Nadine - The Beginning

7. Bunny

I wake up early the next morning and walk out to the barn. I need to check on Shade and I want to take Star on a ride. It's been awhile since I rode him.

"Good morning Zacier."

He stands up from his breakfast table. "Good morning Hypatia. Wonderful party last night. Did you enjoy your dance?"

I get the biggest smile again. "I did Zacier, thank you for asking."

He chuckles. "Would you like me to get a horse ready for you to ride?"

"No thank you. Enjoy your breakfast. I'm going to take star out this morning."

"Enjoy your ride princess." He says it as I'm walking out with Star.

"Thank you."

"I've missed walking with you star. You have such a relaxing pace." I say as we walk through the fields. "Let's walk over to the river bank. I know how much you love it there."

As we get closer to the river bank something seems off. I can tell that Star senses it too. Her footing is wrong and she's looking all over.

"Calm down." I pet her a few times. "I don't see anyone Star. What is that over there by the river though? I'm just going to get down and go look. I'll hook you to this tree here."

As I get closer I breathe in threw my nose. I notice it smells human but different. I walk up to it and look. "AAAHHHHHHH!" It's a dead human. Her face is all beat up and her body has cuts and marks on it.

I start running and screaming for anyone. "HELP HELP HELP!"

Asa comes running over and hugs me. "What's wrong princess?" I point.

She walks over then comes running back.

"Princess we have to ride fast and get one of the advisors. The first one we see. Let's get the horse."

"I can stay. You can go faster please hurry."

"I can't leave you here princess."

I look over and Dipak is running towards us. "What's wrong?"

I point again.

He runs over and comes back.

"Asa go get the advisors and the king. Fast. The princess will be safer with me for now."

She takes off on Star and leaves me standing there. I latch onto Dipak and hold him around his waist.

I look up at him. I can't help but shake. "What happened to her? She looks the same age as me."

There is a rustling in a bush close to us. He pulls his sword out and pushes me behind him. I am so scared. I can't stop holding onto him. I'm still shaking and I start to cry.

He starts to walk towards the bush. "No please don't go." I hold him tighter and try to pull him back.

The rustling gets louder and he is completely silent while I sob.

A bunny pops out.

We both jump straight up in the air.

He puts his sword away and smiles at me. "Let's not tell anyone about that part princess."

I let go of him and we both c***k up laughing. Then I remember the girl.

I look over and see a bunch of people on horses riding towards us. My dad, Frode, Dracul, Tre, about 8 guards, and my brother is pretty far behind them, but still on his way. I feel a little better seeing them all coming.

When they get there they all go to look at the girl.

"What is everyone running out here for?" Clay walks up to dad and then promptly turns green. He looks at me. "Are you ok sister?"

"I'm ok brother."

I sneak closer so that I can hear what the men are saying.

"She looks about 12 years old. Human."

"She was assaulted Miculai. Probably to death and then her body was thrown in the river."

"She has something stuck in her throat. I can try to get it out. Give me a second."

"There's no sign on her body that this was done by a vampire or anything else."

"She's been dead at least a couple of days."

"It's a cloth from the palace Miculai."

I can't help but start to cry. Tre walks over to me and pulls me away and back towards the horses.

I just cry harder and start to shake. "Tre she looks my age."

"I know princess." He wraps his arms around me and I cry into his neck.

I can hear the guys walking towards us after a couple of minutes.

I hear Dipak say "Miculai your going to have to do something about that." I know he was talking about me and Tre standing there hugging. I felt Tre tense up when he said it.

"I know... Tre just take her home for now."

"Yes sir." Tre leads me to his horse and help me up on it with him.

About half way back I manage to stop crying. "Why would someone do that?"

"I don't know princess. But there are some sick people in this world."

I just lay back into his chest with his arms around me. I feel safe. "Do you think they'll try to get me?"

I feel him shudder. "Your not weak like a human princess. But you should start taking at least 2 guards with you when you go on walks. At least until they get to the bottom of this and find the person responsible."

We walk up to the castle and all the guards are on high alert again. There are like 3 times as many as usual walking around.

Tre walks me in and finds my mother.

She grabs me and starts looking all over. "What has happened? Miculai and the others ran out so fast. They said you were in danger Nadine. Are you ok?"

I start sobbing and hug my mother. I try to tell her but all I can do is cry. That poor girl.

"There was an attack on a human girl ma'am. Nadine is fine but she found the girl. She's a bit shaken up. They thought the attacker may have still been in the area, that was the reason for the speed ma'am."

My mom nods and hugs me tighter. "You're ok princess. Everything is going to be ok."

"Thank you for bringing her home Tre."

"My pleasure. Do you mind if I stop in and check on her later ma'am?"

"That would be fine Tre. After the dinner hour please."

"Yes ma'am. Thank you."

"Servant go and get the princess servant immediately and start filling up the bathing area."

"Yes ma'am."

A few seconds later Mary runs around the corner. "What has happened ma'am?"

"A young human was found near the river. Nadine is the one who found her. Will you please go get a fresh dress from her closet."

"Yes ma'am."

Mom walks me to the bathing area where the servants are filling up the tub with warm water.

As soon as they leave my mother looks at me. "Let's get you out of this and into the tub. Once you get cleaned up and warm you will feel better."

Mary comes in a few seconds later and they help me get my dress off. I just stand there shaking and crying.

"Ok into the water princess." Mary steps down into the water with her dress on to help me. "Let's just start by washing this hair. We'll get you smelling all good."

I look at my mom and she is knelt down beside the tub. "I'm sorry you seen that Nadine. You will be ok though. I promise. Just relax in here and get all warm. I just heard your father. I will go talk with him and return shortly."

I nod and she goes out the door.

I can feel Mary running her hands through my hair. "Maybe she fell in the river at the human village and the current brought her hear princess. I mean we shouldn't assume things. We will get worried."

"She looked like my age Mary." I start sobbing again.

"I'm sorry princess. That had to be terrible to see."

"The advisors said she was assaulted to death. She had a cloth from the palace in her mouth."

"Oh."

I just nod.

"Anything else happen?"

"Dipak nearly jumped out of his own skin because of a bunny."

I start laughing thinking about it. Then Mary starts laughing.

"What are you 2 laughing about?"

"Dipak was the first one there. It was just the 2 of us for a short time. There was some rustling in the bushes and he pushed me behind him."

Mom gives me a concerned look.

"He was slowly sneaking up on the bush with sword out when out popped a bunny. He jumped so high."

All 3 of us start laughing.

"Oh imagine that. Dipak scared of a little bunny."

"I wasn't supposed to tell that part though."

My mom gives me a big smile with tears in her eyes. "I'm glad you are ok princess."

"Mom, Tre said I should keep 2 guards with me when I ride until the advisors figure this out. I don't have to do I? He can't give me orders right?"

She smiles. "No, Tre can not give you an order. But that is a good suggestion and we can talk to your father about it."

I just nod. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything.

"Let's get you out of this bath princess. Even I'm getting all pruney being in here for so long."

I look at Mary sitting in the tub with her full outfit on. "Mom can you send for a servant to get Mary a dry uniform please. She's all wet because of me."

She smiles at me and nods.

I get out and mom wraps me in towels. "I will help her servant. You can stay and get your dry clothes on."

"Thank you ma'am."

As we are walking out another servant is bringing in clothes for Mary.

"Mom."

"Yes child."

"Do they know who did it?"

"I don't think they know much of anything right now princess."

We get back to my room and she starts fanning my hair. "Let's just concentrate on getting you dried off and in a clean dress. Would you like me to read to you for a bit after this?"

"That would be nice momma."

She smiles and gives me a hug. "What did you want for dinner?"

"Those little sugary rolls you make with some fruit?"

"Did you want anything other than dessert for dinner?"

I laugh. "Anything is fine momma. I don't know how much I'm in the mood to eat anyways."

"Ok let's go do some reading then we can make something for dinner."

I nod and follow her out.

After dinner the palace guards tell us that Tre is at the front door. I go out and sit down on the step by him.

"You smell good princess."

"Are you saying I usually smell bad?"

He laughs. "No, I mean you smell extra good princess."

"Did you hear anything else about the girl?"

"I know they think a vampire did it. But they have no idea who. Only someone that has access to the palace."

"So that's like everyone."

"What do you mean?"

"The ball. Everyone was here."

"That is true. Let's not talk about it right now. How are you now?"

"I'm a bit better. I got cleaned up and had some dinner. I feel really bad for the girl though. That would be so horrible... How are you?"

"Same as you I guess. It's so sad that happened to her. She was young in human years. They said she was only here 12 or so years. I can't even imagine."

We both just sit in silence for a few minutes.

"Oh I brought you something."

"What?"

"Hold out your hand."

I do and he puts a little package in it. "What is this for?"

"I was doing some shopping and I seen it. I thought of you when I seen it. Go ahead open it."

I slowly open the paper and it's a bracelet with a necklace that matches. "Oh Tre it's beautiful thank you."

He gets a big smile. "I don't know what the stones are called. But that green reminds me of the green specks in your eyes." He just stares off into the yard. "Those brown eyes with green specks that sparkle in the sunlight. They're beautiful. I can't wait to really see them again."

"Thank you Tre. Really thank you. These are beautiful. Sometimes I just wish I could kiss you."

He smiles and puts his arm around me. "I'm sure you'll be able to someday princess. It's just still to early."

I rest my head on his shoulder and my dad opens the door.

"Ok you 2. You're still to young. You're not really any older than yesterday. It's time to say goodnight."

"Goodnight Tre. Thank you for the gifts and for checking on me tonight."

"My pleasure princess. Enjoy your night... Good night sir."

"Good night Tre."