There was so much of him that haunted her. Words, memories, feelings emerging with a quick hit to the heart, from the lightest gusts that carried the fresh smell of rain and the dew of cold morning that made her yearn for those innocent moments by the pond. All these memories added to the madness.
Standing in Niendry's chamber, Aurelie looked around to find her little black pouch that held the opium. Her dreams were so vivid under its effect that she was almost sure it would take her to the Dream Realm if she inhaled enough.
The questions she had for the Keeper seemed irrelevant now. She understood that in searching for answers from people who could not truly give it to her; she was prolonging her absence from the Realm. The pouch lay under a pile of clothing, in a leather trunk within which clothes lay overturned and crinkled. Aurelie scrambled around inside for the opium and left once she found it.
When she walked into the hall, Niendry approached with her thin lips stretched into a smile. "That won't be very good for the baby," she said once the two of them passed each other, making Aurelie stop and turn.
Niendry continued her walk with long and graceful strides that made the soft silk of her robe flow like the waves of the river in the moonlight. "Also, you could have just asked," she said before disappearing through the door.
Aurelie inspected the black, chalk-like substance in her hand. If it was bad for the baby why did Niendry give it to her in the first place when they attempted to find Kirin's spirit? The recreational use of opium was frowned upon, so Aurelie couldn't exactly go ask one of the healers if what she said was true, and the old grouch in the botanical quarter would have blast telling everyone who passed him that Aurelie had it in her possession if she were to ask him.
The obvious choice was to give it back. She wasn't going to use it if there was even a little chance that the child could be harmed but feeling too embarrassed to be in Niendry's presence again quite so soon, she decided upon doing it later.
Aurelie was about to hide it between the top of her skirt and stomach when General Donahue stepped around the corner followed by a maid holding a tray of food. His eyes fell to her hand and widened. He grabbed the vial, his features gaining the spark of a furious animal.
Oh, she'd done it now! Aurelie opened her mouth to defend herself but was cut off before she could utter a single word.
"This is unacceptable." His knuckles whitened as he squeezed the vile. "How irresponsible!" He flung the vile against the wall.
Aurelie winced, looking from his face to the shattered glass and scattered powder lying on the floor. His anger made her want to blabber the purpose of the opium out right there where they stood, but she kept silent watching his face go red and his lips move to throw out more disappointments.
"...not expect this from you. Not this." His finger pointed toward the vile. " How can you be this selfish still? For once in your life, you spoiled little wench, think of someone other than yourself."
Aurelie eyes teared up. "I wasn't going to use it," she said, her voice barely audible.
He bared his teeth in something between the start of a furious growl and a smile. "Well, you certainly won't be using it now." General Donahue grabbed her by the arm and pulled her closer. "You should be in bed."
Aurelie closed her eyes, taking a deep soothing breath. "Get your hands off me," she said between clenched teeth, the fire in her eyes making a dim appearance.
"Or what?" he spat, yanking her closer so that his breath touched her skin.
Aurelie pulled her hand, struggling against his grip. Upon failure, she stilled and returned his raging glare. "You don't want to find out, General. I'm trying to be on my very best behavior here, but we both know I'm a little bit mad."
Hands caught her from behind, but she hadn't heard anyone near her. He summoned shadows. Aurelie kicked out, clenching her jaw. The nerve of this man wasâGod! It's as if his damn son stood before her. Only she'd let Kirin do it without setting him aflame. She wasn't sure whether she'd allow his father to get away with such a thing unscathed though!
"You let me go, right now!"
She wondered where the hell everyone was. This quarter was where Daerious, Revin, and Orken stayed. Niendry didn't get involved, but Aurelie knew that she could hear her. Aurelie pushed her shoulder out, loosening the grip the shadow hand on her arms, but the grip tightened back up almost instantly.
"You bastard!" Aurelie put both feet back on the ground and lurched herself up, making the shadow stumble backward. The General ran up, managing to grab onto the neckline of her dress, and pulled them upright by it.
Aurelie took his momentary lapse of judgment to attack and aimed her foot right between his legs. He doubled up, his mouth pursed up in pain. "I'll make them send you away to one of those training camps! Let me go!" She wanted to start a fire by his feet but abstained, and was sorry for it. He knew that she had to keep herself composed, and certainly knew how difficult it was for a dragon to contain her anger. An ache pulsed through her temples, setting a pressure onto her skull.
A guard, in black armor, rushed up the stairs and stopped, gapping at the situation. The helm was raised, so Aurelie couldn't make out the face. "Help me," she said and wedged her head forward with a frown. "I order you to release me!"
The guard removed her helm. Nina stood before her with a bright smile on her face. "General Donahue," she bowed her head. "How can I help?"
Aurelie slanted back against the shadow, shaking her head. She felt a strong urge to start crying, but she was not sad, she was enraged and tears would make her look weak.
"Pick up her feet!" he said. "She needs to eat and rest."
"Certainly!" Nina winked at Aurelie and approached.
Aurelie kicked her feet up and down. If they thought she was going to make it easy for them, they were wrong. Nina came down onto her knees, and pushed her side onto Aurelie's left leg, reaching out for the right. Aurelie lifted her leg up, beyond her reach, and brought it down onto her back. Nina puffed out a breath and caught Aurelie's leg just as it was about to rise again.
"Don't hurt her," the General warned, crossing his arms behind his back and tilted his head to see what Nina was doing.
"Wouldn't dream of it," Nina said, giving Aurelie a sour, yet gleeful look. Oh! How you must have waited for this moment! She knew that it had more to do with her relationship with Kirin than the following of orders that had her wrestle Aurelie so easily.
Don't know what Kirin saw in you in the first place. Her nose was shaped like a deformed potato, and straw would have been an upgrade to the mop on her head. Strong as a rock though, she gave her that. Aurelie tried to loosen her feet, but they could barely move under those trunks she had for arms.
"The shadow will follow your lead. Take the Princess to her chamber, and make sure she eats."
Aurelie pushed down on her legs so that Nina had a harder time carrying her. The muscles on Nina's upper arms raised the netted armor that covered them. A quake ran through Aurelie's feet every few steps as Nina giggled. They had yet to pass a single guard but her. Everyone else was busy with the event outsideâAh! That's where Orken is.
Honestly, Aurelie would have hated Nina too if the roles were reversed and she was the one that he chose, but this was just plain vindictive. Maybe she thought that the King would side with Donahue on the matter since Aurelie had caused trouble in the past. She couldn't understand why else she would be risking her head like this. One word from Aurelie and she would be kicked out onto the street if not killed. She, of course, wouldn't do that, but as another giggle shook her legs, she honestly began to change her mind
They neared her chamber, Aurelie felt Nina's arms relax at the sight of it and tried her luck by pressing her legs down again, quickly. She caught them and pulled them up again with a strong tug that shot a pain through Aurelie's ankle.
"Kick me, and I kick back," Nina warned, with a quick glance before opening the door to her chamber and setting her down.
Her ladies were in her chamber. They had stopped their tasks and passed surprised glances between each other as Nina stabbed the shadow that had gripped her around her arms and chest.
A maid rushed in a few seconds later with a tray of food.
"If you put that food down anywhere in this room, I will personally take every piece and shove it down right into your stomach." Aurelie wiggled her fingers for effect.
"But, Princess the Genâ"
Aurelie's mouth opened, and her eyes flared at her response. "I see that the two of you are a little confused still. If you want to keep the jobs you have here," this time Aurelie turned to Nina, "you will make very sure that this does not happen again."
"I don't have to listen to this." Nina laughed and shrugged before turning to the door.
Aurelie nodded, returning the smile. Her finger flicked up and with it the door frame exploded in a giant ball of fire. Nina went flying and landed beside Aurelie's feet with a large thud. Her shoulder armor rose, pushing her chin up. The girls gasped and silence fell onto the room.
"Leave," Aurelie said to the maid.
She walked to Nina's side and knelt down, inspecting her face. The armor made it difficult for her to move. Aurelie quite enjoyed the way she wiggled on the floor like a worm, trying to stand. Yet, even after what she'd done, she still felt sorry for her.
"I will not stand for the way you treat me. As difficult as it may be for you to hear this, I need you to understand that we loved each other. I know you want to see me as the whore who stole him, but that is simply not true. He ended it with you before the two of us started, and I didn't even know that there was someone he left behind to come with me."
Nina's eyes went blank. Her nose flared, making Aurelie stand at the ready in case she chose to attack. "When it comes to you, I have done nothing to deserve this treatment. You can hate me; you can avoid me and wish me harm but be civil about it. This is your last warning, disrespect me again in public and I will have your uniform," Aurelie added.
Nina's hand shot up and wrapped around Aurelie's throat. "What are you going to do?" She smiled. Aurelie saw the world turn. Nina pulled her down by her neck and thrust her onto the ground. Aurelie head hit the ground and bounced off it. Nina climbed atop her and pressed down harder on her neck. Wide-eyed, Aurelie attempted to breathe.
The maids gasped. The girl, short and plump, ran up and grabbed Nina's shoulder, pulling at it without moving it an inch.
"Let go! Let go!" she shouted.
"I could kill you right here!" Nina leaned over Aurelie, pulling the girl, who had yet to let go of her shoulder, down too. "But I choose not to."
Pressure rose in Aurelie's face, and her lungs felt like they had been on fire. She set her hands alight and reached for Nina's arms. The servant girl formed a fist and hit her below her arms where the armor had only been a thin metal net.
"Let go!" the maid shouted almost at the same exact time.
Aurelie's ears started to ring just as one girl ran out of the room shouting something down the hallway.
Nina let go of Aurelie's neck and grabbed her by the wrists before she could burn her. Aurelie gasped for air. Nina pushed one hand flat on the ground and moved her knee to stand on it.
"I don't need my hands to hurt you," Aurelie said.
"Then do it," Nina said calmly as the corner of her lip twitched up into a smile. "But you can't, can you? Not after everything else you've caused."
"They'll have your head, Nina, you bloody fool," the maid stepped back and watched her through teary eyes.
Nina let go of her wrist and punched Aurelie in the gut. The hit made Aurelie's chest rise to regain the breath that had been knocked out. Nina shook her head and stood.
"You're nothing," she said, "but a spoiled little girl who starts fires whenever a corner snubs her toe."
Aurelie sat upright, lifted her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "Maybe," she shrugged. "That should bother you more though, shouldn't it?" She smiled, raising her head. Her throat felt raw, and her hands itched to rub at it.
"That you're to take the crown?" Nina asked. "No, dearest Princess, that's your council's problem."
"Oh no," Aurelie raised her hand and waved the comment away, "that he chose a spoiled little princess over you. That must sting at least a little." She narrowed her eyes and watched Nina's expression grow even darker.
"No," Nina shook her head, "actually it makes it better."
"Is that why I ended up on the ground with your hands around my neck?"
Nina sniggered. "You're not getting to me. Not even a little. How's playing the victim turning out for you? Are you unhappy that not everyone has fallen for it?"
Nina turned and casually strolled out of the room with a gleeful glint in her eyes. Aurelie watched as the door closed, and lowered her head to the side. She didn't expect to become Nina's best friend, but when she first saw her bent over crying in the throne room, she thought that she had someone to share her pain with. Words could not be unspoken, and even if she took some things back, there were too many now for it to seem genuine.
"That isn't right, Your Highness," the maid said. "We're at a point where loyalty needs to be determined and solidarity formed. If people hear that your guards speak to you this way, they'll think we're divided."
"No," Aurelie said, holding her hand out with her palm facing the girl, "this must not leave this room. Understood?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Get the other one and tell her to keep her mouth shut too."