Chapter 55 Blood and misery

Chapter 55 Blood and misery
      Amara POV
    Morning comes slowly. Slower than usual. 
    Not with the sounds of the people waking for training, or the distant echo of warriors sparring in the courtyard like I’m used to. No. This morning arrives in quiet, creeping through the tall windows in pale strips of gray light.
    For a few seconds after I wake, I forget where I am.
    The bed beneath me is soft. Maybe a little too soft, honestly. The blankets smell faintly of lavender and something I can’t put my finger on. Herbs maybe.
    Then it all crashes back.
    The portal.
    The castle.
    The vampires.
    My.. father.
    Sebastian.
    My stomach twists painfully.
    Two nights.
    Two nights since I was taken from my own bed like some helpless pup. 
    I sit up slowly, pushing the thick covers away as the cool air brushes across my skin. The chamber is quiet, the fire in the hearth reduced to low glowing embers.
    For a moment I just sit there, staring at nothing.
    Sebastian is somewhere out there in the dark forest. If Tomas was telling the truth.
    Which means he’s coming.
    Which means things are going to get complicated very quickly. I have to speak to my father.
    A soft knock breaks through my thoughts.
    Before I can answer, the door opens and two human servants step inside carrying trays. The scent reaches me immediately and my stomach betrays me with a quiet growl.
    Fresh bread. Honey. Something roasted.
    They move quietly, carefully placing everything on the small table near the fire. One of them bows her head slightly toward me before stepping back.
    “Your breakfast, my lady.”
    My lady.
    That feels odd to me. I’m used to “my queen” not that I’m complaining.
    Before I can respond, two more servants enter carrying buckets of steaming water. They move toward the large copper tub that now sits near the hearth. Steam curls upward as they begin pouring the water in.
    Another servant follows behind them carrying a small tray of dried herbs and oils. She sprinkles them into the tub, and almost immediately the air fills with the scent of lavender and rosemary.
    It kind of reminds me of home.. one of the girls readying my bath, enjoying my breakfast while reading a book.
    Strange.
    I expected a vampire castle to smell like blood and death.
    Instead it smells like a healer’s room.
    Once the tub is full, the servants step away.
    “If you need anything further, ring the bell.” One of them gestures toward a small silver bell resting on the bedside table.
    “Silver?” I ask, furrowing my brows.
    He pinches his lips together and retrieves it. 
    “I’ll find something else.”
    Then they leave just as quietly as they arrived.
    The door shuts with a soft click.
    Silence settles again.
    I stare at the steaming tub for a long moment.
    Then I slide from the bed.
    The stone floor is cold beneath my feet as I walk across the room. The steam rolls gently over the rim of the tub, warm against my face.
    I peel the borrowed nightdress over my head and set it aside before stepping into the water.
    A soft sigh escapes me the moment I sink down into the heat.
    Gods.
    I didn’t realize how sore I was until now.
    The warmth seeps into my muscles, loosening knots I didn’t even know were there. I sink deeper, letting my head fall back against the rim of the tub as the herbs swirl gently around me.
    For a moment.. just a moment.. I allow myself to relax.
    No chains.
    No stone floor.
    No guards.
    Just warm water and quiet.
    It almost feels normal.
    Almost.
    Sebastian’s face flashes in my mind. I hope he’s alright. 
    “Sebastian can you hear me?” I test the link again to no avail. 
    I scrub quickly after that, washing away the lingering dirt and sweat from the past two days before finally climbing out. A stack of soft towels sits nearby and I wrap one around myself.
    I know I’d already bathed but I felt like I wasn’t nearly cleaned enough. 
    Another knock comes shortly after.
    This time three servants enter carrying garments.
    A dress.
    And not just any dress.
    It’s deep crimson, the fabric rich and heavy with delicate embroidery woven through the sleeves and bodice. The kind of dress meant for noble courts and royal dinners.
    Not prisoners.
    I raise an eyebrow.
    “Well,” I mutter quietly. “This is new.”
    The servants help me dress, guiding the gown over my shoulders before pulling the laces tight along the back.
    I notice the difference immediately.
    “There’s no corset?” I ask.
    One of the servants shakes her head.
    “The gown is made to lace like one, my lady.”
    That explains the tightening.
    They pull the laces firm, shaping the dress around my waist and ribs. It’s snug, but nowhere near as restrictive as the corsets I’m used to wearing in court.
    Strange.
    I almost prefer it.
    Once they finish tying the final knot, they smooth the fabric and step back, clearly satisfied.
    They pull my hair up into a bun with my natural curls and dust some light makeup on my face.
    “Makeup?” I ask, confused.
    “You’re the kings heir, my lady. It is required by the king.” She says.
    A moment later, the door opens again.
    Tomas steps inside.
    He pauses just past the doorway, his bright blue eyes flicking briefly across the room before settling on me.
    I stiffen slightly.
    For a second neither of us speak.
    Then I sigh.
    “I suppose I should start with an apology.”
    His eyebrow lifts slightly.
    I cross my arms.
    “For calling you a useless bloodsucker.”
    The corner of his mouth twitches like he’s trying not to smile.
    “Ah,” he says lightly. “That.”
    “Yes. That.”
    A short breath escapes him.
    “Well,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck, “in fairness, I probably deserved some of that.”
    My eyes narrow slightly.
    “Some?”
    “Perhaps most.”
    That actually earns the smallest hint of a smile from me.
    Tomas shifts his weight before continuing.
    “I should apologize as well. I wasn’t.. particularly helpful yesterday.”
    “That’s one way to put it.”
    He exhales slowly.
    “There are things I cannot say. Not because I want to keep them from you, but because they are not mine to reveal.”
    I study him carefully.
    He doesn’t look like he’s lying.
    Which is.. irritating to say the least.
    Because it means someone else is holding the answers.
    “Your father wishes to see you,” Tomas says finally.
    My stomach sinks.
    “Today?”
    “Yes.”
    “Wonderful.”
    He gestures slightly toward the breakfast table.
    “After you eat.”
    I glance toward the food.
    As hungry as I am, am I just giving in to my father? And what he wants? 
    Tomas follows my gaze.
    “I would recommend eating,” he says calmly. “You may need the strength.”
    That doesn’t sound ominous at all.
    I walk toward the table slowly, sitting down in front of the tray.
    Fresh bread.
    Honey.
    Roasted meat.
    Fruit.
    It all smells.. incredibly good. Just like last night, I want to stuff my face. 
    “You’re not trying to poison me, are you?” I ask dryly.
    Tomas snorts.
    “If we wanted you dead, little queen, we would not go through the trouble of feeding you first.”
    Fair point.
    I tear a piece of bread and dip it into the honey.
    Then I take a bite.
    It’s so delicious.
    I glance up at him.
    “You know.. I didn’t expect vampire food to taste this good.”
    Tomas chuckles quietly.
    “Despite popular belief, we do not survive exclusively on blood and misery.”
    Good to know.
    Still, my mind drifts.
    To the forest.
    To Sebastian.
    If he truly is already in the dark forest.. 
    Then he’s closer than I thought.
    And when he gets here.. 
    Everything is going to explode.