Chapter 10
567 Words
The palace felt different after the discovery of the warning.
Or perhaps Elena was the one who had changed.
She kept looking over her shoulder.
Every whisper sounded suspicious.
Every unfamiliar face made her wonder whether they were the person who had left the note beneath her pillow.
By afternoon, she had had enough.
She escaped to the servants' garden behind the kitchens.
It was small compared with the royal gardens, but Elena preferred it.
No nobles came there.
No guards watched her.
She could simply breathe.
She sat beneath the old mango tree and closed her eyes.
"You're sitting in my spot."
Elena opened her eyes.
A young woman stood before her, holding a basket of folded clothes.
Elena blinked.
"Your spot?"
"Yes."
The woman pointed toward the ground.
"I've been sitting there every afternoon for three years."
Elena looked around.
"There isn't a sign."
The girl laughed.
"I suppose I'll have to put one up."
For the first time in days, Elena smiled.
"Then I apologize."
The girl dropped her basket beside Elena.
"You don't look like someone who apologizes easily."
"Maybe I don't."
"Good."
She sat beside her.
"I'm Pretty."
Elena stared.
"Pretty?"
"That's my name."
"You mean... really?"
"Really."
Pretty grinned.
"My mother said I was the prettiest baby she'd ever seen."
Elena laughed.
"That's a confident mother."
"She was."
For a few minutes, they sat in comfortable silence.
Then Pretty looked at her.
"You're Elena, aren't you?"
Elena's smile faded slightly.
"How do you know?"
"Everyone knows."
"Because of the rumors?"
Pretty rolled her eyes.
"Unfortunately."
Elena sighed.
"I wish everyone would stop talking about me."
"They won't."
"Why?"
"Because you caught the king's attention."
Elena looked away.
"I didn't do anything."
"I know."
Pretty nudged her shoulder.
"And that's probably why it's interesting."
Elena smiled despite herself.
For the first time since entering the palace, she felt like she wasn't alone.
---
That evening, in another part of the palace, Lady Seraphina stood before a terrified young servant.
The girl was trembling.
"My lady..."
Seraphina's eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.
"You've been serving my chambers for six months."
"Yes."
"And you've never disappointed me."
The servant swallowed.
"Thank you, my lady."
Seraphina stepped closer.
"Then don't disappoint me tonight."
The girl barely had time to respond.
Seraphina's fangs appeared.
A moment later, she sank them into the servant's neck.
The servant gasped.
Seraphina drank only briefly before pulling away.
The servant stumbled backward, pale and frightened.
Seraphina wiped the corner of her mouth with one finger.
"Leave."
The girl hurried from the room.
Mirella watched from the doorway.
"You seem troubled."
Seraphina looked toward the window.
"That girl."
"Elena?"
"Yes."
Mirella waited.
Seraphina's eyes narrowed.
"Find out who she has been speaking to."
Mirella smiled.
"I already know."
"Who?"
"A palace maid."
Seraphina turned.
"Her name?"
"Pretty."
Seraphina's expression hardened.
"Then perhaps we should learn what Pretty knows."
---
The following morning, Elena and Pretty walked together through the servants' corridor.
Pretty was talking excitedly about palace gossip.
Elena wasn't really listening.
For the first time in years, she had found someone she could call a friend.
She didn't know that friendship had just made Pretty a target.
And somewhere above them, behind a dark window, Lady Seraphina watched.
Her eyes followed the two girls.
Then she smiled.
If Elena wouldn't reveal her secrets willingly, perhaps her new friend would.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD