Wanderlove

by Malory, Belle

  We headed to the castle now. Though I knew I shouldn’t be anticipating my summoning, I was looking forward to taking a tour. I couldn’t remember ever having stepped a foot inside of the castle before, at least not in this lifetime, anyway.

  As we slowly drove on the pathway through the tents, I noticed there seemed to be a small marketplace set up directly in front of the entrance to the castle. There were several people hawking their wares in this area, selling everything from spices to clothing and jewelry. There were also several food vendors. One man in particular caught my eye. He was grilling authentic Greek gyros, which looked delicious. I definitely wanted to visit that man while I was here.

  I also noticed several palm readers and psychics lined up in various tents and booths. Even amongst their own people, the tradition was happily welcomed. The same went for entertainment. Not far from the market, I noticed a young boy standing on a small platform. He was doing fire-breathing tricks for a crowd of onlookers. I really wanted to watch him, but the SUV passed by too quickly.

  We eventually pulled into a garage of sorts. It was separate from the castle, but I supposed it had been built more recently. From there, we walked along a pathway leading to the castle doors. While we were making our way inside, Prince Tiberius proceeded to abandon me without any kind of explanation. All he said was, “The guard will show you to your room.”

  I tried shouting at him as he walked away, but he didn’t even bother looking back.

  Turning to the guard he’d left me with, I asked, “When I am supposed to be summoned?”

  “The residing queen will send for you.”

  I bit my lip anxiously. Since there was nothing I could do but wait, I merely nodded and let the guard lead the way.

  Once I had the chance to observe my surroundings, I was rather amazed. The huge stonewalls towered around me, but it didn’t feel like I was on the inside of anywhere. It was almost as if the designers managed to bring the outside to the inside of the castle walls. There were potted plants everywhere I looked. Parts of the flooring had been carved out to create a shrubbery, which lined the main hall’s background.

  Another thing I noticed was there was no furniture- anywhere. However, I did see several giant, overstuffed pillows spread about on intricately woven Persian rugs. I presumed people used the pillows to sit on, like chairs. It was the same type of seating you would find in a gypsy tent. I wondered why no one had ever incorporated tables and chairs. It was a castle, after all.

  The guard led me through two separate corridors and upstairs to the second floor, which was extremely light and airy. Plants were spread everywhere on this floor, also, but because the windows ran from the floor to the ceiling, and they had been left open, it felt like one big balcony. Cool, winter breezes flowed through the air, ventilating the entire floor.

  I was led into the west wing, to one of the furthest bedrooms along the hall. The guard pulled out a giant, brass key from a ring on his belt, and then inserted it into the lock on the door. It clicked and he pushed the door in, holding it open for me. I walked inside and looked around my temporary home.

  It was a standard bedroom, I supposed. Not very large, not very small. There was one window and one closet. The only thing different about the room was there was no bed present. There was just a single bedroll in the corner of the room, with giant pillows propped up around it. I could handle the lack of the bed, though. Sleeping on the ground was more familiar to me, anyway.

  I turned back to the guard just as he was handing me the key.

  “There will be a guard posted at the entrance to the west wing at all times to ensure the safety of all who reside here, including yourself. Should you need anything, or if you come in contact with any trouble, you need only to shout and we will quickly come to your aid.”

  I nodded to let him know I understood. “Thanks,” I acknowledged him dimly.

  “The washroom is at the end of the hall.”

  “Okay,” I said, and then asked, “Hey wait-- so when is this queen going to send for me?”

  “When she is ready.”

  His answer wasn’t exactly as specific as I’d hoped for, but it was all I had to go by. I dropped my bag on the ground gloomily. The guard disappeared, shutting the door behind him. I suddenly felt very, very alone.

  I supposed I should unpack, but I didn’t bring that many things with me to begin with. Plus, I figured unpacking would only make me feel a sense of permanence. Since I was against the idea, I decided I wouldn’t make it worse for myself. In the end, I chose to stuff my bag in the room’s one small closet.

  Not knowing what else to do, I decided to open the bedroom door. I peeked around the corner. Sure enough, a guard stood there, posted by the entrance to the west wing.

  I sighed despondently and closed the door. I guess I am stuck here for now, I thought to myself.

  I suddenly yawned, tired. A bout of jet lag flooded over my body and so I decided to take a nap. Surprisingly, I realized I hadn’t slept a wink on the plane. I guess I’d been too excited to be traveling again.

  I laid down on the bedroll carefully, testing it out. It was very foam-like, but it seemed comfy enough. I stretched, sinking into the material. As soon as my head touched the pillow, I fell into a deep slumber.

  THIRTY-FIVE

  I wasn’t sure how long I’d been sleeping for, but later on that night, I awoke to the sound of someone knocking on my door. It was one of the guards, this time a different one. I guess they’d already switched shifts.

  “Miss Moori, the Queen has requested you come to the great hall to receive your summoning.”

  “What time is it?” I asked groggily.

  The guard glanced down at his watch. “It is six p.m., local time,” he answered.

  “Okay, but I need a few minutes to get ready.”

  He nodded and waited outside my door.

  I quickly tore off my clothes since I had been traveling all day in the same outfit. I changed into a long, cotton skirt with a short-sleeved white blouse. I chose not to wear my bracelets today. My wrists were too tender from Gorge’s rope cutting into my skin. Instead, I settled on the one pair of gold earrings I had brought with me. Afterwards, I ran a comb through my hair and brushed my teeth, hoping I was presentable enough for whomever the residing queen happened to be.

  As the guard led me to the great hall, I asked him if he knew which queen I was being summoned to.

  “Bonjara,” was his short answer.

  I wrinkled my nose in distaste. The Bonjaras were my least favorite of the Royal families. However, that particular family happened to be the most powerful of the Royals. Their lineage traced back to ancient India. The family had formed a band of travelers during those times, long before the first gypsies were ever heard of. But I never liked the Bonjaras- not any of them. I felt like they were a pack of power-hungry wolves. They were known for being very wise, but they were also far too serious most of the time. Rarely would you ever catch a Bonjara smiling.

  So it was unfortunate for me that the only queen in residence happened to be from this particular family. And she was just as I expected: a serious, no-nonsense sort of woman who never smiled and basically lacked all enthusiasm for life. Her hair was long and as black as a raven’s feathers, with an almost bluish quality to it. Her eyes were like little black coals, with a heavy liner of kohl drawn on her lids. The only thing that saved her from looking exactly like Morticia from the Adam’s Family was her olive complexion.

  “My name is Esmeralda,” she informed me as soon as I took a seat on the overstuffed pillow across from her.

  “I am well aware of who you are, your highness.”

  The queen nodded. I am sure she expected her name to be well-known throughout the gypsy tribes.

  “I heard about your recent encounter with the rogue gypsies. Your face looks quite devastating. I am sorry you endured this.”

  “Thank you,” I said.

  “Have you found your room accommodating?” she
asked politely.

  “It’s nice.”

  “That’s good to hear. Especially since you’ll be living with us now.”

  I flinched. “So um…yeah. I kinda wanted to talk to you about that. Exactly how long do you need me to stay? I was never given a specific timeframe.”

  Startled by my question, she answered matter-of-factly, “Why indefinitely, of course.”

  My lips parted as the confusion settled in. “Excuse me?” I asked. I was taken aback by her absolute answer, which she had imparted without even a speck of hesitation.

  “You will live here from now on. Or at least until you remember where the oracle is. Unless we are assured the oracle is in safe hands, you will be considered a threat to not only gypsies, but mankind, itself. You haven’t yet remembered where it is, correct?”

  “No, I haven’t remembered,” I answered tightly.

  “Then you will stay here with us until you do.”

  I was suddenly very, very annoyed by this woman. I was bothered not only by the fact that she was telling me that my entire life would be spent in this castle under lock and key, but I was even more irritated by the fact that she told me without an ounce of emotion. I felt like I was in the middle of a business transaction.

  “Okay, I think there’s been a misunderstanding,” I told her as nicely as I could. “I only agreed to come here. Not to stay here forever.”

  “I apologize for any misunderstanding, Lola Moori. However, I provided you with substantial clarification. You will live amongst the Royals permanently. Many would consider that a very good life. You have been blessed.”

  Okay, now I was angry. And I was done with holding it back.

  “You really think so?” I asked sarcastically. “Because most gypsies I know would rather rot in hell than stay in one place for the rest of their lives. Did you think I would be as happy as a clam about this? Are you even a true Rom?”

  That last part I knew was hitting below the belt for any gypsy, and especially a Royal. She didn’t give as much of a reaction as I would have liked, but I noticed that she sucked in her breath. It was something, anyway.

  “There may be opportunities for you to venture out of Redwood Forest, Lola. I can certainly look into that for you. We would have to ensure your safety comes first, of course. And most likely, extra security would be needed. It will undoubtedly take tremendous planning in order for any travel to be possible for you.”

  “Thanks for the offer,” I told her. “But I have a life. And as much as I love Redwood Forest, it’s not here.”

  I stood up, prepared to make my grand, theatrical exit. But the queen cut me off by saying, “This matter is not being left up for your decision, Lola Moori. Unfortunately, the memories hidden in your mind hold a higher importance than your well-being. You affect the lives of many just by what you remember.”

  “And what gives you the right to claim my memories, your highness? Just because you’re a damned Royal doesn’t mean you can play God.”

  “That is true,” the queen allowed, narrowing her eyes. “But I am privileged with an engrained right to protect my people. And I will protect them from any threat…including you.”

  Her chin raised a little, almost haughtily. I decided I hated her right then and there.

  I stomped away, furious at the queen for winning this battle. Furious that she didn’t get upset when I’d blatantly disrespected her. And furious at myself for having no control over the entire situation.

  When I heard the click of footsteps behind me, I turned to view two guards following me in my wake. I let out a frustrated groan when I saw them. This was karma. I couldn’t help but think so. This had to be my punishment for putting my father in prison. Because now I was in prison, too.

  THIRTY-SIX

  After one full day and one full night of living in the palace, I was okay. I went for a walk. I gathered a few flowers and herbs from the nearby field. I watched a snake charmer perform his act within the camp. And all of this was done with two guards at my heels.

  The next day wasn’t so bad, either. I asked the servants to fetch me a television in the morning. Later that afternoon, it was delivered and set up in my room. I spent the day practicing my Romanian by flipping through the channels. Thankfully, the receiver picked up MTV and a few British channels, so I watched those for a while.

  On the third day, I asked for a DVD player and a collection of American movies. Someone came by not too long after with my DVD player, but the only American movies they could find were Titanic and The Dark Knight. I watched them both.

  On the fourth day, I asked for a laptop with Internet connection so that I could order more movies. However, I was told it would take at least a week for this to be acquired.

  The next day, I went into the camp again. I watched a few more performances and bought a wooden box from a wood carver. He had carved a boat onto the surface. It reminded me of Gabe’s crappy boat and of my former freedom. I used it to hold my bracelets.

  The next few days passed in the same lazy manner.

  By the end of the week, I was ready to bang my head against the wall.

  It didn’t help that the Royals would have nothing to do with me. They didn’t associate themselves on an intimate basis with other gypsies. A few of the younger princes winked at me in passing, but I knew what they wanted and it certainly wasn’t the kind of friendship I was interested in giving them. However, if I admitted it to myself, I probably would mess around with a few of them if I weren’t still so hung up on Gabe. I’d gladly give my virginity over just from sheer boredom. The thought appalled me a little.

  Since the Royals didn’t want anything to do with me, I tried to befriend the guards and servants. That didn’t work out so well, either. Most were here on a temporary basis, the crews shifting in and out frequently. They were only here to make a few bucks and leave as quickly as possible. It was the same for the rest of the camp, too; however, most of the tribes that came to Redwood Forest treated it as a family gathering of sorts. They visited for a while and after about a week, they packed up and split.

  The entire forest was a very fleeting type of place. Almost like an airport. Excitement came with the new arrivals. And it was exciting while it lasted, but nothing lasted long enough for true reflection.

  By the second week with the Royals, I was ready to slit my wrists and call it a life.

  Thankfully, someone came knocking at my door to rescue me from my boredom. I was in the middle of reading a novel, lazily sprawled across my bedroll. I jumped up as soon as I heard the knock and rushed to throw my door open. The guard who stood in the entryway announced, “You have a visitor.”

  I raised my brows, surprised by the news. “Really? A visitor?”

  The guard simply nodded and said, “Follow me to the parlor.”

  As we walked along the corridor, I wondered who the visitor would be. I hadn’t really had the chance to say goodbye to Miriam- not that I was given all that much of a chance. As soon as I had agreed to go with Tiberius, he’d readied his plane within the hour. But I knew she knew I was okay. I’d called her a hundred times since then. I even lied and told her how happy I was to be living in Redwood Forest. I didn’t want her to worry. She seemed to buy it, so I highly doubted she would come all this way just to check on me.

  And then there was Gabe…he was always lingering in the back of my mind. But it was really hard to believe Gabe would ever come for me. I’d made it perfectly clear I wanted nothing more to do with him when we’d last parted…I often wondered if he believed me. Of course, I wanted him to believe me, I reminded myself. But there was a small part of me (a very selfish part of me) hoping he didn’t fall for my charade. I knew it was wrong, but I so desperately wished I could see him again. I just wanted to stare into his beautiful gray eyes and tell him I didn’t mean any of it. I wanted to tell him that my heart was his to keep until the end of time.

  But I didn’t foresee that happening any time soon. It was probably for the best, anyw
ay.

  So at this point I had no idea who my visitor would be. I walked into one of the castle’s many parlors, extremely curious.

  My jaw nearly dropped when I laid my eyes on him.

  He stood there by the sofa; his back was to me because he was staring out the window in contemplation. I easily recognized his dark brown hair. It still didn’t possess even the slightest hint of gray. Then again, he was only thirty-six. He and my mother had both been very young when they had me.

  “Daddy,” I whispered.

  He turned as soon as he heard me speak. “Lola Belle,” he greeted me.

  I was too stunned to say anything. I couldn’t believe Christo was actually here, out of prison and looking as healthy as a horse.

  “Wow, Lo,” he said. He seemed nearly as surprised as I was. “You look amazing. You went and grew up on me these past few months.”

  My eyes watered. I wanted to say something- anything, but my throat was too constricted. I couldn’t get the words out.

  “Well, are you going to just stand there? Or are you going to come over here and give me a hug?”

  Stammering, I said, “I--I didn’t think we were on a hugging level.”

  He looked at me like I was crazy. “Why? Because you gave your old man what he deserved?” He made a waving gesture. “Water under the bridge. Now get over here.”

  I nearly ran to him, hugging him tightly. “I’m so sorry,” I apologized.

  He whispered into my ear. “It’s okay, Lo. I promise you everything is okay between you and me. You’re my flesh and blood, for crying out loud. How could I possibly stay mad at you?”

  I pulled away from him and we both sat down on the nearby pillows. “But you had to be upset in the beginning,” I pointed out, and waited for him to confirm if it was true.

  He tilted his head to the side. “Okay. I’ll admit I was mad as hell-- at first. But being locked up gives a man. . .perspective.”

  I smiled, feeling a little warmer inside. He reached for a large package behind him, and handed it to me. It was a brown box, tied up with strings.