Royal Affliction (The Anti-Princess Saga) (14 page)

********************

I was spinning the ring on my finger (though I couldn’t remember why) when conscious filled my brain just before my eyes opened.  I was still sore, but it was nothing compared to the night before.  I rolled over and buried my face in the pillow.  It smelled like Kafkus.  He had been so different from the man I knew, and I liked this new side of him.  It was weird, I had spent countless years hating the man, and now I couldn’t stop thinking about him.  I silently wondered to myself when he’d left, because I hadn’t heard him when he did.

I climbed out of bed and made my way into the living room.  My men were still sleeping.  Clifton was sprawled out on the sofa, while Kafkus was lying on the floor in an awkward position.  Quino was passed out on the lone recliner in the corner.  I didn’t see Violet.

I wanted to get out of the house after being trapped in bed for so long, but I was much too weak to go for a run like I wanted to.  Maybe I would go for a nice walk.  The fresh air would do me good.

I opened the front door and found Violet sitting on the steps just outside.  She was staring out into the darkness.

“What are you doing up?” I asked her.

“I was just thinking of spells that might help us.  You should be getting some rest.”

“I think that I’ve had enough rest to last me for a few days,” I said and she let out a low, humorous laugh.

I sat down next to her.  “Is everything ok?”

“I am fine.”

“Come on, Violet, it’s obvious that something’s wrong.”

She sighed.  “I am just thinking about Kortis.  I miss my family.  My first night away has not been an easy one.”

“You are homesick already?”

“I guess I am.”

“Well, look on the bright side, you’ve got me.”

She laughed.  “Well that is something, but not much.”

“Ouch!  That hurts.”  I covered my face with my hands.  “And all this time I thought that you loved me,” I pretend sobbed.

“You know I love you.”  Violet laughed and nudged me hard with her shoulder.  “Alright, my eccentric friend, I think I should get some rest.  I will be of no use to anyone without at least some sleep, even if it is only a few hours.”  She stood up and headed to the front door.

“The living room is full.  Go ahead and take my bed, I’m not going to be using it anytime soon.”

“Thanks.”

I sat there for a while, letting the crisp air waft over my face.  It felt good to be outside.  But I didn’t feel much like sitting.  I stood up and looked back at my apartment.  I knew that they would not be happy with me leaving by myself, but I didn’t really care. 
What’s the worst that could happen?

I walked along the windy path that went through the complex and I didn’t see a single person the entire time.  No doubt they were all still snuggled in their nice, warm sheets and dreaming about pleasant things.  My mind was clouded by my new outlook on Kafkus, clouded by the fate that awaited me, and clouded by my father’s sudden change of heart.  Was there something out here that was that bad, something that my father did not want me to know about?

Every little noise started causing me unease, every rustle of leaves sounded menacing, and every strong gust of wind felt threatening.  I had a really bad feeling that I was being watched.  I glanced around the area.  There was no one.  I turned around quickly, and, trying to remain calm, started walking back towards my apartment.  I had walked pretty far from home at this point so there was no way that I would be able to make it back if something tried to attack me.

Then I heard, what sounded like, deep raspy breaths.  I froze, trying to hear the sound again.  I did but it seemed to have no point of origin.  It was as if it was coming at me from all sides, surrounding me.  I started walking again, faster this time, desperate to reach my apartment.  The raspy breathing grew louder the faster that I walked but I wasn’t getting away from it.  It followed me.  I broke into a sprint, running as fast as my sore legs could carry me.  I saw my building and I prayed that I could make it there in time, but I feared that I wouldn’t.

Though I rushed to it, the building didn’t seem to be getting any closer.  It was as if the ground had become a treadmill.  And, no matter how fast I ran, it seemed that I would never reach my destination.  I smelt something burning before a voice called out to me from the darkness.  “Quartessa.”  I panicked and screamed as loud as I could.

********************

“Are you ok?”

I was lying on the pavement in front of my apartment.  I looked up and saw a face that I didn’t recognize standing over me.

He was a young looking guy but he somehow appeared older the longer that I stared at him.  His eyes were a cross between brown and gold, a most interesting color.  His hair was a bright golden blonde and was feathered in a very attractive way.

“I, I think so.”

“You’ve got a pretty nasty bump on your head.  Do you live in the complex?”

I reached up and touched my forehead.  “Yes,” I said and pointed to my apartment.  “I live there.”

“Let me help you up.  My name is Daryl.”

“Thanks, Daryl.  I’m Tessa, Tessa Turner.”

“No problem.  I’ve seen you running around here in the mornings.  What happened?  You forget to eat?”

I tried to smile but it hurt my head so I stopped.  “Yeah, low blood sugar, I’ve got to remember to eat before I go on my morning runs.”

“Would you like some help getting to your apartment?”

“No, I think I can manage.  Thanks though.”

“Well, I’ll see you around, Tessa.  You should probably put some ice on that bump.”

“Yeah, thanks again, Daryl.”

Everyone was still sleeping when I entered.  They didn’t notice that I’d left, and I didn’t think that they would be too thrilled at the idea.  I decided that I would keep it to myself, certain that I’d just collapsed and dreamt the whole thing.

I wandered into the kitchen and opened the freezer.  There was, of course, no ice.  I grabbed a bag of frozen peas and put it against my forehead.  I decided a shower would raise my spirits.

When I left the bathroom, my bed was empty.  My head felt better, but I could still feel a noticeable bump.  It was noon by the time I checked the clock.  I felt like I’d wasted too much time and accomplished nothing.

Kafkus and Clifton were sitting on the sofa, talking in hushed tones when I entered the living room.  They both silenced and stood up as soon as they saw me.

Clifton spoke first.  “Tessa, you need your rest.”

“I can’t sleep anymore.” 

Kafkus eyed my lump with interest.  “What happened there?”

“Nothing, I just fell down.”

He eyed me for a moment before his face filled with anger.  “You left?  You went out on your own, without anyone to protect you?”

“It was no big deal.  I just wanted to get some fresh air, so I went for a walk.”

“What are we here for if not to protect you?”  He sounded more discouraged than anything.  It humbled me.

“I’m sorry.  I know that you are here to protect me and I will not go anywhere without at least one of you from now on.”

Kafkus nodded.

I felt a little better, but nothing could push from my mind that chilling voice that had called out my name.  “So what were you guys just talking about?” I asked, trying to replace the unsettling memory with something else.

They both glanced at each other, but neither of them spoke.

“Please tell me what you were talking about behind my back.”  It came out ruder than I had meant it to but I was tired of everyone treating me like a child.  I was an adult after all, and deserved to be clued in on what was going on, especially if it involved me.

Clifton sighed, but said nothing.

Kafkus stepped forward, grabbed my hand and led me over to sit on the sofa next to Clifton.

“Where are Violet and Quino?” I asked with an apologetic note in my voice.  I didn’t mean to be rude.  I was just scared.  The fact that they didn’t want to tell me what they were talking about meant that it was bad news, and I didn’t know if I could handle any more bad news.

“They went out.  Violet is trying some spells to locate the Boru hideout,” Kafkus said as he knelt in front of me.

“You don’t have to be formal with me.  I know that I am a princess, and you wish to treat me as such, but no more bowing.  Got it?”

Kafkus made the slightest bow.  “Yes, Princess.”

I rolled my eyes.  I never did much care for the unnecessary formalities of royalty.  I did it when I had to, but there was no need for it here.  As far as this world was concerned I was Tessa Turner: ordinary human.

Clifton said nothing.  I suspected that my father had given him the basics on royal manners.  I think that he wanted to fit in so badly with my father that he would do anything that my father asked, and that worried me a bit.  I liked Clifton for who he was and I didn’t want him to try to mold himself into what my father thought he should be.

“Clifton, what were you and my father talking about?”

He looked guilty, like a child caught in the act of doing something wrong.  “I can only tell you part of it.  The rest I have been forbidden to speak of.”

My eyes narrowed and he wouldn’t hold my gaze.  Instead, his eyes seemed to be focused on the lump on my forehead.

I wasn’t in the mood for this.  My patience was running thin.  “Just tell me what you can.”

It was Kafkus who answered.  “We have only ten days’ time from when the ring is put on you to find and kill the Boru who did it or you are dead.”

His words both shocked and scared me.  He was so blunt; I guess that’s what he thought I wanted.  I did.  But I still didn’t expect it.  Three, maybe four days had already passed.  “What day is it?”

“We have lost four days so far,” Kafkus answered.  “Today is the fifth day since the ring was put on you.”

I jumped to my feet.  “I have missed work.”

Kafkus looked puzzled.

Clifton pulled me back down.  “I called Logan’s for you while you slept.  I told them that you had a family emergency and that you needed to take an extended leave of absence.”

I was surprised that he had even thought about calling in for me, let alone that he took it upon himself to do so without even being asked.  I appreciated the gesture and I thanked him with a light peck on his cheek.

“Work?  You work?” outraged Kafkus.

“Yes, I work.  I am a waitress at a restaurant.”

He looked even more confused.

I sighed.  “It’s a place where humans go to eat.  I…serve…them…food.”

The confused look on his face faded and was replaced by more anger.  “You serve food to…
humans
?  You act as their
slave?!
”

“It’s no big deal.  And I even enjoy it most of the time.”

He looked at me like he owned me and I didn’t like it one bit.  Apparently, his sweetness was only for special occasions and was very short lived.  This was the man I remembered.  The one I’d left.   “No Zolera should ever serve humans, they are beneath us.”  He eyed me with a sternness almost rivaling my father.  “You will not work anymore, not whilst I am here to protect you.”

“You cannot tell me what I can or can’t do Kafkus!  I left Kortis so that I could get away from that way of thinking.  I came here to have my own choices and you cannot take that away from me.”  I crossed my arms and stared daggers at him.  His anger faded away, leaving a kind of dreamy, almost happy look behind.  “What?!”

“I have missed you, Princess.  I have always loved your outspokenness, your defiant attitude, and your inability to conform to what you are expected to be.”

Well, that caught me off guard.  “Huh?”

He smirked at the bewildered look on my face.  “I was always honored that your father had chosen me for your husband.”

“Wait a minute.  I thought that you asked him for my hand?”

“No, he chose me for you.  He thought that I could make you happy and I thought I could as well.”

There was a long moment of silence where we just stared at each other.  I felt like I had never seen him this clear.  I guess it was because I had always resented him for making my father give me to him, but that was no longer true.  My father had been the one doing the choosing.

I looked into his face and saw that he didn’t look nearly as rough as I had always thought him to be.  His face was smooth, apart from his large scar and whiskery chin.  His overly large eyes looked caring and soft.  I couldn’t look away.  I remembered how sweet he had been to me the previous night and I found my mouth moving slowly towards his.

“Tessa!”

I blinked.  I was sitting on the edge of the sofa and my face was only a few inches away from Kafkus’.  Clifton looked hurt.  “I’m sorry.  I, I don’t know what came over me.”

“You, you were supposed to be married to Kafkus?”  There was hurt in every syllable.

My head sunk, filled with the shame from what I had almost done.  “It was the reason I left.”

“But, you
like
him now?” he asked.  He wanted reassurance that he was the only man for me, and I didn’t know if I could give him that.