Quest For The Key

Chapter 9: Decision Making

It had been 2 hours, 2 long hours since the big scene. Both children had been too frightened to utter a word until they were alone in their room.  The maids had given them lots to eat, fresh clothes    ( Maple was relieved), a bath and a room to spend the night or so they thought  because it was all ready dark outside their window.  It felt terrible being separated  from their parents. Even if the door hadn’t been locked, though it probably was, she knew guards were standing outside. There was a bowl in the corner of the room for them to pee in ( for they were not allowed out of the room to relieve themselves.) The window was much to high up to jump out of or climb down out of. The bed was soft and comfortable. Much more comfortable then the beds they had at home. There was a small table,  with no drawers, and had some already wilting flowers sitting upon it. There were a few lit candles for light, slowly dying. Other then that there was nothing else in the room. The worse partof it all was that the floor, the ceiling and the walls were all white marble. It drove the siblings insane. 

The maids would come soon to give them there dinner. Like they had done when they had first arrived in the room. The maids had brought them a snack 10 minutes later.  

When they had first arrived maple was in tears. She banged on the door but soon gave up. The whiteness of the room drew her crazy and if Centra had done this to them and called it luxury, it pained her to think of the “ Luxury” her parents were receiving.  She was now laying on the bed curled in a ball with her face in a pillow. It smelled musty. Jack on the other hand had not to cry. He tried to comfort Maple but annoyed, shooed him away. Jack was worried for his parents too but seemed reasonable impressed with everything else. He was now sitting on the hard, marble floor playing with the bottons on his shirt.  A maid came in silently setting down a tray of food which Jack attacked. He left not a scrap for maple knowing she wouldn’t be able to eat anyways.

“ Maple?” whispered Jack in a little voice. Maple didn’t answer. “ Maple?” said Jack a little louder. Maple reluctantly turned over and groaned. She sat up. Her eyes were still red from crying and their were cresses on her forehead which meant she was worried. Jack came over to the bed and snuggled up beside her. Maple had always felt that as the older sister she had to look after Jack and it was her duty. Like how it was a policeman job to in force the law and the bakers job to make everyone happy and full and the teachers job to make every child’s life miserable again. Maple like everyone else took her job very seriously. “ Where is mom and dad?” asked Jack.  ‘I don’t know.” said Maple bluntly. She flopped back on the bed again.  “ Maple?” whispered jack. This time Maple sat up and said “ What is it Jack?” in the best soothing voice she was capable of but he saw through it. “ Maple, I’m scarred!” whimpered Jack. At that moment Maple took him in her arms and held him close. He began to tremble all over his body and his lower lip quivered. His chest began to bob and that was when she realized Jack was crying.

There was a sound outside the door. Jack stopped crying for a moment and both children listened. It was the sound of the key in their lock. Jack looked hopeful and glanced back at Maple with a look that read “ Maple, could it be?”.  Maple wore a  look of pain and annoyance. “ Only the maid” she whispered back not returning his gaze. Sure enough the door opened and the young girl stepped in but, she wasn’t the girl they expected. She looked to be six years old and she had red hair that flowed like a unsettled river down her back. Both children stared in amazement as the redhead made her way toward the bed where they were sitting. “ Hi! I’m Iris!” said the young girl. “ What do you want? Why are you in here and should I care? “ said a very suspicious and angry Maple. Iris seemed very calm for that type of insult, but you could tell she took offence. “ One, I’m Iris. I’m six years old and I am a princess so, watch how you talk to me missy. I could have my daddy throw you in the dungeon.” For a 6 years old her grammar and pronunciation was perfect. “Not even grown men and women talked that well in the village” thought Maple.  “Two” demanded the princess still. “, I’m only here because I’m bored and I want you to play with me.” she snapped back at the two.  “ I’m sorry to burst your bubble princess” said Maple sarcastically. “ We just have too many toys in this room to share with you”. “ What a brat” thought Jack to himself. Iris didn’t understand.