by Laurel Veil
She grimaced like I’d just smacked her on the cheek. Her cowardice made me angry.
“If you don’t let me help you, he’ll get angry with me,” she whispered. She then looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was listening. “And he’ll be furious with you if you do not comply.”
In my anger I had a moment of clarity. “Fine,” I said calmly.
She looked relieved. She believed my sudden change of heart and seemed to suspect nothing.
“If you don’t mind, could I have a minute to myself?”
“Of course,” she bubbled.
“Maybe you could get me some water?”
“Of course, of course.” She hummed a tune as she closed the door behind her.
I went to the closet and leafed through the gowns I had seen hanging earlier. I stopped when I came to a robe.
I slipped it on over my clothes and fastened it securely, from my neck to the floor. I glanced at my reflection in the full length mirror that hung on the closet wall. No one would be able to tell that I still had my clothes on underneath.
“Falon?” asked Maggie with an edge of fear in her voice when she returned and didn’t see me.
“In here,” I sang out.
She came to the closet. “Are you ready to call it a night, miss? Shall I turn down your bed?” I could hear the relief in her voice when she realized I hadn’t run away. She was already making her way to the bed when I stopped her.
“No, thank you. Not yet. I thought maybe we could take a walk—around the castle. You could give me a tour.”
“An evening stroll with the princess? I’d be honored.” She giggled. “I sat your water over there. And I brought some juice in case you wanted something sweet.”
“That was thoughtful of you,” I said and took a sip of each. “Ready?”
◆◆◆
The castle was massive. I lost count of how many floors it had, much less rooms. I didn’t think we even covered half of it when I realized I needed a break. I had to rest or I was going to be too exhausted to escape.
Maggie was in the middle of giving me the history of yet another statue when she yawned. Embarrassed, she quickly covered her mouth. “Oh, miss, please excuse me. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s OK, Maggie. It’s late. You’ve worked all day and here I have you walking all over the palace. I’m the one who should be apologizing.”
“Oh no, miss, you have nothing to ap—”
I held up my hand to cut her off. “Let’s go down to the sunroom and put our feet up for a while. I know it’s late, but we’ll star gaze.”
Maggie nodded enthusiastically.
The castle was darker now. The larger candles had been snuffed out. The hint of smoke in the air was the only sign that they had once burned brightly. Now, smaller candles dimly lit the hallways like nightlights. It was quiet too. If anyone was still up, they were tucked away somewhere hidden and out of sight. The bustle of the palace had ceased and a calm was settling over it.
We made ourselves comfortable in lounging chairs and looked out through the open French doors, up into the night sky. I could have sworn there were twice as many stars here than at home.
“So, do you live here, in the palace or do you go home to your family?” I asked.
“I stay here at the castle, in the servants’ wing. My family lives in the village. My dad farms and my mom sews. I have two brothers.”
“Do you get to see them often?”
Her eyes watered. “Not as much as I would like. I go see them, even if I can’t stay, at least once a month, so that I can give them my wages.”
“I wish you got to see them more often.”
She blotted a tear, from the corner of her eye. “I’m grateful I can help them.”
“I think it’s wonderful that you help your family.”
Maggie gave me a sleepy smile, so I continued talking, hoping she would soon fall asleep.
◆◆◆
“Maggie,” I whispered. When she didn’t respond, I darted straight for a vine covered trellis, let my robe drop to the ground and climbed to the top of the garden wall.
The wall was rather wide, so balancing wasn’t near as tricky as I’d thought it was going to be. The moon seemed to be on my side. It gave me just enough light to see, but enough darkness to remain hidden.
I found a grassy spot, hung myself from the ledge and quietly dropped the rest of the way down. I then made my way to the inner wall that surrounded the castle. I climbed a nearby tree and scooted myself across a limb that hung over the wall, and dropped down into the village.
I quickly wound my way through cobblestone roads, ducking in and out of alleys until I finally reached the outer wall that surrounded the perimeter of the kingdom. There, I hid in a small cluster of trees. After a couple of failed attempts, I managed to make my way up a sturdy tree, and scooted across a limb, until I was standing on the wall. I didn't feel confident. It was much higher than the garden wall and loose pebbles trickled down from beneath my feet. I searched for a safe, flat spot to land, but there wasn’t one, as far as I could see. It was too slippery and too noisy to risk staying up there any longer, so I climbed back down. Hiding in the shadows, I made my way to the front of the village.
As I had figured, the drawbridge was already up for the night. I considered hiding somewhere, and sneaking out in the morning when it was down, but it was too risky. Jackson suddenly crossed my mind, and I knew I had to get out of there now.
Just then, I noticed shadow creatures were floating along the top of the wall. It was a miracle they hadn’t spotted me earlier. I sighed and then slipped deeper into the darkness and walked quietly along the perimeter of the massive stone wall.
I jumped when something scurried over my shoes. I was grateful that I didn’t scream and relieved that it was just a rodent. I started to walk on, when it occurred to me that it was as if it had come from out of the wall. I turned back and knelt down. There was a small hole in the wall! Feverishly, I pulled more of the loose stones away until I thought it was big enough for me to squeeze through.
I stuck my feet in first and then wiggled, and pushed until I made it through to the other side. I gasped when I saw a family of alligators just a few yards away. I couldn’t believe that I’d forgotten about the alligators! I shuddered when I thought how they could have made a meal of my legs as I was trying to push them through the wall. I should have went through head first, but then again, if I would have seen the alligators, I never would have gone through the small tunnel and I wouldn’t be standing there, outside of the castle walls.
I hesitated a moment longer, trying to catch my breath and wondered why they hadn’t attacked me yet. I decided that they must be sleeping and slowly stood and inched my way along the wall in the only direction I could go—back towards the drawbridge. I had to get across to the other side of the moat, and there was no way I was swimming. I would have to wait until morning, and cross the bridge when no one was looking.
I was careful to stay close to the wall, if the shadow creatures saw me, I was certain they would attack first, and questions would be asked later. Images of Ty and his arrow pierced chest paralyzed me momentarily. I snapped out of my reverie when I heard voices coming from above. Did someone see me? I almost slipped and tumbled down into the moat, when a loud clanking sound rang out. The drawbridge was coming down! I pressed myself up against the wall and watched. I noticed the underside of the bridge was constructed in such a way, I thought it might be possible for me to travel underneath it! There was only one way to find out. Before the bridge lowered completely I darted below it and clung on to the ravine’s ledge.
“May our hunt be successful!” Dirks’s gruff voice boomed.
Hunt? I gulped. Were they coming after me?
“And may the bellies of our people always be full!” he continued.
I sighed with relief. They were going to hunt for food. Just then, a stampede of hooves began to clomp across the bridge. I reached up and grabbed
onto an iron rung that was on the backside of the bridge and began making my way across, one bar at a time as quickly as I could. It was a good thing, I thought, that I had brushed up on doing the monkey bars with Jackson at the park.
I did my best to stay calm, but soon reached panic mode when the last of the horses stepped off the bridge. It wouldn’t be long now until it began to rise. My stomach tightened. I could feel my sweaty palms starting to slip. I looked down at my feet as they dangled in the air. Movement in the water caught my eye. The alligators were awake!
The bridge suddenly jarred. I could feel it vibrating as it began to rise. I commanded my arms to move. As I neared the end, I began swinging back and forth and then threw myself from the bridge. I just missed the platform and held onto the ledge with my fingertips. Frantically, I tried to dig the tip of my shoes into the cliff. Finally, I got some traction and pushed myself up onto the platform.
I was exhausted. I wanted to lay there a moment to catch my breath, but I had to move before the bridge was completely up and someone spotted me. I followed the road for only a few yards. I couldn’t stay on it for long—I would be too easy to see. I headed through some tall grass toward the forest. My arms were tired from supporting my weight. They hung limp and useless at my sides like heavy bags of sand. They felt like they weighed a thousand pounds each.
I took a deep breath and stepped into the forest.
◆◆◆
I stayed hidden within the forest, but traveled alongside the road, hoping I wouldn’t get lost. The garden had to be getting close. I thought back to when I’d first arrived. I didn’t think that I had ridden that long from the garden to the castle. Of course, walking on foot verses riding on the back of a horse that was running, made a big difference.
My feet were just starting to hurt when a faint rose scent subtly mixed with the breeze. A moment later, I saw it—the garden! I was amazed that I had found it. There was a part of me that thought I wouldn’t, and that Dirk and his men would capture me before I even got close.
I hesitated a moment before entering. Though I wanted to rush back to Jackson, I was afraid to walk past were Ty had taken his last breath. The sound of hooves forced me to find courage. I entered the ivy covered walls. Once inside the tree, I thought of home and let the pulling sensation take over.
When I stepped outside, I was back in my family’s garden. It was night and the strands of lights that Ty had strung up were still on. I couldn’t breathe. My heart was collapsing in on itself. I missed him more now than ever. Tears streamed down my face.
I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. I rubbed them dry, so I could see better. I was right. There were lights on in the house! Did my mom—Sandra, whoever she was, come back?
“Mom?” I called out nervously when I stepped inside.
I almost lost it when I looked at the sofa and pictured Ty sleeping there. His pillow and blanket were waiting for him along with his jacket that hung on the back of a chair. I wished with every fiber of my being that he was alive and well, and that I would find him somewhere in the house.
My heart pounded when a floorboard creaked behind me. “Who are you?” I asked the stranger looking back at me. She was probably at least ten years older than me. She was tall and fit, and she was holding a knife.
“Doesn’t matter. I was just leaving.” Her voice was low and scratchy, and it made her seem even older.
I was so relieved to hear her say that she was leaving, I didn’t even care that she was probably robbing the place. It was then though, that I noticed she wasn’t carrying anything. I worked up my courage to speak. “What are you doing here?” I tried to sound polite. I didn’t want her to slit my throat.
She took a step toward me. Why didn’t I just keep my mouth shut? When she took another step, I stepped back at the same time to try and keep the same amount of distance between us.
She lunged suddenly. I thought I was about to be murdered, but she reached for Ty’s jacket. It was probably the only thing I had of Ty’s. Fury began to swirl in my soul and I couldn’t stop myself.
“Give that back.”
“It’s mine now.”
“It’s Ty’s!”
She smirked. “Same thing.”
What was that supposed to mean? It took a moment for what she had said to register. “Wait—do you know Ty?”
She raised her brows and grinned suggestively, as if to say she knew him very well. She slung his jacket over her shoulder and sauntered out the door.
“Wait! Is he alive? Is he here?” I screamed.
When I stepped outside, she was already gone.
I locked the door, wrapped myself in Ty’s blanket, then buried my face in his pillow and inhaled what was left of his scent before it disappeared forever.
13.
I woke when the den filled with morning light. I grabbed a bite, showered and headed straight to Ms. Alice’s. As I walked I considered the possibility that none of what I thought had happened to me was real. Not that it was a dream, but simply that I was slipping into madness.
When I turned onto Ms. Alice’s street, I felt my shoulders tense. I hoped like crazy that Jackson would be outside, then I could take him and run to the tree. My mind began to torment me with what ifs. What if I really was insane? What if the portal didn’t work anymore? What if Jackson couldn’t go through the portal? After all, Ty hadn’t been able to at first.
Unfortunately, Jackson wasn’t outside. I walked down the driveway and almost to the front door without stopping. I didn’t hesitate, because I knew if I did, even for I second, I might change my mind and never come back.
“Whatta you want?” Jacob asked as he walked from the garage.
My insides jumped but I pretended to be calm. “I want to see Jackson.”
You can’t,” he said as he walked up to me.
“Why not?”
“I guess you didn’t hear.” His tone was frightfully serious.
I shook my head.
He held out his arms to hug me. “He’s dead, Falon.”
I could’ve sworn the driveway moved from under me. My dad was dead. I’d just found out my mom wasn’t who I thought she was, and my real mom was dead—murdered by my dad. Ty was dead and now Jackson too? No! No! No!
“You’re lying,” I whispered.
“You don’t sound so sure.”
Just then, Daisy came down the front steps with her backpack. I didn’t realize it was a school day. I had no clue what day it even was.
I didn’t wait for her to acknowledge me. “Where’s Jackson?” I asked without any formalities.
Her face crumpled like she had just tasted a lemon, “How the hell should I know?” She continued walking past me.
For a split second, I was relieved that she hadn’t confirmed what Jacob had just told me, but rage soon followed and I clinched my fists. “I said, where’s Jackson?”
She spun around and took a few steps toward me. I swallowed, but pretended that I wasn’t afraid. I stood as tall as I could and didn’t blink.
“That’s a pretty stupid question since he’s with you.”
My rage morphed into fear when I realized she obviously hadn’t seen him in a while.
“What are you talking about?” I pressed.
“Uh, the night you guys ran away.”
“Daisy, he didn’t go with us.”
“So.”
“Are you an idiot?” As soon as the last word left my mouth I regretted it.
Daisy grimaced. Her cheeks turned pink and she stepped even closer.
“If he’s not here and he’s not with me, where is he?” I pleaded.
She simply shrugged as if I’d only asked her what the weather was going to be like tomorrow and she didn’t know.
“Not my problem.” She said casually before turning to go.
I called after her, “A little boy is missing!”
“I don’t care,” she said without even looking back. “Come on Jacob, they’ll be here any minute.”<
br />
“Looks like you still need that hug.” He held open his arms.
I knew Jacob was a terrible person, but I still couldn’t believe he would joke about a child being dead.
“Go to hell, Jacob,” I said as I walked past him, stormed into the house and headed straight for Alice’s room. I could hear her snoring before I even opened the door. Her stomach formed a huge mountain under her blankets.
“Whatta ya think you’re doing?” Barked Daisy from behind me with Jacob at her side.
“What do you think? I’m trying to find out what happened to Jack.”
“She’s sleeping and you’re not supposed to be in here!”
“This is kind of an emergency, Daisy. She needs to get her fat, lazy ass up!”
Daisy came at me swinging and I jumped out of the way and gave her a hard shove onto the bed. She was lying on her backpack now with her arms flailing about as she tried to get up. She reminded me of a giant tortoise who was stuck on his shell.
“Cat fight!” yelled Jacob.
Ms. Alice yanked her eye mask off. “What in the world is going on?” She gasped. She was short of breath from struggling to sit up.
“She attacked me, Mom,” said Daisy who was now perched at the foot of the bed.
I ignored her. “I think Jackson is missing.”
“He’s not missing. He’s just not here anymore.”
“What does that mean?” I could hardly hear over my pounding heart.
“I could no longer meet his needs, so—”
“You mean I was no longer here to take care of him for you?”
“I suppose, it is all your fault.”
“I need to find him,” I said.
“Good luck with that. Now go away, I need to get some rest.”
I heard her telling Daisy and Jacob bye as I left. I walked to my house in a daze. Was Jackson okay? Was he in a boys’ home, or foster care? I felt like I might throw up.
I walked out back to the garden and sat down. I wished Ty was there. I missed him and I needed him. He was smart and strong and he would know what to do.
