Chapter 8. Ghost.
The cool air caressed my still damp hair as I made my way down to the stables. Snowflakes waltzed down my path, crunching under my boots. The thirteenth full Moon was knocking at our doors.
Annabelle nuzzled against me once I was within reach; my hand stretched to pet her when a pair of light-brown glowing eyes planted on me from the depths of the stables.
Roxanne looked me up and down before returning to brush her horse. Her copper hair splattered around her shoulders, reaching her waist; her black cloak contrasted with her light skin, hiding the nightgown underneath: she looked fresh out of bed.
My upcoming trip to Faris need not be a secret—Francis did not specify whether I must stay at the castle after he dragged me back, not that I cared—still and all, I wasn’t pleased with an extra pair of eyes and ears upon my departure. Though, Roxanne never seemed to care—
“Where are you going?” she asked as I put my saddle on Annabelle.
“To Faris,” I replied, my fingers securing the small belts.
“By yourself?” Roxanne put the brush down.
I merely shrugged, mounting my horse.
“Wait for me.” She threw over her shoulder, heading towards the castle.
“You needn't trouble yourself.” I called after her, yet the front doors of the castle shut before I finished my sentence.
I supposed it wouldn’t make a difference were she to come along. Roxanne wasn’t one to indulge in someone's privacy out of curiosity: most of our time together was spent in silence.
“Let’s go.” She reappeared at the stables a few minutes later. Her nightgown changed into a beautiful forest-green dress, her hair now put into two simple braids, crowning her head. She ordered her horse out of the stables without waiting for me to follow.
As predicted, Roxanne didn’t bother me with countless questions along our journey, though her withering gaze fell in my direction more than I preferred.
“Is something wrong?” I dared her to voice her mind after another—rather judging—gaze that was thrown my way.
“You look like a ghost.” Roxanne shrugged. “You talk like one too.”
She couldn’t be serious, could she? I looked at her in disbelief. “Why did you want to come with me?” My brows furrowed. “I didn't ask for company.”
Our silent staring was broken by her short, “We need to talk.”
Perhaps I underestimated her character. “I don’t wish to talk.” Since when did Roxanne and I talk anyway?
“It might be a foreign concept to you, but we often have to do things we don’t wish to.” She spat out.
What in the Kingdom was her problem?
Roxanne and I were never friends: she barely tolerated me when I’d first arrived at the castle, though the sudden cruelty was still odd. Was our silent truce a pretense?
I almost turned Annabelle back around. Almost.
“Every decision in my life has been against my wishes, Roxanne,” I said instead. “What do you know of doing as you are told?” I snapped.
Her lips turned into a thin line as we continued on the small path towards Faris. “I’m sorry.” Her voice turned dull.
My head flew in her direction: surely I misheard.
“I was not fair to you then, and I am not now.” Roxanne continued, her eyes burning into the invisible point ahead. “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”
Roxanne needn't voice her question, I knew exactly what she wished to ask. “I know nothing of value.”
Unsatisfied with my answer, Roxanne burned her gaze into my flesh. If I didn’t know any better I would think she wished to set me on fire herself.
A long while passed before she cleared her throat, addressing me once again. “I was never fond of the Royal family,” she offered, earning a judgmental glare from me. “But I know what it's like to lose your loved ones,” she added quickly. “I’m sorry you’ve lost your family.”
If it wasn’t for the snowdrifts on our path we would already be in Faris, and this conversation would be over. I couldn’t help but despise winter’s sabotage. “As I said, I know nothing of value.”
She shook her head, glancing at me before continuing, “Your silence won’t help anyone—”she sighed. “Including yourself.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” My hands tightened around the reins. The gloves I put on this evening covered every blackened burn I inflicted upon myself.
“Never mind.” Roxanne simply said, making the last turn towards Faris.
Faris was awfully quiet. The faint candlelight flickered behind the windows, fighting to stay alive. As though an old, evil spirit swept through the village, it left nothing but shadows to take the joy’s place. Despite the road being filled with people, Faris felt abandoned.
“Where to now?” Roxanne asked in a hushed voice.
“I need to return something.” I looked around for the mysterious shop. Surely returning the item wasn’t the only reason I’d rushed into this trip, though I felt embarrassed admitting I hoped some cryptic old woman would tell me my future.
“Return what?” Roxanne asked with a dose of annoyance in her tone.
I sighed, preparing for Roxanne’s mockery. “There was an old woman that gave me a necklace right before the attack.” I showed Roxanne the amulet. “She told me some kind of a prophecy...”
“My dear Moon...” Roxanne rolled her eyes, her fingers feeling the stone. “You are wasting our time.”
“Perhaps... perhaps not.” I snatched the stone back into my satchel.
“All right.” Roxanne shook her head, looking at me as though I went mad. “Lead the way.”
We walked up and down the street twice before I gave up. “I swear her shop was here.” I pointed at the empty windows. I yanked on the door a few times before admitting defeat. “It’s locked.”
“Well, that was fun.” Roxanne snickered. “Let’s go, I still need to get Francis a present.”
“A present?" My brows furrowed.
“It’s his birthday tomorrow.” Roxanne walked across the street without waiting for me to follow. “Maybe you can exchange your cursed necklace for a present for him,” she scoffed.
The shop Roxanne had led us into held a large books sign on the window; I followed after her.
How could I not know it was Francis’ birthday? Even though my mind had wandered elsewhere the last couple of weeks, I realized I actually did not know much about him, despite the proximity we’d shared; despite him being the first man to not hurt me the way they usually had.
It mattered not, I wanted to tell myself. It was just that—affection, nothing else. I didn’t owe him, nor did he owe me.
Yet something flickered in my heart with refusal.
I walked down the countless rows of bookshelves, filled with different texts—most of them older than myself by hundreds of years—as I followed after Roxanne. She walked down the rows with confidence, as if she owned this place.
“Where are your music books?” she asked the man behind the table in the depths of the shop. He wore a woolen blanket on his shoulders.
“Fifth row, second shelf from the top,” he said, eyes stuck to the page of the book in his hands.
Roxanne nodded, leading our way where the man had directed.
“This shop looks a lot smaller from the outside.” I noticed, keeping up after Roxanne.
It must have been at least half an hour since we’d gotten here; the strong smell of old parchment made my lungs ache, yet I dared not interrupt Roxanne’s hunt for the perfect book. She sat on the floor of the shop, carefully reading through every book’s description before putting it down.
I never thought Roxanne would put so much effort into choosing a present—especially for Francis, given every time they were together it ended in a fight of some kind. Though I supposed Brian and I fought a lot too...
“I will be right back,” I told her, though she didn’t seem to care.
I walked down the row, my eyes scanning the books as I passed by. It seemed this shop carried a collection larger than the Royal library itself. So many to choose from...
They even carried the whole collection of the Forest’s Fables—a story my Father had read to my sister and I when we were little. A story I used to read to the twins.
I swallowed down the growing lump in my throat, taking off my gloves before reaching for the latest addition to the tale I never got to read.
My heart beat faster as I opened the first page. Father had spent years trying to find this volume for us, yet his trips were in vain, as the single edition of the story was apparently here—in the vampire village.
My hands trembled as I flipped through the pages; father’s voice filled my mind.
“I’m ready to go.” Roxanne appeared at the end of the row, making me slam the book shut in an instant. “What are you reading?” She took a step towards me, her eyes scanning the title in my hands.
“My father used to read it to us.” I said quietly before returning the book to its shelf. “Have you heard of it?” I faced Roxanne, but her eyes were planted on my blackened injuries.
I rushed to put the gloves back on, though it did nothing to Roxanne’s silent stare; for the first time she seemed speechless.
“It’s nothing,” I said quietly.
Roxanne stayed silent as her—full of pain—eyes bored into mine.
“It’s nothing.” I cleared out my throat, walking back towards the exit of the shop. Roxanne’s steps followed after.
I pushed on the heavy door, the cold air enveloping me in its embrace. The streets of Faris were quieter than before.
“I will be right back.” Roxanne threw over her shoulder, walking in the opposite direction from where our horses stood.
“Where are you going?” I called after her. Roxanne shook her head in reply before turning into a barely visible alley in between the shops.
I made my way towards our horses, my heart banging against my rib cage.
Several minutes passed before Roxanne returned; a jar of light pink liquid in her hands.
“Take off your gloves.” She stood before me as she unscrewed the jar.
“I told you, it’s nothing.” I hid my hands into the pockets of my cloak.
“Take off your gloves.”
I rolled my eyes under her withering gaze, yet my hands reached for the gloves, obeying her wishes nevertheless.
The pink liquid spilled onto my burned skin when Roxanne poured out the contents, gentling it into my flesh. A slight burning sensation prickled my injuries, followed by an immediate relief. A sigh escaped my lips when Roxanne moved onto my left hand.
“This will help with the burns.” She massaged the elixir into my skin.
“What is it?”
“A medicine.” She put the cork back onto the jar, hiding the remains into her pocket.
“What kind of medicine?” I pressed. When Roxanne didn’t reply I drew a small breath in. “May I keep it?” I fought for my voice to sound even.
“Why?” Roxanne eyed me, mounting her horse.
“In case I need it again.” I shrugged, following her lead.
“Why would you need it again?” Accusation shone bright in her voice. The implication was as bright as day.
My teeth clenched. “It was an accident.” I squeezed the reins, ordering Annabelle forward.
“Sure it was,” Roxanne murmured. “I’m afraid you will have to find me were an accident to happen again." She emphasized the word, leaving me no hope of winning this battle.
My heart banged against my rib cage, anger and fear and... embarrassment filling my chest. “Will you tell anyone?” My voice broke as I avoided Roxanne’s gaze.
Moments of silence stretched in between us before she replied, “No, I won’t.”
Deep in thought, Roxanne paid me little to no attention as we slowly made our way back towards the castle. The wind sang its lullabies, snowflakes landed on my lashes after their dance.
The woods were peaceful, save for my galloping heart. Chains wrapped around my neck, pulling in every direction, with each breath I took.
“I am his daughter.” The words broke free without my permission: the words that shattered my soul from within all these nights. I filled my lungs before repeating, “I am Kane’s daughter, Caleb is of Royal blood and my brother.”
Once the words left my lips, the chains loosened their grip so slightly.
Roxanne’s eyes found mine as she studied me in complete silence.
“I know nothing of his plans, or anything useful for that matter...” I continued. “All I know is that he is my father, and I will only know peace when my sword is buried deep in his heart.”
“No.” Roxanne shook her head; a sad smile appeared on her face. “No, you won’t know peace then.”
My brows furrowed when I met Roxanne’s expression.
“Kill him to bring peace to all the innocent people,” She sighed. “Find your own peace through grief.”