House of Dreamers | book 1

𝐢𝐯

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒

𓆱

Before Ophelia had gone to bed the night before, Abraxas had taken the cards and tome with the promise of helping her learn the cards when she was comfortable with them. So, when she'd awoke the next morning, the cards and tome in the space beside her, fear and unease slithered over her skin.

Ophelia carefully slid from her bed, gently resting the duvet against the warmed mattress. She watched the cards and book, circling slowly around the bed, making sure to keep a significant amount of distance away from them.

Ophelia kept herself faced towards them, backing into the bathing chamber. She quickly turned on the water, filling the bathtub with steaming water. She pulled her nightgown over her head, dropping it to the floor beside her feet, slipping into the water. She welcomed the slight burn of the water against her skin. Ophelia closed her eyes, head draped over the lip of the tub. The door behind her creaked open, and Eilonwy cleared her throat.

"I see you've already gotten a start." She teased, moving father into the room. "Is there anything you need?" Eilonwy continued, sitting beside the bathtub. Ophelia pried her eyes open, shaking her head. "This water gets really hot." She shifted. Holding up her arm, she studied the skin, tinted pink from the warmth. Eilonwy laughed. "I know. I missed the baths you could take here."

She turned and grabbed a vial before unscrewing the top. Scents of crisp pine wafted through the room and Eilonwy added some of the oil into the water. Ophelia watched it, pulling her legs to her chest. "Something's on your mind." Eilonwy watched her. Ophelia shook her head, picking at the skin on her leg.

Eilonwy sighed, reaching into the water and pulling her hand away. "Don't start that. I'll put an enchantment on your fingers. Remember the last time I did it?" Ophelia nodded, looking at her knees, at the scars littered across them. "I'm pretty sure Caspian hates me and Abraxas doesn't want me here." Ophelia turned her head away, fighting back the burn of tears. Eilonwy sighed, pushing Ophelia's hair away from her face.

"You know that's not true." Eilonwy said softly. Ophelia turned and looked at her. They stared at one another before Ophelia shifted her head, resting her chin on her knees. Eilonwy grabbed a sponge, dipped it into the water, lathered it up before rubbing it against her spine.

"It's true. Abraxas was ready to send me off, Caspian is stuck with me until this threat is over with." Ophelia turned away, sliding further into the water. Eilonwy opened her mouth to argue but Ophelia slipped underneath the water. The garbled sounds of Eilonwy's voice echoed through the water to Ophelia's ears.

She closed her eyes, lost in thought. Hands reached into the water and pulled her up. Ophelia breathed in, keeping her eyes closed. "Come on. You need to eat breakfast." Ophelia grabbed the lip of the bathtub, pulling herself up. Water rolled down her body. Eilonwy held out a towel. Ophelia gave a smile in thanks, stepped out of the tub, and wrapped the towel around her body.

Eilonwy walked into the bedroom. Ophelia followed her, pushing her hair back. "Choose whatever you want to wear." Eilonwy said, waving a hand at an iron clothes rack ladened with copious amounts of dresses. Ophelia frowned towards them, looking back to the fairy. "I...Isn't this a bit too much?" Eilonwy laughed, placing a hand on Ophelia's back.

"For you? Not at all."

Ophelia looked back towards  the clothes, clutching the towel tighter to her chest. She walked towards the iron wrack, running her free hand along the different fabrics. Some were rough, others were velvet. Ophelia pursed her lips before a flash of slive caught her eye. She grabbed the dress, the shimmering silver gown. She smiled at it, before looking at Eilonwy.