Princess' Journey

Chapter 3

    “Leka, what did you see?” I sit down in front of him, while Anna takes a seat on the bed next to Olek, who woke up sometime during the conversation; but I’m sure he knows exactly what is going on. I honestly don’t think that hound ever truly sleeps…he hears everything.

    With a deep sigh, Leka says “Let’s not talk about that now. We need to focus on getting us out of here.” He looks over at Olek and Ana, “All of us.”

    That night, I didn't get much sleep, I was too busy thinking about Leka's dream. I tossed and turned for hours and eventually resigned to just staring at the ceiling. What the hell did Leka mean by us needing to leave? I mean, I'm all for it but damn I didn't think it would be under such poorly detailed circumstances!

    Looking to my sleeping companion, and seeing his soft expression, I nudged Leka. My gesture was met only by grumbles that formed deep in the hound's chest. I nudge him again, with a bit more force this time. Still nothing but grumbles. And rolling my eyes, I give Leka one final push that sends him tumbling off the bed.

    "Oh shit." I giggle as I cautiously peek over the side of the bed.

    I am greeted by a gruff voice, "you had better have a good reason for hurling me off the bed."

    "Oh good! You're awake! So uh...Leka, want to tell me what you saw in your dream now?"

    "Princess, you are the most impatient person I have ever met. What part of "not here" did you not understand?" The grumpy pile of fur asks me as he climbs back into his spot.

    I lock eyes with my protector and begin to pout, putting on my best "but Leka" face. This always works, he's a sucker for the pout. My dreams are soon dashed when all he says is, "goodnight Alora." and re-enters his slumber.

    Crossing my arms, I give a big "hrmph" before laying back down and attempting to catch some sleep myself.

   The next morning is utter hell. My bones and muscles ache from being thrown across the room like a rag doll; my cheek sports a nasty black and blue bruise, and I can see the outline of my mother’s fingers on my neck. I crawl out of bed, surprised to see that Leka is already up and nowhere to be seen. Huh, I wonder where that fur ball ran off to so early, I think to myself. I get dressed in some simple jeans and a light blue t-shirt, and walk out of my room. As I shut my door, I notice Anna exiting her room as well. Olek was not behind her.

    “Hey! Anna, wait up!” I jog over to her and greet her with my usual hip bump, but she just looked at me, as if she’s afraid to say something. “What’s up with you this morning? You’re…well, you’re quiet” 

    Anna looks down at her bare feet and begins to mumble, “I’m sorry about yesterday, with the vase. I shouldn’t have said what I did, I know you’ll be a great queen and I know you will be the most powerful vampire to ever live. And…I know you had no choice over Hellhounds, that Leka is your everything, that you two belong together. Let’s face it, you two make one hell of a team. I’m sorry for what I said, and I hope that one day you can forgive me. I’ll wait as long as it takes.”

    I smile and pull her in to a hug. “I forgave you the moment you said it.” I kiss Anna’s forehead and we head down the stairs for breakfast.

    We enter the dining room and see our father sitting there, Anica at his spot by the kitchen door.

    “Good morning, Daddy!” Anna kisses him on the cheek as she takes her spot next to him, then waving to Anica across the room, “Good morning, Anica!” The Hellhound nods in response.

    My sister can be such a dork, but I sure do love her. “Good morning, Dad” I say as I kiss him on his other cheek, before making my way down the long table to my place. I look toward Anica and whisper, “Have you seen Leka this morning?”

    “No, Princess, I have not. Perhaps he is just out hunting, or chasing the barn cats again. I would like to speak with you after breakfast, if you find the time. Your father and I have been talking and-“

    At that moment, the swinging door to the kitchen flies open, and one of our cooks comes slamming into the table; the cracking of bone being the prominent sound.

    ”Where is it? You tell me where it is and I will make your death quick!” My mother holds the cook up by her throat—seems to be a running theme of hers lately. Father is there in an instant, his hands softly on top of my mother’s. He looks into her eyes and slowly lowers the cook to the ground, the poor woman too frightened to move.

    “My dear Jessabelle, what are you accusing this poor young lady of doing?” Man, he’s brave, I’ve seen ten different times my mother could have snapped his neck and he never would have seen it coming. My mother’s face begins to soften as she looks into the eyes of my father—you would actually think that she loves him.

    “My ring is missing. How am I supposed to do anything if my ring is missing? I know this b***h took it, I saw her put it in her bag.”

    “Honey, your ring is on your finger, look,” father holds up my mother’s hand and there, on her right ring finger, sits a giant ruby settled in a ring of black diamond. It’s a God-awful piece of jewelry, if you ask me. Mother kneels next to the bawling women on the floor and strokes her cheek, wiping away the tears.

    “I’m sorry, my dear. It was a simple misunderstanding; back to work with you.” My mother sits down at her place across from Anna, a smile of pure joy on her face as she caresses her ring.

    “Mother, her arm is broken; I don’t believe she can continue to work until it is healed. Perhaps we should give her the next few weeks off, so she can have it properly attended to.” Anna looks down at her hands as she says this, probably hoping mother won’t treat her the same way she had just treated the cook.

    Still smiling, Jessabelle looks up at Anna, and says something none of us were expecting: “You’re right, my Lovely. She can no longer work under those conditions, and we should see that she is taken care of. Luther!” The mangy hound strolls into the dining room, looking as if he had just woken up. He looks at my mother with expecting eyes. “Go take care of that, would you?” Luther laughs, “it would be my pleasure.” He looks back at Anna’s horrified face, and begins to walk toward the kitchen.

    “No! Mother, he can’t do that! She has done nothing wrong!” Anna screams as Luther stalks closer to the door, walking almost in slow motion for dramatic effect, no doubt.

    “Quiet Annaliese! I can and will do as I please, and you will keep quiet if you know what’s good for you! Luther, stop playing around and take care of that.” Luther springs into action, busting through the kitchen door. It no sooner swings shut when we hear the blood curdling screams from the other side. They last only a moment before there is utter silence. Luther walks back through the door, blood dripping off of his chin, onto the white granite floor. My mother smiles as she takes her napkin and wipes off Luther’s face adoringly.

    “Thank you, my Sweet. Now go back and relax, I’m sorry to have woken you.” “Well I am rather hungry, and seeing as it is breakfast time, could I possibly…”

    “Yes! Of course! Go ahead and enjoy your breakfast, my Sweet.” With that, Luther bolted back into the kitchen, where he no doubt finished off the cook.