Page 27 of The Devil In Blue
“I’ve never been forced to do anything.”
Those words sounded true. Firm, like he didn’t want me to question them.
I placed the toast on the tray and took the bowl of porridge in my hands, soothed by the lingering warmth on the metal. It smelled like rosemary and garlic. Taking a spoonful into my mouth, I tasted sharp cheddar and herbs on my tongue. It was perfect. So perfect, I felt instantly content. Which was something I was not used to. I almost didn’t trust it.
“He said it would be your favorite,” Petris said, a hint of sorrow in his words.
“What?”
“The herbs in the porridge. He said you’d like it.”
“I do.”
“Then you’ve had it before.”
“I…” I couldn’t remember. I knew the taste. It was familiar, but I only recalled Lucien having one meal prepared with rosemary and it was otherwise stale and forgettable. I shook my head. “I must have.”
Petris canted his head at me.
“What other foods do you like?” he asked. “I can inform the kitchen staff.”
I took another bite of porridge and shrugged. “I don’t care much for food.”
That was a lie. I greatly enjoyed tastes but had yet to explore enough properly to deduce what was my favorite. Aside from chocolate. And evidently, rosemary porridge. Everything else I’d eaten was for the benefit of others, not me.
I polished off half the bowl and moved to the sweet bread again to balance the savory taste. Feeling a little restless, I stood and slowly strolled the room while I ate, all the while side-eying Petris and his strange mask.
“Why do you wear that?” I asked.
His head dipped like the question was uncomfortable. “I just do, my lady.”
“Please, don’t call me that.”
“What should I call you?”
“Briar?”
“Of course. Well… I am hideous beneath this mask, you see. Beastly, I’ve been told.”
“You can’t be more hideous than the beast that tore apart the dining room last night.”
“You would be surprised. I am a collection of wounds that have disfigured me.”
“So he makes you wear the mask?”
“No, on the contrary. My king enjoys the strange and the weird and the horrifying. His kingdom is built on the things the world does not want to see. The mask is for me. Perhaps one day I will remove it, but today, it gives me comfort.”
“Why?”
“One can see the world more clearly sometimes when the world can’t see them.”
I felt myself shiver at those words. Swells of doubt and fear crept up inside me and made my skin cold. The food lost its taste and I set the last bite of toast back down on the tray with the rest of the leftovers, taking the cup of tea and downing the whole thing.
“Forgive me. Did I say something?” Petris asked.
“No,” I said, straight-faced and composed. “I’m simply finding my footing.”
“Well, I hope I can help. Rune said you’d probably like to dine alone for a while. I’ll bring you dinner when it’s time. Until then, you’re free to roam the castle. Just… don’t go where any door is locked.”
