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Chapter 3 - Light and airy

The first rays of dawn filtered through the window, casting a soft glow across my small room. I slept better, better than I had done in a long time. The bed was soft and airy, like I was sleeping on clouds.

I stirred, feeling the weight of the impending journey settling upon me. I quickly moved into action, I had to get the Lady Isabelle ready. It was the day we were to leave for the North Isles, the lady and I. I rose swiftly, the cool air of the morning urging me to action.

As I readied myself, I glanced at my empty bed across the room, knowing I was going to miss it, perhaps I would be given a bed in the North Isles. I didn't know yet, I only hoped I got a bed like this. There was no sound from Lady Isabelle's room. She usually woke up early, as early as we maids that cleaned and you would always hear her loud voice at dawn ordering whatever poor servant made the mistake of crossing her path that morning. Concern pricked at me. Perhaps she was lost in thought or overcome by restlessness about her future.

Was she still thinking about that? I had hoped she'd come to terms with marrying Prince Rowan. Perhaps she had not.

I made my way to Isabelle's room, steps hastened by a growing sense of unease. Knocking softly, I called out, "Lady Isabelle? Good morning. It's time to prepare for our journey."

Silence greeted me.

"Lady Isabelle!"

I knocked again with mild annoyance.

With mounting apprehension, I pushed open the door.

What I saw froze me in place. Isabelle lay upon her bed, her complexion an alarming shade of blue, her stillness that of death. A scream escaped my lips as I stumbled closer, disbelief and horror knotting my stomach.

"No! Lady Isabelle!" I cried out, my voice raw with despair.

She laid like a porcelain doll in the middle of the four poster bed, her golden hair strewn all over the bed. I fell to my knees in shock.

The one warning her father had given me. Just one warning.

My cries echoed through the hallway, and within moments, the two guards that accompanied us the day before burst into the room, their expressions shifting from confusion to grim realization as they beheld the scene.

"What has happened here?" demanded the taller guard, his voice edged with suspicion.

"I... I don't know," I stammered, tears blurring my vision. "I found her like this... I... I don't understand."

"What do you mean?! When did you get here?"

"Why didn't you alert us?!"

The shorter guard said angrily.

Their gazes darted about the room, searching for answers. The younger guard spotted something glinting in Isabelle's hand and swiftly moved towards her, his eyes narrowing.

"What is that?" he demanded, his tone accusatory.

I looked at her, startled. In her bone white limp hand lay a small vial, its contents a sickly shade of green. Horror washed over me as realization dawned.

"I-I don't know how that got there," I insisted, my voice trembling. "How should she! Why would she do this!"

The guards exchanged wary glances, their suspicion hardening into certainty. Before I could protest further, the innkeeper burst into the room, his face a mask of concern.

"What is the meaning of this commotion?"

"Why are you causing such a racket so early in the morning?!" he demanded, his eyes widening as they fell upon Isabelle's lifeless form.

"She's... she's dead," I managed to choke out, my grief overwhelming. "I found her like this."

The innkeeper's expression darkened. "Dead?! A guest dead at my inn!! What do you plan to do about this?!"

The man turned to the guards who looked like they were deep in thoughts.

"I... Is she really gone?" I replied, tears streaming down my face. "Master Jude will kill me for her death. I know it."

But my protests were drowned out by the clamor of accusations from the innkeeper. He was way more concerned about the status of his inn than the body of Isabelle lying lifeless.

"I've never had someone die here! I knew I shouldn't have let you all in when you brought in an Otsayak!"

He said as he pointed at me menacingly.

The guards exchanged a look and seized the innkeeper.

"You're coming with us."

The tall one said gruffly and he started pushing him out.

"What are you doing!" I cried, reaching out futilely. "We can't just leave her here!!"

The guards ignored my words, their grip unyielding as they dragged the innkeeper from the room.

I heard the door click shut behind me. And as I rush to try the door I found it locked.

This was it.

It was over.

The one chance I had and I ruined it already.

I was going to die.

My Master's precious and only daughter was dead and I was going to pay for it.

.........

As I sat there in the dimly lit room, the reality of Isabelle's death weighed heavily upon me. Isabelle, once so full of life and laughter, now lay motionless on the bed beside me. She was dead and I would be next. It was only going to be a matter of time for Master Jude Carstairs to burst into the room and have me killed for not protecting his daughter as he told me to. But what could I have done? How could I have protected her from herself?

Why did she kill herself?

The heavy clank of the door opening startled me. The guards stood in the doorway, their faces expressionless. "Get up and get dressed," one of them ordered gruffly. "We need to continue our journey."

I looked up at them, incredulous. "But Lady Isabelle... she's dead," I managed to choke out between sobs. "How can we just continue?"

The guard nodded towards Isabelle's luggage. "Put on her clothes. You're Lady Isabelle Carstairs now and you shall pretend to be her."

My heart raced with confusion and fear. "What are you talking about?" I asked firmly, wiping my tears. "I can't do that! That doesn't make any sense."

The other guard stepped forward, his voice laced with menace. "What do you think would happen if the Carstairs find their daughter dead?! They will make each and every one of us pay for it. If you don't as you're told, you're dead too. Do you want that?"

I shook my head, unable to believe what was happening. "Why are you making me do this?" I cried.

The other guard sighed impatiently. "Are you dumb or something?!?! Because if our master finds out his only child is dead on our watch, we'll all be dead."

Desperation clawed at me. They were right. This was yet another chance, another opportunity staring at me in the face, but could I take it?

"But I'm Ariadne, not Isabelle. I'm an Otsayak," I protested, touching the mark on my neck. "I can't pretend to be someone else."

The guard eyed my neck. "You can hide it with your hair and makeup. If you clean up nice and wear some gloves to hide your callused fingers we may be able to pass you off as a proper lady. You have good features, large eyes, brown skin and an attractive mouth, no one would doubt you're Jude Carstairs daughter since Lady Isabelle has never been to the North Isles. Hurry up and shower. We need to reach the North Isles before anyone suspects a thing."

"From now on, you're no longer Ariadne. Your name is Isabelle Carstairs and you will introduce yourself as such."

I stood up slowly, my eyes lingering on Isabelle's blue and lifeless body.

"But how long? How long will this deception last?!"

The guard shrugged.

"As long as we need for us to be able to get our affairs in order. But in the meantime, Prince Rowan will get his bride and you will be his."

"Ariadne this is your one chance at living so don't fuck it up."

"If you do, you're dead. All over again."

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