CHAPTER 12
I drew in a sharp breath; my gaze swept across the room as I ignored the guard closing the door and the soft click of the lock sliding into place.
The room was not what I expected. Lanterns illuminated the space, while a fireplace burned in the farthest corner.
The floors were a dark ebony, and they were met not by stone walls but by walls adorned with golden filigree flowers that flowed up towards the high ceilings.
Flowering vines climbed the walls and spilled onto the ceiling, racing towards the center where they shimmered, and encased a lantern-filled chandelier.
There was a small writing desk by the fireplace, with paper strewn across it, accompanied by an ink jar with a feather-tipped pen resting in it.
The chair was modest, adorned with a small black cushion for sitting.
On the other side of the fireplace was a wooden rocking chair, and my heart dropped.
Memories of my mother sitting in the rocking chair by our fireplace passed like a momentary breeze.
I could feel the tears of memories, tears of stress, tears of the entire day gathering in my eyes.
Bringing my hands to my face, I wiped away the small trail of tears that trailed down my cheeks, when suddenly the lock on the door clicked again, and a small, quiet knock sounded before it slowly opened.
“Avyn?” A welcome familiar voice called in.
“Mrs. Prast, please come in.” I wiped my nose with the back of my hand.
She walked through the door with a wicker basket resting on her hip. “How are you doing, dear?”
How was I doing? Oh, about as good as anyone in my situation.
“I’m okay,” I responded through a sniffle and wiped my eyes once more.
She looked concerned and took a small towel out of the basket, handing it to me to wipe away the tears still gently falling from my eyes.
“You’re covered in blood, dear. Let’s get you cleaned up.
” She immediately went to work on my hands, picking out the small shards of glass with a pair of tweezers, and then wiped them with a cloth doused in some kind of alcohol.
She looked at the back of my palm, where the marking was from the day I was sworn in. Her worn fingers gently ran over it before wrapping my hand in a bandage.
“Thank you.” I wiped the last of the tears away and took a deep breath. “Do you know why I am in trouble? Why am I locked up here?”
“Girl, you are not in trouble; the Prince and Professor just have some things to figure out. You are in this room for your safety.” She walked over to the bed and placed the basket on it.
The bed was so large it could swallow my entire bedroom 3 stories below.
Giant grey fluffy blankets lay on top, along with an abundance of pillows in all shapes, sizes, and textures.
Some had fur, some had tassels, and others looked like they were made of silk.
The bed sat upon a honey-oak frame, with four giant posts reaching towards the ceiling.
Silken white fabric, that looked as light as a cloud, flowed from one post to another, wrapping around the beams that joined them together.
“I knew there was something different about you. The day I swore you in, the ceremony, it didn’t go as the others did.” She said, looking back at me.
“What do you mean? Doesn’t everyone sworn in get this?” I raised my bandaged hand to her.
“Yes, dear, they do, but normally… I don’t know how to explain it to you.” She thought for a moment before speaking again, “Normally, I can tell that it worked. A … black cloud appears, sealing the …oath.”
I had never seen her lost for words, or so calm.
“That’s enough of that for tonight. We have all had a busy day, and it is time for you to get some rest.” She walked back over to me.
“I’ve brought you some new clothes. Something more comfortable for your stay here.
” She pulled out different pieces of clothing and laid them on the bed.
“You can store them in that wardrobe over there,” She nodded to the left with her head.
“There is a basket beside it. Once you have worn an outfit, place it in there to be laundered.”
She noticed my confusion and continued talking.
“Oh girl, it is late in the night, get yourself some sleep. I am sure more information will come in the next couple of days. For now, you are a guest of the Prince. He will ensure your safety and that all your needs are met.”
“Don’t I need to be on service in the morning? There will be a lot of cleanup after the party…”
“Nonsense. Until things are figured out, you won’t be serving.
Enjoy your time here. There are some good books on the bookshelf by the door, and there are writing supplies on the desk.
The bathroom is through that door there.
” She pointed with her hand towards a slender door.
“Food will be brought up to you, and the dishes will be taken away after every meal. You can give them to the guard by knocking on the door, and he will place them where they need to go.”
This didn’t feel right. All of this, for me? A moment ago, I was a prisoner, and now, I am a guest? “Thank you, Mrs. Prast. I need to try and get some sleep.”
“Right. If you need anything else, just ask the guard. He will relay all the messages to me. Have a good night, dear.” She turned on her heels, just as she did when she was managing all the servants, and left my room, the lock clicking back into place behind her.
I didn’t move for a while, digesting everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours.
I eventually went over to the bed and looked at the pile of clothes that Mrs. Prast had laid out for me.
They were all black, and I could tell which ones were meant for sleeping; there were a couple of night-dresses made of silk, but they were shorter than the ones that I was used to.
The other ones beside them confused me. I didn’t see any day dresses, but instead pairs of pants and shirts.
I held one up, and it barely had arm holes; instead, two rope-like strings were attached to the top.
Putting them down, I picked up a pair of pants next; they were stretchy but sturdy.
I was too tired tonight to worry about this, so I put the pants and shirts back in the basket and placed them on the floor beside the bed.
Grabbing one of the night dresses, I made my way to the bathroom.
There was a washbasin and jug on a small stand beside the bathtub, which was the biggest tub I had ever encountered.
It had golden, clawed feet in the shape of wolf paws, which gripped the white porcelain tub.
One side rose higher than the other, to rest your head on, I presumed.
The tub was empty, but the jug was full of warm water waiting for me to wash away the memories of today.
I poured the water into the basin, grabbed a washcloth from the metal stand, and began scrubbing the wine, dirt, and blood from my body.
Once I had finished washing up, I slipped into the nightdress that I had brought into the bathroom with me.
The fabric against my skin was exquisite; I had never worn anything like this, and I took a moment to savor the feeling.
Exhaustion washed over me, and my body swayed back and forth, telling me it was time for sleep.
Walking slowly, one sleepy step after another, I made my way towards the bed and tossed a handful of pillows to the floor, and pulled back the blankets before crawling in.
The mattress. Oh, the mattress! If this is what heaven feels like, then I have died and gone to heaven!
My body sank into it, and it felt like a warm hug on a cold day.
Reaching down, I grabbed the blankets and curled up under them, relishing in the luxurious comfort.
My eyes were heavy and hard to keep open.
The lanterns and chandelier dimmed, or was it that my eyes were slowly closing?
I was not quite sure. I sifted through the day in my mind, replaying every moment, every word spoken, and the voices that spoke them.
I wasn’t aware of when it happened, but I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.