The Red Queen's Daughter: Book One

Chapter 8: Realization

I immediately drop the book. I feel the blood race away from my face and down to my feet. I feel cold. "Whoa, Nicole, are you OK? I didn't know I promise. Nicole! Nicole!" I hear Nick yell. But I feel so light headed I think I might faint. I fall backwards and everything blacks out.

***

I wake up in my room with a cold rag on my head and just about a thousand faces staring down at me. Nick, my new mother, people of the White Court. I still feel dizzy.

"Nicole, sweetheart, are you OK?" mother (a.k.a, so you can get used to it, The White Queen) asks me.

"Yes, mother." I say.

"So you read that far, huh?" she asks me. I nod my head slowly.

"I'm sorry, but this is why I didn't want you reading that book. I'll tell you the whole story when you're better." she says.

I'm glad she said,'until I'm better', because I black out again.

This time when I wake up, I feel a lot better. Mother is sitting in a chair no more than a foot away.

I sit up. Some tea is sitting on the nightstand. I takes sip. It's my favorite, peppermint tea with some honey.

"Are you better enough for me to tell you?" mother asks. I nod my head.

"OK, so, after you two were born, your aunt got her revenge. It was a beautiful night, not a cloud in the sky, you could see the sparkling stars and the glistening moon. Your father and I were standing on the balcony outside the nursery, your mother was always saying how she wanted a daughter, so, she got herself one. She crept into the castle and- took you. When we came back, we thought you were still sleeping, your mother stuffed a small pillow under the blankets. We headed back to our room and found that two glasses were set up by a 'maid'. There were two cards. They said 'For the White King' and 'For the White Queen'. Your father guessed that they were poisoned. He was right. He drank the one that was meant for me, and he- he dropped dead. Your aunt intended to kill me.

We tried all we could to get you back. I sent knights, even though I hate fighting. And when all else failed, I just started sending you gifts to show you how much I missed you.

Your aunt hid that she was evil, being so nice to me and you. She would bring you over to the castle all the time, to make things seem normal, then, when you were six, she stopped.

Your mother tricked you into believing you were her daughter.

I'm sorry you don't have your father, but at least you're here, and you're safe. I'll give you some time for this to settle," she leaves.

Nick comes in,"Hey, sis." he says.

"Don't call me that, I need time for all of this to sink in." I say, sipping my tea.

"I guess we saw it coming, though, how we look a lot alike and all."

"I said I don't want to talk about it!" I yell, throwing a pillow at him. I turn over, grab another pillow and rest my head on it. "I'm sorry, Nick." I say. "It's okay, Nikki," he says, leaving.

I guess I didn't want him to leave, my brother. Because now I feel more alone in this world then ever.

I guess I'm not the Red Queen's daughter, I'm the White Queens Daughter.

***

I sleep for a while, sleeping of the stress of the day. No wonder my aunt never wanted me to leave her castle! She never wanted anyone to tell me the truth. Gosh, I despise my aunt.

I refill my tea, add some honey, and take a sip. Cool, but good. I bring it with me while I walk down to Nick's room and knock on his door.

"Who is it?" I hear him yell.