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Pulling the string of my bow back, I focused on the tree several feet in front of me. I released my grip, sending the arrow barreling through the air and into the bark of the tree. Lowering my bow, I smiled slightly and brushed my hair behind my ear. I walked up to the tree, the leaves rustling in the wind. Grabbing the arrow, I roughly pulled it from the bark. Only to drop it when it ripped through my skin.
I latched onto my forearm, my bow falling to the ground, "Damn it." Taking my hand off, I examined my arm before sighing. "Dawn is going to kill me."
When I opened the door and walked into the place I called home, I found myself welcomed by a worried looking brunette maid and the sound of my sister stressing out. For a second, I thought about pretending I never walked in. That thought quickly shattered when my sister appeared atop of the stairwell, dressed in a peach coloured gown and surprisingly semi messy hair. She locked eyes with me and I quickly averted my gaze away from hers.
"Kairi!" She grabbed fist fulls of her gown and rushed down the stairs, revealing shining silver heels. The maid fidgeted beside me, looking more worried with each step my sister stepped on. I couldn't blame her.
The moment she stepped onto the floor, she stood in front of me, her left eye twitching slightly from stress and lips down turned in what I would assumed was disappointment.
"You're late." Definitely disappointment.
"It was nice out," I turned away and plucked a carnation from the basket of flowers in my arm and handed it to the maid.
"The king's ball begins at sundown." I picked up a lemon blossom flower and placed it in the braided portion of her hair. She suddenly gasped and grabbed my arm. "Kairi, what happened?" I laughed awkwardly and looked away.
"I'm fine, it was just a stray branch." I tugged my arm free and brushed my hair behind my ear.
"That looks too clean to be cut by a branch." It wasn't hard to make out the skeptic tone of her voice.
I shrugged, "You know how trees are, some just seem to be weirdly sharper than others." She gave me a look. "Dawn, really, it was just a stray branch. I have no reason to lie to you." She pursed her lips, but waved the overly nervous maid over.
"Tend to my sister's wound, then get her dressed and ready." The maid nodded her head and we ventured up the stairs to my room.
As I walked over to the window beside my vanity and looked at the orange hued landscape, I could hear the maid scurrying around. When I turned around, I found her at my desk with a bucket of water and a cloth. I went over to her and sat down upon one of the chairs.
"Your arm, miss." She kept her gaze down on what I assumed was the table. I lifted and placed my arm in front of her. She wet the cloth before swiping it on my forearm, making it sting from the pressure. The cloth stained red.
"Are you new?" I asked after several moments of silence. She picked up a roll of white cloth and paused. She unwrapped the roll.
"Yes, miss." She wrapped the cloth tightly around my forearm before securing it. She let go of my arm and I let it fall on my lap. She stood up and walked towards my dresser.
"What is your name?" I watched as she opened the doors and brought out a purple and grey gown. She paused briefly before hanging the dress over my folding screen.
"Mari, miss." I stood and joined her at the folding screen.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mari. I am Kailina."
Once Mari had placed me in the purple and grey gown and put my hair into a half up half down style, I went down the stairs where Dawn and our brother stood waiting for me. As I reached the last step, Dawn reached for my hand and pulled me out the door.
The sun had mostly set, making the world around us darker and colder. Dawn didn't seem to notice as she continued to drag me over to the carriage, our brother trailing behind us.
The footman opened the door for us and helped Dawn into the carriage before helping me. I took my seat across from Dawn and away from the door. Adam came in, sitting next to me, and the footman closed the door. Several moments later, the carriage jolted and we began to move.
"Why are you still pouting, Dawn?" Adam enquired, leaning into the carriage wall. Dawn looked at him, her bluebell eyes almost glowing in the lighting.
"The Duke of Dranconis is finally back after his diplomatic mission in Tarais."
"You mean the dark one you spent hours talking to at the Baroness' luncheon?" Dawn rolled her eyes dramatically, but a faint smile painted her lips.
"He is in mourning, of course he wore dark clothes." Dawn flipped her fan open, the floral embroidery stitched onto white hiding her lower face.
"Mourning what? His newly acquired dukeship and vast wealth?" Adam scoffed, "I bet he's devastated." Dawn snapped her fan shut. I pursed my lips. This is going to be such a fun carriage ride.
"He loved his uncle, he told me himself." She scrunched up her eyebrows and stared into Adam's matching eyes. Adam pushed himself off the wall as I propped my elbow against the wall.
"'He told me himself.'" Adam mocked in a high pitched voice, waving his hands in the air. "They were estranged. The servants told of how they never once held a civil conversation. Do you remember that the former duke was murdered?" Dawn clutched her fan tightly. "People lie, Sister. Do not think he is any different." Red slowly coloured Dawn's cheeks as she narrowed her eyes.
"You do not know him." She relaxed her grip on the fan, but scowled at our brother. "Death changes people. They may of fought often, but he did love him. He does mourn him." Adam huffed, obviously not believing a thing Dawn had said and crossed his arms. I leaned into my hand and closed my eyes.
"He should be executed for assassination." There was a pause before he spoke again, "and for being a gold digger."
"Duke Dranconis is not a gold digger, he cried at his uncle's burial."
"Wow. Tears. I never would of expected that of someone who wants to remain clear of suspicion." I was right, this is so much fun.
"His Grace did not murder his uncle for his position."
I groaned softly and opened my eyes. I pushed my head away from the wall. My eyes focused on the glaring match my siblings had entered. I breathed deeply and combed my left hand through my hair. Dawn's eyes snapped to me.
"Kairi!" My hand froze atop my head. "Mari spent so much time on your hair, don't mess it up." I rolled my shoulders forward and dropped my hand onto my lap. Dawn scooched over to sit in front of me. She leaned forward, blonde hair tumbling over her shoulders, and reached her hands towards my hair.
Her eyes were so focused as she pushed my bangs out of my face and twisted them back into the braid atop of my head. She took two lemon blossoms out of her hair and stuffed them into the places she had stuffed my bangs.
"There." She said, a small graceful smile appearing on her lips. "Now try not to mess that up."
"Thank you." I resisted the urge to touch the flowers and instead glanced over at Adam. He had gone back to leaning on the carriage wall and was staring out the window. I looked back at Dawn. "So, tell me, what has happened at court?"
YOU ARE READING
Roses in Her Blood, Vengeance in His Veins
Fantasy"They were gone, why were they so upset? My left hand suddenly felt heavy. I looked down, and my eyes widened. No. No. No. I throw the bow away from me as if that would save me. It was too late." Kailina Smith's life seems to be getting better with...
