ACROSS THE MEADOW (book one)

Chapter 18: no color

Raey

The servants stand side by side, their heads forward, but their gazes past Raey's body. Hands behind their backs, breaths not daring to become uneven. Her father watches them, studies them as he towers their bodies with power.

He walks down the line, stopping in front of each one as he does, just as he did with his children when Raey was a child.

Finally, he stops in front of Miss Duval, the head staff.

"Your people have harmed my daughter." he speaks calmly as Miss Duval holds her stiff position. "What happens if Sir Phillips does not find her damaged face appealing? How will you carry that burden?"

She is silent, her lips trembling.

"Answer me."

"I was not aware, Your Majesty." Miss Duval's says.

Raey holds her breath and studies her face again. The wrinkles and sweat, the sorrow in her gaze that fought to remain hidden.

'Do you yearn for the taste of flesh? Did your mother suckle you with her own blood?'

No, Raey is not a dog. She is not one to crave for carnage. From what Raey knows, Miss Duval raised her, dressed her, suckled her when Raey's mother could not, bathed her, and held her, but is that what Amani meant when she spoke of blood? Is she the cause of her shaking and lifeless body? Fattening herself until Miss Duval had exceeded beyond exhaustion.

Raey shakes her head, her hand on her chest as she grips the cause of her panting. She must calm herself. She must not think of such things. Instead, she stares at her father.

"Do not—" he stops himself from raising his voice any louder. Collecting his anger before it could flow from him as Raey's father found it petulant. "Do not lie to me." he says again, clenching his jaw.

"I assumed it was..." she does not continue, her gaze darting. Her father moves his head back, no longer crouching to speak to her so he can watch all of her.

Is that why she was so gentle with me? Raey thought to herself.

For Miss Duval to assume it was her father gave Raey a nauseous feeling.

"Do you think of me as a violent man?"

Miss Duval's eyes suddenly pierce Raey, and it startles her. Was she searching the princess for an answer? Raey does not make a sound, but their glances share words she attempts to hold hidden.

"No, Your Majesty. I should've told you the moment I saw her." She does not look away from her and from her eyes alone Raey can tell she is lying.

Does Miss Duval see her?

"Then you must be punished." Her father removes his suit jacket and unbuttons the cuffs of his sleeves. His body remaining just as calm as he does. Once done, he pulls his sleeves up and towers Miss Duval once again. He watches her in silence and before their eyes could ever meet, Ezekiel strikes her with so much force, every person within the room jumps.

Raey looks away; her teeth grinding as she does. Guilt heavy in her stomach.

His force knocks Miss Duval and a grunt leaves her. She wipes her bloodied mouth and slowly pulls her hefty body up back into her previous position. Raey feels her chest hollow.

Ezekiel does not even bother to watch her as she does. Instead, he moves towards Raey, massaging his hand.

"I should've taken off my rings." he mutters in agitation to himself, removing each one and placing them on a stand near him.