Flossina awoke with a jolt, coughing and sputtering, still thinking she was fighting against the cold, thick, black abyss Thoth had thrown her into. She soon realized she was back in the same bed inside of the castle she had awoke in days ago. She sat up and tried to get out bed. That small task seemed just the opposite for her and she instantly felt drained, emotionally and physically. She swung her legs off the bed and pressed her calves against the mattress for support as she stood up and walked over to the window beside the bed.
She pulled back the animal skin that covered it. She was immediately greeted by the twinkling of stars in a clear midnight sky. She felt the lukewarm breeze against her clammy skin and she closed her eyes at it’s sweet caress. She used her hand to wipe her brow and felt cold metal brush up against her cheek. She looked and saw it was the same bracelet she had worn on her
"I spoke to my mother," she admitted wistfully.He heard no sarcasm or humor in her statement. She looked as if she were glowing. A faint smile crossed her face. She was beautiful."What?" He was a little shocked by her bizarre admission." I spoke to her," she repeated. "She says the King, my stepfather, is mad with power, and I am to stop him. I must leave here and go back I must go-"He was by her side instantly and he felt her weight shift into his own as he wrapped his arm securely around her waist to support her standing. She was still very weak."Please, you are upsetting yourself with this talk. We can discuss this tomorrow. You just need a little more rest." Marlon insisted.
7-Gossip"The King is planning something big." Delaev said as he assisted Marlon in trimming the aloe vera plants inside the indoor medicinal herb garden.He had started in the sun room. He moved on to another plant and spoke once more. "He has hired more swords. They have pledged their allegiance to him in order to gain wealth. He has promised titles and treasure to those who would lend their shield and sword to Zuff. In the streets there is also talk of war. I overheard a soldier telling another that the King means to lay siege to the neighboring Kingdom since their King has fallen ill and his son is much too young to take on the burden. He plans to mine Zuff and Glass Hollow. He is searching for jewels.""Jewels? He is a King. Surely his treasure chests are brimming with such things." Marlon pointed
Delaev spoke again. "Did she do it?"There was a short pause before Marlon answered. "I'm not one-hundred percent certain. I don't think she did, but she doesn't remember much, which means someone could have drugged her and poisoned the Queen, or it was such a traumatic event she completely forgot."He left out the part about her waking up in hysterics, talking about visiting of her mother, the Queen, and what she had told Flossina about his own self. He worked with healing potions and tonics. He didn't believe in the type of supernatural magic she had been speaking of last night. His friend wouldn't either."I don't believe one bit of what those castle vultures have been saying about her."Deleav furnished after a long silence."The people think she is guilty of this cri
She felt safe with him. There was something about him that frightened her.As if Deleav could sense the awkward silence between them he cleared his throat and spoke."I will take this to the kitchen and tend to the dragon's. Your Highness." He bowed once more to her and left the room.It was just them now."Your...friend?" She asked shyly."Aye." He nodded and walked over to where she stood. He stood only a few feet in front of her."Everyone believes me to be some mad murderess, don't they?" She asked, already knowing the answer.He could hear the defeat in her voice."No." He said simply.
After speaking with Marlon Flossina’s spirits felt deflated. She had been completely honest with him and he had shut her down immediately. He didn’t care to open his mind and hear what she was saying. She was beginning to wonder if her mother had been right. She felt helpless. To her it felt like the more she tried to find out what happened to her the more resistance she seemed to feel. He wanted her to heal and rest, but she had no time for that. She had to find out who did this to her family and why. She had to leave this place. She surveyed the room for anything she could wear over the outfit she wore. A long wooden trunk sat at the foot of the large bed. She opened it and located a cloak and boots. She needed to leave, but knew she couldn't do it on foot. Where would she get a horse? She couldn't very well steal his dragon and ride away on it.
Khepri had helped her and her plan was set in motion.Her room looked the exact same, with the exception of the black pieces of linen draped over all the furniture inside of her bedchamber signifying her death. Her royal portrait hung above the large fireplace inside of her room and was covered with a black silk cloth. She quickly removed her cloak and removed the black sheer material from her portait to see they had painted a red gilded mask over her portrait's face to signify her betrayal. She wanted to scream at the atrocity.She took a deep breath and heard her mother's voice, "Find my diary."
She was half walking, half running. He looked forward as he walked her to her stepfather's private quarters. She was terrified. All she had on her to defend herself with was her small hunting knife, and she had yet to retrieve her mother's diary. Her plan had been put into motion prematurely it seemed. She tried to make sure her face mask of silk was secure, so no one would see her true identity."He won't care how you look." The man said watching her every move.The two guards beside the two large doors opened them upon his nod.The doors were made of mahogany and leafed in gold. Carved into each door was Flossina's Royal family tree. This was the King's most inner chambers. She recalled playing in here when she was a child. She was snapped back to reality when t
"Can you read?" He asked her as he picked up a gold goblet and drank a liberal amount of wine from it.She feigned ignorance and shook her head 'no'.He leaned forward and retrieved the journal from the table. She couldn't help but to watch him put it down on theenormus bed. She tried to make sure he didn't notice the way her eyes were watching his every movement. She was so anxious and ready to end it all. She wanted revenge for her mother and herself. She watched as he sauntered back in her direction with what she assumed was a seductive look. It disgusted her. Her stepfather had no respect for her mother, and it made her even more angry and prepared to kill him. She just had to wait for the right moment. He sat down on the small settee with her. She didn't dare move