SAVIOR AND SURVIVOR #wattys2017 (Under Editing)

CHAPTER 10: DISCOVERED

Ella woke up and turned from side to side trying to remember what happened last night. Then she started to take in her surroundings. This is odd, she thought, no one entered my room, then what are so many  books doing on my bedside table, and wait, why the hell are there men's clothes on my bed? My bed? This isn't my bed.

 She got up in shock and looked around frantically and then she realized it was Eric's room. She had fallen asleep in his bed and then slowly and painfully last night's images came in her mind. She had entered her room and there was a horrible scene, blood on her bed with a dagger, a letter and something she did not want to remember.

She rested her head in her hands trying to forget what happened last night, but it was impossible to do so. She heard the door of the room open, she lifted her head to see who it was. She saw Eric standing at the door.

''Your'e up.'' he said walking up to her and sitting at the end of the bed.

''Please tell me everything that happened last night was a nightmare.'' she said again putting her head in her hands. Eric said nothing. He had nothing to say to her.

''Please just tell me who is dead because of, probably, my sins?'' she said again looking at him.

Eric shook his head and said: ''You should not say things like that-'' he couldn't complete his sentence when Ella spoke again.

''Please just tell me. Who is dead?'' she asked again.

''Elbert.'' this was Eric's reply.

''Oh... I think I should talk to father.'' she said and getting up. ''Where is everyone?'' she asked turning to Eric.

''Down in the royal hall.'' he replied.

Ella headed down for the hall with Eric to see her parents, brothers, cousins and aunt and uncle at the table having a heated argument.

''I can't believe someone would give her a hint! It was forbidden to tell her!'' Thomas was speaking heatedly.

''... and what happens if she turns out like him I can't take that risk!'' her mother was saying to her father.

''But we don't have a choice either. What do you expect me to do? Just sit and which the play?'' her father shot back.

Thomas cleared his throat and everyone turned to him, he motioned towards the bottom of the stairs where Ella was standing. And with that everyone became quiet.

''Were you all standing silently like that before I came?'' Ella said moving her eyes from one face to the other.

''Ella, your'e awake. You must be hungry. Go to the kitchen dear and have something to eat.'' Queen Harriet said warmly.

''No, I'm not hungry. Instead I want to know what is going on and what happened last night.'' she flinched a bit at her last words but didn't let anyone notice it.

''Ella I don't think that this matter concerns you in any way, so you don't have to worry about it.'' her uncle, King Raymond said reassuringly.

''Uncle, you can't say that! That horrible incident took place in my room and you are saying none of this concerns me. I think there was a letter with it too. I want to take a look at it.'' Ella said standing up for herself.

''Ella your uncle is saying it does not concern you. So don't argue.'' her mother said in a warning tone.

''Father can I have a word with you, please?'' Ella asked her father. Because she knew when no one was there to help her in difficult times, her father was always there to lend a hand and make her feel secure.