petals fall (a modern beauty and the beast retelling) discontinued

Chapter eighteen

It wasn't poison. I decide. It was a drug. He drugged my food, he must have. I decide when I wake up five days after collapsing in my bed. He, or someone else must have also been in the room. I know because the door is fixed, as if nothing ever happened and a hammer rests on the floor. My legs are wobbly as I get up and my hands won't stop shaking. I clench my hands in fists as I sit back on the bed. I let out a shaky breath. The clenching of my hands helps but not a lot. Bile rises slowly in my throat. I try to swallow it down but it climbs to the top of my throat and spills over. I puke clutching my stomach. It misses the rug thankfully but I feel awful afterwards. My tongue tastes of vomit and my throat stings.

My belly feels empty but better than before. Taking deep breaths I stand shakily. After making my way down the stairs I find that breakfast is ready in the dining room but same as last time I'm alone. Loneliness is becoming more and more a problem for me. The food consists of waffles, bacon and eggs. There's also French toast and syrup layed out. Having hit eaten in five days-I know because of the really complicated clock in my room that tells both time and date-I am starving. I shovel food into my mouth in a way that would make my sister scoff. My sister. All appetite drains out of me along with any energy I had left after getting sick. Leaning back into my chair I lose my eyes. I don't want to cry. I will not cry, my father would tell me to be strong. 

I eat little more but I eat all the same. Even if I do not want to I have to keep up energy and strength. I get destacted, entranced if you may by my thoughts. They are lovely thoughts of home and joy. By the time I realize I've been staring at the wall the breakfast is gone the table empty. I blink. Rubbing my wrist I look down at it. I really need a watch. I sigh. It's so lonely here. Not bothering to get up I try to think up a plan. I could re explore the mansion, I could swim in the pool downstairs-if I ever find a suitible bathing suit- I could go back to the library and read a book, I could go to the craft room, do some sketching. So many options yet so little interest. I've never missed my family as much as I do now, it feels that way at least. 

I hear a creak but when I look back Nothing is there. That's odd. Finally I decide to go to the library and sit y the fireplace. The fire is warm and I warm my hands near it as I dare. My long hair twists over my shoulders. I should really brush it. My chest feels hollow. The servants haven't really been talking or even showing up as much anymore. After choosing out a book I sit down tiny the fire to read. I sit there for a long time not bothering to find a clock. Elian isn't here anyway. I haven't seen any other clocks exept the one in my room. I realize. And so I sit for hours on end, for the rest of the day until I fall asleep to the warmth and crackle of the fire in my ears.