Page 63 of Glass and Bone
“Please, just listen to me.” I shake my head and back away as much as I can in the porcelain cage.
“I don’t know who you are, or what you want from me.” I stutter, trying to control my breathing.
“It will all be explained in due time. We will meet sometime soon in the real world.” He cocks his head to the side, as if he’s listening for something.
“Thisisthe real world. Who are you?” I ask again, my voice becoming more demanding. He smiles and reaches forward. I flinch, but his hand cups my face and I can feel the burning sensation of electricity spreading from his touch. It courses through my veins, setting my limbs on fire and I suck in a ragged breath.
“I am sorry I couldn’t protect you. I tried, but I couldn’t get through.” He’s sad, tears glistening in his eyes as he softly smiles.
“Please. Just tell me who you are.”
“Listen to me, Elaenor. Don’t take my warnings as satire. You need to protect yourself. You are not safe here. There are things happening that are out of your control, things you won’t even remember. Sugar has a way of concealing even the most lethal of drugs.”Sugar?I lean forward, my hands gripping the edge of the tub.
“Tell me who I should be afraid of. Is it Jeremiah?” He shakes his head. “Tobias? Theo?” He nods and his thumb traces my bottom lip. Which one? I freeze as I stare into his eyes. Bioluminescent green shining in the darkened room as if it were magic.
“They will be the cause of your death, Elaenor.” His hand leaves my face, as does the electricity, causing my breath to catch in my throat. “I will see you soon, but for now, wake up.”
“What?”
“Wake up.”
I gasp as my head breaks through the water. I cling to the side of the tub as I cough the liquid out of my lungs, splashing it across the marble floor.What the hell?I don’t remember falling asleep.
It felt so real. It felt like he was really here. Every time I take a bath, he appears. Is that all it takes? To be close to death for him to show up?
Hefeelsreal. He was there and I couldfeelas he brushed my cheek. As he ran his finger across my lip. Is this the same as when I imagined my own dead body chasing me through the country? Is this the same as the dreams that plague me at night? Is this all in my head?
I’m not crazy.
I’m not Evreux.
What if he is real? Whatifthe warnings are real? I would be stupid not to consider it. But am I stupid enough to even entertain it? Is this just another product of my imagination playing on my fears and concerns?
I stand and wrap the towel around me. It's warm and soft and I just enjoy it for a moment, standing still. I need to leave. He said they’ll cause my death, but who is he to provide such a prediction? Unless he is also a prophet? Is this how they communicate?
He said sugar conceals even the most lethal of drugs. Is he saying I am going to be drugged? Should I avoid all sweets, or just ones given to me from someone I don’t trust? What does this all mean?
When he touched me, it felt as if his skin was burning through mine, not in a painful way, but in a longing type of way. Like he was meant to be near me, meant to be touching me. I bury my face in the towel and let the tears of confusion soak into the material.
One week.
I have been away from home for one week, but it feels as if I’ve lived a lifetime.
Chapter Twenty-Six
I have received no response from my father, and it has been nearly 10 days since I sent the letter off with Erik. However, I am not 100% sure he even received it. The guards work for Tobias, not for me, and I haven’t seen Erik since that night. I was careful not to write anything that may cause problems should it be intercepted, but I still don’t know if he read it.
Theo hasn’t been around since that night either. Tobias says he was sent off with the kingsguard the day of our coronation to prepare for any infiltration from Rakushia’s borders. The last few nights have been uneventful. I seem to be consuming a rather large amount of sweet, pink wine as I don’t remember how I end up in bed, bathed and changed, most nights. I know I should cut back, but it seems to be one of the only things that staves off the fear I have for Tobias. He has been ensuring there is a steady supply in our room at all times, which I am thankful for.
Surprisingly, Tobias has invited me to the council meeting this morning for the first time. He has meetings multiple times a day, and I have always wondered what is spoken about for hours on end. I have wanted to ask to attend, but we haven’t been speaking much the last few days. I stand along with the other members in the hallway awaiting his arrival. I thankfully don’t see Jeremiah anywhere, but three other men stand together, quietly speaking.
They are all fairly old compared to Tobias and I, probably closer in age to Evreux and my father. None of them have spoken to me besides the formal greetings. I don’t attempt to speak to any of them, as my mind is elsewhere. I am unsure why Tobias chose today of all days to invite me to the council meeting; he has always excluded me.
We’ve barely spoken. He leaves before I awake in the morning, and at night we perform our duties without speaking much, then he leaves, and I drink more wine than I should and end up bathed and in bed. I will say I much prefer our relationship this way.
There is no anger, no physical abuse, just silence, wine, and dreamless sleep. I will gladly live out my days this way if this is what he also desires, but I also crave his soothing tone. His warm touch. He said he thinks he loves me, and I want him to. I want us to be swept up in each other, madly in love with one another, but that doesn’t seem like it will happen any time soon, or at all.
I’ve spent the last few days learning about the housekeeping duties queens usually attend to. I have helped prepare the festival that will be taking place the next seven days. The entirety of Noterra is attending as well as the kings of the four other regions we rule over. That means my father may be in attendance. I don’t know if I truly want to see him, but I am curious what he has to say about Evreux’s confessions regarding my mother. On top of planning the festival, I have been tasked with managing other duties such as menus and staffing. I will say I don’t truly enjoy planning menus or staffing, so I delegate most of it to whomever wants the job.
