Desire (On Hold)

Chapter 3

This is a bit of a filler chapter and it's quite short. Sorry (I seem to be apologising on nearly every chapter for some reason or another... hahaha!)

Enjoy!!

Chapter Three

Elle’s POV

This time I had cleaned my tower properly. I didn’t want another repeat of the day before and having to face Asteria’s terrifying anger.

Like the day before, Samara watched me, eager to help but unable to under the watchful eye of her mother. But I didn’t need help. I wasn’t hopeless, as Asteria seemed to think I was. I was strong. I had to be considering the way Asteria forced me to live.

When Asteria arrived, her voice rang out around the whole tower, making us all cringe.

“Elle, let down your hair!”

Samara hurried over to me and took my hand, leading me out the room and towards Asteria.

We both gasped in shock when we saw her standing right by the door with a big smile on her face instead of waiting on a beam as she always did.

“Mother, how did you get up here?” I burst out in disbelief. I sunk into a curtsey but Asteria placed her hand in the crook of my elbow and pulled me up.

“No need to curtsey for your mother,” she laughed. It was a genuine laugh too, not a fake one.

I nodded but didn’t say anything, keen to stay on her good side.

“Let us sit,” Asteria said, leading me into the sitting room and flopping beside me on the loveseat. “We have much to talk about!”

“We… do?” I asked, startled. Asteria laughed and touched my hand lightly in a motherly way.

“Well since it’s your birthday, I thought I’d give you a present!” Asteria pulled a package wrapped in oriental paper. I think she realised that my birthday was yesterday, but I didn’t want to ruin her good mood so I didn’t mention anything.

I slipped my fingers under the tape and released the paper free of the present. Out of the packaging feel an old book. I looked at Asteria for an explanation for what it was.

“It’s my old diary,” Asteria admitted, her cheeks going a bit red. “I thought you might want to know a bit of my history and why I’m so… bitter.”

I was completely surprised that Asteria admitted she was bitter. I had no idea she actually realised it and felt bad for it.

“Thank you so much,” I said softly, surprising both of us by giving her a hug. After a moment’s hesitation, she hugged me back.

“Please don’t judge me for the things I did,” Asteria said, gesturing to the diary. She kissed my cheek and left the tower.

I began rustling through the pages, eager to read all about Asteria’s life.