Chapter Sixteen - Part Two
825 Words
7 Months Before
Ada sat on a balcony in the opposite wing of where Etienne was.
She normally wasn’t bothered or affected when people snapped at her, or when she was on the receiving end of their anger. She understood sometimes that people are pushed to what they can’t handle and take it out on others undeserving of that treatment.
She had once done it herself to her very own friends repeatedly.
They were compassionate and empathetic to her inner turmoil. Now, their friendships are her most treasured and revered relationships in her heart.
Being privy and understanding to other’s stress made it easy for her to have a thick skin when people said harsh words.
But Etienne’s words were more than harsh this morning.
The anger that accompanied the words scared her a little, too.
She set her cup of coffee down and pulled her feet up on her chair. She hugged her legs and rested her chin on her knees. She chewed on the inside of her cheeks as she tried to sort out what it was exactly that was bothering her.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that she should be back at the flat she was renting short term.
Her stomach rolled uneasily as she realized she just named what her gut instinct was screaming at her.
She shouldn’t stay.
Something’s wrong.
It’s dangerous.
There was a knock on the door frame and Ada yelped, jumped, hitting her legs on the table, knocking her cup over with a clatter.
“I’m sorry Ms. Smirnay, I didn’t mean to startle you.” Leon stood in the balcony doorway sheepishly.
“Oh no, it’s okay! I just was deep in thought.” She reached to set her cup upright and used a napkin to wipe up the dribbles the empty used cup had left on the tabletop.
“What can I do for you, Leon?” She said starting to stand.
He took quick steps to her then crouched in front of her before she finished standing.
She quickly sat back down.
“You’re in danger, Ada.” He said in a low whisper.
Ada gaped at him.
“What.” She said a flat low voice.
Leon grasped both her hands in his.
He continued in whisper, “You need to leave. You are in danger. Your life is in peril. Etienne is in a rage and we fear he will take it out on you. You must leave. Now.”
“What about your safety?” She whispered.
“We’re safe. But you are not.” He continued in whispers, “You must leave. Today. Right now.”
“You’re serious…” She said quietly.
Leon stood, grasping her hand.
“Yes. Go pack your things. Quickly. I will keep him in his study. But I can only guarantee 30 minutes. Take your bags, go down the East staircase and leave through the East entrance. There is a car there already ready to take you, give them a destination but not your final one. Do not speak to them more than necessary. The less the driver knows, the safer they are from Etienne.”
“But won’t Etienne know who took me?”
“No. It is not one of ours. It is from a paid for service. They think they’re picking up an employee of the castle.”
He turned her towards the door and gave her a gentle nudge.
“Now go.”
Ada glanced over her shoulder at him, then gave him a hard, but quick embrace.
“Thank you. Give everyone my love if you can. I am so sorry I can’t give proper goodbyes.”
Leon nodded solemnly with wet eyes.
“We shall forever remember you Ms. Smirnay. Now. Go!” He urged but still in a hushed down.
She nodded and rushed to her suite.
With tears streaming silently down her cheeks, she grabbed things quickly and shoved them in two bags. She knew things were going to be left behind, but she made sure to grab what would be too expensive or a hassle to replace.
She hefted one bag over her shoulder and grabbed the other by the handle. Making sure her wallet with her money, identification, and phone.
She quickly wiped off her wet cheeks and with fast silent steps descended the East staircase and out the door.
She looked up at the castle only when she was inside the car and it was pulling away.
She closed her eyes against the next wave of tears that threatened to spill over.
If she had kept her eyes open, she would have seen the figure of a large man in a window that watched the car pull away.
- Writer
