Chapter 6-; Hidden In Your Closet

As Jullian fell to his knees, gasping for air, a voice—my own voice—suddenly broke the tense silence. "Stop," I pleaded, my hands clenched tightly on my lap. "Please, you're going to kill him."

All eyes turned to me, but my gaze remained fixed on Valen, whose golden eyes blazed with fury. His gaze bore into mine, as if daring me to defy him further. But in that moment, I knew I couldn't stand by and watch this man's blood be spilled.

My plea seemed to snap Valen out of his trance, and for a moment, the intensity in the room lessened. His eyes softened, but only for a fleeting moment, before they hardened once more. "Where's Calia? Did she not inform you to stay out of my business and the business of my court?"

"Am I not part of the Court now?" I asked, my voice tinged with curiosity. Valen's gaze remained unfaltering. "Whether a prisoner or a guest, I now belong to this Court. I cannot sit idly by while you kill this man."

Rhaenan had stopped eating and was now staring at me as if I had grown two heads or sprouted horns like Calia.

Valen's expression shifted from hard to soft to amused, and then he seemed unsure of what to do with me. His eyes flickered between me and Jullian, a hint of suppressed rage evident in his demeanor. But ultimately, he relented, releasing his grip on Jullian's throat. Jullian collapsed to the floor, gasping for air and clutching at his neck. 

The room fell silent, the weight of what had just transpired hanging heavily in the air."You're dismissed," Valen grunted at Jullian, who hurried out of the room as if a panther were chasing his tail.

Rhaenan cleared his throat. "What a lovely morning," he muttered under his breath before taking a sip of his wine. I couldn't wrap my head around how they were having wine this early in the morning and still able to handle their daily matters with clarity.

"Why don't you have some more food, Maerwynn?" Valen's words, spoken with an unusual gentleness, caught me off guard. It was the first time he had addressed me by name since our encounter this morning, and the sound of it coming from his lips felt oddly warm.

"I'm full, thank you," I replied, though the rumbling in my stomach betrayed my true feelings. Why was he being so kind to me, especially after I had defied his authority with Jullian? Despite having eaten my fill, I couldn't shake the feeling of hunger that gnawed at me. It was as if I had spent a lifetime starving, and now found myself surrounded by a feast fit for kings. What if it all disappeared tomorrow? The thought made me eye the succulent roast duck with longing, its crispy skin glistening under the golden hue of the dining room's lights.

"At least have some duck," Valen urged, his voice soft yet insistent.

I shot him a wary glare. "Can you read my mind?" I blurted out, the words barely a whisper, but Valen's amused smile confirmed that he had indeed heard me. Shit.

"Yes, I can read your mind, dear Maerwynn. I've been reading it this whole time," he admitted, leaning closer across the table. "Your thoughts kept me up at night. And no, we don't have bears here in the mansion," he added with a chuckle. "You were afraid one would burst through your door and drag you away. Rest assured, nothing of the sort will happen."

Rhaenan couldn't contain his laughter. "A bear? Really, Cidron!"

I felt foolish and childish, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. How could I have let my imagination run wild like that?

Valen gestured towards the duck. "Please, eat."

"I've lost my appetite," I muttered, feeling the overwhelming urge to flee the room or hide my face in shame. I could feel Valen's eyes on me, and I instinctively touched my cheek, convinced it was flushed with embarrassment. Heaven help me, I thought, as I struggled to find a way to salvage the situation.

Valen snapped his fingers, and in an instant, my chair had shifted closer to him, away from the dining room door and Rhaenan, now uncomfortably near to the High Lord of this daunting Court into which I had unwittingly stumbled.

With deliberate and precise movements, Valen sliced a portion of the duck for me, refilling my plate and pouring a glass of wine. I tensed in my seat as his hand brushed against my arm. Don't think! Don't think!

All the while, he maintained a sly smile. "Eat," he instructed once he had arranged the food on my plate. "You have much ahead of you."

A cold sweat broke out along my spine. "Much like what?" I forced myself to focus on the statue ahead, avoiding his gaze now that he was so close. But the temptation to look was too strong, and I found myself staring into those golden-brown eyes, framed by fluttering lashes. I didn't want to be near him. I had witnessed what he had done to Jullian. He was a monster.

His smile faded as I caught my breath.

"Everyone has a monster, Maerwynn. Even you. Yours is just hidden in your closet," he remarked cryptically, rising from his chair. "Please, enjoy the meal I have prepared for you." His hand lingered on the back of my chair, so close to my skin that I half expected it to scorch me upon contact. "It is an honor to be served by a High Fae."

In the blink of an eye, he vanished from the dining room, leaving behind nothing but a trail of shadows and darkness.

* * *

Asterin and Astrea, like elusive shadows, have vanished since guiding me to the dining hall this morning. Valen, too, remains hidden from view, likely nursing wounded pride after my blunt assessment of his character. I can almost envision him brooding in some dimly lit corner, though such behavior would be beneath even his considerable ego.

As for Rhaenan, our paths briefly intersected during breakfast before he mentioned a trip to the stables. The mere mention of such a place piques my curiosity; the idea of a stable within these grand walls is a novelty to someone like me. Horses, majestic creatures I've only observed from afar, have always held a mystique. The closest I came to interacting with them was in childhood, when carriages whisked us away on leisurely rides, the rhythmic clip-clop of hooves a comforting backdrop to idle chatter. But to actually ride one? That's an adventure I've yet to embark upon, an experience waiting to unfold.

 

I find myself amidst a vibrant tapestry of nature's creations – wild lilies sway gracefully in the breeze, their delicate petals kissed by the sun's warm embrace. Peonies, with their luxurious blooms, add splashes of color to the scene, while an array of other flowers, their names lost to me, contribute their own unique beauty to this enchanting garden. Surprisingly, Valen's appreciation for flowers is evident in this breathtaking display.

Memories of Edina flood my mind, her infectious joy whenever presented with a single rose by the blacksmith's apprentice. Her laughter would dance through the air as she clutched the flower close, a simple gesture igniting a cascade of happiness that lingered long after the petals had wilted. How she would have reveled in the splendor of this floral paradise.

As the sun climbs higher in the sky, nearing its zenith, I recall the hustle and bustle of the marketplace, where I once haggled with fishermen for the day's freshest catch. Alternatively, I would lose myself in the woods, stalking elusive prey, each hunt a testament to Edina's domestic prowess as she transformed mundane tasks into artistry, her skilled hands effortlessly bringing life to fabrics and garments.

A soft voice interrupts my reverie, prompting me to turn, though no one is in sight. "Are you lost?" 

My hands instinctively shoot up in a defensive stance, poised to strike at any unseen intruder lurking amidst the foliage. Yet, despite the tension hanging thick in the air, no figure emerges from the shadows, nor does the telltale rustle of footsteps betray any presence.

"Who goes there?" I call out into the stillness, my voice echoing softly through the tranquil garden. Was it merely a figment of my imagination, or had the wine from breakfast finally begun to play tricks on my senses? With a reluctant sigh, I lower my hands, a pang of disappointment washing over me. How I longed for the chance encounter with another faerie, one perhaps more benevolent than those I'd encountered thus far, and mercifully devoid of mind-reading abilities.

Pressing onward along the cobblestone pathway, I find myself enraptured by the garden's natural splendor – the riotous profusion of flowers, the tranquil bubbling of the fountain, and the way sunlight dances upon the water's surface, casting a mesmerizing tapestry of light and shadow. Yet, amidst this serene beauty, a pang of remorse grips me as I realize Edina's absence; how she would have reveled in the garden's wonders, from the grand big mansion to the lavish spread of food, and the promise of a sumptuous bed awaiting within the house.

A sudden voice shatters the stillness, and I whirl around to find Calia, her elegant figure resplendent in a verdant gown adorned with glimmering gold chains. Despite her refined appearance, there's an air of caution in her demeanor as she gestures toward a secluded path.

"That path leads where it shouldn't," she cautions, her tone tinged with an undercurrent of warning. "It's best we return to the safety of the house."

But my curiosity is piqued, and I resist her suggestion, determined to linger a while longer amidst the garden's allure.

"I prefer to stay," I counter, my resolve firm.

With a resigned sigh, Calia relents, her expression betraying a hint of concern.

"It's not safe," she insists, her words laced with urgency. "Especially near the woods."

Before I can respond, a chorus of high-pitched squeals fills the air, accompanied by a sudden eruption of green smoke that billows forth, causing me to cough and shield my nose with the sleeve of my dress. Through the haze, I glimpse a swarm of peculiar creatures – miniature beings resembling pixies, yet lacking in limbs, their tadpole-like forms darting frantically through the air before vanishing into the distance.

"What are they?" I inquire, turning to Calia for answers, my curiosity now tinged with a newfound wariness.

"Thistles. Very notorious and can lead you astray. Beware of them," she cautioned, swatting at her dress. "Now, shall we head back to the mansion? The sun is blazing."

This time, I acquiesce, trailing behind her, though a pressing question weighs heavily on my mind, like an unshakeable shadow lingering at the edge of my consciousness. What did Valen mean by saying I have much to do?

"Be honest with me, Calia," I venture, unable to suppress my curiosity any longer. "What is going on in Lyria?"

She halts abruptly, her demeanor shifting, her words laced with a venomous edge that sends a shiver down my spine.

"Nothing that concerns you," she retorts icily, her disdain palpable.

"Daelan mentioned something about otherlings. What are they?"

"If you're so insistent on delving into matters beyond your ken, why not seek the counsel of a Banshee? I am no seer," she snaps, her impatience evident as she strides forward, her pace unyielding. "But mark my words, war looms on the horizon, and Lyria will not emerge unscathed."

As her ominous proclamation hangs in the air, a flurry of unsettling thoughts swirl through my mind. Would the fall of Lyria spell my liberation or seal my fate within its borders? My curiosity propels me forward, and I reach out to grasp Calia's arm, forcing her to face me.

"I thought you claimed not to be a fortune teller. How can you be so certain?" I demand, my voice tinged with a mixture of apprehension and defiance.

"Some truths are self-evident, even to those without the gift of foresight," she replies cryptically, her gaze piercing. "Lyria should be the least of your concerns, girl. Focus instead on your own survival and the trials that lie ahead."

"Trials? What trials?" I press, desperation creeping into my tone.

A sly smile curls at the corners of Calia's lips, her eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief.

"It seems you've yet to be fully informed," she remarks coyly, before slipping away into the gathering shadows, leaving me standing alone with my tumultuous thoughts. A trial awaits, but what form will it take, and what fate lies in store for me.