Heir to the Fallen Throne

✰✦✰ Chapter 45 ✰✦✰

✰✦✰ Chapter 45 ✰✦✰

" World Travels Fast "

THE SMELL OF medicines and antidotes claimed the air around me as I groggily lifted my head.

Exhaustion pulled my eyes and I rubbed them, blinking away the tired puzzlement.

This was the infirmary.

Cathedral-like walls surrounded me, stained, colourful windows inviting the brilliant sunlight into the space. Twelve beds sat on either side of the hall, each owning a nightstand and a table lamp. I'd been here far too many times as a child. This place. . .it was part of The Golden Castle. Of my home.

The moment I acknowledged the cast around my arm, my body consumed the agony plaguing me. Everything—every bone, muscle, nerve, braincell, for the love of Olympia. Everything felt like it was on fire.

I noted the flasks of various liquids on the bedside table and suddenly recalled everything that had happened to me before I'd passed out.

Drinking from the Chalice.

Apheses strangling me.

Agora sending me weak messages in my mind.

Receiving powers and using them to bring down a whole cave and tunnel system.

Darius.

All of it came back to me in an instant, causing my brain to actually begin to ache as well. Panic surged through me as I tried to remember what had happened to Apheses and Mia before Darius had sped us out of there. But nothing came to mind. I was empty. Not a single memory of their last appearance remained in my mind and I realised my heartbeat started to beat rapidly, fear and coldness forcing me into a frozen state. If they were out there—

"Your Majesty," an old voice purred.

My eyes whipped to the face of an elderly woman—a nurse. Dressed in white and gold medical uniform, she curtsied before me and my heart sank into my arse.

"You have awoken," she said with a kind smile, slowly striding towards me. "Do you feel well?"

"I-I don't. . ."

The old woman's round brown eyes comforted me with the assurance, "Do not fret, Your Majesty. It has only been a week. I cannot imagine how disorienting this must be."

I felt tears prick my eyes. "I'm sorry. . .who are you?"

Her face blanched. "I apologise, Your Majesty. Goodness, in my own disbelief, I have entirely abandoned my manners. I am Ellie Quick." She studied her wrinkly, bony fingers. "I once. . .long ago—"

"Ellie?" I gasped out, tears blurring my gaze.

Her lips widened into a beam. "You remember, Your Majesty?"

I jumped up to hug her but my arm protested and I groaned, collapsing back on my bum.

Ellie tutted, tucking me back under the sheets. "Your Majesty—"

"Scarlett. Please call me Scarlett."

Don't make that change too.

Her wise gaze turned glassy. "Oh, Scarlett. I didn't imagine your friend would write to me, of all people, to return and take care of you."

I was sobbing again. "It happened."

Ellie comforted me with soft words as she gently made me down about three flasks of medicine. "There, there, Scarlett. There's no need for dramatics."