CHAPTER THIRTEEN

His refection made him frown. What little flesh he had on his cheek had gone totally. His eyes had prominent dark rings and he totally looked sicker than he liked to admit. The past days had drained him, mapping out strategies, plotting, scheming, he had to be active in the recruiting of new members. He listened as the sound of rushing water came from his wash room. His chamber he had made certain linked directly to the boundaries of his territory. Of course his step sister was no threat, her careless brutality amongst the provinces amounted little to him, he had better enenmies. He knew any threat intended on him would go through the front gate which led first to the north wing of the building which was his chamber. But if any threat came from this tunnel then it was aimed at his servants or his men and he wanted to meet first with it. He had severally gotten petty thieves that still begged mercy in his dungeon and of course the princess. He had caught the princess and rescued her twice in that tunnel. He feared if he wasn't close enough. A shriek came from the wash room. Her voice was startled and pained. Edgar flung his robe and bursted into the room, his britches low on his hips as he barely fastened it.
She stood near the large tub with her right arm on the other, water dripping off the left arm. The steaming water from the tub was rippling. She had burnt herself.
Edgar cursed loudly. She had screamed because of water?! Merely water? His first thought had been of a walker and he still knew not how to deal with it had it been one, he still had his sword under his mattress. But with her he was senseless, his first thought had been seeing her fine before thinking of arms and defence.
So she couldn't even draw his bath. Perfect. A spoilt princess.
"Why do you scream like a mad child!? " he asked
"I got...."
"Are you telling me you can not make a mere bath?! " he yelled
"I wanted to fill the basin with..."
"With your screams? Maybe you should have told me you are no use"
"Something fell into the water" Selene choked out
Edgar could feel his nerves coming back. What had it been, serpents were not uncommon in the manor. Or was it the cob Nicholas had seen the other day?
Edgar walked to the tub and dipped his arm into the steaming water, went to where it rippled and pulled out a crown. It belonged to Monique. Or would have had she lived longer to Wed him, a crown for the queen of Sol. Where did it fall from? By the spirits he was losing his sanity and fast.
"A crown? You screamed down my castle because of a crown? " he thundered
"I didn't know what it was" Selene shot back after the first few seconds of shock from seeing the lord sink his full arm into the scalding water had passed
"How am I certain you are not insane child? " he barked. How could one raise false alarm without even trying to find out. He doubted the warm water had been her trouble. Maybe the young princess was mad. He saw little sense in her scaring him for only a tub of water and a splash.
"How am I to know you are not mad?! " he asked again
"And how am I to know you hide stolen jewelries in your roof" Selene spat
"Get out" Edgar barked impatiently
With a scoff, Selene didn't seem to wait for a second command as she stormed out of the room. Leaving the door ajar
***
Who did the pig of a man think he is. She would first welcome death before going back to that cursed chamber. Damn him. Selene strode out of the royal wing fuming. She needed to check on Mia, she wanted a leveled head, she needed go see the one reason she was passing through this utter humiliation. Walking to the stairwell, she came to a halt as the butler approached her, hands behind his back in the way it often was.
Selene had decided to ignore the cunny looking man. That was until he stood in her path.
"What is this?" Selene asked
"I am afraid you are not allowed away from the royal chambers till you dismiss at dusk. The lord could need your presence any moment, my lady." Nicholas explained
"Your lord can eat his dungs" Selene spat as she dodges go the left only to have the large man stand blocking her again
"I am afraid I can't do that. The lord will... "
"Oh shut up! Tell your Lord he had better set out duties that has nothing to do with this filthy royal chamber or he could as well prepare the dungeons for me" Selene said as she shoved past the man and went for the stairs.
***
Curse the day Cedric gave his seed to the woman that bore that wench. Edgar felt like pulling his hairs out for even having an ounce of affection for the woman. He was haunted by the very thoughts of her and his aphrodisiac memory of that night was not helping at the very least. Who was she to challenge him. He wanted to tell her she was now a mere slave like every other one in the manor, even lower than his man servant in the social hierarchy but then he knew that'd be a cheap lie. The feisty child would never be below any servant in his manor. Not in his eyes
The room seemed more suffocating than he could remember. The open windows that sent in chill air did not seem to help. Nicholas had reported a bit angrly that the young princess had said unladylike words to him. He wanted to talk to her, soothe her anger and wounded ego. Edgar would love to refuse the fact he was undeniable attached to the proud princess but then he had never been good at lying even telling himself he had nothing but human sympathy for the girl did not erase his true feelings.
He wanted to know she was fine. She was okay and not in any harm. God help him before he took a blade for the careless woman.
With quick strides, Edgar took up the stairwell into the wing her chamber was.
Selene sat up at the footsteps that approached her door. She had ensured to lock her door despite knowing that surely the Lord had spare keys to every room in the manor. If only the cubicle she now laid could be passed for a room. The small room contained a worn out bed she was certain had held many bodies before hers. The table by it's side had a small single candle stand on it with a candle that was shorter than her smallest finger. The windows were as high up as that of many others she had seen in the manor. Maybe Sol had more unwilling servants than she knew.
The door slowly opened to reveal the Lord. His sapphire overcoat was on with the proud Sol seal on it.
"I had looked for you in your chamber" Edgar said as he came in
"This...this is where I am told to stay" Selene said coldly
"I had never told Nicholas to put you here" Edgar said with a frown
"He knows all slaves are here, why would I not be" she asked with a raised brow
"You must know your place here Selene" Edgar said
"I would rather rot in the dungeon or the belly of a walker" Selene spat disdainfully
"Stop wishing death upon your self. There are worst fates that would make you wish you died" Edgar stated
"Will you slice me up? Pull out my eyes and...."
"Shut up! You will not try to be smart with me child. Continue your duty in the royal chamber. Stay away from my sleeping chamber and my washing room" Edgar said sternly
"I will never stand at your call again. you are a..."
"The little princess suffers for any more insult from you" Edgar stared. Cowardly. he knew but then that was all he had left of a choice. He could not harm her, not in the slightest and neither the little princess but then he knew that would shut her up. Her protectiveness of the girl was too obvious.
"You will go on with your duties. Keep your chamber at the left wing" Edgar said.
"I am quite fine here" She replied harshly and turned to her window.
That was his cue to leave as he turned and went out the large door.
Selene stood with her chill finger tips on her lips. She would take all the dog of a lord would throw her. Her mother had ensured same for her well being. Albeit repulsing, she knew she would subject to anything to make certain Mia was safe and grew to live the life she may never live to experience. Freedom.
***
Selene pushed away the chair and picked up the single goblet on the dinning hall. The persistent Butler had informed her the dinning room should be cleaned for the lord's meals the next day which she was sure was lesser than a few hours. If the goblet on the table meant it was not a clean hall then she was certain the man needed a hit to make fine his head. He constantly held an amused smile each time he spoke with her, surely he was insane and maybe so was the Lord himself. Selene pushed the drapes down and the room was dimmer as the thick curtains fell. She was happy she had a distraction, she was never keen on sleeping long. It brought her memories of decaying smelly bodies that wanted to feed on her. She dreaded sleep in the manor.
Selene tossed the goblet in the tray that lay on the cabinet closest to the wall. Surely washing dirty things was not her work as well. She would be stupid to say she hasn't noted the Lord's distress when she had screamed. He was worried. It was clearly written in him and his coming to her chamber that evening only told her she saw right. It was better she would be away from his chamber. Better if they were no longer at each others throat. Shewas born a princess, subjecting to any authority was not in her being, if she had disputed her erring father a good number for times, she saw not who the Lord was. He may be an O'alistair but she was no weakling.
Her hands on the doorknob froze as she heard a sound. Her breathing halted as well. Was it the creature? She had almost screamed herself when she heard the pained cry of...the lord? She had faced the vile creatures enough to know what they sounded like. The sound was of a man. An injured man.
Selene rushed to the Lord's chamber. She pushed the door open before even thinking why she had. What if she was in danger?
A quick look at the room and she knew there was no one else in save for the Lord that tossed on the bed restlessly.
"Noooo....she will be cured. She is fine. Noo!" he yelled with a violent lunge at the bed post
Selene watched in confusion. There was no one in the room. The Lord looked more sleepy thank awake. His body lay limp until he spoke more slurred words and searched violently around. He was having a nightmare. He would injure himself.
Selene walked to the bed. Carefully approaching the much larger lord that still made thrusts as he spoke.
"Lord... Lord" she called
"Lord!" she yelled as he reached for the burning candle stand
"They will burn her...she is no evil.. Noo...Alexa.. No..Moni..." he slurred and held his sheets, pulling it all up into his fists.
Selene tapped the lord. His body was feverish, his sweats soaked the bed, dripping off him steadily
"Noooo...nooo.... She is dying! " he cried out loudly, his body losing with every might but he still spoke more lowly.
In the candle light, Selene could see the tear that rolled down the man's eye.
She pulled his shaky hands on her lap. He tossed more and pulled at her blouse. Muttering incoherently.
"Shhh....you are merely dreaming...wake up" She said
"Nooo... She is dying" he sobbed
Selene gulped at the emotion that filled her. Who would the Lord cry over. Who had been killed. What was the nightmare that troubled him so.
Without a thought, Selene pulled the man into her arms and held tightly as he seemed to struggle. His strength pushed her off him as his hands went under his mattress.
"Lord" Selene called quickly. She could sense he was waking
His movements paused as he heard her.
"Selene" he whispered
"It is me. You are fine. It is a dream" she said softly as he reached for her, his eyes still closed.
"Please come.. Where did you go?" he asked brokenly
Selene crawled into the Lord's arm, his hand quickly held her tightly.
"Shhh...I am here" she whispered as his mumbles lowered to a low sigh
Her legs couldn't take her away from the Lord even as she heard his steady breathing. She still held to him even as his arms loosened around her. She held on till the pleasant drunkenness of sleep overtook her.