House of Dreamers | book 1

𝐯

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓

𓆱

The fading sunlight filtered through the towering library windows, the only thing keeping Ophelia company.  She'd grown to hate staying in her room, where she felt a looming doom hanging over her head. It had started to affect her more than she'd care to admit.

Ophelia curled into one of the overstuffed chairs, keeping her head pressed against the arm, eyes closed against the dying light. Ophelia ignored the whispers in the echoing library, ignored the desperate thoughts starting to flood her mind. She wanted nothing more than to ignore the entire world, if only for a day.

Ophelia opened her eyes, blinking against the disappearing sunlight. Fractured light shot throughout the room. The shuffle of footsteps pulled her attention. Ophelia pulled herself into a sitting position, turning to look over her shoulder, at the approaching female. Selah scowled at her, arms crossed.

"King Abraxas sent me to find you. He wishes you to join him for dinner." She looked towards her slippered feet. Ophelia looked her up and down, taking in her white silk dress that fluttered around her ankles. Ophelia turned away. "I'm not hungry." She replied shortly.

Ophelia heard a sharp intake of breath before she heard the soft footsteps move to stand in front of her. Ophelia kept her gaze on the window, on the darkening sky.

Selah knelt in front of her. "I'm afraid that you have no choice." Ophelia glared at the woman, standing up and moving around her. "I'm afraid that you cannot tell me what choices I do not have." Ophelia turned her back on Selah, walking to the entrance of the library. Selah followed her. "O– My lady, your father requested it."

Ophelia ignored her, continuing to walk down the hallway. Selah opened her mouth to speak when Ophelia spun towards her, glaring. "When I say 'I'm not hungry', that's what I mean. Do not follow and bother me further." Ophelia spun away, keeping her fists gripped by her sides. Selah didn't follow her. Ophelia kept her nose up, fighting the urge to rush around the corner. She brushed around it, glancing behind her shoulder before pushing into the closest paneled door.

She spun around, pressing her back against the door. She screwed her eyes shut, placing her hand over her chest. Her hand shook slightly, listening for footsteps heading towards her hiding space. "You're hiding too?"

Ophelia jumped. She met Caspian's questioning gaze. Ophelia slowly pushed away from the door, walking around the perimeter of the room. She kept the front of her body towards Caspian, keeping a hand by her side as she felt the wall behind her. "Why are you hiding?" Caspian glanced towards the door, shrugging. "There's a person I'm trying to avoid." Caspian turned back towards her. Ophelia averted her gaze, looking towards the dusty floor. "What is this room?" Ophelia glanced around, looking towards the towering ceiling, where a low-hanging crystal chandelier hung.

"It's an old study. No one uses it anymore."

Caspian spoke softly. Ophelia felt his heavy stare on the side of her face. She tried to ignore it, feeling a flush rise up her neck.

"Why are you hiding?" Caspian repeated her question.

Ophelia glanced at him before quickly looking towards the dusty windows. "Getting away from Selah. She was..." Ophelia trailed off. "Being pushy?" Caspian finished, laughing softly. Ophelia turned and looked at him, blinking. "Yeah, pushy. Is she always like that?" Ophelia turned her attention to a marble bust of a long-forgotten god. She ran her finger along the straight nose.

"Selah's never learned how to respect boundaries." Caspian responded, voice closer to Ophelia than she expected. She sucked in a breath, spinning around. Caspian leaned towards her, inches from her face. His steel eyes held her green ones. He slid his hand around her waist, touching her gently. "Careful," He spoke, voice low. "We don't want to knock over Iros' bust." He pulled Ophelia closer to him. She placed her hands against his chest, pushing away. She looked to the side, looking towards the floor.