Picking Petals:

Chapter 21: Loosing Sight

   I woke the morning of Rones coronation Ball in low spirits. I moved last night from my old bedroom to a servants room on the side of the dungeon. It's weird how everything can change so fast. The days where my mornings seemed shorter, and my nights filled with light was not long ago at all. Just a week ago life seemed almost easy. Now my mornings are long and bury, my nights bitter and dark. I could feel myself grow numb, no matter how hard I tried to escape the empty pit in my heart, it was inedible.

   Now I was dodging halls just so I wouldn't have to speak to anyone, it was easier this way, easier to lock everyone out. Musho is to be meeting me at the palace doors to help me with the demon. Musho had endless ways of torture and tactics, after all this wouldn't be his first time trying to save someone taken host. Although Musho says he has no doubts he wont be able to expel the demon, I still worried. We didn't have much time at all, Gregorys body wasn't rotting yet, but it would be soon.

   "Ah Nadia, just the woman I needed to see!" I cursed to myself as I turned to a perky Tessa.

   "What can I do for you?" I asked tightly, I promised Rone I would make her feel welcoming, this is me being as welcoming as possible.

   "Would you like to be my escort to the ball?" Her smile was genuine, the deep blues in her eyes swirling with curiosity.

   "Rone isn't escorting you?" I frowned, i could feel myself glow inside. I dont know why I assumed Rone would be escorting her, but i was never the less glad he wasnt.

   "If I am being quiet honest, I dont think Rone loves me anymore, at least not the way he loves you. I am no fool Nadia, I know when a man is in love with another woman. Which makes me wonder, why on earth you ever let that man go."

   "I think you'd be the last person I'd tell," I snapped.

   Tessa shrugged her small slender shoulder, her freckled face scrunching up. "Anyways, Rone and I are working on things I guess you could say, so to my invitation?"

   My jaw twitched slightly, "No."

   "You cant go to a ball without an escort," Tessa rolled her eyes, "Especially the kings coordination ball."

   "You'd be surprised the things I am allowed to do, anyways is that all?" I asked, "I have important matters to attend to."

   "Of course, I wouldn't want to hold you up," Tessa spun around, her short silk deep blue dress flowing around her small frame.

   I hated her, she might not be the worst human in the world but i hated every bit of Tessa. Her annoyingly perfect shiny blond hair, her romantic eyes as serene as morning dew, her pale flawless skin. I hated it all. Doesnt she have family to live with? Why the hell cant she just disappear already? I made my way to the palace doors where Rone also stood, "Whats he doing here?" I asked Musho.

   "You know you could just ask me, I'm to question the demon, get as much info we can about what we're up against," Rone said. He smiled lightly, every part of him warm and inviting. I didnt know what to do as i stood before Rone, I felt incompetent. Minus the dark circles under his eyes on his pale face, he was every bit beautiful as he leaned against the palace doors, eyes all on me.

   "The demon wont answer any of your questions," I said folding my arms over my chest.

   "Cant hurt to try," Rone shrugged but I knew exactly why he wanted to come along. "So shall we get going?"

   I ignored both Musho and Gregory and just walked off, so much for avoiding Rone. Musho, behind me carried a huge duffel bag of what I assumed held endless amount of tools for torture. I was grateful to Musho for agreeing to help me, i of course would have done the job myself but, the thought made my stomach curl in knots.