Chapter Twelve
1273 Words
I was so cold.
I couldn’t feel my limbs or my face for that matter. And my chest? It was as if I had consumed lava; there was a painful, burning sensation in my lungs. I tried to move my fingers towards my torso, I had to know if some insane person had actually covered my chest with volcano rejects. My fingers were numb, no matter how much I willed them to, they remained still. I began to panic. What had happened? My brain was foggy and my memories scattered but there were images that kept flashing in my head incessantly.
Me and Barry laughing…
Me and Barry drinking…
My cheeks hurting because I couldn’t stop laughing…
Me and Barry drinking some more…
What had happened after that? Maybe this was a hangover? My father did always look half dead after drinking himself to a stupor. He also did bellow at me to prepare a concoction for his searing chest. Yes. This was nothing but a hangover.
No need to panic Nina.
A gust of wind blew through an open window. My teeth chattered aggressively as I tried to locate the open window. Angling my head was an implausible task, I soon gave up. The sound of a jostling door knob alerted my nerves, they were the only part of me that were not numb. A door creaked open and my ears caught sound waves of soft footsteps approaching. I darted my eyes here and there, trying to spot my visitor. Maybe they had sent Prince the physician?
“Ah you are awake princess…”
That voice. It was familiar but for the life of me I could not place its owner.
“You look a little pale and your lips are a disturbing hue of mauve…perhaps I should provide you with warmth yes?”
I closed my eyes momentarily, hoping that the action was enough for him to execute his words. I was expecting a warm blanket, or a plate of soup or maybe even a car seat warmer. I highly doubted the last bit was an option. A poignant silence draped the room and for some reason my heart could not stop palpitating ferociously against my scorching chest.
I was scared.
But of what? Luke had promised me my life in exchange of his father’s. I was safe right? Unless the feast had been a gimmick and they were still plotting to kill me.
No one can take anything from you unless you want them to.
I wriggled my body which in turn remained frozen in place. If I could move, I could get away from this place once and for all. But how would I get home? The king seemed to know how to help me. He even promised to do so after the feast. Another trick? But why lie? I could always try going back the same way I came in. I just had to find a mass of water and drown myself.
That isn’t crazy at all Nina.
“While you were asleep a friend of mine visited you…she penetrated through your thoughts and found out your worst fear…”
What in the name of father Christmas…
“How do you feel about rats Nina?”
Had the male voice just uttered my name? And wait, how did he know about my crippling fear of rats? Lawrence? A feeling of dread washed over me.
“Not chatty, are we? It’s the numbness, the aftermath of my powers…do not despair, my little friends will fill you with warmth in no time.”
I heard them before I saw them.
The dark room was suddenly alive with squeaks, a lot of squeaks. My heartbeat heightened as tears began forming in my eyes. I tried to move but to no avail. My other alternative was to scream for help but as it would appear, my mouth was incapable of that action. A hoard of rats was now on every inch of my body. I couldn’t feel them on my limbs due to the numbness but I could see them. They were multi-colored. Some were black, others gray, others a stark white while the others were a blend of everything. I watched in horror as the whiskered creatures ran up and down my body. A warm sensation emanated from my inner things.
I had peed on myself.
If I was not scared out of my mind I would have laughed. I was a grown woman and I had wet myself. This would have been a hoot back at home with…I swallowed.
I had to go home.
The rats seemed to be increasing in number. My mind was unleashing a chain of screams and tears had already began streaming down my numb cheeks. I had been helpless plenty of times before but this, this was beyond helplessness. I felt like a puppet, a nailed to an open casket puppet. Why was I being tortured like this? First the dungeon and then this? Being hanged in front of dozens of people suddenly seemed more appealing. They should just get my death over with.
“Tell me Nina, who is this Seth?”
A ringing sound suddenly filled my ears as panic riled up my throat. How did my puppeteer know about Seth? Was I dreaming? Was all this a part of my imagination?
“Surprised, aren’t we? Well, if you tell me what you are-“
The sound of a door swinging open cut my torturer off.
“What…what are you doing? I specifically said no harming her! What is the matter with you!”
“Me? Something is the matter with me? We are hosting an unknown being in our midst, a creature that gladly associates with humans…does that sound like someone we should befriend Tamara?”
Silence befell the room. I couldn’t see my rescuer, just like I couldn’t see my torturer. All I was able to see was rats, a plethora of rats. My head started to feel light, I was about to drift out of consciousness again.
“Leave Daniel…”
“What? No…this creature might-“
“Might what? She can hardly move…do you see how terrified she is of the rats? Why torture an absolute stranger? Is this what the Ninth Order stands for?”
Silence.
I closed my eyes to will myself to move. I needed to get away from the rats and maybe punch my puppeteer while I am at it. When I peeled my eyes open, however, there was nothing. They had all…vanished.
I felt a weight sink by my side. I tried to angle my head but as I had expected it was still impossible.
“My apologies. My husband can be a little intense…”
A little? He literally covered me with rats! Speaking of which, where had they gone to? How had my puppeteer managed to take them away that fast?
“I presume you have already painted a grotesque image about the Ninth Order but I assure you, we are not evil…”
Really now? What about the whole rat thing? Your husband covered me in rats! Freaking rats!
“The effects of his powers are still dissipating. You will be alright soon and then we can converse alright?”
Fuck off.
“You can clean yourself up in the bath here…Again, my apologies.”
Oh yes, I had peed myself. I had peed on a golden dress that probably cost more than our house back at home. The door swung open for the third time since my sentience resurfaced.
“Your brother is awake Tamara but the numbness has yet to flee his body…”
It was much later when I managed to move my arms that it dawned on me, Barry was my rescuer’s brother.
What in the name of father Christmas…
- Writer
