Ch 13: Trapped in a web of fate

Aribella POV

Kaelar’s silence is deafening as he walks me through the halls, but instead of moving towards the guest wing, he leads me up a grand staircase, and down a corridor lined with closed doors.

After another turn, he opens a set of large, wooden double doors with four smaller doors lining the right-hand side. The left side is lined with windows that overlook a garden, and I find myself drawn towards them.

Just beyond the garden is a massive greenhouse with a dome-like roof, “What’s inside of there?” I turned towards Kaelar.

“That’s where the castle grows medicinal herbs.” His voice is deeper than I remembered, and goosebumps spread across my body.

“Am I allowed to explore the castle and it’s grounds at leisure?”

“I’ll speak to Mr. Whitehall.”

“Thank you,” I offer a polite smile, though a part of me feels that he’s annoyed to have been appointed to my babysitter.

The walls down this wing are covered in a sage green wallpaper that has a raised diamond design across it. Golden accents surround the windows as well as every picture that spans the length of the hallway. It's very classic, yet elegant, and screams royalty.

We continue to the last room on the right. Kaelar opens the door, and I walk inside. The room is even larger than the one I have back at the Voss Ranch, and it’s decorated tastefully. Soft shades Cerulean blue livens up the otherwise cream-colored space, but the windows at the rear take my breath away.

Three floor to ceiling windows span across the entirety of the far wall, all the way to the top of the sixteen-foot ceilings.

“Holy shit,” I mutter, staring in awe when my eyes take in the view.

Just beneath the window is a unique koi pond made of sculpted stone, surrounded by lush greenery and a large gazebo. Torches surround the gazebo casting a warm glow against the darker stones and greens.

“Your things will be delivered in the morning, but until then,” Kaelar nods in the direction of an armoire, “Supplementary clothing has been provided.”

“Thank you.”

He nods again, saying nothing as I open the armoire, scrunching my nose at the clothing.

Dresses, dresses, and more…. Dresses.

“Am I expected to live in a dress?” I snap my head towards Kaelar staring at him with widened eyes.

His golden eyes don’t change a beat, and I wonder how long it’ll take him to crack that hardened exterior around me.

“You are the fiancée of royalty,” he speaks in such a matter-of-fact tone, it makes my shoulders slump with disappointment.

“Don’t remind me,” I mutter under my breath.

“I’ll go speak with Mr. Whitehall about permission to explore the grounds,” he turns towards the door, “I ask that you remain here until I return.”

Kaelar disappears without waiting for me to agree, but I don’t plan to be a problem yet, so for now; I’ll stay put.

This room feels much less stuffy than the guest room I was in before, and the air is clean. The scent of lavender doesn’t cling to every surface, and I’m grateful.

For some reason, I hate the scent.

Across from the bed is vanity flooded with various beauty products. To the left is a door frame with no door, and I’m shocked when I walk in to see the bathroom. A much larger clawfoot tub sits to the right and a pedestal sink with intricate designs is just below a golden mirror.

Everything about Sacaris is a vast difference from the life I left behind.

The most modern thing about this place is electricity.

Back home, I had a smart phone and a car to drive. In our apartment there was wifi and cable.

A part of me misses all of that, but on the other hand, it’s refreshing to cut ties with such unnecessary things.

I continue to tour my room, though it’s mostly just furniture. I’m not sure that I’ll ever feel like this place is home, but I suppose I don’t have any clue what a real home is like.

Growing up, my parents worked a lot, which meant I was on my own. I didn’t have any siblings, and being alone made it impossible to feel like I had a place… even in my own house. I met Stephan my sophomore year in high school, and we were glued at the hip.

Flopping down on the edge of the bed, I reflect on where exactly everything went wrong.

In all honesty, I don’t know when things truly changed. Stephan used to be the perfect man. He’d hold my hand or walk on the outside of the sidewalk to protect me from cars.

He bought me flowers at random, and we’d make love like it was our last day on Earth.

A single tear tracked down my cheek, falling onto the back of my intertwined hands.

I’ve got this second chance at life, but it doesn’t feel like my own. I feel like a prisoner all over again. Trapped in the web of fate. How can I ever be happy when my life is dictated by someone else?

At least when I was Charlotte, I had a sense of self. Here, I’m trapped in a body that isn’t my own, trying to navigate a life that was built before I was around, and I feel more lost than ever.

I wasted my opportunity for a better life by staying with Stephan. I didn’t deserve a second chance, yet here I am.

Scrubbing my hands down my face, I force myself up from the bed, and over to the window.

I can’t lose sight of what’s important. I may not deserve this second chance, but I’ll be damned if I let it go to waste.

Part of me wishes I had grabbed my notebook. Now that I’m here in this castle, a few key details of the story are fresh in my mind. I know that Mael’s wing of the castle is on the other side of the grand staircase.

In the story, the next attempt on Rhory’s life will be through poisoning, which should happen fairly quickly considering the hunting incident happened a few days ago. Also, I haven’t yet made my appearance as Mael’s fiancée in the novel, and the poisoning happens when I’ve already arrived at the castle.

How long do I have? A week, maybe two? What does this mean for my relationship with Mael?

“What was the name of it?” I pursed my lips, watching the fish swim freely from afar. “Hemlock!”

A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts, and I pull the door open without hesitation, “Mr. Whitehall gave you permission to explore the grounds as long as I accompany you.”

I waste no time, “Would you take me to the greenhouse?”