Claiming The Remnant

Chapter 60

[ Taiya ]

Dazed, I brought the book up to my nose. There was something there. A scent where his fingers had been but I couldn't quite grasp it. An urgent sound, but somehow soft and gentle like the barest breeze over a sweet meadow, whispered in my mind. That same echoing voice that had called to me before but it was quieter now. Hushed. Mate. It sang.

Mates weren't real and even if they were how could that be possible?

He was a Prince. Not just any Prince, the Crown Prince.

He is the CROWN PRINCE…

Blessed be the Sky and the Earth.

I hit him with a book.

I attacked him.

I assaulted the Crown Prince of Lystra. The heir to the throne. A man promised from birth to be King.

Would they even bother with the dungeon? The taste of the stale air was already encroaching. I could almost feel my skin splitting and bruising from how they would beat me.

Maybe they would just have me executed for my crime. I'd die, on my knees, in the pouring rain.

Hopefully it would be quick.

"Ye Gods, what have I done?" The book clattered to the floor. Any lingering bliss from the encounter was gone; lost in swirling visions of my pending imprisonment or execution. "No." The word trembled into life as my world collapsed. My tiny, hopeful world.

"Lady Esther, what's wrong?" I could barely hear Josephine over the clamour in my own head.

"Jo, I… I assault a Prince." The room seemed to be getting smaller and Josephine's hand on my arm was like fire sizzling on a sheet of ice. "Not just any Prince, the Prince. In his own home. They will… they will…" The room was spinning, my lungs were somehow empty and full at the same time.

"Esther, calm down, you are being ridiculous." She huffed with an eye roll. "If it was that spoiled yellow eyed Princess then there might be some cause for concern but Prince Ethyn is a sweetheart."

Mate the voice curled around my brain, a quiet temptress come to us… we will let you keep him…

Ye Gods, I was going to unravel on the spot. Why would he want me? If nothing else I was definitely going insane.

"I'm nothing, he wouldn't, why would… " I fumbled in my brain.

"Esther, you're talking utter nonsense." Josephine mocked in her dry way before noticing that all was not well. "Esther, breathe, you need to breathe or you're going to pass out."

- - -

I woke up in my room. That was a positive start. I wasn't cuffed either. Fearfully I peeked over the covers.

"Lady Esther, you are awake." Dr. Heathson stated in his flat voice. "How are you feeling?"

Frightened. That's how I was feeling but I didn't say. Instead I scanned the room to find it was just myself and the Doctor present. The kindly, slightly wrinkled, innocuous Dr.

"You had a panic attack and passed out." He added, in his flat emotionless voice, when I didn't respond. There was still panic gripping my mind.

"Where is Josephine?" I couldn't help but blurt rudely. She wasn't here. Had she decided we were done for the day? Was she simply with her boyfriend? Or was it more sinister? My head was reeling. What if Josephine had taken the fall? My eyes were locked on the Doctor. I needed answers.

"Josephine is with the King." Dr. Heathson was plain in words as always but they had my heart leaping in fear nonetheless.

"Why is she there? What are they talking about?" Was she solidifying my guilt while hoping the confession would spare her any punishment? The panic was growing and it was most certainly showing. The way Dr. Heathson looked at me said as much.

"Deep breath, Lady Esther. Everything is fine. You are safe. Josephine is safe. There is no danger." He drummed his fingers against his leg. "Perhaps you would like some tea? Something calming in the simplicity of holding a cup of tea. Most effective in any situation." A pitiful moan escaped my lips.

"Not in this situation." I sat up against the headboard before beginning to pull the covers and pillows up to a sort of cocoon around me. Why I was doing it was unclear but this cosy space felt safe. Well, safer.

"And what situation would that be?" Dr. Heathson started clattering around at the tea trolley, his back to me. I should run. While he wasn't looking, I should run. The thought was more of a feeling. All my muscles itched.

"I threw a book and it hit the Prince." I said instead. Tears were burning at the back of my eyes but I didn't want to cry. There had been too much crying.

"I hope it was a heavy book." My jaw became unhinged at the Dr.'s light take on the circumstances. "Here, take the tea. So this is what all the upset is about?"

"Dr. Heathson, you appear to have misunderstood the situation. I threw a book. It hit the Crown Prince, that is a serious offence is it not? A crime. Surely I will be punished." The tea cup was unsteady in my hand, sloshing over the rim.

"Do you see anything here to indicate such concerns are something that have weight? Hum." He sat on the bed. I sighed. Why was I still surprised when the people here behaved in an overly familiar way? "I understand that insofar your stay here has been tumultuous and traumatic to say the least. In no way am I undermining your lived experience but I want you to know you are safe here. We will take care of you. His Majesty will not imprison Lady Esther."

And there it was. A clue. A little raindrop of a thought that just wouldn't quite hit home.

'His Majesty will not imprison Lady Esther.'

It was a strange turn of phrase. Even for the Doctor. Thinking about it made my headache.

"Drink your tea, I shall organise you some supper." The Dr. patted the bed, a sort of get to it gesture.

"Supper?" I gripped the teacup tighter. Heat leached into my hands

"Yes…? Are you not hungry?" He paused.

"I am but, surely the day has not gone already?" Another day, gone, disappeared into nothing; squandered yet again.

"It has… but you do not have to retire after supper. Perhaps you would like to soak in the hot springs beneath the castle?" This man, so unexpressive, seemed to understand my feelings without me saying them plainly. "I would suggest the gardens as I'm sure the fresh air would do you some good but as you can likely hear the rain is still coming down with much vigour." I could hear it. It was back to the window shattering attempts of this morning’s deluge. After a sniff I brought the light green tea to my lips and took a large sip which I promptly spat back into the cup.

"Ugh, what is this?" There was plain disgust in my features as I looked upon the offending beverage.

"Peppermint tea, both calming and good for digestion." Dr. Heathson took a fraction of a second to study my face. "I take it you don't like it?" There was a ghost of a smile on his lips.

"Um, it's ok. I will drink it." The Doctor had been good to me and if he thought this was to my benefit then I would choke it down.

"You spat in it." He told me in his monotone way. There was no way in which to gauge how he meant it but his mannerisms. They indicated it was simply a statement of fact. There was a little quirk in his eyebrows. Oh dear, I'm a Lady, I told myself. We do not spit and we certainly don’t consume something we spat in… a faux pas or just another thing that didn’t add up? Or was I trying to invent mysteries where there were none? "Let me put you another cup, what would you like? Chamomile or Lavender?"

I requested the Lavender of course. Supper arrived shortly after - some sort of grain with meat and vegetables. Lightly spiced and very fragrant.

The Doctor served me. It was odd.

“Where is Han?” I pushed at least half of the meal around the plate with my fork. There was too much for me to eat.

“Han has the whole day off, Josephine was going to stay with you this evening.” Seeing as I was done he took my plate. He didn’t ask though.

“Will Josephine be coming back?” There was hope and worry tangled in my words. We seemed to have started on a much better footing this morning. I wanted that.

“Not tonight, Lady Esther. I will arrange for someone to escort you to the hot springs in an hour or so. Give you time to digest.” He nodded to himself. “I have some other matters to attend to - will you be needing anything else My Lady?”

“Thank you Dr., I’ll be ok.” I tried for confidence but the look on Dr. Heathson’s face said that I had missed. Despite that he still scooped up his bag and bid me good evening.

For the first time, that I could remember at least, I was alone.

Come, the voice began to call. One voice that sounded like hundreds but hushed like the sound of a brook from deep amongst the trees. Come, make the world bloom, the voice persisted.

From the cosy bed I clambered, feet against the soft rug, and then on to the hard cold floor as I pulled the curtain open to reveal the dark stormy landscape. Raindrops, thick and swollen, pummelled the window obscuring the land with untimely darkness.

Come, come, we will make you whole, beautiful bud. The forest is waiting. The world is waiting. Bloom. Bloom. Bloom. It demanded. Mistakenly I went from gazing out into the nothingness of the distance to the surface of the glass; my own reflection.

Big eyes. Blue, brilliantly so. They felt like me. They felt real. The pale face, the auburn hair framing delicate pinched features - not so much. My eyes were like a dew drop on a dead desert flower; the only thing with life. This reflection wavered and I felt sick but couldn’t look away.

Pale skin gave way to a warm hue. Hair, once flat and lifeless, was a wild exuberance of tight black curls. The eyes melted away like the raindrops rolling down the pane leaving a deep comforting brown, a colour that blended with the night. It became a tunnel that expanded out, consumed my new image - turned it inside out. I was going to be sick. There was a monster looking back at me. The same monster as before; a mass of flesh and blue that made fear and hate spiral inside. A scream was inching its way up my throat. The sound of fire crackled in my ears. Laughing.

“Lady Esther?” A sweet voice. “I am, Yila. My Lady I have been sent to escort you to the hot springs, should you so wish.”

I nearly jumped out of my skin, or rather I seemed to jump back into my skin. The strange reflection was gone and it was just my plain, simple self left, smeared on the glass.

“Thank you, Yila.” I stood facing the young maid. She looked a little younger than me. Her hair was uncovered in a simple plait. She had dark skin that's warm and rich with large golden eyes and a wide honest face.

She said nothing and I said nothing. Yila looked uncomfortable. After a few awkward glances I realised, the young lady - immaculate in her maids uniform, was awaiting my instruction. Just how it should be.

"Yila, of yet, I have not had the pleasure of attending the springs. Please prepare anything I need to take and advise me on my attire." There was an authoritative note to my voice that I rather enjoyed.

"Of course, My Lady." Yila bustled about, quickly accomplishing the task. My dress was not an issue according to Yila, there were changing rooms for men and women at the top of the stairs leading to the hot springs. She informed me that it was customary to bathe nude for the full benefit of the mineralised water.

With Yila leading the way (it took some persuasion to get her to do so, she thought it improper that I should walk behind) we began our journey. Jakar was at the door, guarding my Suite. He was curt with me as usual but there was a smile in him for Yila and I realised they shared some features. Perhaps they were related.

I wished Han or Josephine were with me, or even Grace as the springs seemed to be an endless distance away. They would have taken my arm without a second thought and supported my tired frame.

Well, at least I am out of that room. It was a pleasing thought.

When we reached the two chambers dedicated to preparing one’s person for bathing, Yila was called away. The turn of events left me not only dumbfounded, but also holding my neatly folded towels, dressing gown and clean dress with undergarments tactfully folded inside as not to be seen by anyone we had passed by. Yila had simply given me some hurried instructions, handed me the pile and scurried off. What was it with the staff here?

Ye Gods, how was I going to find my way back? Now I really wished Josephine were with me. Stripping my clothes off I pondered our strange morning together and my 'discovery'. If Josephine were with me now which of the chambers would she be in?

I was being stupid, she would be here with me; in the female changing room. This morning the only worries between Josephine and I in that regard were on Josephine's end. As a Lady I was used to undressing in front of servants and the like anyhow; and Josephine was my companion. My thoughts were struggling to really come into their own but I knew how I felt.

However, all though I was settled with Josephine, there had been much too much exposure of my flesh, amongst other things, during my stay so far which made me glad that this room was empty, save for the wooden benches and cupboards for storing your belongings. Decidedly I was glad, that not only had Yila left but, that I was actually on my own and my body was having a rare reprieve from being looked upon.

Naked under my dressing gown I headed for the exit at the back of the room. The stairs were dark. Likely there was a switch somewhere but I knew not of its location so, being as there was a handrail and the steps were even, I descended in the dark.

The stairs were easy but I hadn't thought about how I would get to a pool if I couldn't see. First I ran my hands over the wall either side of the stairs hoping to find a switch for the lights but it was a fruitless endeavour. Determined I took cautious steps into the room, feeling the warm stone floor with my bare foot before putting my weight upon it.

Finally the edge of one of the hot spring pools was felt beneath my foot and luckily the steps, carved into the stone, were just on the right. Weirdly I felt accomplished and brave for having persevered. Eager to reap my reward, the dressing gown was quickly shed and placed to the side of the steps to assist me in finding my way out. At least people knew where I'd gone and if I did not return to my room I was sure someone would come and rescue me in the event that leaving was not as successful.

Each step down into the water was bliss. The heat seeped onto me in a way that was unlike anything I'd experienced; it almost made me forget that I didn't know how to swim.

Three steps down, I was knee deep. Why was nothing simple for me? Frustrated, I growled my annoyance. The sound shuffled around the room bouncing off the cavern walls echoing softly. The noise lapped at itself until it almost sounded like laughter.

Peeved I sat on the steps. That turned out to be exactly what I needed to do to discover that step number three actually became a stone bench around the rim of the pool. Finally comfortable and not worried about drowning I sighed my contentment and leant back onto the carved seat.

"The water is…" The voice came out of nowhere making me scream and cutting off whatever the mystery person had been about to say. The sound of my fear and surprise pinged around, shrill and sharp even once it wasn't much more than a whisper.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." The voice came again. There was something about it, something familiar, something beautiful.

"It's quite alright," It wasn't, my heart was pounding so hard, "Prince Ethyn." I remembered all of a sudden. Despite it being blacker than the night in here the crystal clear image of the Crown Prince standing before me in the library holding out that stupid bloody book was as vivid in my mind as though I could actually see.

With Fae height and pearlescent skin, like liquid gold in an obviously Fae hue, there had been something scrumptious about him. His mere presence had held me captive while his voice made me quiver. The shape of him in those ragged clothes had made me feel flushed to say the least. They had clung to him in such a way… delicious. His face was handsome, princely even. A strong jaw but not too square, it followed a more slender Fae heritage. His eyes were a soft grey, warm, inviting, brimming with something that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. At the time it did not occur to me but on reflection they were pretty much his Father’s eyes. His hair had been a tousled mess, a sexy tousled mess, the same hue of brown as his Father with a silver streak at the front which also tinted part of his eyebrow.

“Please, call me Ethyn. After all we are just two people, sitting in the dark, enjoying the peace and tranquillity of this bounty of nature.” The Prince spoke softly, his voice like a ripple of water. "You look worried, don't fret my head is unharmed from your impromptu assassination attempt." He tried to joke but it fell flat, in fact it was worse than that. Ye Gods, he could see me, he had seen me. Seen me edging across the room blind, seen me drop my robe. Oh Bless the Earth and Sky I had to get out of here.

In a panic I began to stand, but I was naked. So I sat back down. Splashing, fussing and heading for another panic attack.

"My apologies, I appear to have upset you. Please, enjoy the springs, I will take my leave." There was a sadness in his voice that seemed unreasonable for the circumstance. Water sloshed as he stood and although I couldn't see in the dark I closed my eyes as to most definitely not see anything I shouldn't.

By the sound of it he had been just the other side of the steps. I could have very easily sat in his lap. He was leaving, water came at me in little waves as he took the steps, and I felt oddly bereft.

"Please don't go." If felt like he was taking the air with him. I needed him and I didn't know why.

A/N - Hey, hope you enjoyed this update. If you are enjoying my writing why not check out my other books, The Wrong Hope (finished) and Convenience Nights (Short stories). Also I'd love for you to join Scribble Nook a F.B group, you can discover other authors here as well as learn more about me and my books!