“Please don’t make me go, Jessa. The Queen doesn’t like me,” Sophie pleads as she looks down at the ground.
“I’m sorry, Sophie,” Jessa says, looking to me for help.
“How about you stay with me, Sophie? Would that be okay?” Holding my breath, I watch as she looks me over. While I might have saved her from the wrath of my mother, I don’t blame her for not trusting me fully. Royal Fae haven’t exactly been nice to her. I wait in anticipation as she thinks about it.
“Are you sure, Princess?” Jessa asks me and I nod.
“Of course, I’d love to spend some more time with Sophie.”
“I think that would be okay. You saved me before, so you won’t let anyone hurt me?” she asks, matter-of-fact.
“Of course not, Sophie. I’d never let that happen,” I reassure. She smiles and my stomach flutters. The effect is curious.
“Then yes, I’d like to stay with the Princess please, Miss Jessa.”
Jessa looks from me to Sophie, unsure of what to do.
“Honestly, Jessa. Its fine. Please go and do what you need to. I’m sure Sophie and I will be just fine.”
Jess hesitantly agrees to leave Sophie with me before hurrying off towards The Palace.
“How come you only just came to live at The Palace, Princess?” Sophie asks. The bluntness of children never fails to startle me.
“Well, Sophie, that is a very long story, but it was mainly to keep me safe. My mummy and daddy decided it would be safer if no-one knew about me because I’m special.”
I tell her a twisted version of what I’ve been told. She’s too young to know the awful truth.
“Do you think that’s why my mummy and daddy left me here? To keep me safe?”
“I don’t know, Sophie. I imagine so, you are very special indeed.”
“But if I’m special, and I was meant to be safe, why were that man and lady so horrible to me before?” she asks. Her question breaks my heart.
“I don’t know, Sophie. I’m sorry. Just know I’m here now and I promise, no-one will hurt you again.”
“You saved me from getting in trouble when I made a mess. Jessa told me you’re her friend, and that you’re a good person.”
“I’m glad to hear that, Sophie.”
“I think we should be friends too, Princess.”
“I’d like that very much, Sophie. But you know, my friends get to call me Addie.”
“Really?” she asks wide eyed. “Could I call you Addie, too?”
“I would like that very much,” she nods eagerly, and hugs me quickly before jumping back, as if realising what she’d done.
“I would like that very much. Now what would you like to do for the rest of the evening?”
“Addie, you’ve got visitors!” Michael hollers.
Who the hell is visiting? I wrap a large towel around myself, then another around my hair and I step out of the shower.
“Who’s there?”
“You’re going to want to come out here,” he shouts back and I huff as I tighten my towel and step into my bedroom.
“Well?”
“Erm… Addie?” Michael says, pointing with his eyes to the space behind me.
I turn and see Rose, Benny, and another blonde guy I don’t know, stood in the corner of the room. And here I am… in a towel. I groan.
“Really, Michael?” I say, exasperated.
He just chuckles at me from the bed. He’s too busy checking out his eyebrows in the compact mirror he stole from Stefano.
“Sorry, guys, I was outside with Sophie and we fell in a puddle which was more mud than water,” I explain. “Let me get myself sorted,” I say with a sorry smile before dashing into my closet. I shut the door and lean my forehead on the wall.
What an idiot. Maybe one day I’ll get a hang of this princess thing!
I throw on a pair of jeans, my old chucks, a two-tone tank, and a cardigan to keep me warm. I blow out my hair quickly till it’s mainly dry then throw it up in a messy ponytail. I may not look like a princess, but I am, at least, presentable.
When I return, everyone is exactly where I left them. I rush over to Benny and Rose, hugging them both.
“I didn’t expect you back so soon. At least not until the wretched Debutante Ball.”
“Well, that’s kind of why we’re here. Addie, this is my cousin Ambrose. Ambrose, this is my best friend.” She growls at him and I guess there’s not much love lost there.
“It’s nice to meet you, Addie,” he says, putting his hand out for me to shake.
“It’s a pleasure. You’re here for the ball?” I ask, trying to remain polite, regardless of the fact the guy just saw me in a towel.
“I am. My parents thought it would be best if I got to meet you before the others.”
“The others?” I ask, confused. He shifts about a little, looking increasingly uncomfortable by the minute.
“The other suitors,” he states. That’s when it all falls into place, he’s one of my supposed suitors. I hear Michael laughing from behind me. That traitor knew damn it! I turn my death stare to Rose, who just looks at me apologetically.
“Sorry. This guy is an idiot. Plus, I don’t agree with this whole arranged marriage thing – but my mum thought it a good idea, and so here I am with this idiot in tow.” I roll my eyes and take a deep breath. This isn’t Rose’s fault.
“Heyyyyy, I’m not that bad!” Ambrose protests. “No offense, Addie, but this isn’t exactly a dream come true for me either. I have a girl back home and this whole ‘chosen’ thing has not gone down well. So, while I don’t want to sound like a whiny jerk, don’t think this is all sunshine and roses for me either.”
“Huh, maybe you’ll be better together than I thought,” Benny pipes up.
“Say what?” I ask.
“That random crap he just spurted sounds exactly like something you’d say.” He says, trying not to laugh.
“Anywayyyyyyy,” Rose says, “the reason we’re here is so you can get to know this knucklehead a little before the ball.”
“Okay, so what’s the plan?”
“I hadn’t exactly got that far yet,” she says.
“How about we go sailing?” Ambrose suggests
“What the hell is sailing?” I ask, perplexed.
“You’ve never been sailing?” Ambrose asks me, and I look to Benny who looks as confused as I do.
“Sailing, you know, out on the water. On a boat or a yacht.”
“I have no idea what sort of life you’ve led, but I have no idea what you’re on about.”
“I’m going to have to back her up on this one guys, what the hell?” Benny says, stepping closer to me.
“Oh, you poor, sweet children,” Michael coos from behind us. Standing he strolls over to where we’re stood.
“Can you guys swim?” He asks, turning to me and Benny and we both nod.
“Then let’s go sailing!” he says with way more enthusiasm than I’ve seen from him in a while.
Sailing was by far the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard of. I’ve never felt more sick in my life. Michael drove us for two hours until we found a Marina, he spoke to someone and then we were on this boat, which I still say looks more like a floating house monstrosity than a boat.
“Ahhh come on Addie, it’s not that bad!” Ambrose yells down to me below deck, laughing.
“We’re not all experts at this.” I shout back. What an ass, I’ll admit he seems really laid back and in his element, but it would seem, water isn’t my element.
“Awh it’s okay. We’ll head back to land, I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it.” He says, and I almost think he’s sincere.
“Thank you,” I say, before hurling over the side of the boat.
This trip sucks.
I slide down onto the floor pulling my knees up to my chest, trying to crunch my stomach into as small a space I can in home it will stop twisting.
“Anyone would think you’re human,” Michael says with a smile, joining m
e on the floor. He hands me a drink, it tastes gross but surprisingly, after a few sips, my stomach feels a little better.
“Thank you, for the drink I mean.”
“It’s nothing, but really Addie, what sort of Fae doesn’t like the water.”
“Oh, I love the water, just not on this boat apparently,” I snap and he laughs at me.
“I can’t believe the infamous Reborn is taken down by a big bad boat. I’m almost a little disappointed.” He jokes.
“That’s it, lap it up. Just wait until I’m sick on you, then see how much your laughing.” I say and his face gets serious.
“You wouldn’t do that to me… right?” I just glare at him and he scrambles up to his feet.
“Sorry baby girl, I love you, but that is just not happening. I’m going to go get us back to land.” He says before dashing off up the stairs to where Rose, Ambrose and Benny are already hiding from me and my sicky stench.
Back at the palace I say goodbye to the three of them as I stumble up to my room. The sick feeling didn’t leave after I got back on solid ground. Stupid boats. I am never sailing again! Michael trails behind me, making sure I get to my room but leaves me in peace when I face plant the bed.
The quiet is beautiful and serene, until its interrupted. I groan at the knock on the door. Nothing intelligible, but enough to encourage whoever is out there to leave me alone. I hear the door open and groan louder into the pillow I face-planted.
“Addie?” Penelope’s voice is quiet. She is pulling the curtains and I groan at her again. I’m so not up for conversation right now.
“I have been asked by the King to come and speak to you,” she says quietly. I guess she got the memo that I feel like crap.
“Ugh… why?” I ask rolling onto myside.
“He said you wanted to know more about Sophie,” she says and my ears prick up. That little girl has quickly become a light in my life, she’s so innocent and fun.
“He was right. I want to know everything about her.”
She walks over to the bed and looks at me solemnly.“It’s not the happiest of stories, I’m afraid, but she’s never let it affect her too much.”
I nod, encouraging her to continue.
“Noone has any idea who her parents are, some people think it was a young couple, too young to have a child, others, well others can just be cruel. Sophie was left in the stables as a new-born; left to die from what we could tell. The old kitchenhand found her, and he took her to his wife. As you know, our kind struggle to conceive, so he thought she’d be delighted. He was wrong. It was almost as if the child was a reminder of what couldn’t be rather than what could. His wife abused the girl – she wore more bruises than I care to remember. As per usual, the cruelty was ignored, people just turned a blind eye. Cruelty is a way of life at court. Sophie had to learn to clean and be useful from a young age to earn her keep. That was her life, until you arrived,” she says.
My heart breaks for poor little Sophie all over again. God only knows what sort of punishment she received from my mother and Kellan before I got here. It’s just another reminder of how much I don’t belong here. I could never, and would never put a child through that.
“Thank you for sharing that with me, Penelope. I’d like to do something for Sophie. I’m sure it will be frowned upon, but considering how much of my crap you have to deal with, I figure I’ll give you a heads up.”
“Thank you,” she snorts, knowing that life with me is never going to be easy. “What do you have in mind?” she asks. I see the glint of rebellion in her eye and it makes me like her even more.
It’s been a week since my strange meeting with Kellan, and I feel lighter knowing he has my best interests at heart, even though he did say there was no way around this stupid Debutante Ball, which is why I’m sat at the top of the stairs in the ballroom, looking down at the buzz of activity as tens of servants run around, making sure everything is just right. It some ways it reminds me bitter-sweetly of my prom night at the Academy.
The room is festooned with the twinkle of lights and there’s no denying it’s beautiful; almost ethereal. It’s a place where reality doesn’t exist – where happy-ever-afters are meant to blossom – but it’s all a sham, a stage set for an arranged marriage, a forced union; my future unhappiness.
I’ve been hiding here, away from Penelope, for a while. I have no idea how I’ve managed to evade her for so long; she usually has me tracked down with impossible speed. Maybe she’s decided to give me this. I sigh. It’s almost peaceful watching the hubbub below.
It isn’t long before my peace is crushed. “There you are, Princess!” Penelope rushes up behind me, trying to catch her breath. I knew it was too good to be true. “I’ve been searching for you everywhere,” she scolds. “We need to start getting you ready. I’ve not even had time to run through proper protocol and etiquette with you, yet.”
“I’m pretty sure I know how to eat, Penelope. I paid attention in class, even if you don’t think I did. Outwards in. I got this,” I say without looking up at her.
“That may be so, but we still need to get you ready. Please, follow me back to your quarters so I can do my job.”
I look up at her, wondering if I can push it, but it’s not her fault I’ve got to go through this stupid tradition tonight. I drag my feet back to my room. Once there, I’m met with a pissed looking Michael, I guess I didn’t just evade Penelope, and a stressed Stefano and Jessa.
“You’re here – finally!” Jessa flusters, pulling me towards a chair and immediately attacking me with a hairbrush.
“You had us worried, Princess-a,” Stefano adds with a soft smile. Guilt prickles me; I hadn’t thought about the consequences for them if they couldn’t get me ready in time. I guess thinking of them is part of my role now. These people are my people, my actions directly affect them. I need to remember that.
“Sorry, guys, I won’t do it again,” I reassure them. “Hey, Jessa, where is Sophie?”
“She’s down in the servants’ quarters, Your Highness.”
“And is she okay?”
“She is more than okay. You have a new fan. She has done nothing but speak of you since dinner.”
I smile larger than I have in a while.
“Michael, can you bring her up here please? I have an idea.”
“Sure thing, baby girl. Just don’t cause too much chaos, okay?”
“Do I ever?” I laugh.
He shakes his head before leaving the room and I lay back and let Stefano and Jessa do their thing. I never thought I’d get used to this sort of pampering, but it’s funny what you adjust to in a short amount of time.
“Princess!” I hear a squeal and open my eyes to see Sophie rushing towards me. Stefano side steps so she doesn’t plough through him as she jumps into my lap.
“Sophie!” Jessa scolds. “You cannot do that to the Princess.”
“It’s fine, Jessa.” I smile before turning back to Sophie. “How are you today, Sophie?”
“I am great thank you, Princess,” she says.The telling off from Jessa has barely dulled the sparkle in her eyes.
“Hey, Sophie, what did I say to you about calling me, Addie. We’re friends now remember.”
“Are you very sure?” she gasps.
“Very, very sure. And do you know what else my friends get to do?” I ask. She shakes her head frantically.
“My friends get to come to my parties,” I say quietly. She squeals so loud that two Vampyr guards rush in my door.
“Everything’s fine, boys, just an extra excited, Miss Sophie,” I say to them happily. I love the joy I’m able to instil into Sophie with such a small gesture, though I’m sure it won’t seem small to the rest of the people here, but if I can make her happy, then I’m going to.
“Now then, I guess we had better find something for you to wear,” I say, and her smile drops a little.
“I don’t have any dresses, Addie,” she says, sniffling a little.
“Well then, i
t’s a good thing my friend, Elaria, is a genius with dresses, isn’t it?” I say softly to her, rubbing her nose with mine.
Jessa told me yesterday that Sophie is an orphan, she elaborated on Penelope’s story for me. Roaming shades killed her parents when she was just a baby, she wasn’t abandoned in the stables at all. I guess Penelope wanted to soften the story for me. Sophie’s grown up at the palace, grown up a servant. She’s such a beautiful little thing, so fragile, I just want to look out for her. Turns out she is actually four, nearly five. She should be in a nursery, but instead she’s here.
Her eyes light up at my words. I have already spoken with Elaria earlier and asked if she could prepare something for Sophie; something similar to mine. She agreed to do what she could, although the instruction clearly made her feel uncomfortable. I hope she was successful. A knock on the door sounds her arrival, and she breezes in with a bundle of fabric over her arm.
“It’s done,” she says with pride, flicking the small dress out for me to see. It’s beautiful.
“Now then,” I say to Sophie, “Whilst I get dressed, how about Jessa and Stefano make you look like a little Princess?”
Her eyes light back up and she nods so hard, I worry she’ll hurt herself.
“Okay then,” I laugh. “You be good, okay?”
“Okay!” she squeaks, and I follow Elaria into my closet to get dressed for the ball.
She pulls a sparkling gold masterpiece out of the garment bag and hangs it from the rail beside her. It’s the bigger version of Sophie’s and I’m almost brought to tears.
“Elaria, you are a genius!” I squeal, hugging her. She is rigid before she relaxes into the hug. It’s not often, if ever, that the Royals hug them.
“You are more than welcome, Princess. I was happy to help.” She says, helping me into the dress. With its high neck and no sleeves, it looks positively regal. The gold shimmers and sparkles as the light bounces off it.
“It’s beautiful, Elaria. Thank you.” I say before stepping down from the platform she likes to dress me on. “How about we go make this little girl smile?”
I head out of the closet and find a laughing Stefano and Jessa, with a very happy Sophie. I walk up to her and when she sees me she goes still and her eyes go wide.
Soar (The Immortal Chronicles Book 3) Page 10
