CHAPTER 11
The ground was hard and cold under my back, my entire body ached, except my head was no longer hurting, which was an unusual feeling, even considering how hard I had just hit it.
I kept my eyes closed for a moment longer, not wanting to greet the embarrassment that was no doubt waiting for me.
A cold, calloused hand touched my cheek, and my eyes fluttered open.
Everything was so bright, and it was hard to focus on anything.
Dark tousled hair and stormy-ocean eyes hovered above me.
“Avyn, can you hear me?” His voice was close yet distant at the same time.
I closed my eyes again and brought my hand to my head; someone had taken my hair out and had placed a cold, damp rag on my forehead.
“I’m okay,” I managed to say, “I just need a moment.”
Focusing on my breathing, working through the aches and pains from the fall, I could faintly hear the Prince's voice again, a bit farther, talking to someone, telling them to go and get some ice and a glass of water.
I opened my eyes again and was greeted by two giant, crimson eyes inches from my face.
Black fur encompassed each eye, leading down its snout as it sniffed my face.
A wave of panic crashed into me, and I instinctively scrambled backward on my hands, trying to get away, but the sharp shooting pain in my palms reminded me of the small glass shards stuck in them.
My breathing turned rapid as the panic tightened its grip around my throat.
“You can see him?!” Prince Zendryk demanded as he frantically closed the gap between us, resting his hand on top of what I can now see was a wolf, but it was much larger than any I had seen before.
He was towering over me; they both were. The wolf at its highest point reached the Prince’s shoulders; its paws were enormous, and its teeth, now fully exposed, were blade-sharp, capable of tearing through flesh easily; I would not stand a chance.
I tried to scoot back, but the giant wolf took a step forward, freezing me in place, hovering above me.
“Avyn! Can you see him?!” The Prince demanded more forcefully now.
I slowly nodded my head, and tears started to brim in my eyes. I had to breathe; I needed air.
“How?! You couldn’t see him before, right?” He asked, pacing back and forth.
I nodded again, still not able to speak, my eyes darting from the wolf above me to the Prince.
He stopped pacing and looked to the wolf, “Move back, you’re scaring her.”
The wolf looked down at me one more time and then backed away, letting the light from the lanterns illuminate my vision.
Something was moving inside the lanterns, something tiny with wings, and the candles were no longer in them.
I eased up onto my elbows, and the wind blew across my face, causing strands of my hair to tickle my nose.
The breeze was cool, and I welcomed it with open arms, removing the damp cloth from my forehead.
My vision was becoming clearer, and I looked around to see who was around us.
The large wolf sat beside the Prince, who stood, staring at me, arms crossed, with a serious yet curious look on his face.
Mrs. Prast was also here, but it seemed no one else was around, and the party had come to an end.
I hoped they did not end the festivities because of my accident; Jane would never let me live that down.
I sat up fully, avoiding everyone’s gaze as my cheeks burned.
Mrs. Prast walked over to the Prince, and they had a hushed conversation while looking towards me.
She had the same confused look on her face as he did.
I untied my shoes, not wanting to fall again, and tried to stand up.
My head spun for a moment as I straightened, but it quickly subsided.
The sound of large footsteps came from behind me, and I turned to see another wolf standing there.
It was as white as snow but had the same red eyes as the other.
I was shaking and wondered why no one else was scared or moving away from the two beasts that were near us.
The white wolf moved forward and sniffed me before making its way over to where the black wolf sat and joined them.
I could hear Mrs. Prast agreeing with something the Prince had said, and she made her way towards the manor.
Prince Zendryk stared at me for a moment longer and strode over to me.
“You are coming with me.” He said as he bent down to pick up my shoes. What the fuck?!
“Uh, excuse me?! I just woke up, two giant wolves are right there, and you’re not going to tell me anything except that you want me to go with you? I don’t think so.” I crossed my arms and stood my ground.
The dark wolf let out a low growl, snapping his mouth in my direction, and his teeth clashed together.
“You can either come with me on your own, or I could get them to bring you inside.” And he motioned to the two wolves, who were now both standing, tails slowly swaying back and forth.
“I don’t think wolves listen to humans.” I didn’t budge, but the white wolf mimicked the other and let out a low, resounding growl.
That was all the warning I needed. Swallowing my anxiety down, I moved closer to the Prince and followed him as he led us to the manor. I glanced back towards the wolves, and the shadowy outlines of their bodies didn’t move as four glowing-red eyes watched us walk away.
We didn’t go through the servant’s doors; he led me to the front of the building, and we entered through the main wooden doors that had greeted me when I first arrived here.
They opened as we approached, and one of the servants gasped as they saw me walking behind him; a whisper from the other servant trailed behind us.
I must have looked like a mess, blood and dirt splattered my skin, I reeked of wine, and my hair had tangles of debris in it.
At least no one had told me to do something with my hair right now.
We entered the building, and he led me across the large entryway to a hallway that was at least triple the size of the servants’ halls.
The walls were lined with intricate stone carvings of wolves, trees, moons, and mountains.
How had I not been in this part of the manor yet?
I wanted to stop and look at each design, but he was walking too fast, and I could barely keep up with his long strides.
He opened a door at the end of the hallway and motioned for me to go in first. Stepping through the doorway, the air wrapped around me, and I inhaled the heavy, comforting smell of old leather bindings and timeworn paper.
Each wall was lined with shelves, filled with books of all shapes and sizes.
At the end of the room sat a large desk with curved edges, and behind the desk was a wooden chair upholstered in dark leather.
The desk and chair sat in front of a circular window that took up the entire wall; it was trimmed with small golden vines creeping towards the window's center, creating a cross-like pattern.
The Prince made his way to the chair and sat down, swinging his leg over the arm of it.
He remained silent, his face bewildered.
“Am I in trouble, sir?” I asked, breaking the silence.
“No, Avyn, you are not.” He replied while furrowing his brows together. “I am a little confused; you should not have been able to see the wolves.”
“What do you mean? Couldn’t everyone see them?” The same bewildered look now graced my face.
There was a sudden, hasty knock on the door that startled me.
“Come in.” The Prince said loudly enough so that whoever was on the other side could hear.
The door opened, and an older man with a deep brown complexion, bald head, and scruffy white beard entered the room. He was wearing silk pajama bottoms but no shirt. Small tufts of white and grey hair were speckled across his chest.
“Mrs. Prast informed me of the commotion. Are you sure she saw them?” He asked.
“Yes, it was evident by her reaction.” The Prince replied to the old man.
“Very peculiar…” The old man trailed off, starting to pace back and forth, rubbing his beard, until he suddenly stopped and looked in my direction. “What did you say your last name is, ma’am?”
“Ashwood,” I responded, with a hint of annoyance.
Why wasn’t anyone telling me what was going on? My anxiety was rapidly shifting into anger.
“Ashwood…… I don’t recall any Ashwood’s in history…present or past.” He started to pace again, stroking his beard with each step he took.
“Do you think the incantation has faltered?” Concern flickered across the Prince's features.
“No... I don’t, or there would be a lot more chaos happening…” The old man came closer to me, looking me in the eyes, up and down, and walked in slow circles around me.
My heart was pounding, and the anger and confusion were rising in my chest with each step he took.
At last, the anger reached its boiling point and erupted. “CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!?!”
Both men stilled at my outburst, stunned into silence. They probably had never heard a servant speak that way before.
“You are talking about me as if I’m not here. I have no clue what is going on or what I did wrong. Can someone please tell me? And can I please clean up my hands?” I begged, looking down at the dried blood and wine that covered them.
The Prince summoned a guard who was standing duty outside his door, “Let Mrs. Prast know we will need some medical supplies as well.”
The guard nodded and hurried off to find Mrs. Prast.
The older man looked to the Prince once the guard was gone, “It is up to you, how much you tell her.”