Page 120 of Her Dark Promise

Why was she still here?

I could see her lathering a liquid in her hands, and then she massaged it into my head. The action was so relaxing and calming that it reminded me of when Mother used to do that to me as a little girl. She would insist that she be the one to do it, even at the handmaid's protests. The memory was so sudden that I began to sob again. For what, I wasn’t sure.

The tears had stopped by the time she had finished with my hair and washed the dirt from my skin. Numb once again, I did my best to separate myself from my body to no avail.

Once she deemed me clean, she looked up to someone and moved out of the way. I could hear someone trying to talk to me, but I was still trying to dissociate from life and ignored the person. Then hands were once again on me, lifting me from the bath and wrapping something around my body. I looked down to see that Emilia was drying me.

She nodded to whoever was holding me up, and then I was being carried into my bedroom fully clothed. When did that happen? I looked up to find that Callum had laid me on my bed. Then Soren came into view, tending to my wounds. I would wince every once in a while when whatever he was doing caused enough pain that I couldn’t stay silent, crying out.

I could barely hear him order, “Callum, hold her shoulders. This is going to hurt.”

Before I could brace myself, he had poured something over my stomach that had me convulsing.

When the pain finally subsided, my head was being lifted as a vial was placed up to my lips.

Callum begged, “Please drink it, your grace.”

I parted my chapped lips and forced the vile liquid down my throat, swallowing all of it. Before I could ask, my eyes started growing heavy, my body relaxing.

I could feel someone press their lips to the top of my head, and I allowed sleep to claim me once again.

I awoke to a searing pain in my side and some of my muscles spasming. I began to panic because I couldn’t remember what happened. Why was I in pain? I searched through my memories, but everything was shrouded in a dense fog.

Everything felt as though it would take immense effort, like I had run for miles on end. I tried to take deep breaths, but every time my chest expanded, the pain followed.

“Calathea?”

Wait. Is that who I think it is? I willed my eyes to open and when I did I had to blink a few times before I could see clearly. I sucked in a fast breath, and it took a moment to fight through the blinding pain. I stifled a sob.

“Father. Mother.” I croaked out. Then when her beautiful little face peeked behind Mother, I sobbed. “Annabelle…”

She was the most beautiful creature that I had ever laid my eyes on. Long auburn hair cascaded down the middle of her back, wild. Her tanned skin was glowing as she sat down next to me, holding my hand.

Father came forward and cupped my cheek gently, cooing, “My dear daughter, you gave us quite a fright. I am so happy to see that you’re awake.” I looked over at Mother, who was silently crying, holding onto Father’s arm.

“I have missed you all so much.”

“We have missed you too, darling,” Mother said. “You have changed so much, yet not at all.”

Belle’s eyes widened. “Tell me, sister, do you still play in the snow?”

I shook my head, my stomach twisted with longing. “Not since you.”

“What about me? Have you missed me as well?”

I glanced over at the voice. “Circe?”

“Hello, Callie.” Circe walked around to the other side of the bed that Father just vacated to make room. She sat down, bent over, and kissed me softly on the forehead just like she did whenever I was ill.

My vision began to blur from tears dripping down my cheek.

I reached up and sobbed, “I am so sorry… Please forgive me.”

Circe looked so confused, her features twisting, and replied in a voice that wasn’t her own, “No, your majesty. It’s Emilia. Bastian, Soren, and Callum are here, too. We are here.”

I ignored her strange words. “Please tell me how to fix it. How do I earn your forgiveness? I will do anything.”

She looked so worried about me. Hope filled my chest as she said, “You did nothing wrong, your grace. It’s Emilia.”

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