15. Princess Esemeray
PRINCESS ESEMERAY
Warmth radiated through her mind, body, and soul, as if a part of her had awoken after a long slumber.
Esemeray lay in bed, staring at the palm of her hand and tracing the faint scars with a delicate touch.
They were once wounds afflicted by that necklace—the thing that imprisoned her for longer than she’d been free.
Her mother had done that to her—made her endure pain every single day.
Now, she embraced the sensation coursing through her body. The humming along her skin. The pounding in her bones. Breathing in, she welcomed her power with a full breath.
A smile bloomed as she climbed out of bed and rushed toward her window.
Staring at the tiny white new sprouts across the rolling meadows, Esemeray’s eyes lit up.
Spring was her favorite season; it’s when life bloomed, and this year, she supposed she was blooming too.
She wasn’t going back to the girl who was trapped, nor the girl who hid from the world.
Seeing Elora in her dream had unlocked a part of her that she buried so long ago, she’d nearly forgotten it entirely.
Not anymore.
“Good morning, you!” Aria crooned, hurrying with a robe and draping it over Esemeray.
The cotton was feather soft on her skin, Esemeray sighed, almost forgetting she was naked.
A rush of cool air snaked along her neck.
The phantom presence of her sister lingered.
But, instead of the gut-wrenching windwhirl she experienced last night, today felt…
like she were a bird drifting in the wind, free.
“Good morning, Aria,” Esemeray said, smiling.
“Please sit. I brought in your breakfast.” Aria pulled out the chair and motioned for Esemeray to take her place.
She glanced at the table: pancakes, waffles, an assortment of cheese, and orange juice—all her favorites. Esemeray collapsed into her chair, her stomach grumbling with vigor. Esemeray reached for her fork.
“I can hardly ever get you to eat,” Aria chimed.
Esemeray didn’t wait a second before digging into the fluffy pancakes, clouds of butter melting on her tongue in perfect union with the sweet syrup. She supposed she was starved from last night, yet she’d never been this hungry before. Was the necklace suppressing my appetite?
She tipped her head back in ecstasy. “Devine.” Filling her fork again, she scooped another bite into her mouth. Each mouthful brought warmth to her belly.
Mr. Pebbles appeared, squeaking by her feet. Mid-bite, Esemeray reached down to help him up.
Aria set a small plate on the table like she always did, speaking sweetly, “Can’t forget our little friend.”
Esemeray set Mr. Pebbles on the plate and filled it with cheese. He snatched up a square faster than she could blink.
“I think it’s safe to say he likes it.” Esemeray grinned, taking another bite of her pancakes.
The door flew open, cracking against the wall.
Her mother and Colette.
With her mouth full of food, Esemeray froze, blinking at the sight. Her gut tightened at the sight of Colette. She always wondered why Colette wore uniforms a size too small. Her blue gown was skin tight, her breasts spilling out so much the view was almost vulgar.
Maybe she dressed like that for Father.
Her mother’s eyes were wide as she stared at the table. Too distracted by Colette, Esemeray realized too late what her mother was looking at…
Esemeray’s face turned ashen. A surge of panic rushed through her, causing her palms to sweat. Quickly she stood, angling herself in front of Mr. Pebbles.
Her mother strode into the room with her hands raised and shouted, “Guards! There is a rodent on the table!” The queen’s breathing became uneven as she whipped her viscous gaze to Colette. “Get that thing, Colette! Now!”
Esemeray scooped up Mr. Pebbles, backing toward the window. Colette approached, her face squinting in disgust.
Avoiding eye contact with Colette, Esemeray held Mr. Pebbles close to her, desperate to convince her mother. “It’s okay. He’s friendly. He’s my friend, Mother.”
The queen looked like she was on the brink of passing out. “Put that disease-infested creature down this instant! Throw it out the window! Get rid of it!”
Esemeray felt her power hum beneath her skin as she stared at her mother. “No.”
Her mother cocked a brow. “No?” She approached her. “You do not disobey me, girl.” Her mother reeled her hand back and struck hard. “Clearly I’ve taught you nothing about manners.”
A warm rush spilled down Esemeray’s chin as drops of obsidian fell to the carpet. Her fingers floated to her throbbing lip. Feeling the slick substance on her fingers, she stared down at the blood coating her fingers.
Confusion rippled across Esemeray’s features. Her blood, once red, now glistened, black as night. What’s happening to me?
The captain and his guards appeared in the doorway. “Your Majesty, what is it?”
Colette stared at the captain with wide eyes, flushing as she made her way behind her mother, adjusting her hair and gown.
“Captain Rutherford, my daughter seems to have found a rodent. Please remove it from her hands and dispose of it immediately.”
Esemeray’s stomach sank, heart pounding. When the captain stepped forward, her palm met metal, stopping him from moving closer. “No, please; he is my friend.” She glanced at Aria, and swallowed hard. Why isn’t Aria saying anything?
“Princess Esemeray, hand it over. I don’t want to make this harder than it has to be.” He cupped his hand, his cheeks slackening.
“No! Please don’t take him from me,” Esemeray begged, heart cracking. The building pressure behind her eyes became unbearable. Her vision blurred as she blinked and blinked and blinked. She pleaded, “He’s all I have.”
Mr. Pebbles squeaked in her hold, wrapping his paws around her finger as if he were saying goodbye. Lip wobbling, she focused on the feeling of his tiny grip. His steady heartbeat along her palm.
Her mother pointed at the captain and bared her teeth. “Captain, if you don’t take that thing, I will reconsider a new title for you.”
Captain Rutherford clenched his jaw. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, extending his hands toward her. “Please, princess, I will keep your friend safe.”
I will keep your friend safe.
Safe.
The captain’s words repeated in her mind. “Do you promise?” Her voice was thick with emotion.
He nodded, his features softening. “I promise.”
She hesitated at first, glancing around the room at all the faces who stared at her, waiting for her to obey.
Slowly, she set Mr. Pebbles in the captain’s hands, trusting his vow.
She memorized every detail of him: his black-and-white fluffy coat, his pink nose, white whiskers, and pink little paws.
Tears slid down her face like hot rain. “I love you, Mr. Pebbles.”
Her mother’s face etched with disgust. “Give that rat to me.”
Esemeray’s breathing faltered. “No…”
The captain let out a defeated sigh, as if he had no choice but to obey, pulling his hands into his chest. Her mother lunged, snatching Mr. Pebbles, and curled her hand into a fist, squeezing until her knuckles went white.
Esemeray leapt at her mother, but before she reached her, two guards held her against the wall.
“Let him go!” she screamed, fighting the guard’s hold.
“You’re hurting him!” She couldn’t breathe—could do no such thing as Mr. Pebbles struggled for air.
Her mother threw her head back and barked an evil laugh.
His squeaking became louder as she tightened her hand around him further.
Esemeray’s voice cracked, her pulse thrumming strong, “You’re killing him. Stop!”
Her mother smirked, releasing her hold.
Esemeray’s own heart stopped.
Mr. Pebbles’s body thumped to the carpet, his body limp and unmoving.
Time slowed.
She couldn’t run to him, couldn’t get to him, couldn’t save him.
She was too late.
“Let go of me!” Esemeray set her eyes on Aria, who was staring at the captain with something like regret. Esemeray begged, tears streaming down her face. “Aria, please help him. Please.” Pin pricks pierced her scalp, fire licked her spine, and her bones thrummed like beating drums.
Her mother snapped at Colette, “Dispose of the rodent and bring me something to clean my hands.” Colette obeyed immediately, bending down and gagging as she picked up Mr. Pebbles by the tail.
The guards stepped aside, releasing their hold as if their hands caught on fire. Esemeray didn’t waste a second before running toward Colette—and neither did her mother. Esemeray took all but two steps before the queen yanked her by the hair and threw her to the ground.
Knees crashing hard into the floor, Esemeray sobbed, letting the pain of his death consume her. She allowed the pounding in her mind and her body to take control. Esemeray screamed so loud her voice broke, “Murderer! You killed him!”
Dead.
Dead.
Dead.
The world blurred.
“Spare me the dramatics,” she spat.
Silence smothered the room. When the queen next spoke, her voice trembled with fear. “How?—”
Esemeray blinked, staring down at her hands—at the shadows that would not stop spilling from her fingers.
Obsidian mist filled the room, growing thicker by the second.
The room tilted, the whole world with it.
Esemeray slipped into a trance. Her consciousness swallowed into oblivion.
Warm, thick liquid engulfed her, pulling her into an abyss of nothingness, as if the shadows were controlling her.
Dancing, entwining—colliding. Her pain, her sorrow, ceased to exist—her chest rising and falling in easy rhythm.
A faint, sinful whisper echoed. “Esemeray, Esemeray, Esemeray.”
Cold, shocking hands wrapped around her shoulders, and then she was staring into a twin pools of depthless blue eyes. “We need to leave. Now!” It was Aria who was pulling her out of the trance, reality rushing back in fractured pieces.
“What’s happened?” Esemeray murmured as Aria grabbed her hand and led her into the castle halls.
“Run!” Aria urged.