Path Of The Broken

19. Family Trait-3

Out of the corner of her eye, Amelia saw the world flicker. She almost groaned and had a hard time suppressing her terror as the world merged between the world she knew and a washed-out grey. She remembered this from childhood, yet the medication her family healer had given her had kept it under control. Until now, she’d been at the palace so long her own supply of her medication had run out. Lately, she heard the voices again—the screaming, pleading voices of people who weren’t there. The world flickered and merged between what she knew and the washed-out, colourless place she remembered from childhood. A place that terrified her. Yet she hadn’t dared to tell anyone, not even the healers now responsible for her welfare here in the palace. If only her old healer back at the family estates was here, she knew Bates could help her.

Amelia smiled and nodded at a comment from Elizabeth, hoping her reaction was the correct one. She had been too distracted by the screaming in her head and the world fading from her sight to hear what Elizabeth had said. Since Elizabeth smiled and they kept walking at a steady pace through the garden, Amelia guessed her response had been correct.

Amelia concentrated on trying not to let her inner turmoil show. She had toyed with the idea of requesting Aaron, the healer who had attended Alex, Kyle and Jess, for help. Yet she didn’t trust the palace healers after what had happened. Amelia wished she could be sure it wasn’t the care of the healers here at the palace that had driven Alex mad. Whispering voices clamoured in her mind, yet none of them was her own. Amelia only realised she’d come to a stop when Elizabeth’s words hit her.

“Amelia, what’s wrong? You’ve gone pale.” Elizabeth looked at her, concern written on her face, still standing with her arm wrapped around her shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Elizabeth, I’m fine. I think I need to rest. This fuss about Alex… I haven’t been getting much sleep of late.” Amelia smiled at Elizabeth but knew that it wasn’t very believable.

“It must be hard. Give it time, things with Alex will sort themselves out.” Elizabeth smiled, her understanding and sympathy making Amelia feel guilty that she’d lied. “Come, let’s get you back to your rooms. You should try to get some rest. Don’t come to dinner tonight, take the night off. I’ll explain to Father.”

Amelia nodded, placing her hand on Elizabeth’s and noticing the tremble in her hand. She hoped that the trembling was due to exhaustion. They turned without a further word and walked back towards the Compound of the Fourth.