Shadow Moon Kissed

Chapter 4

I roll over in a plush bed and groan. My eyes open and squints at the light that pours from the opened blinds from a grand window. I lift my hand and gingerly touch my right temple and wince. My hand explores my head and it feels like my temple is a balloon. Crumbles of blood flake into my hair and I move my hand in fear that it will start to bleed again.

I pull myself up, but stop myself instantly. Spots of white float in my vision and I ease myself slowly onto the pillow behind me. I squeeze my eyes shut trying to shut out the light and the pain, but nothing works. My eyes flash open and I take in my surroundings. There is a gold canopy above my head and I lay on white sheets that are on a king-sized bed. The room was not as marvelous as the throne room, but it was better looking than any bedroom that I have seen in my life. The room that I am is bigger than my parent's home.

The room does not feel like mine though. It is too elegant for me. If they were to give me a shoebox room to live in, I would be totally okay with that. This is just too much. I mean I am grateful for them giving an elegant room that has gorgeous cream hutches, a golden post bed with a canopy, and a room with an amazing view that looks out into the gardens. But, it is not me. Nothing marks it as mine and I just feel like they are doing this because they feel like they have to due to the betrothal.

I place my arm above my eyes and wished I could fall back asleep. Sleep did not prevail me because the pain seared in my temple. Could they at least have someone here come in and give me a tonic? My stomach growled in protest of me thinking of getting a tonic. When I would swallow it felt like there was metal in the back at my throat that would scratch the walls. I couldn't get up and just walk around looking for the kitchens or a medical wing in this castle. That wouldn't go well for two reasons. The first reason was because if the King found out that I was up and wondering around, he probably would find a different punishment like flogging. Then, the second reasoning was because I couldn't even get myself out of this damn bed without seeing stars in my vision. If I could even get myself out of this bed I do not even think I could make it that far. I do not even where anything could be at in this place. No one never showed me where anything was at. They probably would have showed me around if I never flipped off the prince. Yet again would they have really shown me around? Maybe they would not want me to know where anything is at so I could not find a way to escape like those five other girls who either died or went missing.

I wished I could get up and out of this damn bed. If I could just get up and not see stars or be able to fight pounding in my head as well as the stars, I could get up and get my bag that laid on the opposite side of the room. I had a few books stashed away in my bed and if no one was going to come in here, I needed to find a way to somehow entertain myself. I could not just lay here and do nothing. I needed something to keep me distracted.

I decided that I would attempt to get up if no one would come into my room in a few hours. I heaved a sigh and rolled over letting the plush bed engulf me. I dozed on and off. By the time I gave up was when the light that came from room turned from bright yellow to a warm, dull amber.

I had enough and could not just lay here trying to sleep. If I kept trying to sleep on and off it would just lead to more problems. I did not want to lay here staring at the room when it would be drenched in darkness. I decided I rather risk passing out and reading by the setting sun. I slowly pulled myself up and grit my teeth. I hauled my legs over the edge of my bed and place my feet on the icy, wooden floor. I shiver and shuffle my feet towards my bag. Stars start to dart my vision. I stop, grasp my head, and pant towards my bag. This is the longest walk of my life to just get a damn book. I finally make it over to my bag and slug around back to my bed.