Chapter 5
The darkness of the night had fallen and the eerie quietness that roamed the halls put me on edge. The memory of my tiny bed at the cabin Cassius and I shared brought me little comfort now that I was occupying this enormous space for now.
I jumped out of my thoughts when a knock sounded from the door.
Pushing the thick blankett off of me, the coolness bombarded the bare skin that lingered out of my shorts and tee shirt the young maid had given me. I turned the knob and pulled the door open to find Cassius standing out in the hall.
"Can't sleep either?" His arms were crossed over his chest, tucked closely into him.
"No, it's freezing in here." I replied and he just nodded in agreement. Stepping back into the room, I pulled the door open for to enter and he did so quickly.
These rooms are too big and empty for me, it's a reminder that we aren't home anymore." He took took a seat in one of the chairs that was placed on the opposite side of the dimly lit room. I pulled the string for the lamp and it clicked on, radiating the area around it.
"Yeah I agree.." I moved over to the chair opposite of the one he occupied, only then noticing a fire place as Cassius pointed it out. Why hadn't I noticed that before freezing my ass off?
Cassius flicks his finger swiftly and creates a spark before the entire fireplace egnites.
"So, what's going on in that mind of yours?"
My eyes flickered towards the fire that now crackled, creating a peaceful sound throughtout the room. I leaned back into the chair to settle in becfore I spoke.
"I don't understand why we were brought here or what they want. The 'we want you safe' bullshit is just that, bullshit."
"That we can agree on, something about the gleam in that Prince's eyes set me on edge." Cassius said while a shiver shot through him, making him squirm uncomfortably. I scooted my chair closer to the fire the ravish in the heat it was emitting.
"We just have to hold on long enough for me to get the Prince on my side, take the information we gather and pray it's enough to send this entire palace crashing to the ground." My teeth gritted when I spoke. Cassius leaned forward and sent me a sly smile with a mischevious look in his eyes.
"We'll make it happen little sis, for our people."
Yes, for our people.
The sun peaked from behind the thick curtain, shinning directly on my face. One eyes fluttered open while the other was squinched shut from the brihgtness.
The pain in my neck and back made me realize I had fallen asleep in the chair, Cassius had done the same in the chair infront of me.
"Are you awake yet Madame?" A soft voice came from the other side of the door along with a light tap of a knuckle. It was the maid from yesterday.
"Yeah come on in." I spoke with a slight grimace at the word 'Madame'. As soon as she stepped in, her eyes wandered from the bed over to me. Her face fell in shock and her eyes buldged from her skull they almost went so wide.
"Oh! I'm so sorry I didn't think you had...company." My eyebrows furrowed at her words until I looked over at a sturring Cassius.
"Yeah I think I might have thrown up in my mouth." Cassius grumbled and I just shook my head laughing.
"That's my older brother, Cassius."
He rose up off the chair and ran a hand through his dirty blonde hair. After a stretch, his gaze fell on the maid.
"You look a little young to be scurrying around for royal assholes all day, what's your name?" The maid's eyes dropped to the floor as a smile threatened to cross his lips at his banter.
"Eladia."
I took note of that, mentally cursing myself for not asking her name yesterday when we first met.
"Oh my! I almost fogot." Sh reached into the pocket of her baggy gray uniform and pulled out an envelope. There was a glossy, red, wax stamp pressed on the front with a C embedded into it.
"These royal bastards have to be fancy with everything I see." Cassius pointed out and Eladia stiffled a laugh.
I popped the seal off and slid the piece of paper out.
Royal Guests,
You are expected in the throne room to discuss the matters at hand.
"They wasted that piece of paper for a sentence. A sentence fro crying out loud." I rolled my eyes and jumbled the piece of paper up, tossing it into the fireplace.
"What did it say?"
"We have to meet the King in the throne room to talk about all of this." I gestured around to the room around me and Cassius just nodded.
"While the two of you are gone the maids were told to bring up clothing for you, I hope you don't mind." Cassius and I both shook out heads at the same time.
"No, not at all that would be deeply appreciated." He spoke and she nodded her head once before turning towards the door, I took the hint to follow her.
As we walked out of my room and down the hall I couldn't help but notice how quiet our footsteps sounded on this flooring. The gray and white coloring had apparently ended in my room because the spacious hallway had stone walls and barely any decorations on them at all.
Of course they were empty. What was I expecting, a painting of a sunflower plastered to each wall?
We made our way down a staircase and was met with big wooden doors at the bottom. Eladia cleared her throat towards a guard and the tall man just sneered, his short blonde hair was slicked back to show off the dead look in his eyes. I decided I would try my luck with the douche bag.
"We're here to speak with The Royals, so if you would excus-,"
"DId I ask? The royals are waiting on an important arrival, now move out of the way." His deep voice rumbled and I could've laughed at his stupidity.
"We are the important arrivals."
He looked at me, then towards Cassius and Eladia.
"Don't see an invitation. You know," He stepped closer to me and I felt my magic flicker to life, "lying is punished with ten lashes. That's if I'm being generous. But...I think I'd like the sound of your screams."
He smiled and the sight of he black smut on his teeth made me internally gag.
"You might want to take a step back from my sister." Cassius snarmeld the his teeth, his eyes held the guard's gaze. The gaurd took the moment to rush towards Cassius but with the flick of my finger he was pinned against the stone wall behind him. A strand of blonde hair had fallen down over his forehead while he struggled against my hold.
His eyes widened as he stared down at me.
"You'd do well to listen to them, Aurthor." Violet eyes came into view and the guard stopped struggling immediately. I pulled my magic back causing him to fall to the floor and into a low bow.
"Your Majesty, these servants were-,"
"These poeple are not servants, they are our guests." The Prince began fixing his cufflinks on the sharp, black suit he had on, avoiding eye contact with Aurthor.
"And for your dispicable lack of hospitality, you'll spend a month in the cells." The Prince gestured towards the second guard to carry him out.
"No! No! I have a family to get back to...children! They'll starve for that month!" Aurthor cried out and the Prince just shrugged.
"Did I ask?" The Prince repeated what the guard had said to me earlier, telling me he had been listening the entire time.
After he had been dragged out of the room, the Prince turned towards us.
"I'm extremely sorry for that inconvience but I assure it won't happen again." He cleared his throat before allowing his alluring eyes to fall on me.
"It's nothing we haven't already experienced in the village." I answered and I caught the furrow of his brows but thought best to ignore it.
"What about his family?" Cassius spoke up.
"The guard that placed him in the cells will personally tell them what occured and food will be sent to his home. I wouldn't allow children to go hungry because of their father's mistakes."
It was my turn to furrow my brows. Children were dying every day in the village, either from starvation or dehydration. Did he not care about those deaths? Or did he just not care simply because they weren't important enough..
Or..Maybe he didn't know.
He ran a hand through his dark colored hair before clearing his throat and holding a hand out towards the doors.
"Shall we?"