Ch. 37
“Magnetic”
I stomp, or as much as I can with this ankle. Thankful the paste and ginger Oana gave me is already starting to make a difference. I move back down the stairs, past the kitchen. The aroma fills my nose as I pass. Meats, breads, and something sweet. We pass the throne room, along the back way sits the throne that as far back I could remember I wanted to touch, to feel. To be all powerful and respected for once. Not viewed as weak, crazy, or uncontrollable. I scowled as we continue walking. We pass the grand hall, where normally meetings between Mother, the officials, and other clan leaders are held. Currently clan members and members of Mother’s royal help were moving tables and chairs around turning it into more of a dining hall. Looks like there will be more guests than I thought. Even the large tables and big chairs are being brought out. Someone gigantic is coming. Awesome. We pass various smaller rooms, like a sunroom, a study, and rooms for the handmaidens and other help around the castle. At the farthest end of the hallway, far away from anything and anyone else, a wooden door stands.
One I have been locked behind more time than I can remember.
Even with a bum ankle I move through the castle with condemnation and speed, poor Chalia is holding up the hem of her dress and practically running behind me.
“I’m sorry, Chalia. You have no idea how long I have been waiting for a nice bath.”
Chalia finally reaches me and places her hand across her chest. Her curly brown hair bouncing with each step. “Maybe I should start joining you on the training mats, so I can keep up.” Her dark innocent eyes meeting me. “I unlocked the door before coming to get you with Farrah.” A small smile rests on her youthful face. She is younger than I am and has her whole life ahead of her. “You have much to tell me. Come, Come.”
Chalia is another one of the few humans that wants to be here. I know Chalia is the oldest daughter in her family and started working in the castle to help bring coins back home to help feed her family. She has told me she has two younger brothers. I wonder what it feels like to have siblings. To be a part of a family, a unit of unconditional love.
She motions to the door. I hesitate at first. A feeling rises, and makes my stomach uneasy, bile threatening to move up my throat. My determined pace did nothing for me. Ever confident bone in my body shatters. Exposing what truly lies beneath those idle threats and the cunning wit. My breathing is becoming harder. I feel like someone is gripping my lungs, or standing on them, again. My hands start to shake. A single claw runs down my mental door. I close my eyes. My mind is screaming. It is so black, so dark.
“They wards are down, Lady Mihaela.” Chalia says while resting her hand on my arm. I nearly jump from her touch. Cold starts crawling from my fingers. “Are you alright? Your skin is freezing.” She retracts her hand and reaches for the doorknob, it clicks, and opens. “Let’s get you in a warm bath.”
Mother hasn’t had the wards up in my wings in a long time, she even commented recently on good I was being, but after drugging guards with sleeping potions, running away for almost a fortnight in the endless forest, and disobeying her, all the memories come flooding back to me. The fear of the wards, being trapping in here, again, fill every inch of my body, my soul. Maybe this is a trick for her to trap me here, again. My chest starts to quickly rise and fall. Not, again. No. It’s fine. There are nail marks on the back of the door from me trying to break the wards to get out. My blood still stains the wooden planks of the floor. Oana spent months trying to heal my hands from the wards burns. My breaths turning to wheezes. Chalia goes through the door and looks behind her at me. My hands in fists at my side, my nails digging into my palms. Claws running along my mental door again. No. My nails, the nails that broke behind that door.
“Lady Mihaela…” Chalia’s brown eyes searching for mine. Her eyes move down me. I can feel myself starting to panic. My heart is racing. My eyes start to go hazy. Coldness and bile clawing at my throat. “Did I hurt you?” Chalia eyes fall to my arm were she gently offered me a soothing touch. No. Nyx, No.
“Mihaela!” I hear my name being called down the hall…Oana… and then I feel it.
Little bat, Breathe.
A rush of warmth moves across my skin. I feel something slither across my shoulders. A shadow melting into the back of my sleeveless shirt. My lungs trying to catch the missed breath, in and out.
You will never be controlled or trapped ever again.
I whip my head around and our eyes meet.
Says who? Says you? The mortal vampire power dimmed man. You are a cocky motherfucker, aren’t you?
Little bat don’t underestimate me, plus that is what you like about me, isn’t it? I haven’t decided on if it is because of the cocky or motherfucker part, maybe both? You have only seen the motherfucker half.
I distaste you.
Well, that is because you haven’t tasted me…yet. Remember I am an acquired taste, little bat.
I growl through clenched teeth, but I realize my breathing is becoming steady, my hands are relaxing fists, and the cold within melting from the warmth rising in my core. Fucking shit.
I notice Oana and Iamys racing to keep up with Zanir. Who is walking with that same conviction that he had after seeing me leaning against the wall with a snapped ankle. What did I get myself into, Nyx help me.
“Chalia, it would seem I will be having some company.” I try and hold down my smile, but it creeps out. I mean if Mother does put the wards up in my wing, at least I will have company, some more pleasant than others.
Chalia looks warily at first, but once her eyes fall on the blond headed man she smiles. Oh, that’s cute. I will have to ask Iamys about that later.
“I’ll grab some tea. The bath is already filled and warmed. If it gets cold…you know how it works.” Chalia starts to move past me but stops. “Are you truly alright?” Sadness fills her brows. “You seem different. Your smell…”
Chalia has been my handmaiden for a few years, and we have gotten as close as I was able to get. Self-sabotage and all. People who get close to me either get hurt or I end up hurting them. And here we are, Chalia is confused and hurt by my distress. My powers being unwieldly, my fear about the wards, my fear of touch even when offered as a soothing gesture.
“I’m fine. I promise.” Lies. I reach for her hand, but it feels so wrong. Touch is just weird for me. I can count on one hand the people who have I let hug me. I am okay with certain people, but even then, a part of my brain just wants to run. Mother was never affectionate, and so it just feels odd. Except from Devlyn or Oana, maybe even Iamys, I don’t understand it really. With how cold my skin is right now, and everything will leave marks anyway. Not worth it. I shake my head. My head never shuts up. “Truly, I am fine. Plus, this company…” I glance behind me. They are only a few steps away. Oana is trying to hold her cape in one hand, a hoard of books in the other. She must have convinced Iamys to grab a handful of books as well because his hands are almost full. His quiver with arrows clicking with each movement against his bow. “They won’t let me be any other way, sadly.”
“Just please don’t leave, again” Chalia says smiling at me. “I kind of like this job, and you’re alright, I guess.” She moves pass my group of counterparts and continues down the hall back to the kitchen. See that is better. She is joking at my expense. I didn’t think how my actions may have affected others. I hope she was still able to work while I was gone, her brothers…
The door still stands wide open.
Ch. 37
“Magnetic”
I stomp, or as much as I can with this ankle. Thankful the paste and ginger Oana gave me is already starting to make a difference. I move back down the stairs, past the kitchen. The aroma fills my nose as I pass. Meats, breads, and something sweet. We pass the throne room, along the back way sits the throne that as far back I could remember I wanted to touch, to feel. To be all powerful and respected for once. Not viewed as weak, crazy, or uncontrollable. I scowled as we continue walking. We pass the grand hall, where normally meetings between Mother, the officials, and other clan leaders are held. Currently clan members and members of Mother’s royal help were moving tables and chairs around turning it into more of a dining hall. Looks like there will be more guests than I thought. Even the large tables and big chairs are being brought out. Someone gigantic is coming. Awesome. We pass various smaller rooms, like a sunroom, a study, and rooms for the handmaidens and other help around the castle. At the farthest end of the hallway, far away from anything and anyone else, a wooden door stands.
One I have been locked behind more time than I can remember.
Even with a bum ankle I move through the castle with condemnation and speed, poor Chalia is holding up the hem of her dress and practically running behind me.
“I’m sorry, Chalia. You have no idea how long I have been waiting for a nice bath.”
Chalia finally reaches me and places her hand across her chest. Her curly brown hair bouncing with each step. “Maybe I should start joining you on the training mats, so I can keep up.” Her dark innocent eyes meeting me. “I unlocked the door before coming to get you with Farrah.” A small smile rests on her youthful face. She is younger than I am and has her whole life ahead of her. “You have much to tell me. Come, Come.”
Chalia is another one of the few humans that wants to be here. I know Chalia is the oldest daughter in her family and started working in the castle to help bring coins back home to help feed her family. She has told me she has two younger brothers. I wonder what it feels like to have siblings. To be a part of a family, a unit of unconditional love.
She motions to the door. I hesitate at first. A feeling rises, and makes my stomach uneasy, bile threatening to move up my throat. My determined pace did nothing for me. Ever confident bone in my body shatters. Exposing what truly lies beneath those idle threats and the cunning wit. My breathing is becoming harder. I feel like someone is gripping my lungs, or standing on them, again. My hands start to shake. A single claw runs down my mental door. I close my eyes. My mind is screaming. It is so black, so dark.
“They wards are down, Lady Mihaela.” Chalia says while resting her hand on my arm. I nearly jump from her touch. Cold starts crawling from my fingers. “Are you alright? Your skin is freezing.” She retracts her hand and reaches for the doorknob, it clicks, and opens. “Let’s get you in a warm bath.”
Mother hasn’t had the wards up in my wings in a long time, she even commented recently on good I was being, but after drugging guards with sleeping potions, running away for almost a fortnight in the endless forest, and disobeying her, all the memories come flooding back to me. The fear of the wards, being trapping in here, again, fill every inch of my body, my soul. Maybe this is a trick for her to trap me here, again. My chest starts to quickly rise and fall. Not, again. No. It’s fine. There are nail marks on the back of the door from me trying to break the wards to get out. My blood still stains the wooden planks of the floor. Oana spent months trying to heal my hands from the wards burns. My breaths turning to wheezes. Chalia goes through the door and looks behind her at me. My hands in fists at my side, my nails digging into my palms. Claws running along my mental door again. No. My nails, the nails that broke behind that door.
“Lady Mihaela…” Chalia’s brown eyes searching for mine. Her eyes move down me. I can feel myself starting to panic. My heart is racing. My eyes start to go hazy. Coldness and bile clawing at my throat. “Did I hurt you?” Chalia eyes fall to my arm were she gently offered me a soothing touch. No. Nyx, No.
“Mihaela!” I hear my name being called down the hall…Oana… and then I feel it.
Little bat, Breathe.
A rush of warmth moves across my skin. I feel something slither across my shoulders. A shadow melting into the back of my sleeveless shirt. My lungs trying to catch the missed breath, in and out.
You will never be controlled or trapped ever again.
I whip my head around and our eyes meet.
Says who? Says you? The mortal vampire power dimmed man. You are a cocky motherfucker, aren’t you?
Little bat don’t underestimate me, plus that is what you like about me, isn’t it? I haven’t decided on if it is because of the cocky or motherfucker part, maybe both? You have only seen the motherfucker half.
I distaste you.
Well, that is because you haven’t tasted me…yet. Remember I am an acquired taste, little bat.
I growl through clenched teeth, but I realize my breathing is becoming steady, my hands are relaxing fists, and the cold within melting from the warmth rising in my core. Fucking shit.
I notice Oana and Iamys racing to keep up with Zanir. Who is walking with that same conviction that he had after seeing me leaning against the wall with a snapped ankle. What did I get myself into, Nyx help me.
“Chalia, it would seem I will be having some company.” I try and hold down my smile, but it creeps out. I mean if Mother does put the wards up in my wing, at least I will have company, some more pleasant than others.
Chalia looks warily at first, but once her eyes fall on the blond headed man she smiles. Oh, that’s cute. I will have to ask Iamys about that later.
“I’ll grab some tea. The bath is already filled and warmed. If it gets cold…you know how it works.” Chalia starts to move past me but stops. “Are you truly alright?” Sadness fills her brows. “You seem different. Your smell…”
Chalia has been my handmaiden for a few years, and we have gotten as close as I was able to get. Self-sabotage and all. People who get close to me either get hurt or I end up hurting them. And here we are, Chalia is confused and hurt by my distress. My powers being unwieldly, my fear about the wards, my fear of touch even when offered as a soothing gesture.
“I’m fine. I promise.” Lies. I reach for her hand, but it feels so wrong. Touch is just weird for me. I can count on one hand the people who have I let hug me. I am okay with certain people, but even then, a part of my brain just wants to run. Mother was never affectionate, and so it just feels odd. Except from Devlyn or Oana, maybe even Iamys, I don’t understand it really. With how cold my skin is right now, and everything will leave marks anyway. Not worth it. I shake my head. My head never shuts up. “Truly, I am fine. Plus, this company…” I glance behind me. They are only a few steps away. Oana is trying to hold her cape in one hand, a hoard of books in the other. She must have convinced Iamys to grab a handful of books as well because his hands are almost full. His quiver with arrows clicking with each movement against his bow. “They won’t let me be any other way, sadly.”
“Just please don’t leave, again” Chalia says smiling at me. “I kind of like this job, and you’re alright, I guess.” She moves pass my group of counterparts and continues down the hall back to the kitchen. See that is better. She is joking at my expense. I didn’t think how my actions may have affected others. I hope she was still able to work while I was gone, her brothers…
The door still stands wide open.
