Lady of Spires

Mother's meeting

Elena's POV

"Belladonna sera!" my heart beats rapidly in my chest, when the king had sent the announcement for his desire for a wife, I wasn't expecting my daughter to be targeted. Brining my moss green eyes to unwanted guest, I feel my lips pull into a frown. "Oh, come on don't look at me like that" the rough drawl rings in my ears. This bastard has no right to be so casual, looking at him makes my head hurt. I squeeze my eyes shut against the sudden pain. "Mama!" Belladonna's steps echo through my pain, my daughter. Memories of a clear autumn night resurfaces.

Firey red hair and small hands dance aimlessly over one of the fallen leaves. "Little girl why are you so far in the forest?" large periwinkle eyes meet mine. The little girl is covered in dirt, her hair unkept, scrapes and bruises covering her skin. "How long have you been here..." the girl flinches at my question, looking away. My brows pull together with concern. What was she doing here? I stretch out my hand, "hey, let's try and find your parents". Those periwinkle eyes fill with tears, my heart clenches with panic. "what's wrong baby? oh, please don't cry!" my words tumble upon each other in my panic. my hands rush to brush her large tears, streaking the dirt coating her face. frantically looking around I feel my chest seize. There, in the distance, a crashed carriage. "Oh heavens... stay here, I'll be right back." She nods as I dart to the carriage, my heart sinks with despair as I assess the damage. Two bodies, the gore and viscera stain the ground and surrounding trees. My stomach rolls at the sight, the bodies were barely recognizable as human, ripped and mangled in a horrible scene. I fall to my knees, doubling over as bile retches from my throat. Small sobs pull my attention from the grotesque sight to the little girl. I pull myself to my feet, staggering over to the girl I reach out. "Let's get you cleaned up, ok?" that small hand hesitantly grasps mine. "My name is Elena, what's yours?" softening my tone, I mentally make plans to bury the couple, no one deserves such a brutal send off.  "Belladonna..." a soft voice replies, "It's nice to meet you, Belladonna."

"Sir, is it possible to come with her?" I feel Belladonna tensing against me, already readying to protest. The man's grotesque mask tilts, "not usually, but for you..." his posture shifts not so subtly looking my over. The carved eyes settling on mine. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind." his tone softens slightly; a shiver crawls its way up my spine. "Mother!" Belladonna's voice shrills with her panic, I look to her my mind whirling with anger and panic. "Bella, I'm not letting you go alone." Belladonna's eyebrows pull together, "but why would they make an exception for you? it doesn't make sense!" I sigh, tiredness filling my bones. 

"I can tell you why." that rasping voice pierces the conversation. His boots click against the worn wood floors. His voice reminds me of poisonous fog, cloying your thoughts, slowing your movements.  "It's cause..." his slender pale hand reaches out; he gently takes hold of one of my dark brown curls. A light chuckle falls from his lips, an undercurrent of grief undermining the supposed amusement. He lets the curl fall; my skin erupts into goosebumps. "You happen to look quite like an old friend" he steps back, the belts strewn on his armor sways with the movement. "Plus, Vladislav is quite the family-oriented man. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if one of his potential wives brought along a family member." His voice had returned to that snide smug drawl. Belladonna grits her teeth, her eyes rapidly surveying her surroundings, a habit she picked up from me. I look back to him, my heart slowing its rapid pace. "Then, what do we need to bring?"