Chapter 31 Attempted incident
“Did you hear?”
Mira burst into the room, panting hard, making Isabella startle.
“What is it?”
Ever since the warning, she'd been on high alert. If Mira's observation were true, then it was only a matter of time before she was summoned by the council.
“Lord Casmir!” Mira croaked.
Her face looked drained of blood and she held the door for support.
“He… what they did to him, he…” she whispered.
Isabella's eyes were shut. Lord Casmir, despite the incident at the ball, had been very good to her.
He was always on her side during Council meetings.
“Is he going to make it?” Her voice was bereft of terror.
Mira shook her head. “The doctors say it's going to be very hard.” She muttered.
“Ms Thorne, you should have seen him. His face…” her voice trailed, breaking.
“Don't.” Isabella stopped her, raising her hand. “I do not want the details.”
She stood and began pacing.
“I'm sorry, Ms Thorne. He was your friend.”
Mira's voice was sincere.
“He's still alive.” Isabella pointed out immediately, making Mira swallow hard.
“Was your meeting with His Majesty successful?”
Mira nodded. “He said he was going to do something about it.”
Isabella grunted. He had. The room fell silent as both ladies struggled to process their thoughts.
Mira's mind wandered back to her meeting with Lucien.
He'd studied her till her knees were weak, before asking her her purpose. And even then, he'd not shown any form of surprise as if he knew the truth.
Then he'd dismissed her.
“What?” She hadn't been able to help herself, when he asked her to go.
“Aren't you going to do anything about it?” But Lucien already waved his hands, signalling that his meeting with her was over.
He'd sent for Marcus afterwards.
Isabella, on the other hand, could feel a headache coming on.
After Mira's visit with Lucien, he'd sent for her.
For the first time in a long while, they took a walk in the public garden saying everything but the issue that lay on ground.
Now, Isabella wished she'd been brave enough to say something. Perhaps, the attack on Lord Casmir would have been averted.
“I should have said something.” She said, breaking the silence as she opened her eyes.
“We freaking spent some time together, I should have spoken about it.” The tears finally fell.
“Maybe, he would not have been attacked. Just maybe, he may have had a chance to fight.”
SIXTEEN HOURS AGO
“Mommy!” Elias screamed, urging Isabella forward.
Isabella faked her smile, her heart beating fast as she approached Elias.
Mira had said to act normal and here she was.
“You came!” Her son breathed down her neck as she scooped him in her arms.
“Yes, baby. I did.”
“You wanna see the new pet I got?” Elias's excitement was infectious.
Without waiting for her response, he grabbed her arms and led her to the garden. “Daddy said I can keep her, as long as I take care of her.”
He rubbed his hands gently over the kitten’s ears and she purred.
“Hear that?” He seemed fascinated.
Isabella smiled and nodded.
“C'mon, try it mummy.”
“What's her name?” She asked as she rubbed the kitten's ears just like Elias had done.
“Izzy.” The little boy said with a mischievous smile.
“What?” Isabella looked genuinely taken aback. “You named her Izzy?”
Elias grunted.
“Why?”
“Her eyes.” He was staring at the kitten. “She has eyes like the moon. Just like you, Mommy.”
Isabella’s smile was sad. Truly, her own eyes were like those of the kitten, but that was not it.
Elias had said something about the moon, something about the blood they both shared.
The moonlit blood.
“Why are you sad, Mommy?”
“Huh?”
“You're sad.” He pointed out, his face studying hers with a seriousness that was more than his age.
“I'm not.” She curled her lips to reveal her smile. “See? I'm smiling.”
Elias shook his head. He was not going to be deceived. “Your eyes. They're sad. They're not twinkling like they do when you're happy.”
Isabella swallowed the guttural sound that threatened to come out of her. He'd noticed.
“Are you and Daddy fighting?”
Now, she was amused. “Why do you say so?”
“Cause you're sad. And you're only sad when you don't see me, or when you and Daddy have issues.”
Proud tears threatened to fall from her eyes.
“How old are you again?” She teased as she ruffled his hair.
“Six,” Elias said proudly, his eyes like Lucien's.
Isabella giggled. “I'm fine baby, I really am.”
“Okay.” He said simply, as he turned to Luna.
Isabella's heart clenched as she watched him stroke the kitten. It was going to be soon.
“I think I know the solution.” Elias raised his head suddenly.
“What?” She was amused at him trying to solve problems that were bigger than him.
“Daddy!” Elias screamed at Lucien exactly the way he'd screamed her name some minutes ago.
“You came.”
“Uh huh!” Lucien grunted. “Was passing by and decided to stop by.”
Isabella bowed slightly, taking him all in. His hair was arranged, his regalia fitted to fit his body. “Your Majesty.”
Lucien nodded, waving his hands.
“Now that daddy is here,” Elias’s smile was cunning. “What if…” his words were immediately cut short by a loud guttural scream that shook the yard.
Isabella paled, as she grabbed Elias.
“W…what was that?” She stammered, looking around as she held tightly to Elias.
“What's going on?” A group of men appeared as they immediately covered Lucien.
“I need you to come with me, Ms Thorne. You and the young prince. We need to get you to safety.”
Isabella could feel herself going numb. It was happening just as Mira said it would.
“Ms Thorne?” Marcus urged, tapping her.
“I need you to stay with me. Your safety and the young prince’s are of utmost importance.”
The men hurried Lucien away, as Isabella watched numbly.
“You're hurting me, Mommy.” Elias cried softly, making Isabella realise she had been holding tightly to him.
She released her grip and the little boy ran to Marcus.
“What happened?” She managed to utter. But she knew. She didn't need a prophet to tell her that it had just happened.
“Let's get you to safety first, Ms Thorne. All your questions will be answered.” Marcus urged and without waiting for her response, grabbed her arms and led her out.
They walked to a small gate where he opened the door.
“Where is this?”
“Safety, Ms Thorne.” The look in his eyes was filled with pity.
“You’re safe now, Ms Thorne. I'm here to keep you safe.” He muttered as he closed the door gently.
BACK TO PRESENT
Mira shook her head. “It's no fault of yours, Ms Thorne. You couldn't. You didn't have the time.”
“What's going to happen?” She asked gently.
Mira gulped.
“They think it's me, don't they?”
“I…” Mira stammered. “They think it's you but your alibi is perfect, Ms Thorne. Everyone knew where you were at the time of the attack.”
Isabella grimaced. “This was the plan, wasn’t it?”
Mira walked slowly towards her. “They're coming, Ms Thorne. We need to get you prepared.”
“No.” Her laugh was hollow. “This won't stay. Lord Casmir is fucking fighting for his life. We…we don't…”
The words got stuck in her throat as she finally broke down.
“It's not fair.” She muttered, as she punched the bed softly.
“I'm sorry, Ms Thorne,” Mira whispered as she helped Isabella up.
“The bright side is, everybody saw you there. His Majesty included.”
Isabella grunted. “You don't know that, Mira. For all we know, this can still be turned against me.”
“Not this time, Ms Thorne.” Mira's voice was determined. “Not this time. We played our cards right.”
“I want to be alone.” She muttered.
“Ms Thorne, you…” Mira protested weakly.
“You're…”
“Mira?” Her voice held no room for argument.
“Yes, Ms Thorne.” Mira bowed slightly. “I'll be outside if you need me,” she said as the door closed gently behind her.
Isabella walked slowly, with determination to the mirror. She stared at her reflection.
Puffy eyes, scattered hair and a nose filled with Mucus.
“It all ends now.” She said to herself, taking her appearance in.
“I will not allow you have any more control over me.” Her voice broke, but she looked straight ahead.
“You are my power, my blood and I will have total control over you.”
She wiped her runny nose.
“Mira!” She called.
“Yes?” The door opened slightly as Mira poked her head into the room.
“Yes, Ms Thorne?”
“Get me dressed for the Council. We have a judgment to pass.”
“The council?” Mira asked. “But…we are not supposed to come unless called…” She was genuinely confused.
The Isabella she'd left in the room two minutes ago, and the one she was seeing were two different person.
“The decisions are currently being taken, Mira. Decisions that concern me. If they don't summon me, I'll be there regardless.”