Inqueda

chapter 10

I don't know how long it has been but I feel very spent and like I have no more years left to cry. I never thought I would have to learn to live without them so soon, infact I had never much thought to living without them. There has just always been this unconscious belief that whatever the future holds, at least i would have them. Now it is hard to wrap my head around this new reality. Most times it still feels so unreal.

Cerball must have noticed that my tears had stopped because he held me by the shoulders and moved me back a little. Looking me in the eyes he said " you will get through this." But I feel so drained, nothing made sense anymore, all I could muster is the strength to mouth " how?" He gave me a sad smile and said " by taking it one day at a time."

I just shook my head " i dont think I'm that strong." He just gave me another of his indecipherable smile and said " sometimes you don't realise your own strenght until you come face to face with your greatest weakness. " my eyes clouded again with tears, it was one of my mother's favourite sayings to us. She was always spouting those wise sayings that just somehow always resonates with whomever, from me to my father, to my brother even the Matilda the cook. She had one for every occasion. I remeber telling her that she is so wise,  but she just laughed off and gave me a kiss in the head.

I looked at Cerball now as he uttered those same words. It seemed like something came over me, I knew my mum mother would be disappointed to to see what a bumbling mess I've let myself become. I remember the one she always repeats to me when she used to come to check me at night in the days she couldn't tuck me in herself. She would move my hair away from my face and mutter " promise me you'll always remember,  you're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think." I always thought it strange how she always felt the urge to remind me. Did they have an inkling that something might happen to them? But why didn't they tell me? Probably protecting me as always.

I'm tired of people protecting me, I'm going to make sure I'm able to protect myself from now on. Cerball touched my arm to draw my attention, he seemed to search my face for a short while then he nodded " you will be fine." I nodded too, I will be, eventually. I have to be or my parents might turn over in their graves from disappointment. Then I realised he was talking again " why don't you go up to your room and freshen up, the shopper will be here soon with your things and we still have to talk about school."  I just nodded and went to do as I was told.

I rushed back upstairs and inspected my face in the bathroom mirror. My eyes were almost bloodshot from crying.  My porcelain skin might seem dreamy from the side butbit is a nightmare to live with, it highlights every little thing. I splashed my face with cold water, there is much else to do but give it a bit of time, it should be fine by morning as long as I don't have another crying jag.

I looked at the rest of me, I am still in the bathrobe. I can't wait for this shopper to arrive so I can change into proper clothes. I wonder if cerball would let me try trousers. I have very much wanted to try one, but well a princess can never dress as anything less than a lady. But I'm not a princess here so I'll just have to ask when I get down. I had come down the stairs and was almost to the kitchen when I heard Conall's voice, he didn't sound hostile now, just worried " you sure it's a good idea me taking her to school?"

" I doubt they know where to look. I don't even think they're in  this  state yet. Besides, I'm counting on all those students being an advantage. "

Conall's tone became biting  " that's a whole lot of things to leave to chance. And you're going to use a bunch of humans as shield? What, collateral damage? That's just low."

Cerball heaved a sigh " I'm not going to let it get to that. What do you take me for? I have people looking for answers and double checking any occurrences to make sure it's not supernatural. I'm not sure they have figured a way to follow her here to be honest. But I do have to go handle and confirm a few things but I... why don't you join us Orla?"

I kind of felt sheepish. I know I shouldn't have eavesdropped, but  i was curious " how did you not know when I came?"  He gave me a fleeting smile " the breeze wasn't blowing the right way. We do reply on it alot."

I came in and took the spot I had vacated earlier. Conall kept staring at me but I was finding it difficult to meet his eyes, I was suddenly feeling very shy. I mean I just cried my eyes out in front of him. What must he think of me? Cerball placed a small bowl of chicken salad in front of me and poured me a glass of wine. When I raised my brow in question, he smiled " don't worry it has little to no alcohol, you should be fine."

I was just finishing my food when there was a deep reverberation throughout the house and I froze. I realized that it must be the doorbell when Conall simply said " I'll go check" and started getting up. But cerball simply touched his shoulder " let me."

A short while later I heard his voice from the general direction of the sitting room accompanied by a female voice. I heard him say " have a seat, she'll be right out."  I was already done with my food so I just cleaned my mouth and got ready to leave but conall stopped me with a touch " hey, about earlier, I was being a brat. I have no excuse, I'm sorry."  I studied his face for a short while, I couldn't decipher his expression, he just said he was sorry but he doesn't look sorry, he doesn't look friendly either. Did his father out him up to this? It doesn't matter, I can't be anything less than gracious, so I just shake my head give him a small polite smile " don't worry about it." Then I went to the sitting room to meet the shopper.

As I entered the lady got up, she is petite with a shocking mane of  hair a red colour that I had never seen in anyone before. I'm not entirely sure it's natural. She had on an equally bright blue skirt and top that should have clashed with her hair but still somehow comes off as stylish though in  a quirky way. Though what she lacks in height she makes up for in energy. I can feel it coming off her in waves. She already has a very wide smile in her face " omg! They should have told me I was going to work with a masterpiece, you're so beautiful and I just love your eyes."  For a moment I was short of words, people were hardly ever so blunt with me. I started looking around for cerball so I can silently beg him for help. I don't think I've recuperated enough to deal with this ball of energy, which is when my eyes landed on the man sitting on the couch. He had a bored look on his face, I hadn't heard him come in.  I then made eyecontact with cerball who was sitting on the couch opposite the man. I silently cried help, but he just gave me a slight smile. The bombshell was already talking again " my name is Claire by the way, is there a changing room closeby we could use logging these beauties and down the staircase would be a hitch." Which is when I saw the clothes, three long rack full to be precise, making me wonder how they got them here in the first place.

Cerball pointed toward the direction of the right stairs to a small door that is almost under it. If you aren't paying attention, you would definitely miss it, which I did. Claire clapped her hands excitedly " perfect, why don't you be a darling Sam dear and take these over there for us."

Oh guess that's what the man, sorry Sam is for. He just heaved a breathe and started taking the racks one by one, he juat dragged them there. Huh! Guess the mystery of how they brought them is solved. While he was taking the clothes in, Claire was looking at me like she was already picking out things for me to try out in her head. I've never really liked dress fittings, so I'm about to face my nightmares twice in one day. Can this day just end already?

Ok thanks guys for over 100 reads, it's still amazing that people actually read this, I didn't think anyone would. And thanks too to those that votes. You don't know what reads and votes does to the day of an author ( still funny to refer to myself as one )  but really it makes my day, so thank you. You can leave a comment to tell me what you think it send me a dm I don't mind either, I would be honoured. Oh and if you liked the chapter please don't forget to hit that small star at the bottom left of the page, I would appreciate it. I hope you like the chapter, but you can also tell me if you don't and why?
P.s  New chapter of my other story facade should be up by the end of today, I was too stressed out to complete it yesterday,  so hopefully today. Fingers crossed.