The Awakening

Chapter Eight

"You should know, you snore horribly while you sleep." Brianne's sharp and awfully chirpy tone had elicited a deep groan from Avelon. Her voice cut through the thread of sleep Avelon clung to. Avelon was in no way a morning person, particularly so when they began with Brianne's presence. Avelon, who lay entangled in a mess of blankets, let out another deep groan that resonated with her disdain for the early hours.

"You should know, your voice is horrible to wake up to." Avelon retorted, groggily wiping at her eyes. She was barely able to complete her sentence before a deep yawn escaped her lips. Brianne snorted at the sight.

"You should get up," Brianne declared in a cool tone. The sound had instantly woken up whatever parts of Avelon were still asleep.

"Balor hates it when we sleep in." Avelon frowned at Brianne's words. She did not care for whatever Balor liked or disliked.

Reluctantly Avelon shoved herself up, eyeing Brianne suspiciously.

"Balor or you?" Avelon protested, earning an eye roll from Brianne.

"I don't care whether you are asleep or awake." Brianne sneered, pulling her bedsheet straight with apprehension.

Avelon sighed, reluctantly removing herself from the small comfort of her bed. She stretched, and strolled over to her bed bucket, which to her surprise was filled with fresh cold water.

As they splashed cold water onto their faces, neither of them uttered a word regarding their heated discussion the evening before.

"Why does he want to see me- What am I doing Today?" Avelon's voice was muffled as she rinsed her mouth with the cold water, the absence of tooth smear was a stark reminder of the luxuries they were denied as slaves. Avelon absentmindedly wondered whether Brianne had brought in the water and whether she would be able to swipe a tube of tooth smear somewhere in the castle.

"We-" Brianne began, her voice dripping with disdain, "Are assigned to clean the stables. The mares that returned have to be groomed and tended to." Tended to. Avelon snorted pitifully. Her mother would enjoy Brianne and her word choices.

"So, only you will be joining me Today?" Avelon asked, her tone laced with a fraction of surprise as she straightened her bedding. An attempt to busy herself so that she had no reason to face Brianne directly.

Coward. Her thoughts sneered. Her body stilled.

"Unfortunately." Brianne grunted, her footsteps echoing towards the door. She lingered for a brief moment, silently waiting for Avelon to follow, before stepping out.

She would not dare ask for clarification on why she was not seeing Balor. The less she saw him, the better.

The atmosphere between Avelon and Brianne had been dripping with tension as they made their way through the palace, however neither of them had uttered a word. The possibility of severe repercussions after their heated argument had been too great to even risk looking at each other. Avelon observed Brianne silently as they wove through the hallways of the palace. The familiar twists and turns triggered Avelon's memory. They had been approaching the hall, stirring a rush of adrenaline in Avelon. As they neared the hall's entrance — the same entrance that had plagued her dreams with its glowing golden eyes Avelon could feel her body seize slightly.

"They left this morning." Avelon paused at Brianne's words. Brianne must have sensed her growing anxiety.

"Who?" Avelon feigned innocence as they stepped into the hall. Avelon's heart squeezed as her eyes scanned at the farthest corner, half-expecting to see those golden eyes staring back at her.

She wondered fleetingly why she had wanted to see those golden eyes again.

"Whoever you saw- whoever you encountered," Brianne had noticed Avleon's lingering gaze.