Reasons for Silence

Prince's Orders

Chapter Nine ~ Serefina

          I didn’t move or sleep at all that night. I felt like I had been paralyzed with my eyes wide open. By the time that night slowly faded into day I had made a decision; I needed to leave.

            With that intention in mind I cautiously slid off Kobe’s bed and hurried out his bedroom door. Once outside I paused, listening to see if he had woken up or not.

            There was no sound.

            I let out a low breath.

            All I had to do was walk away. I didn’t have anything with me when I arrived; except my clothes but those might be impossible to find. I would have preferred to leave in what I came in but I didn’t think that I had the time for that.

            I found my way into the servant’s wing and only then did I realize how late I had slept in. Everyone was already up and busy at work. I tried to hide my face as I hurried into the laundry room. All I wanted was to find a dress better for traveling – and to avoid the possibility of being arrested for thievery. 

            “Look who’s up,” someone said from behind me. It was one of the servants who had a penchant for picking on me. I rolled my eyes and shuffled through a pile of uniforms.

            “Was it a long night? Is that it?” he asked, stepping closer.

            I shook my head, telling myself to focus. The servant stood beside me and rested a hand on top of the pile.

            “Oh,” he tisked, making a face, “why the long face?”

            I hadn’t realized that my countenance had given so much away. I moved my head so that my hair provided some sort of barrier. He ducked around so that he was in front of my face.

            “Was he rough with you? Is that what it is?” he said with mock concern.

            I bit my tongue and straightened my posture, chin up, almost as a challenge.

            “You seem to be very interested in who I sleep with,” I said, folding my arms across my chest, “could it be because nobody wants your body?”

            The servants eyes darkened and his jaw tightened.

            “How dare you speak to me like that?”

            “How dare you speak to me like that,” I countered.

            His breathing became shallow and his arm retracted. As soon as his fist flew I dropped to the floor to duck the blow. He spun around from the force that was behind the punch, allowing me the time to get back up. He let out a few huffs before speaking again.

            “I can speak to you any way that I want – I’m above you,” he said nearing me again.

            I reached over and grabbed a dress from the pile and backed away from it quickly.

            “Maybe in height, but in no other way,” I said, exiting the laundry room.

            “Oh, so you’re a smart ass now?”

            I waved to him as I walked away.

            “I wasn’t done talking to you!” he yelled after me, following me.