Finally Free!

Sable

Once we arrive at home, we all head to our rooms.

"We have a lot of work to delegate tomorrow," I say seriously as I plop onto our bed. Radley laughs, "Yes, surprisingly it is a lot, but we have two days until the people arrive. Don't forget about your appointment with the doctor tomorrow." I nod, "I hope Solis is doing well?" Radley nods, "He is learning fast and going through his work quickly. He will be ready to be a Duke in no time." I smile, "I'm glad we can still fix the mess that Orpheus made, but I've been wondering if he's married?" Radley shrugs, "I remember seeing a lot of women in that place, but none of them lasted that long. Hesperia would know best about that, but she would have to have a mindset similar to his." I sigh, "We can ask her tomorrow, but, for now, let's just rest." He smiles at me as he lays beside me and falls asleep quickly, but I am not blessed with sleep as I stare at the four walls that surround me once again, just like those days and I think about how nice it would be to never worry about being trapped behind walls ever again.

I get out of the bed and stare out the window.

The mountains surrounding the mountain that the castle is on place a shadow on the forest below and my heart aches as I see that the closest light is far beyond the mountains. Tears fill my eyes as I think about all those that my father lost on the day he lost me and everything he had to do to protect his place in the kingdom that just seemed to be out to attack him and his family. In the end, everyone lost, everyone.

My father has to look out his window and travel past these homes that once held familiar faces, little ones and memories that were tainted by Orpheus. Still, he had to always remember that he lost them and everything else even who he was.

I walk slowly out of my room and to my father's room. I knock on his door and he opens the door quietly.

"What are you doing here at this hour?" he asks me with concern. I sigh, "I don't make excuses for people who do bad and stupid things because of things that have happened to them. For example, it's unacceptable to treat Magnolia the way you do and to expect certain things of me, but I know you lost yourself and everything you loved. It must be painful to have to look at Orpheus now and when I was gone. It must hurt to pass those homes that you used to visit regularly and to not be able to share those people with us. I'm sorry that I caused all that loss to you and that I might cause in the future." He sighs deeply, "I hate that you told me that I'm like him, Orpheus, I mean. Still, I blamed everyone for losing you, even Magnolia and my family. I blamed you for the loss of my family. I guess, I am to blame." "And mother," I say seriously, but his expression darkens, "she disappeared, left me and Magnolia defenseless and still acts like she's perfectly fine with life." He sighs, "I forgave her a long time ago." "Then why can't you forgive Magnolia?" I ask him with tears rolling down my cheeks, "she was four. She couldn't do anything to defend me." He sighs, "Good night, Anthurium." I shake my head, "Night."

I head to my room, my eyes close, but I never really sleep as I wonder how everyone will take the truth about my mother that she's a cheater, selfish and she attempted to harm an heir. My tears never stop falling even as I occasionally fall into sleep.

"You're a liar," I shout at him and wince as my head throbs. "Believe what you want Anthurium, but she chose herself and Aster over you and Magnolia as well as her kingdom," Oprheus says confidently, "So, the question is, who did she really love? And what is she willing to do to protect herself? Will she kill off the entire royal line? Will she assist in kidnapping children? What would she do?" "You threatened her," I say in her defense, "she would never hurt anyone otherwise." "Sure, but she made a choice and I will give her the choice once again," he says seriously, "I will let her choose Aster and herself over the royal family, over noble's children, over peasants and over the rest of her family." I started to shake uncontrollably, "She will save them all! I know her!" He laughs mockingly, "She won't. No one ever does. No one ever will. I will prove it."