The Prince and the Count's Daughter

Chapter 20 - Friends

For the past few days I hadn't left my room. I spent most of my time either asleep or crying. Mrs Parrish had been kind enough to bring me food back but I couldn't eat much.

I knew I was overreacting, everyone must think so. Just because this was exactly how my father had disappeared didn't mean that Cyrus wasn't telling the truth when he said that he'd be back. That didn't make it any easier though. My head hurt with worrying that something would happen to him and a horrible, nagging thought said that he had just had enough of me.

"Ava, wakey wakey!" Kate's voice said, waking me up. I looked up to see her and Kira sat at the end of my bed.

"What are you doing here?" I asked as I began to wake up.

"Why are you asleep at 4 o'clock?" Kate said. "That's really going to mess up your body clock."

"We were worried about you, obviously." Kira said, ignoring Kate. "We haven't seen you in days and you won't reply to our messages."

"Sorry, I just haven't been feeling like talking."

"Well, you only bury your head like this when something is really wrong and I think you probably need to talk about it." Kira said softly.

I thought about it for a moment and then pulled myself up into a sitting position with a huff and took a sip from the coffee the Kate had pushed into my hands.

"I got a letter the other day." I began. "From Cyrus." Kira had an expression that told me she knew exactly what I was going to say next. I was about to tell them what it said but realised they might see something I hadn't if they read it themselves.

I reached into the top draw of my bedside table and pulled out the note I had reread dozens of times. I reread it again myself before handing it to Kira.

As she read it she glanced over towards me with a sympathetic expression but said nothing. When she had finished she passed it to Kate wordlessly.

Kate read it with anger forming on her face. Clearly there was no secret meaning I had missed.

"How dare he!" Kate began with fury. "You know I told you so, that he was trouble."

"You know full well that he could mean exactly what he said he meant." I started on her. The thought that he had just left me had crossed my mind but in truth I didn't believe it. "Why is it more important to you to be right than anyone else's feelings?"

Kate simmered, looking ashamed. "I'm sorry. I... that was insensitive and you're right, he could be telling the truth." she said softly, not looking me in the eye.

"I hate to say it but, he was a bit insensitive writing you a note like this, considering." Kira said, breaking the tension.

"He didn't know about the note from my dad, I never told him." I jumped to his defence. Kira looked shocked, it wasn't like me to snap at people. "I'm sorry, it's just that I believe him. I'm more worried something will happen to him to stop him from coming back."

Kira rushed forwards and pulled me into a hug. "I know it won't stop you from worrying but it doesn't mean he'll be gone forever." she assured me.

"Do you want me to ask Elijah about it?" Kate piped up. We both turned to look at her in confusion.

"Is Elijah still here?" I asked.

"Well, I saw him yesterday so he was then at least." she said with a shrug.

"That reminds me, I saw you go over to speak to Elijah at the ball, the other day. I meant to ask you about it before but it slipped my mind." I questioned with a raised eyebrow.

Kate blushed but seemed unaware of this. "I thought I'd ask his opinion on the guards disappearing and showing up dead. He seemed sensible and if he's as old as Cyrus he must have seen a few things."

"I thought they were the evil people obviously responsible for the deaths. Or was that just Cyrus?" Kira teased

"Well, urm... I thought I'd just ask." Kate was uncharacteristically lost for words. "Do you want me to ask him or not?"

"Of course she does." Kira said resolutely while rising from the bed. "But now I'm going to get you something to eat and then insist you get a shower." she told me.

"Oh, sorry." I said, raising my t-shirt to my nose.

"Don't be! You have every right to be distressed." Kira assured me and left, presumably to get the food she mentioned.

I turned back to Kate and noticed that she looked uncomfortable.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm really sorry, I've been a terrible friend. I can't believe something traumatic happened to you and the first thing I said was I told you so. Not to mention being super unsupportive of you and Cyrus."

"It's okay, you were just worried." I told her with a reassuring smile. "Why don't you tell me about Elijah?"

"Oh, there isn't much to tell really." she said, turning red again. "We've only spoken a few times. I like him though."