Quickly, I sat on my bed and blew out the candle on the nightstand. The fire in the fireplace would give me a little light and keep the room from the cool breeze outside. There was a small window by my bed, and I liked to look out to the city and the woods behind it. Even with the darkness, the moonlight was bright enough that I saw the leaves rustling in the wind.
A large black shadow sailed in the sky. As quickly as it came, it was gone.
There were so many mysteries to solve. However, before I solved anything, I needed rest. I needed to heal from today, hoping tomorrow I wouldn’t be doing anything physical beyond picking up a book.
**
I didn’t sleep very long, and I was oddly grateful for the early rise. I’d put the buckets of water closer to the fire last night, hoping they would warm up nicely so I could soak in the tub before starting my day. I was adjusting to this life, both mentally and physically.
There were moments I wanted to bolt and run as fast as my tired feet could carry me, but then I remembered I was not some weakling. I would not give up. I didn’t die in the apocalypse, and I wouldn’t die now.
The bath was every bit as wondrous as I’d been dreaming of during my travels to arrive here. My aches calmed, as well as the stress in my head. Everything melted away.
Then the banging began.
I cursed loudly enough for him to hear me. It was like he knew I was trying to relax, to let my frustration toward him flow out of me into the swirling water going down the drain when I pulled the plug.
With a growl, I grabbed my drying sheet to wrap around my dripping body and opened the door.
“What is your deal?” I leveled Rune with a fiery stare, attempting to incinerate him where he stood for ruining the moment I’d been dreaming of for weeks. Months!
The smirk on his face promised he would attempt to rattle me or piss me off, as I stood with water falling to the ground in little splashes from my body. Pink blush coated my cheeks as I thought about how inappropriate this was, but I wasn’t backing down now. He would only use this as fuel for later if I showed any signs of vulnerability.
“The queen wanted to see you after the library for tea.” His nostrils flared, and his face hardened as he turned to leave, his sharp jaw twitching with anger.
Poor Princess Nyx, the prime focus of his love. I bet he wouldn’t even know what to do with someone he cared about. Grunt and yell at them? No thanks.
Despite thinking him a jerk, I watched as he stomped down the hall. What happened to him that made him so . . . prickly. However, I’d probably be punished if I asked about his personal life so I stepped back into my room to shut the door, leaving those thoughts on the other side.
It wasn’t worth jumping back in the bath anymore. My mind was awake and reeling. I dried myself, careful not to slip on the wet spots I’d created earlier. Hopefully I wouldn’t be doing anything physical today to mess up my appearance so I could look at least halfway decent when having tea with the queen.
The only outfit I had left was an off-the-shoulder, long-sleeved purple tunic held up by a brown vest tied in the front, which showed off the little bit of womanly curve I did have, and some of the softest brown leggings I’d ever worn.
Eagerly wanting to feel the material against my newly cleansed skin, I hurried into the clothes and threw on the slippers I was given. A few random strings sat in my wardrobe that I had no idea what they were for, so I grabbed one and used it to tie my messy curls in a bun on top of my head.
“It’s a new day. Gonna be a great one,” I whispered to myself, the walls, and whatever creatures within hearing range.
I’d dusted near the library for an hour yesterday, so as soon as I shut the door to my room, I headed to it with ease and no escort.
Freedom at last.
Chapter Fourteen
As I meandered the stone passages, the halls bustled with excitement about a ball tonight.
I wondered if it was the same type of ball I’d read about in fairy tale books as a child with fancy dresses, dancing, music, and a glorious feast. I knew I would not be invited, though it would have been nice to see. We had some dancing nights at the community in the past. I’d dance to the strumming of a guitar or a harmonica that Mark, one of the men, used to play. We never played anything too loud so we wouldn’t attract the Dramens’ attention. I’d get dolled up in one of the only dresses I’d owned, a pretty blue sundress that reached my knees. We’d eat food and celebrate being alive in the warmer season after having survived the cold months.
Maybe I’d sneak down to the ball and take a look or offer myself as the help to clean tables and hold trays of food. Anything to see what happened at a Fae gathering. I bet their outfits would be breathtaking, with beautiful colors swirling around the rainbow-hued throne room or out in the garden, where there was a stream and flowers.
I’d been daydreaming so thoroughly, I didn’t pay attention to where I walked and ran into someone. At first, I thought it was Rune. It would be just my luck he would catch me daydreaming. It wasn’t him.
It was a pale-white, almost-gray Fae with big blue eyes like Celestine’s . . . owlish. Her hair was pale and seemed to float in the air like the smoke of a snuffed-out candle. Her fingers were long with pointed claws at the end of the tips. Shimmers of what looked like feathers in her skin mesmerized me.
“I’m so sorry.” I bent down to help pick up the books she’d been holding, now strewn about on the floor. Her head tilted to the side, like she was trying to understand me.
Her petite body and pointy facial features also reminded me of Celestine.
“I’m Celestine’s niece, Myandris. But you can call me Dris.” Her voice was soft, like she didn’t want the louder vibrations of her sound to disturb the books around us. Everything about her said soft and reserved despite the wild, wavy, fluffed-out hair. Her long dress had been dyed light blue, and it stopped just under her knees. She wasn’t wearing any shoes. Her toes looked like her fingers, shimmering, with pointed claws.
“I’m—” I tried to say my name while handing her the three books.
“You’re Sapphira. Human who is going to free us. I’ve been excited to meet you. Celestine spoke highly of you. That’s why I’m going to try to teach you everything I can. Oh, this is so exciting, being a part of something bigger than yourself, you know. Well . . .” She blushed. “I know you know. You’re like a hero. A human doing all this for us and your world.”
I was taken aback by the compliment and her excitement. “Thanks. Do you see things, too?” I was curious if her aunt was the only one who had the gift.
She shook her head quickly. “No, that’s all her. She’s the only one who can. But I do know a lot of things. I am the librarian here. Please, come follow me. I’ve set out a bunch of books for us at a table. I can’t wait to get started.” If her feet weren’t clearly on the floor, I would have thought she floated into the library.
I’d seen the library in passing yesterday, and while it wasn’t a grand room like the ballroom, it was still beautiful. There were six tables in the middle of the tiled floors, one stacked with books. Two stories were covered in floor-to-ceiling books. The stairs and railings were carved wood, thick and sturdy. The breathtaking ceiling had magnificent paintings of magic, the queen, Fae in battle, and Fae embraced in lovers’ arms. A dragon and a firebird flew across the library as if traveling from one book to another. The arched windows let in the natural sunlight. I didn’t want to look away.