The New King (Sequel to The Prince Behind the Veil)

Chapter 7: Butternut Squash Soup

Thomas woke up the next morning in a strange bedchamber. On top of him were white bedsheets and fluffy blankets. Thomas put a hand on his head, and felt scabs. He brought his hand to the front of his face and saw traces of blood. Thomas groaned.

He tried sitting up, but was overcome by dizziness, and had to lay back down. His whole body ached.

Thomas looked the room over from his bed. There was an ebony desk by the right wall, and a dressing table with a shining, clean mirror. Thomas looked at his reflection. There were indeed scabs on his forehead, and he was bleeding. But, something very strange was on the dressing table....... It was a vase full of purple violets!

Thomas studied the violets. They looked freshly picked, and were real. But, where had Edward gotten natural violets? Surely he was wanted as an escaped prisoner in Grasmere......

Just then, the bedchamber door opened, and Thomas tensed, thinking it was Edward. But, instead a maid walking in. She was wearing a black dress, had brown eyes, and cinnamon hair pulled back into braids.

"From his majesty," she said, placing a silver tray on Thomas' lap, then left the room.

Thomas observed the food. It was a bowl of butternut squash soup, some bread, and a cup of milk.

Thomas picked the soup bowl up, and held it by his face. It was warm, and steamy. The heat felt so good to his cold, tortured hands.

Thomas began to cry. Butternut squash soup was Violet's favorite. He missed her so terribly. Then, Thomas realized something. Edward had tortured him physically the day before. Today he was going to torture him mentally. Yes, it all made sense! The violets, the soup, all of Violet's favorite things!

"Will the torture every stop?" Thomas said aloud, sobbing harder.

"Oh, I'm afraid not," came a voice from the door. "Not unless you give me that globe!"

Thomas looked up from the soup bowl, and saw Edward standing at the door. Edward shut the door behind him, and sat on the end of Thomas' bed.

"Where's the globe?" Edward snarled, his voice sounding sweet though. "I know you're visiting her every night, Thomas. Just hand it over,"

"No!" Thomas replied, putting the soup bowl down. "Your fool courtiers took it from me! I swear!" Thomas really didn't have a magic globe.

Edward stared at Thomas for a while, then said, "You miss her a lot, don't you?"

Thomas raised his eyebrow, and bend his head. "Since when do you care?"

Edward just looked at him, saying, "Do you miss her?"

Thomas sternly glanced at Edward. "I woke up one morning, and saw her wrapped up in bed sheets and blankets. Right there, right next to me. I never thought I'd be taken from her later that day, especially by you. And now, I live with worry, thinking that she believes I'm in more pain than I really am. I live with regret, that when I was taken, I never told her I loved her. But I still do. I always will no matter what you do to me. Because I love her, that's all the strength I need."

Edward stared at Thomas for a long time, then left the room. Thomas was so hungry, that after Edward left, he started eating the soup. It made him think of Violet, of how her blond hair bounced while she was dancing, or skipping. How her eyes sparkled, and a stab, the pain greater than any torture Edward had given him, hit his heart. The pain of losing Violet would not leave Thomas, until he saw her again.