Parallel

Chapter VIII: Never

Leopold

I held Auralea in my arms while she slept. Her body was exhausted from all the crying she had done in the previous hours. I can't seem to understand how a dream could have affected her in the way that it had. Sometimes our dreams feel real when they aren't. Logically speaking, how could a dream be reality? But at that moment, seeing her tear stained cheeks, her horror and her fear, I couldn't bring myself to explain that to her. The best I could do was hold her and hope that her condition gets better in the near future. Physician Knox said that she was displaying symptoms that he had never seen before so the diagnosis would take awhile. In the meantime, I knew she would insist on working unless I ordered her not to.

Something about keeping her by my side felt wrong though. I knew she would grow restless without duties to keep her busy so deciding to let her work under close watch was my best option. I sighed and planted a kiss on one of her puffy cheeks as I slid off of the dingy bed. She would protest if I had her brought up to my room so I left her there. The physician would take good care of her. I slipped out of her room and made my way toward the maids' quarters with purpose. I needed to speak to Mrs. Inman immediately.

She was standing near the door and chatting with some of the maids she directly oversaw. When our eyes met, she bowed and her attitude became callous. Her stature was tense as she dismissed her girls. "Is there anything I can help you with, your highness?" Her tone was clipped. "Yes. I would like to know all the information you have on Auralea Webb." I saw her fingers twitch and she took a cautious step back, putting more distance between the two of us. She hesitated. She knows something. I took a step forward to further intimidate her. I needed all the information I could get on Auralea. "Tell me what you know and don't you dare hold out even the smallest detail." She nodded solemnly. "Auralea is special. She is from the New Dawn Orphanage. She-" Mrs. Inman cut herself off as if she was afraid to continue. "Tell me, now." She flinched back and shut her eyes, probably choosing her next words carefully.

"That orphanage is full of sick children. The bishop, he is a good man but...there have been rumors about the children acting strangely. They were accused of witchcraft on multiple occasions. I told Auralea to lie about where she comes from to avoid the criticism of others. She deserves a fresh start even though she too is unwell. A man from her orphanage wrote to me and asked if I would be willing to offer her a position despite her differences. He had previously worked here with me before he fled to the orphanage the night of the attack. He lost- his pregnant wife was killed that night so it is no surprise that he works with children now. He asked that I protect her with my life. She is like a daughter to him." Her eyes were glazed with tears as she recalled that night. I felt a pang in my chest. Sick?

"What is she sick with? Who is the man? Does he still live at the orphanage? Special how?" I tugged a hand through my hair as I rushed the questions out and tried to process this newfound information. Mrs. Inman just shook her head. "I only know the address of the orphanage because of the letter sent. That's the only information I have." I sighed in frustration and clenched my jaw. "Have one of the maids send his information to my chambers and decrease Auralea's work load. In her condition, she can't handle it but she would never admit that."

Leaving the maid's quarters only caused my mind to become even more riddled with questions. I was determined to find answers no matter how long it took. There was a radiance about Auralea that drew me in. She looked so familiar and so breathtakingly beautiful. It was frustrating to know that I couldn't put a finger on where I had seen her. The orphanage was far away and I was sure that wasn't the place I had laid my eyes on her previously. It was somewhere nearby. I trudged up to my chambers feeling defeated. I had only gained an answer to one of the thousands of questions that plagued my thoughts. I wanted to present my concerns to my uncle but he would disapprove of the situation and call Aura a distraction.

I sat down at my desk in the left corner and began writing down the potential outcomes of the situation at hand as well as the questions floating through my mind and attempting to place them in order of importance. Half way through my task, my uncle burst into the room in a fit of rage. "Uncle?" I questioned his sudden presence in my quarters and his outburst all in one word. "You missed today's meeting with the noblemen. This is the reason I am regent! You are irresponsible and a child! You made me look like a fool today. At this rate, you will never be fit to be king!" He ended his spiel by throwing his hands up in exasperation. His words were in anger but they still cut deep. Never.

"Is that so? And I'm assuming that even then you will need to stay regent to guide the kingdom and put your needs above those of the people? You can see yourself out of my chambers, Uncle Auden." I spat his name out in distaste. I was practically seething. There were 20 years of anger building up inside of me that I was never allowed to express. His fists were clenched at his sides and he turned to exit my room. "You won't be half the king that I could be." He shot over his shoulder and proceeded to shut the door behind him. I glared at the door. If looks could kill, the door would be in splinters. I had a determination stirring inside of me now from the encounter. I would become ten times the king that he could ever amount to be. 

A/N:

Ummm...what is Auden's problem? Calm down sir, don't pull out the nine. What do you think is wrong with him?

~S&A