A Storm Is Coming
1080 Words
“We were gone for too long, “ I tell Lave while we tie the horses in the stable.
“I didn’t have anything to do for today. “
“Thank you, " I say, “For everything. “
“No problem, “ Lave smiles and gives some straws to his horse.
I give some to Molly when movement catches my attention. And my hand freezes mid-air.
A giant black horse is standing right opposite me.
I drop the strolls and take a giant step away, pressing myself against the wooden wall of the stable.
“What… is this monster?” I manage, my heart beating like mad. I glance towards the door but it’s too far and closer to the beast.
“Oh, that’s Night.”
“Oh, right.” I stutter, “Another animal with a name.”
“You don’t name your animals?”
“Not… not so often.”
“That’s interesting,” he says, thoughtfully as if what I said was super weird and not the ENORMOUS black horse a few steps away from me.
Molly walks closer to me and nudges me with her nose.
I glance at her but my chest is heaving.
“She is trying to reassure you,” Lave says and starts brushing his horse. The animal looks like he enjoys it, so he stays where he is.
The black horse, though…
“Has he killed anyone so far?” I stutter and Lave glances at the beast.
“He has a temper, all right.”
“I can tell.”
But the black horse remains where he is- and I am almost sure he is observing me.
Do they all keep an eye on me?
Molly pushes me slightly and I discover my shoulders finally relax.
I almost stretched my hand again to pet her. But then I hear movement and a second later a shape appears at the entrance of the stables.
Sirius.
He is dressed officially. A golden vest with red threads at the rims covers his shirt. His dark hair is put back and I notice he is wearing a lot of jewels. Standing here he does look like a king.
“Alexandra, “ he greets me,” I wasn’t told you went out.”
“It was my idea,” Lave informs him, continuing to brush his horse.
Something passes between them and I can tell they don’t like each other much.
“By the way, Lave,” Sirius begins,” The others are waiting for you. I assume you will need to prepare for tonight.”
Tonight? What’s tonight? I remember the servant also mentioned something about the dinner tonight but I am pretty sure now is not the time to ask. So I keep my mouth shut. It’s not like I would be invited anywhere, even if something was happening in the palace.
Lave doesn’t respond to him. He throws the brush to the side and it lands in the dry straws.
“Of course, Sirius.”
Lave glances at me on his way back.
“See you later.”
“Yeah,” I mutter and turn back to Sirius. As he approaches the black horse makes an angry sound and this time I panic.
“Let’s get you out of here first, all right?”
Sirius suggests and takes some by the hand. I instantly feel calmer and exhale slowly.
“He is dangerous, I can’t believe Lave brought you in here.”
Molly is watching us as we leave and for some reason, she looks sad.
“I … I am sure he didn’t do it with ill intentions.”
Sirius doesn’t answer, only smiles sadly. Of course, his intentions were ill, did I think Lave was my friend?
Am I like one of the dumb girls who fall for him and look at him with watery eyes?
Get a grip, Alexandra. Are you THIS naive? It’s not like you don’t have enough clues about what the prince and his betas are like. They all keep an eye on me, that’s why he suggested we go to town.
Sirius seems like he is the only one I can trust. Or if he isn’t – at least he is the only one who tells me what is going on.
The raven flies above us and I close my eyes briefly.
“I’m sorry, you are right.” I tell Sirius, “I don’t know why I trusted him to go to town.”
“Oh, it’s understandable. I believe my nephew appointed him to keep an eye on you because he is very attractive. All girls like him.”
“Yeah, I saw that, it’s just…”
To keep an eye on me. Of course, I was right…. Not that there’s much I can do. Perhaps they just want to make sure I don’t cause trouble and try to run away, breaking the deal with my father.
Opal makes a loud croaking sound and I frown.
“Is the prince's bird always this intimidating? ”
“Opal?” Sirius asks, “No. He wasn’t like this before. But this is not Nathaniel’s bird. It belonged to his brother. Maybe Opal still mourns him.”
I stop dead in my tracks.
“His brother?! Nathaniel has a brother?”
And Opal is mourning?
What?
“Yes, he had an older brother.” Sirius says with sadness in his voice “He was killed not too long ago.”
“They... no one told me anything,” I admit, my heart sank.
Sirius looks at me, compassion- and maybe even pity- written all over his face.
“Alexandra. I am sure they haven’t told you many things. And if I can give my advice as someone who only cares about your best interest here it would be do not trust them. Especially Nathaniel.”
“But… what can they do, or…”
He slows down and looks up at the sky. Opal is still flying above us, croaking menacingly. Shivers run down my back, something has changed in the span of a few seconds and Opal is flapping his wings so fast, his croaking is splitting the air. I hear a thudding sound, and the sky turns darker gray. Just a few hours ago the sun was shining brightly, but now... a storm is coming.
“I guess I have to tell you everything, then. “ Sirius says, voice dropping almost to a whisper.
- Writer
