3. Weakness

Henrietta

It's been a few days since Gwendolyn attacked me during study. I made sure to stay away from her as well to avoid any attempt to complete what she started, call it fear or anything but I definitely wouldn't risk my life to test her. 

All I've done is sneak out of my room to my mother's room which happens to be the last place Gwendolyn would be. Having heard the gravity of Dad's punishment on her, I know she wouldn't try anything stupid but I can never be too sure either.

Sitting on the floor of my mother's room, right next to her sick bed, I held her hand and raised it up to me while staring at her face. She hasn't moved an inch for over a year now and even when she does, it's either she cries of pain or a maid helps. She has been struck by this strange sickness which many healers propose to be an effect of poison. Even the best healers say the same.

Father has gone in and out of Odyssey numerous times in search of a cure but all to no avail. She remains bedridden, unable to move any part of her body and with great difficulty, struggles to move her neck.

Without taking my eyes away from her pale face, I asked the royal physician, Geneva, who was busy packing her bags of herbs and potions, "Would she be okay?" I knew the answer because it wasn't the first I had asked the exact same question.

"It would take time." She sighed, "The queen is a really strong woman, you should be strong for her as well." She advised and I tilted my head to meet her sad gaze. Her lips curved in a sad smile as she turned around and walked towards the door.

It hurts to see her this way. I miss those days when she would hold my hand and take me round the gardens during the day as our father could not go out during the day. She made sure I didn't miss out on all the fun irrespective of the fact that I wasn't special like Gwen.

It was as if she had an agreement with dad to share duties, because while I was resting at night on some days, Gwen was out with dad. And when it was Gwen's turn to be with mum, I spent my time with dad, having a playdate in my room.

Sighing deeply, I shut my eyes and brought the back of her hand close to my lips, placing kisses on it, "I wish you could just get well right now," I whispered against her hand before gently dropping it beside her and resting my head on the bed stand. 

I was going to fall asleep when I felt my face being brushed gently by a light hand and my hair gently ruffled. "Hmmm," I breathed but recalling whose room I was in, I quickly openedmy eyes.

"Mother," I called out, seeing that her eyes were open. Those gentle, bright blue eyes that once had me staring in awe now looked dim and tired, too tired that they lost their glow. She managed to smile at me, gently cupping my face in her palm and right then, I yearned to hear her voice.

"Henrietta, my…"Her words were interrupted by a hard cough and I quickly left her side to grab the water jar which was on the table, at the foot of her bed but not minding the cough she managed to finish her sentence, "My sweet baby," She said, her voice sounding hoarse and I rushed to her side holding a cup of water.

I placed my right hand under head, slightly raising her up while bringing the cup close to her mouth so she could sip on it. After she was done, I wiped the side of her lips with my hand before placing the cup on the dresser.

"I heard what happened with your sister," She began without giving me a chance to ask how she was feeling, "Your father told me." She coughed.

"Well," I began, thinking of the best way to present what I was going to say, "Gwen hasn't really mastered being a vampire and how to master her powers," I shamelessly lied, lowering my gaze to avoid her eyes.

"Hmmm, is that really what happened?" She asked and I nodded, "I birthed both of you and I know you will always do anything to protect your sister but would she ever do that for you?" She stated, surprising me. She didn't need an answer even though I had it, Gwen would never stand in for me in trouble and even when she creates them, she drags me in.

I gulped down the lump in my throat, trying hard not to tear up. "I have always watched closely how dominating your sister could be and how you let her, why is that?" She questioned, dragging herself up on the bed so that she had her back on the head rest.

"Why do you let her walk all over you like that?" She asked, yet another question while taking my hand in hers. "What do you think would have happened if your father hadn't come in at the exact time he did?"  

That was the exact same question I had asked myself over and over again, was Gwendolyn really going to...no she wouldn't, I doubt if she had the guts to do something that hurtful to me.

Shutting my eyes for a few minutes, I let out a long sigh, "I'm not special, mum." I finally said it with my mouth, "I do not have any special powers like you, dad and even Gwen or like anyone in the kingdom." I added, "That's an advantage Gwen has over me and that is why she is even more fit to be next after Dad." I whispered, biting my tongue after I said those words.

"You're nothing less, sweetheart. Who even told you that you're not special?" She asked but obviously, I didn't need anyone to tell me what was staring directly at me. 

"Mum, I knew you'd say that but it still remains the truth, I neither have fangs nor furs nor fog, 

I'm just… Just me, ordinary and dad even pities me." I blurted out, "I have a feeling he wishes I was born different, I know you do too." I whispered in frustration.

"Aww, don't cry. At least you've come to realize the obvious truth," I heard a voice different from mother's but belonging to the one whom I didn't want to set my eyes on, Gwendolyn.

Hissing, I raised my gaze and gave her a hard glare, "What are you doing here?" I asked as she began to walk towards mother's bed.

"Can't I see my mother anymore or do I also need permission for that? " She rolled her eyes, "How are you feeling, mum?" she asked, making me wonder if she really cared because she has never stepped into this room to check up on our mother willingly unless she was dragged or wanted something.

"I'm doing just fine but it would be better if you stop trying to hurt your sister or scare her." Mother blurted out, her voice growing weak yet she remained seated.

"It's not my fault she is weak and empty," Gwen said in a casual voice, waving her hand in the air.

"I am not!" I dead panned visibly angry as to how common she made me feel and how suffocating her presence around me was.

She sized me up with her eyes, "Oh really?" She asked, "then show me," she said in a tone that held mockery, "Odyssey doesn't need a weak princess for a queen, you are weak Henrietta, accept it already."

"Enough already!" Mother shouted with as much strength as she could muster. "Leave now Gwendolyn, it is obvious you only came here to insult us. You have no respect for my presence nor do you care to listen and make amends." She spat, "Leave!" Mother bellowed, staring annoyingly at her. Gwen soon turned around without any apology, she left the room.

"Did you see that, mother? I asked, "Do you see what I say?" I whispered, "Gwen is already making advances towards earning the throne even while you and father are alive, she wants to be next in line and I can't even compete with her in this form." I cried out, placing my head on her thigh for comfort.

"Shh, everything would be just fine," she said in a hush voice, "Your father and I are always here whenever you need us." She assured me, but for how long. 

While playing with the loose strands of my hair, she began to hum an old lullaby. It sounded more like an enchantment but it was slow and soothing, "I hear there's going to be a ball here in the palace, in a few days," she whispered, "I want you to look your best, do not care what anyone says to you, Henrietta

It's been a few days since Gwendolyn attacked me during study. I made sure to stay away from her as well to avoid any attempt to complete what she started, call it fear or anything but I definitely wouldn't risk my life to test her. 

All I've done is sneak out of my room to my mother's room which happens to be the last place Gwendolyn would be. Having heard the gravity of Dad's punishment on her, I know she wouldn't try anything stupid but I can never be too sure either.

Sitting on the floor of my mother's room, right next to her sick bed, I held her hand and raised it up to me while staring at her face. She hasn't moved an inch for over a year now and even when she does, it's either she cries of pain or a maid helps. She has been struck by this strange sickness which many healers propose to be an effect of poison. Even the best healers say the same.

Father has gone in and out of Odyssey numerous times in search of a cure but all to no avail. She remains bedridden, unable to move any part of her body and with great difficulty, struggles to move her neck.

Without taking my eyes away from her pale face, I asked the royal physician, Geneva, who was busy packing her bags of herbs and potions, "Would she be okay?" I knew the answer because it wasn't the first I had asked the exact same question.

"It would take time." She sighed, "The queen is a really strong woman, you should be strong for her as well." She advised and I tilted my head to meet her sad gaze. Her lips curved in a sad smile as she turned around and walked towards the door.

It hurts to see her this way. I miss those days when she would hold my hand and take me round the gardens during the day as our father could not go out during the day. She made sure I didn't miss out on all the fun irrespective of the fact that I wasn't special like Gwen.

It was as if she had an agreement with dad to share duties, because while I was resting at night on some days, Gwen was out with dad. And when it was Gwen's turn to be with mum, I spent my time with dad, having a playdate in my room.

Sighing deeply, I shut my eyes and brought the back of her hand close to my lips, placing kisses on it, "I wish you could just get well right now," I whispered against her hand before gently dropping it beside her and resting my head on the bed stand. 

I was going to fall asleep when I felt my face being brushed gently by a light hand and my hair gently ruffled. "Hmmm," I breathed but recalling whose room I was in, I quickly opened my eyes.

"Mother," I called out, seeing that her eyes were open. Those gentle, bright blue eyes that once had me staring in awe now looked dim and tired, too tired that they lost their glow. She managed to smile at me, gently cupping my face in her palm and right then, I yearned to hear her voice.

"Henrietta, my…"Her words were interrupted by a hard cough and I quickly left her side to grab the water jar which was on the table, at the foot of her bed but not minding the cough she managed to finish her sentence, "My sweet baby," She said, her voice sounding hoarse and I rushed to her side holding a cup of water.

I placed my right hand under head, slightly raising her up while bringing the cup close to her mouth so she could sip on it. After she was done, I wiped the side of her lips with my hand before placing the cup on the dresser.

"I heard what happened with your sister," She began without giving me a chance to ask how she was feeling, "Your father told me." She coughed.

"Well," I began, thinking of the best way to present what I was going to say, "Gwen hasn't really mastered being a vampire and how to master her powers," I shamelessly lied, lowering my gaze to avoid her eyes.

"Hmmm, is that really what happened?" She asked and I nodded, "I birthed both of you and I know you will always do anything to protect your sister but would she ever do that for you?" She stated, surprising me. She didn't need an answer even though I had it, Gwen would never stand in for me in trouble and even when she creates them, she drags me in.

I gulped down the lump in my throat, trying hard not to tear up. "I have always watched closely how dominating your sister could be and how you let her, why is that?" She questioned, dragging herself up on the bed so that she had her back on the head rest.

"Why do you let her walk all over you like that?" She asked, yet another question while taking my hand in hers. "What do you think would have happened if your father hadn't come in at the exact time he did?"  

That was the exact same question I had asked myself over and over again, was Gwendolyn really going to...no she wouldn't, I doubt if she had the guts to do something that hurtful to me.

Shutting my eyes for a few minutes, I let out a long sigh, "I'm not special, mum." I finally said it with my mouth, "I do not have any special powers like you, dad and even Gwen or like anyone in the kingdom." I added, "That's an advantage Gwen has over me and that is why she is even more fit to be next after Dad." I whispered, biting my tongue after I said those words.

"You're nothing less, sweetheart. Who even told you that you're not special?" She asked but obviously, I didn't need anyone to tell me what was staring directly at me. 

"Mum, I knew you'd say that but it still remains the truth, I neither have fangs nor furs nor fog, 

I'm just… Just me, ordinary and dad even pities me." I blurted out, "I have a feeling he wishes I was born different, I know you do too." I whispered in frustration.

"Aww, don't cry. At least you've come to realize the obvious truth," I heard a voice different from mother's but belonging to the one whom I didn't want to set my eyes on, Gwendolyn.

Hissing, I raised my gaze and gave her a hard glare, "What are you doing here?" I asked as she began to walk towards mother's bed.

"Can't I see my mother anymore or do I also need permission for that? " She rolled her eyes, "How are you feeling, mum?" she asked, making me wonder if she really cared because she has never stepped into this room to check up on our mother willingly unless she was dragged or wanted something.

"I'm doing just fine but it would be better if you stop trying to hurt your sister or scare her." Mother blurted out, her voice growing weak yet she remained seated.

"It's not my fault she is weak and empty," Gwen said in a casual voice, waving her hand in the air.

"I am not!" I dead panned visibly angry as to how common she made me feel and how suffocating her presence around me was.

She sized me up with her eyes, "Oh really?" She asked, "then show me," she said in a tone that held mockery, "Odyssey doesn't need a weak princess for a queen, you are weak Henrietta, accept it already."

"Enough already!" Mother shouted with as much strength as she could muster. "Leave now Gwendolyn, it is obvious you only came here to insult us. You have no respect for my presence nor do you care to listen and make amends." She spat, "Leave!" Mother bellowed, staring annoyingly at her. Gwen soon turned around without any apology, she left the room.

"Did you see that, mother? I asked, "Do you see what I say?" I whispered, "Gwen is already making advances towards earning the throne even while you and father are alive, she wants to be next in line and I can't even compete with her in this form." I cried out, placing my head on her thigh for comfort.

"Shh, everything would be just fine," she said in a hush voice, "Your father and I are always here whenever you need us." She assured me, but for how long. 

While playing with the loose strands of my hair, she began to hum an old lullaby. It sounded more like an enchantment but it was slow and soothing, "I hear there's going to be a ball here in the palace, in a few days," she whispered, "I want you to look your best, do not care what anyone says to you and even if what they say really gets to you always remember that you're special to me." She said soothingly, gently moving my hair away before placing a kiss on the side of my neck.