Chapter 3

6 0 0
                                    

“Nakari, I told ya not to pick the green ones. They ain’t ready yet”

“But Bon-Bon these are my favorite color.” I complained staring at the old farmer. He had on worn out overalls that needed a good wash. He had pepper colored hair that was in a small pony-tail at the back of his head.

“No, no. I know ye like green but that don’t mean that their ripe yet or that they even taste any good.” He said holding up one of the many green strawberries in my basket. I looked down at my basket filled with red, but mostly green strawberries, pouting at the fact he didn’t like my assortment. He sighed, “If ya don’t believe me then have a taste of one of them green one’s you’s got there.”

I looked at him then took one of the biggest green strawberries in my basket. It almost was the size of my hand. I held it to my mouth and took the biggest bite I possibly could. The taste was the bitterest most disgusting thing that I’ve ever tasted. I spit it out right away and threw it on the ground while Bon-Bon laughed at me. His laugh was rich and the people in town said it brought smiles to everyone’s faces.

“See I told ya so! You should’a listened to me.” He said crinkling his eyes and laughing at my overturned face.

♦  *      *      *      *       *       *       *      *       *      *       *       *       *       *       *  ♦

The sound of loud voices and footsteps on the other side of my door woke me up from my dream. I put on a crème colored silk robe and stepped outside. I spotted Valencia talking to a maid at the end of the hall.

I walked up to them and asked, “So guys, what’s goin’ on so early in the morning?”

They looked at each other then at me before the maid answered, “Someone broke in to the castle last night.”

“Oh wow. What did they take? Or was someone killed?” I said with an exaggerated panic in my voice.

Valencia spoke this time, “No one was killed,” she said rolling her eyes, “I don’t think that was the aim of the intruder. Apparently someone broke in to the basement and attempted to steal something very important but no one knows what it is. Mom and Jacques know but won’t tell anyone. It probably was a big secret, so big that they couldn’t tell anyone just in case.”

I wonder if it was for that gem mom was talking about yesterday? That thought bothered me. I just grunted in response and turned the corner towards the library while Val was calling behind me. But I sensed she wasn’t following me because she knows not to follow me after I got her and me in huge trouble countless times when we were kids. I leaned by the door and just as I thought they were there again. Jacques burst out of the door startling me. He turned towards me his face went from angry to curious to extremely worried.

“How long have you been standing there?” he asked turning his whole attention to me.

“I just got here.” I said trying to keep my calm.

He then glared at me with speculation, “then what are you doing here?”

“I was just looking for mom.” I said with sweat starting to form at the back of my neck.

Before he could interrogate me more, our queen stepped out and stared at me closely. Her blue eyes were so tired but intense; it was like she was staring right through me to my soul. Feeling uncomfortable I took a step back but that was the wrong choice. She grabbed my wrist harshly and yanked me close. She stared into my eyes then she undid my ponytail that I slept in and ran her fingers to the roots of my head. After she fully examined me she sighed and let go of my hand. I looked down to see a red mark on my wrist from her tight grip.

InfinityWhere stories live. Discover now