CHAPTER 12 #2
The morning sun slipped through the window, warming my skin as it had at The Academy.
An odd remnant of comfort, from a place so cold.
Was I at The Academy again? The thought jolted me awake, and my vision focused on the wardrobe across from me.
The room was alive during the day, and everything was beautiful with the sun’s rays dancing off it; the gold shone brighter, the floors looked cleaner, and all the fabrics glistened, displaying the intricate details of every thread.
The flood of yesterday’s lingering thoughts left my head spinning, a dizzy weight pressing on my chest. When I sat up, my stomach rumbled at the sudden movement.
Shit, with all the commotion last night, I had forgotten to eat dinner.
Looking around the room, I noticed a small table, chairs, and a tray with food in one corner.
How did that get there? Did the guard come in while I was sleeping?
A shiver ran through my body at the thought of someone being in here while I slept.
I stepped out of bed, and the floor was cold on my bare skin.
Shifting my feet in discomfort, I stepped on something; a pair of black satin slippers lay on the floor before me.
Maybe Mrs. Prast snuck in early this morning.
I put them on and made my way over to the table and chairs, taking a seat facing the window.
The window looked out over the gardens at the back of the manor; the servants were already hustling and bustling, cleaning up the mess from the party last night.
A pang of guilt struck my heart; I should be down there helping.
Not up here, sleeping in and eating while watching them work.
It wasn't like I had a choice; I couldn’t leave if I wanted to, anyway.
Pushing those thoughts to the back of my mind, I had to eat something.
The tray in front of me held a variety of fruit, bread, pastries, and spreads; I didn’t know where to start.
Everything looked divine. I grabbed a small croissant and spread butter on it, along with a sticky orange spread.
Sweetness filled my mouth as I took the first bite; the croissant was buttery and flaky, and the spread had notes of citrus and a hint of mint.
I finished the croissant in two bites and worked on the rest of the food on the tray.
When I had finished, I could hardly move from eating so much, everything was delicious and better than I ever expected.
Glancing out the window again, Jane was scurrying around outside, going from one person to another, no doubt telling them what to do.
A bitter laugh escaped me, and I was thankful I did not have to deal with her or her bitchy mood today.
The morning dragged on, and no one had come or gone except for when I handed the guard my empty tray of food.
I passed the time by having a bath, which was tricky at first; each handle controlled either hot or cold water.
The water was warm and luxurious, and the soaps that accompanied me filled the room with lavender and citrus aromas.
A perfect complement to the breakfast I had just indulged in.
I leaned my head back against the high end of the tub and relaxed, absorbing everything the room had to offer.
A good while later, I was wrapped in a towel and was on my way back to the bedroom.
I grabbed a pair of pants and one of the shirts from the basket Mrs. Prast had brought to me, but opted for the one with longer arms. The weather had a slight chill to it as I changed into my new clothes.
The pants stretched as I pulled them on, and they formed to my body, emphasizing every curve and angle my body had to offer.
The shirt hung loosely off my shoulders, flowing just past my waist. My hair, still wet, hung down my back, so I twisted it up and tied it into a ponytail.
I spent the rest of the morning looking for things to pass the time and keep my mind busy.
I dumped the basket of clothes onto my bed, and something bounced off the bed onto the floor.
My pulse faltered at the sight of my journals' familiar, weathered leather.
Silently, I thanked Mrs. Prast, unsure of how she knew about it or where it was hidden; either way, I was grateful that it was here.
I finished placing the clothes in the wardrobe and took my journal over to the small writing desk.
When I opened it, the crackle of the spine and pages greeted me with open arms like an old friend.
Flipping to an empty page, I dabbed the feather-tipped pen into the ink jar and began to write everything down that I could remember from yesterday:
- I started the day as a servant
- I ended up as a guest
- Two large wolves, with glowing red eyes, one black, one white
- Incantations on mortals hiding their world
- Mortal war against Immortals (mortal uprising)
- Servitude to Immortals oath
-No headache today, or since I hit my head
Setting the feathered pen in the ink jar, I sat back in my chair. Just writing it out was overwhelming. Everything I had known was turned upside down, and the world I now found myself in was not the world I grew up in.