Decisions

Chapter 3

           Night fell quickly.  I put on my dressing gown and layed on my bed.  It was quiet outside, too quiet.  Some belive this to be, how would you say it, peaceful.  But, to me this was not peaceful.  It felt as if the world had died, like there was nothing left, but a corpse.  My mind filled with thoughts, nasty thoughts.  Thoughts of grotesque creatures rising from below the earth, thoughts of zombies and skeletal creatures coming to my home and, well it was too horrifying to think of much longer.  I shut my eyes tight, hoping that I would catch some sleep, but alas, that was impossible.

                I was up all night.   It wasn't just my nasty thoughts or the dead world or anything like that, what really kept me up was the sound of the old house creaking, the sounds of Guy snoring, of Laura talking in her sleep.  But most of all, the sound of the creaking branches of the nearest tree and the sound of the creatures scampering outside the window.  It was so silent outside that every little noise was noticable, every creak, every groan, every movement was heard.  I jostled the covers and moved franticly across the bed, repositioning every second. But, everything I tried I just could'nt fall asleep.

            Morning seemed to come very, very slowly.  My dark curtains were still drawn.  I finally thought that I was going to fall asleep.  At that moment mum walked into my dark room and drew back the curtains, allowing the sun to seep through. I groaned, why did morning have to come already.  "Come on, get up.  You need to help deal with Luara." Mum said exiting the room. I groaned once more and decided to stay in bed a bit longer. 

        I started to get comfortble again, untill I heard mum and Lura shouting from down the hall. "You do not speak to an adult like that!" Mum shouted furiously.  I groaned once more and rolled my eyes.  I tumbled out of bed and onto  the floor. Stumbling to my feet, I headed to my dresser and grabbed a pale blue gown and corset.  I put it on quite quickly, brushed my long, thick hair, then rushed to my mother's side.  "Is anything the matter mum, do you need anything?" I questioned knowing that she what she really wanted was for Luara to leave.  "What I need is for Laura to learn some manners." Mum spoke quite bitterly.  " Well excuse you!" Laura said in disbelief. "I have plenty of manners.  It is you mam who has none.  I am surprised that you are even related to my father!"  At this point I knew that mum was about to snap.  "Who the hell do you think you are young lady!  You are not the queen, you are not royalty!"  I smirked knowing that Laura was about to get it.  Laura's lip quivered looking for the right words to say.  Finally, she has nothing to say. I thought to myself. She actually couldn't find words for once.  "Tristen, go send a letter to Bore telling him to pick up Laura.  Make up an excuse on why she must leave."  I nodded in agreement then rushed to my study.

        I pulled out a quil and parchment then placed it on my desk.  I could still hear the yelling from mum and Laura down in the kitchen.  I sat on my red desk chair and started to write a letter to Bore. I carefully dippied the end of the quil into the black ink.  I carefully wrote a well- written letter to him.  As with any letter, I started with 'Dear Uncle Bore.' I wrote the letter as formally as possible, which was kind of hard, since I had barely any time to write this. 

          After five minutes, my letter to Bore was done. I read over it to make sure everything was right sounding. It read:

           "Dear Uncle Bore,

            I am terribly sorry for the inconvenience, but something has come up and we are no longer able to watch Laura. Please come to gather her as soon as you can.  We will be leaving the house around fourteen-hundred, please be here roughly an hour or two before. Once again I am very sorry for the inconvenience. Thank you for undeerstanding."

            After reading through, I decided the letter was good enough, and I carefully scribbled my signiture at the bottom of the page.  I rolled up the letter and tied it off with a ribbon.  I walked to my owl Saphire's cage and attached the letter to her leg.  I opened the window and set her loose to find Bore and deliver the message.

              Screams were still coming from the kitchen.  I rolled my eyes and went back down to mother's side.  "I just sent him the letter mum, he should be getting it soon."  Laura sighed then rolled her eyes.  "I dont care if daddy is coming to pick me up, 'cause once he does I am telling him everything you did to me!" Laura shrieked.  From outside I could here the bells from the church tower ringing. "No, I'm about to be late for work again!" I releized too late. I went upstairs to put on my shoes.  After putting them on, I flew out the door.  I work for the king's daughter. I am what you would call her servent.  She is almost as bad as Laura, which is saying something.  I have been late to work for the past few days and if I am late again, the king will have my head.

                I approached the large wooden doors, then entered.  I walked down the hall my heels clicking against the marble floor.  From down the hall I could here the king and his son Coal having another argument.  I will admit that I have feelings for Coal.  I mean, who wouldn't.  He had such a muscular figure and shaggy black hair.  But, the feature I loved the most about him was his amazing emerald green eyes.  I quickly snapped out of my delusional fantasy and walked faster down the hall.  I could hear Coal's smooth voice from a distance.  Mikeel acted so cruel towards his own son. I Mikeel scream at Coal, then there was silence.  I heard footsteps coming closer to where I was.  I got nrevous thinking that maybe it was Mikeel.  I walked faster now, I was almost to the staircase leading to Rosie's room.  Not paying any bit of atention to where I was going, I accidently bumped into Coal. I stumbled, then fell on the floor. What a fool I must've looked like.  "I am so sorry. I didn't see you there. Are you okay?" Coal said in his beautiful, smooth voice, lending me a hand up. "Uh, yeah I guess" I said taking his hand. Once I got to my feet I looked directly into his eyes.  I have been working at the castle for six months, I could tell that Coal was interested in me, I just didn't know how to react.  " Uh, Thanks. I'm sorry I bumped into you, I wasn't paying attention."  I said nervously. I need to stop worrying. It's just Coal, there is nothing to worry about.  "So, what was going on with you and your dad in there?" I said letting go of him and backing away. "Oh, you heard that?" He questioned. "Yeah." I said slowly.  "Well, he's getting fed up with the way your people have been acting towards him lately. He's not even sure if you are with him anymore. So I tried to stick up for you, but you can see how that turned out."  I smirked at his comment. "You were really standing up for me to your father?" I was still stunned by this gracious act. Coal smiled at me. "Well yeah. I mean you're a friend of mine, I dont you to get hurt." I just then noticed the time and egan to worry.  I could hear Rosie calling for me. I sighed.  "What's wrong? You seem tense today. Did something happen?"  I took a deep breath, preparing to tell Coal of my miserable life.  "My cousin is staying over, and well she is kind of a jerk. Then I have to tend to your sister's every need and now I have your father on my back." A tear started to roll down my cheak. "Hey, life isn't all bad." Coal said clearing the tear from my cheack with his sleeve. "Easy for you to say. You have a servent that takes care of your needs, you barely have to do anything." The tears started coming harder.  "You mean Frank? Well, he's not very good at what he does." Coal said in a joking matter, trying to cheer me up.  "At least you have somebody. I have almost nobody!  I practically look after my brother and me by myself.  Mom is no help.  Sh'es always drunk and, and......" I started to yell a little. I don't know what came over me. Coal got closer and grabbed my hand. "That's not true." He said smiling. "How?" He got closer, to where we were practically touching. "You have me."  After saying this he leaned in and kissed me.