Chapter 6. Mother’s Eyes.
The snow shone bright under the Moon’s magical gaze; our horses’ even steps calmed my racing mind—my eyelids fought to stay open.
“Have you rested at all?” Francis offered me a glance.
Despite the cold and fatigue from our trip, he looked flawless as usual.
He held the reins in one hand, effortlessly controlling his horse; in the other he clung onto the book—with a navy blue cover—he’d retrieved from his childhood room before we left.
“Cordelia?” He crooked his head, frowning.
“Pardon me?”
“Have you slept at all?” Francis asked, reaching for the canteen in his inside pocket.
I shrugged as fatigue washed over me with new force.
“Here.” He offered me the drink.
“What is this?” I asked, nodding at the canteen.
“Blood. I figured you were starving: your hands still shake—”
“I am well.” I stared at the invisible point in the distance.
The back of my eyes prickled, reminding me of the last time I’d felt this screeching pain: back underneath the Royal palace, back in the dungeons that I’d spent every day in my nightmares.
The pain I would never mistake for anything else: the pain of hunger.
“How did you know I would be at the cabin?”
Francis’ brows furrowed, but he put the canteen back into his pocket.
“It wasn’t hard to guess where you were going in such a rush.
” He pocketed the blue-covered book. “I made it to the palace right before sunrise, but it was engulfed in flames. I had to spend the day at the Royal lodge—thankfully it was abandoned.”
“Once the sun went down, I returned to the palace. That’s when I saw Caleb sneaking off the grounds—towards the cabin.” Francis met my gaze.
I nodded as though satisfied with his answer, though the question that bothered me most was left unasked. How had he found me at the Royal palace all those nights ago? Why had he even bothered saving me after all the inconveniences I’d caused him?
I ordered Annabelle faster, leaving Francis behind, when his probing eyes kept landing on me with so many questions I was unable to answer.
The castle gleamed even in the darkness of night, covered in snow and ice just like in the fairytales I’d read as a child. The window to my room was now closed, a few candles appeared on its windowsill.
“Don’t worry, you can use the door on your way up.” Francis winked, though his expression fell once his eyes landed on my features. He cleared his throat before taking our horses to the stables.
I walked through the main doors, heading straight for my room. Perhaps if I was quick enough I wouldn’t meet anyone on my way—
Three pairs of eyes waited for me by the door to my room.
“Cordelia.” Florence sighed as she took a careful step forward, looking at me as though I was a spooked, wild animal.
A single tear fell down her cheek when she offered me an odd smile.
She, Roxanne, and Simon all stood by my door, refusing me entrance.
“I am so, so glad you are back.” Florence offered me a smile that felt forced compared to her usual sunshine glee.
Florence had been the one to feed me on the nights my body was recovering from Kane’s assault. In and out of my consciousness, I hadn’t been able to separate the nightmare from reality. I supposed they didn’t differ much all the same.
Florence had sat patiently by my side, her soft voice had been the only thing that kept my mind from shattering.
I wished I could remember her words now, yet every time I tried to retrace the happenings of those long nights, I was left with nothing.
“Charlotte refused to sleep anywhere else but in your room.” Florence looked at me apologetically, bringing me back from my thoughts.
I nodded, glancing at the company behind her. Simon and Roxanne stared shameless. Roxanne’s usually schooled expression was now translucent, the horror underneath her eyes bled dry.
An awkward silence stretched as we all stared into each other’s eyes. I wondered what they saw in mine.
“All right.” Francis appeared behind me, his hand landing on my lower back, ushering me forward. “You need rest.” He walked me past the three glowing pairs of eyes, opening the door to my room. “Spare me the trouble and use the stairs next time, will you?”
“One week.” I mumbled before slipping inside.
My lungs expanded yet every breath hurt as though I was breathing in fire. I scanned the room I ran from the night before until my eyes landed on a small body resting in the center of my bed; with three blankets wrapped around her, her peaceful features made my heart swell.
Her dark brown curls splattered on the silken pillow, her olive skin reddened underneath her eyes. Silver took his designated spot by her feet.
I reached for the woolen blanket, fixing it around her small frame when my eyes caught a small piece of parchment resting atop the bedside table. My name written at the top made my heart race.
What if...
The curvy and slightly awkward handwriting did not match the one of anyone in my family.
I swallowed the embarrassment and anger, breaking the seal. How foolish of me to think the letter could have been from my family.
Cordelia, I missed you greatly, the letter read. Florence said you were ill, but I know our kind is safe from any human sickness. Please don’t leave again. I missed you dearly. We all did. Charlotte.
My stomach ached as I reread the words Charlotte had written to me; my eyes prickled as though the tears were about to come, yet there were none left.
“The Princess of Raven Kingdom wished to protect her beloved subjects no matter the cost. She walked into the Onyx castle with bravery the strongest of her Kingdom did not possess.” Charlotte flipped through the page of the navy-blue book she’d been reading me for the last few nights.
“No one could stop her from breaking the curse the evil King put on her home.”
Charlotte's green eyes glowed in the gloom of the room, a delighted smile appeared on her face when she continued to read. “The floors of the Onyx castle creaked under her steps, scaring away the spiders at her feet...”
Silver purred, sleeping by Charlotte’s boots atop the windowsill, guarding the child. Occasionally, Charlotte stopped reading to pet him, and ensure I was still listening to the story.
She was young... so young and innocent in a world filled with violence and tragedy. Dread enveloped me whole at the thought of her compromised safety.
Her lips turned into a grin, her bright laughter erupted in the room. Charlotte glanced at me, rereading a sentence that brought her so much joy; I forced a smile to my face.
“You don’t like this story, do you?” Charlotte put the book down on the cushion, making her way to me.
“Of course I do,” I whispered, my hands reaching for her brown braids. “It’s a great story.”
She crooked her head to one side, studying me. For a moment I forgot a child was looking at me: her eyes knew struggle, her eyes knew pain and despair.
“I can read you another story if you wish.” She smiled. “Francis brought me many books to choose from.” She told me, her hands feeling the stray strand of my hair.
“No need,” I reassured her. “I want to know how the Princess of Raven Kingdom breaks the curse—”
Charlotte's hands wrapped around my neck. “I missed you,” she said.
“I missed you too.”
The smile on her face faded once her eyes fell onto my chest. “What a curious stone.” Charlotte’s hand reached for my necklace, her fingers brushing over the metal lock wrapped around the emerald. “Just like my mother’s eyes,” she whispered, her voice dreamy.
“Do you remember her?” I dared ask. Charlotte’s eyes found mine, the crease between her brows deepened. “Your mother?” I added. “Do you remember her?”
Charlotte dropped the necklace as if it was fire itself. She hurried away from me in an instant, her hands reaching for her book. She found the page she had left off, her eyes scanning the words.
Guilt scratched at my heart. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. An odd silence stretched between us: my apology was left unnoticed.
I lay back on my bed, fatigue from starvation making its way through my body.
I did not remember the last time I’d fed: it must have been at least a week.
Curiously enough, I did not feel the same anguish I had when starvation was forced upon me.
Still and all, the lack of blood drained my strength, leaving me with nothing but a void.
A long while passed before Charlotte spoke again. I started to fade away into my nightmares when her voice traveled through the room. “This used to be mama’s room.” Her fingers traced the fabric of the curtains.
“Pardon me?” I glanced up at her. Her green eyes glowed brighter.
“This room.” Charlotte gestured around herself. “It used to be mama’s. This whole castle was hers.” She hummed as a quiet, soft knock on the door echoed.
The door gave way, revealing the silhouette at its threshold. Florence took a shy step into the room, her eyes jumping between Charlotte’s and mine. She fixed her dark green dress that complimented her soft complexion, before a sunshine smile returned to her face. “What have you two been up to?”
“I was reading for Cordelia!” Charlotte skipped towards Florence. “Do you think Francis would let me keep this book for a while? I know my friend, Lucy, would love this story.”
“Of course he would.” Florence’s brows furrowed at the book. “Besides, he is too old for reading children’s stories.” She picked the girl up, spinning her in a dance.
Charlotte’s giggles brightened the room. “Put me down, Florence!” She laughed. “I am too old to be carried around!”
“Are you now?” Florence spun her once more before lowering the child to her feet. Florence’s eyes met mine before she addressed Charlotte, “We need to take you back to Faris, precious.” Her voice dropped when she added, “It’s not safe for you to stay here long.”
Charlotte’s gaze dropped to the floor. “All right,” she sighed. “Will you both come visit soon?” Hope filled her eyes.
“Of course.” I said before I could stop myself.
How could I promise such things when I knew nothing of what tomorrow would bring. Would I even be alive next week?
Something about my features gave away my uncertainty, for Charlotte’s—filled with betrayal—eyes burned into mine. She walked towards me, her hands wrapped around my neck in the tightest embrace. “Swear it to me, Cordelia.”
The child I came to love was gone: an old spirit now glared at me, demanding my oath. “I swear.” I breathed, not believing my own ears when the words spilled.
Charlotte nodded, slowly her features relaxed until a smile spread on her face anew. “Florence said after the war I can go traveling with her and Roxanne, and then stay here at the castle if I wish to.”
“After the war.” I nodded.