The Bitter Cold

Chapter 2: A Girl With a Secret

Raven awoke to the sound of a scream. Enraged, she walked to the room where the sound was coming from and pounded on the door.
      “Which one of you pesky little servants decided to disrupt my sleep?!” Raven demanded.
        Fenella moved towards the door, careful not to walk on the dead bodies. Her white gown was stained along the edges and splattered across the gown in a tie-dye like fashion. The small area reeked of death and decay. When she moved to the side to allow Raven to enter, she saw servants splattered across the ground, coated in their own blood. Some were lying on their beds, their eyes wide open, staring in horror.  She moved across the room, examining it. She felt her skin grow cold when she saw the threat. 
       “Oh, no,” Raven muttered to herself.
      “What is it?” Fenella asked carefully. 
      Raven turned around to face her. “You don’t know?”
      Fenella shook her head.
      “Wait...do you even remember me, Fenella?”
       “No. I’m sorry.”
      Raven looked at her, disappointment etched across her pretty face. 
      “Next time, try not to harm my servants, Fenella. The next ones won’t be as easy to replace,” Raven whispered in her ear, “they have lives as well, you know.”
      Fenella looked at her like she was crazy. Raven smirked. 
      “We both know you’re not as innocent as you seem.”
        Raven exited the room, her black silk nightgown dragging across the floor.

      Fenella couldn’t sleep for the rest of the night, fearing that she could be next. After a couple of hours of tossing, turning and staring at dead bodies, she got up out of the room and roamed around the castle. She eventually stumbled upon a wing of the castle full of rooms connected to different balconies. She entered one, sitting on the chair placed there, and stared at the full moon. Tired, she left the balcony and walked back into the room. Her eyes fell upon the cabinet full of snacks and realized how hungry she was. She devoured a croissant. Her bloody white dress had a pungent aroma, and she desperately needed a shower. Not thinking straight, she dumped a bottle of liquid on her head. She lathered it into her dirty blonde hair and when she stepped out, her hair was dark blue. She changed into a maroon colored nightgown and fell into a deep sleep.
     She was awakened by a yell. 
     “What are you doing in this room?” Raven said through clenched teeth, “I should dispose of you immediately. I can think of a few HUNDRED ways.”
     Fenella gulped. “I couldn’t sleep in a room full of dead people.”
     Raven glared at her. “You didn’t dispose of the bodies?!”
     I’m going to die, aren’t I? Fenella thought as she mentally prepared herself.
    Raven sighed. “I will arrange new sleeping quarters for you, as well as a new closet and a maid. Your door is to remain locked, especially on a full moon. I will send you some medicine for your…condition.”
      "I don't have a condition, Lady Raven."
      "Whatever helps you sleep at night," she replied, "and that hair color does not suit you or that hideous dress that you're wearing."
      "There is nothing wrong with my hair color, Lady Raven."
      "Your hair is blue."
       "What?!"
        A look of amusement flickered on Raven's face, soon replaced with a cold stare.
       "There is a dinner tonight at 8. Dress nicely for once. Attendance is mandatory."
        "What for?"
        "Greeting our guests. I do believe your parents are scheduled to come."
       "M-my parents?!"
        Raven smirked. "Of course. They were wondering how you were, Fenella. They said something about unlocking your true potential in the arena."
       Fenella felt dizzy as thoughts of the arena flooded her mind. Her breaths were shorter and slower until she felt as though she couldn't breathe at all. She could hear people calling her name as her vision thinned until she fell into a dark slumber.