him. “Good night, Lady Ariah.”
Lunging forward I call his name once more, but he continues down the hall and disappears into his bedroom, leaving me all alone.
I’m convinced the pounding of my heart can be heard by all of the people in the castle, as I rush back to my bed chambers. My blood is fueled by anger and worry and I can’t decide which emotion should be at the forefront.
Iann didn’t even give me a chance to explain. I know what it looked like to him, but had I had the opportunity to speak, the misunderstanding could have been an easy fix. Well, maybe not the fact I was hiding in his brother’s room and now carry a vial of his blood. Ugh! So not an easy fix.
Finally reaching my room, I rush in hoping her disappearance is part of another test for me, and she’s waiting for my return.
But I grow weary when I find the room empty.
I knock on the adjoining door, and after an unanswered second attempt I let myself in.
Cool air instantly breezes over me from the balcony window we left open. Like mine, Chana’s room is also empty.
She was meant to wait for me, where the hell did she go? Growing concerned, I head to the room of the only other person who might know where Chana is.
At the end of the hall I come to a door and hesitate knocking. It takes a good minute to drum up the courage, mainly because I know this person will make a fuss about bothering them this late, but I knock nonetheless.
The first goes unanswered, as does the second and third.
At my fourth attempt, I place an ear to the door and hear a heavy sigh. “Vera?” I whisper loudly.
There is movement at the sound of my voice and a few seconds later the door clicks open a sliver, large enough to reveal her face, forms in the doorframe.
“You damn sure better have something important.”
From the crack in the door, I spot two long needles and a ball of yarn lying on her bed. “You knit?” It’s not the most pressing issue at the moment but it throws me for a second. She didn’t seem like the type to spend her time kitting.
“Ariah,” she says too calmly. “I’m only going to ask you one more time what you want at this hour?”
“Chana is missing. She left me during our mission and she’s not in her room.”
She releases a heavy breath. “Wait here.”
A few minutes later she comes out of her room changed out of her night dress and in full Fox fashion, leads the way back to Chana’s room.
Inside she inspects Chana’s bedding, items on the dresser, even pokes about in my room, then she goes to the window.
“Show me exactly where you two went,” she orders.
I don’t hesitate to climb out the window and scale the wall to the roof. Vera follows, much more graciously than me. Once she reaches the top, she pulls a dagger from her pants and tells me to continue leading the way.
We take the same route Chane had led me in. Approaching Prince Marcel’s room I slow and then stop when I spot a shadowed figure lying on the roof.
Vera pushes me out of the way when she sees the body too, and rushes to get closer.
Under the moonlight we make out Chana’s still frame.
“Is she breathing?” Vera panics. It’s the first time I’ve seen her without composure.
Bending next to Vera, I place my fingers along Chana’s neck to search for a pulse.
Suddenly, I’m struck with a scent I’ve smelled several times inside my father’s office. I am no apothecary but I know the scent of nightshade well enough to recognize it, and the deadly poison is strongly emitting from Chana.