Daughters of Moonlight

Chapter 3

I woke up, the dream still fresh on my mind. I looked around my room taking in the familiar elegance that seemed more cold to me today than it had in all the years I’d been here. The dream had made the waking world feel hollow and I wanted nothing more than to crawl back into the covers, or find Keres and lean on him. But the servants were already here, drawing a bath for me. The look of worry on their faces isn’t lost on me and my mind darts to my father.
''Silvia did he get worse?'' my voice quivered. I was terrified.
''I believe so, mistress.''
'' How? we was better for the party, he can't just get worse again.'' my voice now desperate, barely able to leave my lips.
This time Mary spoke up, she was laying out my dress from last night that I had just left crumpled on the floor in my haste to find Keres. “Lord Botieus has taken sick, miss. And it seems there is nothing we can do. ” she shot me a sympathetic look and shook her head sadly.
As I heard the news I felt my heart drop. The color drained from my face and a lump came to my throat unbidden but I schooled myself, taking on the practiced expression of indifference that is expected of a governor's daughter. I thanked them both, not bothering to wash and left the room hastily, much to their bewilderment.
I made my way down the halls until I reached my fathers room. I hadn’t noticed until then that I was still in my clothes from the night before, I wasn’t even wearing shoes. A chill went through my body, seeming to only then notice the coldness of the tiled floor. Without knocking I opened the door to my father’s chambers and saw him in his bed, weak and pale. A sight I knew only too well. Kneeling on the ground next to him is Damara, her eyes are red and puffy, as if she’s been crying, but beneath that facade all I can see in her eyes as she shoots me an icy glare is determination and even satisfaction.
I looked at Botieus again and he gave Damara’s hand a small squeeze and she got up and left the room, not before shooting me one of her signature glares, reserved for me, and only me. As soon as she’s gone I run over to the side of his bed and grab his hand. It’s ice cold and no amount of rubbing can restore the warmth to it.
He looked over at me and gave me a genuine smile, one that I hadn’t seen in many years. “Naiya,” he said weakly, his voice barely above a whisper, “I just want you to know that I’m proud of you, and I can see your strength even now. I know how tough this is for you, Damara can be a hard woman and she seems to dislike you more than the average person, but you can’t let that phase you. I know that when you take my place as governor, or governess, you will do good and you will be a kind ruler for our small town,” he paused to cough and I felt the worry grip my heart again. “I love you Naiya, and you become more like your mother everyday. Don’t lose that, never.”
I swallowed hard to keep the lump in my throat at bay but as I spoke my voice still cracked ''No, you can't just die like this, you can't just leave me Father. Why do you refuse to take sirens blood it is the only thing that can save you.''
'' One day you'll understand, but I've already spilled enough blood for a lifetime.''
“I love you so much Father, I know that you think I’ll be a good governess but I won’t have to be, because we’ll make it through this, just take the blood and you will be fine.” Even as I said it I sensed the lie in it, I knew he wouldn't do it but I still clung to it looking for any source of hope, even if false hope.
'' I will not take it, this is my punishment my child and you should understand.'' I knew he felt guilty for my mother's death but I didn't know the guilt ran this deep.
''Fine then i will not stay by your side and cry for something that is completely avoidable.''
I rushed to the door knowing that this would be the last time I ever saw him alive, and praying that I wouldn't regret this moment. I opened the door to see Damara waiting in the hallway. As I left she walked beside me, going back into Boteius’ room and she whispered, loud enough for me to hear, “He’s only getting in your way right? You should be happy, to gain all this power?” I looked back at her in shock expecting to see a sly grin but she’s already taken on the look of a grieving wife, and I just leave her behind.
After what felt like hours of searching I found Keres in the training room. He was fighting one of the guards using a heavy wooden sword. When he saw me enter the room his face grew bright but then worried as he saw the sadness in my eyes. He racked his sword and came over to me, taking big steps to reach me faster. As soon as he got close enough I collapsed into him. His arms encircled me protectively and I began crying, I cried and cried and cried, I didn’t care what anyone thought of me, I just cried until my head hurt and my eyes were so dry there were no tears left. And Keres just stood there comforting me, being a solid person for me to trust. He didn’t need to say anything. I finally pulled back just enough so that I could look at his face. I decided not to tell him what Boteius had told me. I just look at him pleadingly. I stood there in silence staring at him before I finally whispered hoarsely “He’s not going to take it, Is he?”
Keres doesn’t answer me but his silence is all the confirmation I needed. Against my will I made a small strangled sound in my throat as the truth of the matter hit me.
He seemed to be on the verge of tears himself but he finally spoke, “I hate to see someone I love so much in so much pain, but just know that it’s going to be ok. I know it is, we can get through this together,” he echoed  Keres had to know that they were just as untrue coming from his lips as they were coming from mine, but I only nodded. Keres took my face in his hands and he kissed me tenderly. I didn’t fight it, I knew he was comforting me. He pulled me against his chest again and placed a kiss on the top of my head before whispering, “I love you so much, you know that,” he said it with all the tenderness in the world, then he chuckled slightly as he added, “ Did you have fun last night.'' he said with a wink yet again. A wave of anger crashed through me. My father was dying and he wanted to talk about last night. But I didn't want to scare him away so I mustered all my strength to flash my best fake smile yet.
'' It was lovely K.''
''Good, well i have to go back to training, don't get all worried about this ok. I hate to see your beautiful skin with wrinkles.'' he flashed a smile and left. And there I was stunned and alone.