Lake of Sorrows

This isn’t right.

Max POV

 I stand in the hallway waiting for Amanda to get here so she can help get Miss Isabella to let us in her room.  Thankfully, the kitchen was in a good mood and didn’t mind making Miss Isabella a special tray before they started cleaning up for the night. I could only hope that she wouldn’t see us as a threat and would just let us in without a fight. You never know with that child if she is going to work with you or be stubborn as hell. Doubt if I was alone if I could get that lucky, but I couldn’t help but hope that seeing Amanda would calm her down enough to let us just check on her. 

Fifteen minutes pass before Amanda comes flying around the corner. “Amanda, what the hell took you so long? I called you 30 minutes ago. Seriously woman there is no way it should have taken a damn Fairy that long to get here?” “Sorry, sorry Max. It took me a minute to get away from Jacob, I couldn’t have him hovering over us now could I Max? Do you think she would let any of us in if Jacob was present?” In a blink of an eye, Amanda transferred into her human self. I don’t think I will ever get used to the blinding bright light that is produced from the damn fairies when they change their form.

 “Now, let's go check on our girl.” Amanda takes the lead and strolls right through Prince Marcus’s room to Miss Isabella’s door. “Aw look our Lil one has put up her first force field.” Amanda lets out an excited giggle and with a wave, her hand makes the glowing field disappear and opens the door. I stand behind her, just stuttering over my words. “ What…how… huh? Wait a minute Amanda, how did you get through her door? Marcus has had men up here all day and nothing. Then you come up here with a flick of your wrist and can get in.” 

 Amanda just shrugs and walks in the room,“ When I was still a changeling back in the Fae I once watched my rebellious sister try this trick. It was hilarious, she did it right in front of my mother, thinking that it would keep her out. My mother was pissed and split her door so fast. Needless to say, spells like this works on keeping young changelings out or non-fairies but do this to a grown fairy, and you’re asking for a stern lesson. Most changelings don’t understand this until a rebellious stage. My sister was stuck scrubbing floors for weeks” I just stand there with my mouth opened.

 “What the hell you mean Changeling, Amanda, you mean…” There’s no way in hell she’s telling me this, Miss Isabella is supposed to be a human, not a fairy. As I walk through the door frame the force field reappears, Amanda has made it to a balled-up Isabella. “Isabella love scoot over let Manda lay with you.” Isabella doesn’t seem to move, so Amanda physically moves her over. “Max brought us some supper up why don’t we try to eat love. You look like you have lost some weight, little one we got to remember you just woke up from a coma. Come now get up you need your strength if you’re going to keep that force field back up. We have got to keep those men folks out.” Amanda looks up at me and winks. I can’t believe this woman is cracking jokes at a time like this. I watch as she helped a sniffling Isabella up. Her poor face was puffy from the tears.

“Miss Isabella it’s good to see that you are awake. Prince Marcus was extremely worried.” I say gently genuinely concerned with her Miss Isabella scuffed at me while rolling her eyes. “Yes, sure he must have been so worried that it caused that man to need to be dry-humped by a servant. He has such an amazing way of showing it.” I see tears starting to roll down her face again. “Max I thought he loved me.” My heart broke the moment she said that. Looking closer at Miss Isabella’s eyes you could see blue flames dance across them. “ Oh, sh*t Amanda look.” Amanda leans to gaze into Miss Isabella’s eyes she then gently places her hands on her cheeks and peered into her eyes.

“Isabella Love why don’t we get you into the tub. I think we need to get you cooled off a little before we accidentally set your room on fire. I would be ok with a little fire play today, but you see that pup over there?” Amanda’s smart a** points at me as I roll my eyes as a response to her joke. It doesn’t seem to phase her as she continues. “Well you see Isabella where it wouldn’t hurt you or me, it would definitely cause the big bad wolf over there to be fried to a crisp. Have you ever seen a hairless wolf?  It’s quite hilarious but messes with their egos. You don’t want that do you?” Isabella shakes her head looking confused, Amanda doesn’t miss a beat as she guides her to the bathroom to start the bath. “That’s right Love we don’t burn our friends.”

 By now Amanda is whispering to Isabella, so I turn and shut the door to let Miss Isabella bath in private. The thought of her being a changeling overwhelmingly hard to wrap my mind around. What do I tell Prince Marcus he thought his mate was a human? The bathroom door opens suddenly, Amanda pops her head out right giggling like a madwoman. “Hey, Max I think we need a big bowl of cream brought up, oh and sugar, well then again just call the kitchen. Tell them that Isabella needs ice cream with all the toppings. Oh and go ahead order you some beers tonight we are getting sh*t faced! Tell them not to forget the cream lots and lots of whipped cream.” She turns to go back into the bathroom and rushes back out like she forgot something. “By the way, before I forget, Max if you see anyone don’t say jack about her being a changeling it isn’t the time to announce it. Announcing it right now could cause her more of a headache than needed.” She didn’t even say bye. The thought of ice cream seemed to make her a little too excited, but who was I to argue. If this made Miss Isabella better I’ll be damn we were going to give her all the sweets she required.

 The kitchen had calmed down with only a handful of servants left cleaning up from dinner. I approached Stephanie the head chef. “Hey, Stephanie, how much-whipped cream do we have on hand by chance? Do you think I might need to send someone to the village for some?” Stephanie didn’t even bother to look up while wrapping the leftovers. “Max how much-whipped cream are we talking about? I keep a few bottles on hand for that pet of Jacobs no one else has a liking for it. Seems the cream makes her drunk.” 

She finally looks up at me.” Have you ever seen a fairy fall over with giggles it is a must-see if you ever get the chance it is hilarious? The poor thing gave Prince Jacob too much blood a few nights ago and came into the clinic doubled over in pain. Well, we didn’t know what to do to help and she kept screaming for cream… Anyway long story short she got drunk off the cream and spent the night singing love songs in the clinic. Let me tell you, Prince Jacob was not happy to find a hungover pet the next morning. The commotion she put on as he carried her back to her room had everyone doubled over. Let’s just say she was dramatic and gave him a run for his sanity.” It doesn’t surprise me that Amanda showed out. She's easily the most entertaining person in this castle. “Well I mean it is for her but not.” I replied to Stephanie “We are trying to calm Prince Marcus’s pet down with a movie night. Amanda suggested that an ice cream bar would help give her some much-needed energy. Since y'all are closing the kitchen down, I’ll gladly fix it and get out of your way. Just point me in the right direction.” Stephanie led me to the pantry. “There ya go Max everything you need is in there and in that freezer. Just leave the dishes in the sink and I’ll get them washed in the am. I’m done here Max I’m gonna head to bed can you turn out the lights when you are done. Thanks.” 

After filling the bags with supplies I head back upstairs. These girls better know how much I care, because this sh*t is heavy. I probably grabbed everything under the sun for that child's sundae. It better get me extra brownie points. The elevator dings letting me know that I have reached my floor. With me not paying attention I collide with Marcus the moment I stepped off the elevator. “Max what the hell are you doing out here, I thought you were supposed to be calming Isabella down!” Marcus growled at me, I just gave him a blank stare most would be trembling in fear. All that growl did was piss me off. “ You got to be kidding me Marcus who do you think you are trying to intimidate with that growl. I’ll tell ya right now Marcus I might be a servant, but I am also your friend. You won’t disrespect me like your other minions, I am here doing as you ask. So I advise you not to push my buttons. Or you can fix this whole mess you created on your own.” I let my own growl out as a warning as I walked around Marcus to head to Miss Isabella’s room. 

Marcus attempts to follow me to Miss Isabella’s door. It was nothing for me to just walk through the force field, but Marcus got the shock of his life and landed square on his a$$. The walls shook from the roar he let out maybe it will teach him to not underestimate Miss Isabella.  I ignore his rambling and start unpacking the bags of ice cream along with all the toppings.

 “Hey, Amanda I’m back. Yalls ice cream is melting so hurry up.” I yell towards the bathroom door. The door opens, and the ladies immediately come out. I look at Miss Isabella. “You better?” She looks up and gives me a half-grin letting me know that she’s trying. “I think so, Max I think I just need time to mope and get over this feeling. It is hard to process all these emotions that are being thrown at me.” She turned and flopped on her bed. “So Amanda made me eat while I was in the bath to calm me down, now I need something sweet. Whatcha, bring me, Mr. Max?” She laughed when she spotted the sour face I made at being called Mister. “Yeah no we are not going to call me Mister I’m old but not that old Miss Isabella. Now tell me Miss what do you want on your sundae?”