CHAINS OF OUR BLOOD

the melting of the frozen hearts 2

Fainwyn excused herself after Roark left. She called her driver to pick her up in Monica's address.

"Monica, Patrick, it was a pleasure. And I apologize for the drama, Monica, can we do our project tomorrow?"

"It was nothing to be sorry about my dear, do come back, and I shall cook for you again."

"That's no problem, are you fine in getting home?"

"Yes, my driver is outside now. I just need to clear my head."

"I understand Thruja, here, call if you need someone to talk to." Monica took her phone and keyed in her number, saved it, and gave it back to her.

"Thank you." She meant it, she surprised herself.

She got out and saw her driver holding the car door open for her. Why? Why didn't Meredith tell me she's sorry. If only she did, I wouldn't have done and thought the things I've had. Eight long years of resentment. But I don't want to think this way only to get my heart badly beaten again Roark might be wrong. And this is nothing but a moment of weakness.

Fainwyn would like nothing better than to have a real relationship with Meredith, but she just can't and would refuse to believe that it is possible. Meredith is way too much like like her mother. And she refuses to be like her mother, so easily manipulated.

There is another unsettling thought, I know now who my father is longing for, sadly, she's dead. Father will forever be depressed. Nothing can be done about that. He is so weak. Just like mother is.

Her thought was interrupted when her driver opened the car door "Highness, we have arrived."

She was greeted by Joseph the moment she stepped into the foyer.

"Highness, do you want to dine in the dining room or would you like a tray be sent up to your room?"

"I had dinner at my friends house Joseph."

"I see your highness, well, if you require anything just buzz and we shall accommodate you."

"I'm no longer a child Joseph, I will take care of myself. You go and watch CSI, I know you've been dying to finish the series, and the DVDs are yours already okay? I'm not really a fan."

She smiled at their kindly butler. He is more like a father figure to her, more than her own father could ever be. But he is reserved, too dignified, he was her mother's personal assistant/bodyguard in Denmark. She knows he adores her mother and her, equally. He was the one who read her bedtime stories.Another man she wished was her real father.

"As you wish princess."

She went to her room and felt the toll of loneliness overcome her. Too strung up to sleep, she gave in to her urge to view the paintings in the attic. She took her own set of spare keys, she took the spare keys and made a copy because she abhors secrets.

Not really, I just hate secrets I'm not aware of, especially if that secret is common knowledge.

She turned on the attic lights and rummaged through the paintings of Amethyst. She took the only dark one, she looked at the painting and wondered for the hundredth time why the painting was different. She looked critically at Amethyst, she was still painted smiling, but the smile was unlike the warm smile portrayed in the other paintings, in this she looked...

What the....!! Her smile is like the duchess, calculating and pure of loathing. I should have seen it before. What did you do to father Amethyst? Should I blame you for the shell of a man he has become? Or, was he the way he is even before?

She sat there until her legs felt numb, that she can't stand it any longer. She carefully placed everything back to its place. It really pays off to have a photographic memory, in another life I would make an excellent spy or thief. She chuckled at her own thought and was about to go back to her room when she got a glimpse of the moon, by the attic window. She sat in the windows sill and stared at the moon. She remembered her young self, the one who believed that father and grandmother might love her if she tries her best, the one who talked to the moon and fancied herself special enough for the moon to take notice and answer her. She sighed, and remembered.

"Mum, why does grandmother hate of me so?"

"She doesn't darling, she's just a  contrary creature! She treated me the same I'll have you know. However, I know she loves me and I know she loves you. My dear friend Aurelia says she shows her love through criticism, and Aurelia is always right darling."

She scoffed at that memory, her mother still thinks that way. And she loathes the fact that the duchess uses it to her own advantage.

"This is Duchess Aurelia, my angel."

"She looks so much like you Lisbeth, hello princess Fainwyn, you may call me Duchess Aurelia."

The way the duchess said princess made her feel uneasy as if she was saying something else, but she pushed the feeling aside. This is mum's friend, I need to be polite.

"Did your mother tell you dear? They've bought a house in New York. I've always told her she needs to break free from the queen's loving control. She is detrimental to your parents marriage life."

"No, not yet, are we moving to America mother? When?"

"Yes dear, Aurelia here has a daughter, the same age as you, you two actually have the same birthday! I agree with Aurelia that you need a friend, and I can't bear to send you to a boarding school like mother did so this will be for the best. You and Meredith will be as close as Aurelia and I"

"I would like to have a friend mother. When are we going?"

"Maybe in two months time darling, we have to furnish the house and get the most competent staff before we take you there."

She remembered the excitement of the prospect of having a friend. However, she vowed to herself that she won't have the same relationship her mother has with Aurelia. She was so happy when Meredith treated her like a true sister, until that day. She felt her resolve to never cry crack, and before she could compose herself she was sobbing her heart out.