Rebirth

19. Annora

My dearest Emma,
Forgive me as I am not able to see you awake from your peaceful slumber. It truly pains me that after our blissful entangling, you've awoken alone. Watching you sleep so serenely only spurred my need to leave since there is danger looming; I can feel it in my bones. I know that I have a purpose to fulfill, a role to play, an enemy to defeat and an apprentice to govern. Thank you for a wonderful night. It has been forever since I've experienced such euphoria and if it brings you any comfort, you've most definitely tamed the beast in me.

                                   Your Love,
𝓔𝓵𝓲𝓪𝓼 𝓢𝓽𝓮𝓮𝓵𝓮
(1605)

Tears dotted the piece of parchment in Emma's hand as she finished Elias's letter.

With her thick, embroidered comforter wrapped around her naked body, she sat at the edge of her bed in sadness as she rested the paper on her bedside table.

She had awoken lightheaded from her rapturous and bloody night with Elias, expecting her brown eyes to be greeted by his gold ones but alas, he was gone.

She smiled through her tears as she recalled Elias caressing her body like he had just discovered the riches of the earth. She traced the holes left from his fang marks, closing her eyes as she remembered the burn of his bite. She found this satisfying as it helped to soothe the ache between her thighs.

A knock sounded at her, snapping her out of her raunchy and desolate thoughts.

"Come in," she said, uncaring that her visitor would see her in such a vulnerable state.

Opening the door, Emma was greeted by her handmaiden with an habitual apology for her disturbance, but as she looked at the Princess's tear stained face, the young girl immediately rushed to her side.

"Are you alright, Princess?" the girl asked worriedly. She was a little younger than Emma but the years spent caring for royalty had aged her tremendously.

Looking at the girl through blurry eyes, Emma nodded her head lightly. The handmaiden soon caught sight of the bloody sheets on the floor, gasping at the stains that had long dried and set into the material.

"I- I did not know it was your time of the month. I'll fetch your rags as well as another set of clean sheets immediately." The handmaiden said, heading for the dirty sheets.

"Wait, Agnes." Emma sniffled. "Just...sit." she said, patting the space beside her on the bed.

Closing the door, the young handmaiden approached Emma hesitantly, sitting nervously beside her superior.

"It is not my monthly." Emma told her.

The women were quiet for a moment. Agnes actually knew this. She had seen Elias heading to her chambers lastnight and out of curiosity, she had listened for a short while as they were bedding. A light blush appeared in her cheeks as she recalled eavesdropping on their intimate moment.

"I know." the girl said.

"He left." Emma said simply.

Feeling sorry for the princess, the handmaiden hugged her, comforting her anguish. She had been around every time Emma was punished by the king, taking care of her and her every need. Emma had never been rude or cruel; just sad. She thought that even as a servant, she would never want an elevated status if it meant that she would have to experience such despair.

"He'll come back." The handmaiden said, trying to sound confident.

They stayed entangled in an embrace for a while as the sun finally emerged from its own bed.