Chapter 47 Let's visit the mines
Evyths braved up while Valerio walked out through the door when he could have just vanished instead.
Evyths wiped her to tears again, pushing herself towards Crystal. She needed Crystal alive, the young girl that saved her didn't deserve to be stabbed—it should have been her, Evyths silently thought.
Seated beside Crystal, the room fell silent her, Evyths’ eyes resting on Crystal. The room felt colder than it had always been, Evyths' breath was the only heat that generated within the room, her nostrils catching each smell, like the smell of blood and chamomile and rose petals.
Crystal was a dreamy young vampire, she loved to feel beautiful even if her silver hair and brows and white skin weren't an exception. And most of all, she loved Evyths.
“She can't die,” Evyths whispered to herself, taking Crystal's frigid hand in hers. “Dear goddess, what must I do, what should I do to bring her back?” Evyths whispered again, her eyes shutting at the same time.
Suddenly, the words that the moon goddess had told her some time back dropped in her mind. ‘Look deeper into yourself!’
It kept ringing over and over as Evyths managed to silence her thoughts at that moment.
The only thought on her mind was how to get Crystal back to life.
A part of Evyths knew that she could but she didn't know how and why that thought gutted her.
Evyths' eyes remained closed, rubbing Crystal’s icy hand as if she wanted them to heat up.
“Open your eyes, Crystal!” Evyths said under her breath and immediately Crystal's eyes opened. Her soft gaze darted to Evyths, a smile cascading her lips too.
“You deserve to live, I should be the dead one,” Evyths, unknown to her, continued whispering like a prayer while Crystal stared at Evyths, surprised.
“Evyths, I'm alive!” Crystal stated , snatching Evyths out of her prayers to the goddess. “You… you healed me?” Crystal added excitedly.
Evyths' eyes widened, slowly rising to her feet, shock running through her veins, sending shivers down her spine.
“I- I- Y- you are alive?” Evyths spluttered, jolting out of her dazed state. Evyths sat back down, taking Crystal's hand back in hers as if trying to find her pulse. “Oh, you have no pulse, just a beating heart…” she added.
“Yes! I am shocked, how… did you do that? If you could heal me, that is, you're a healer…” Crystal snapped, her tone carried precision and certainty.
Evyths swallowed hard, “I don't know how but… the moon goddess answered my prayers. But… Please don't tell anyone. Not even the king—”
“But why?” Crystal arched a brow questionably.
“I already heard it, it was not unheard of to me!” Valerio said as soon as he appeared, startling Evyths too. Her eyes rolled angrily, she had forgotten that she lived with vampires.
Evyths rose and stood beside the bed instead, her fingers fiddling below her midriff. Valerio and Evyths barely stared at each other while Crystal watched closely, picking the dots of disagreement between them.
Her silver brows tilted again as she sat up, her wounds had been healed.
“Is there something going on between you two? You used to be—”
“Nothing, Crystal.” Evyths instantly cut in, plastering a small smile on her lips. “Would you like anything else?” She asked, straightening herself but she could feel Valerio's disappointed gaze landing on her like a mountain.
“I would like us to go… somewhere later. If I need you, I'll come find you,”
“You can just… ring the bell or send for me—”
“I insist, pup!” Crystal snapped, her anger evident while she stared both at her uncle and handmaid.
Evyths nodded and made her way out of the room without looking back.
…
Hours had gone by, Evyths had taken a warm bath in her cell and changed into some worn out clothes. She did not want the gifts of the prince anymore and it was easier since he did not command her to wear them.
She quickly rolled her red hair into a tight bun as someone stood tight before her cell, their gaze thick and a fog.
Evyths looked in their way and saw that it was…
“Hana?” Evyths called out, her eyes looking intently at her. “You are… you've been freed. Good!” Evyths said without a hint of emotion.
Hana sighed out while Evyths drew closer and opened the cell.
“Actually, Lady Crystal asked me to get you. She's in the royal garden,”
“Oh. I see. Okay, I will be headed there now,” when Evyths attempted to walk past Hana, Hana caught Evyths by the arm.
“I want to apologize for everything that I did to you. I should have told you what Lady Blackwin had ordered me to do, perhaps we could have maneuvered—”
“We could not have maneuvered Lady Blackwin.” Evyths cut in. “I am not angry at you, I understand that you were only following orders, that is all. But a… little information could have worked. Maybe. It's okay Hana, I forgive you…” Evyths said to Hana as they embraced each other tightly while Hana stroked Evyths' hair.
It felt a little weird to Evyths as she instantly and gently pulled away from Hana’s grip.
“I should go to Lady Crystal. I will… see you around,”
“Quite. I would clean the Queen’s chambers, perhaps you would like to help me? The queen is locked away in her closet, she wouldn't mind…” Hana proposed.
Evyths thought for a second or two and nodded, “That is great. If Lady Crystal doesn't need me, I'll come around. See you around, Hana…” Evyths gave her a light squeeze on the arm and headed off while Hana’s gaze followed Evyths.
It was no secret to herself that she likes Evyths more than a friend should, she wanted more from Evyths but everyone knew that the king loved Evyths. Hana only tried to mask her feelings instead even if it hurt her. Her stay in the dungeon had made her realize how cruel she was to Evyths when the incident happened, Evyths was obviously innocent.
…
Evyths strutted down to the royal garden where she found Crystal flexing her arms calmly. She had been sparring nonstop with the best swordsman since her arrival.
“My lady? You sent for me,” Evyths bent.
Crystal turned to Evyths with a smile, putting away her sword.
“Well, I would like us to take a little walk but not outside the kingdom. Uncle D’Arcy had warned me anyway…” Crystal’s eyes rolled weakly.
Evyths swallowed lightly, wondering what Crystal meant by going for a walk. The vampires were swift and speed, so, was it truly a walk? Evyths asked herself.
“Actually…” Crystal drew closer to Evyths. “I lied to my uncle that I want to meet my friend, Knox, who is my secret boyfriend but… i want to visit the family's mines. No one goes there except family members…” Said Crystal.
Evyths huffed, “I don't understand. Why should we go there then? The king would be furious…”
“We won't take too long. I just want to see it, that's all. Maybe, I'd find something that belongs to my mother there. My uncle told me that she loved the mines and spent lots of time there…” Crystal pressed innocently, taking Evyths by the hand.
“This is too much to ask. The king will be furious and… I don't want to… complicate things either…” Evyths said, her gaze disagreeing with Crystal's choice.
“I know. We will look around the mine for a few minutes and return to see Knox… then back to the castle. You do not have to come with me into the mines, you will stand afar while I look around. That is all, do this for me, Evyths, please….” Crystal pleaded, pulling an innocent face as Evyths nodded.
She loved Crystal too much to say no to her, besides, the girl saved her life.
“But I have a condition, Crystal,” Evyths charged.
“Anything you want, Evyths!”
“Not for me anyway. We will see Knox as you have promised the king and we would only spend ten minutes at the vine and return safely to the castle. Agreed?”
Crystal hesitated for a second and nodded afterwards.
“Agreed!” Her sly smile spread boldly.