Chapter 20
Raven's POV
The sun had set and I took comfort on my bed after a warm shower. I leaned back onto the pillows in thought, but something told me I shouldn’t worry too much about it.
I just can’t help it.
What if everything I’ve imagined in my head is what I’ll come to find?
Bright colors, people laughing and making their way down the streets.
But... what if it isn’t.
My stomach was in knots and I still had no idea when she wanted to go. It could be next week or two months from now, I hadn’t really stayed for the details because I wanted to find Rhyland.
I wanted to ask if his father had declined the request like I had assumed he would, like I hoped he would.
He didn’t.
But for some reason, the words coming from Rhyland’s mouth made the reality of it less scary..
“Knock knock, little sis.” Cassius shouted through the door as he knocked twice. I took a deep breath and walked towards the door, but when I opened it I was shocked to find Cassius and...... Elijah.
“Oh uh..,” I looked down at my night clothes and ran a hand through my hair. “I wasn’t expecting anyone to stop by.”
“Don’t worry, we just came to bring you something.”
Elijah’s words confused me a bit because neither of them were carrying anything, but the mysterious smirk on their faces told me they had something planned.
“What is it?”
I crossed my arms over my thin top while both of them moved apart, separating their bodies so that there was an opening in the doorway.
I was even more curious now.
“Guys what’s going o-,”
My words fell silently off of my lips as Eladia came into view. The scratches were bandaged you on her face and her wrist looked like it had been wrapped in something.
“Hello Ms,” she bowed deeply and lifted back up only for me to find a playful grin plastered on her face. “I’m here to serve even your smallest requests.”
She giggled and I rushed up to her, gripping her into a tight embrace.
“Ow, ribs. C-can’t breathe.” She sputtered out and I instantly released her with a quick apology.
“This is our cue to head out.” The guys said before sending smiles my way and shutting the door quietly behind them.
“Wait, how? I thought you were Jasmine’s maid?” I asked, confused.
“Oh.. you didn’t hear?”
I walked over to my bed and plopped down, then patted the spot next to me. She glides across the room and hopped on the bed with me with a mischievous grin.
“Well one of the maids that works in the throne room had told Greta, the kitchen maid, who told me that the Prince had sent her away for good! Thank the heavens because she was such a vile litt-,” she rambled and a small smile tugged at my lips.
He did it.
He made the step any other royal wouldn’t have made, he chose the side of a lower class than one of his own.
I shook my head and tuned back into her rambling.
“And he set me up an appointment with his personal doctor who fixed me up. Turns out I had a sprained wrist which was the only thing major really, the bruises will go away, the scratches weren’t deep enough for stitches and other than that I’m okay.”
Her bright blue eyes lightened up when she smiled and I could feel the happiness radiating off of her now that Jasmine was gone. Something I still couldn’t seem to wrap my head around.
“I’m so glad you’re okay.” I reached over and pulled her into me nice again, hugging her tightly.
After a moment of silence, I felt her tighten her grip around me before she spoke.
“You know..After my mother passed away I never really had anyone stick up for me, not the way you did. I appreciated it a lot more than I can express.”
She pulled away and her expression filled with genuine respect.
“If I may ask, what ever did happen to your mom?”
Eladia looked down at her hands before looking back up at me. She took a deep breath before starting what I could only assume would be a painful memory for her.
“Princess Jasmine and her father had come for a meeting with the King. My mother was assigned as her maid because my mother knew everything about this place like the back of her hand.”
Her cheeks reddened and I could tell just by the start of the story that it was going to eat her alive.
“I was working in the kitchen with Greta one day when word spread that a maid had stolen from a royal, that’s something highly forbidden and is punishable by death no questions asked. Instantly, we all were wondering who this maid was because we all knew that rule and we weren’t stupid enough to try it.”
A single tear rolled down her cheek and I felt like pure shit for even asking her.
“We made our way to the square to get a look at the maid.... and I found my mother.. she was tied up to the post, bare and exposed to the world. Those sick bastards whipped her, over and over again infront of us all. I screamed my heart out, I tried to run to her but the guards grabbed me and shoved me back into place.”
My heart shattered at the story she laid out infront of me.
“They whipped her until the pain became unbearable and she passed out from it.. she never woke up. Turns out, Princess Jasmine has misplaced the jewel and found it that very night my mother was murdered for it.”
She stood up off the bed and wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
“I wasn’t suppose to cry tonight, this was suppose to be a happy reunion.” She sniffled and smiled down at me.
“I-I’m sorry that happened Eladia, and I’m sorry that I went brought it up.”
“No, you deserved to know.” She smiled down at me and her red puffy eyes seemed to make her blue eyes brighter.
“You get some sleep, I heard you have a huge day tomorrow.” She said and my stomach knotted up tightly in anxiety.
“What do you mean?”
“Well you’re headed back to your homeland, aren’t you?”
__________________________________
So they’re leaving tomorrow!?
Raven is probably losing her shit right now, who else agrees?