Nobles

Ch. 13: And who are you again?

The car pulled up in front of the big castle she had seen from her hotel room. It had been beautiful from a distance but up close she was mesmerized by it. The entire ride from the hotel, she had been nearly hanging out the window, noting all the places she wanted to go with her camera when she had time.

Margot had been at the airport in Italy when they had landed and had been with them when they drove the last stretch to Maridioch. She had been younger than both Solar and Pilar had expected but very capable. She had told them about the country and its history, filled them in on what had happened since the rebels took back the country, and in general made sure they felt comfortable and welcome.

She had politely told them that the film crew was staying at another hotel, but she had suspected that being Skylar's sisters, they would prefer their privacy and stay separate from the others. Pilar had felt Margot had read the situation well and took a mental note that she needed to thank her when she got the opportunity.

They walked behind a butler, or whatever he was, through the palace. Pilar took Solar's hand for strength but did not voice her concerns, Solar already knew, she just squeezed her hand, letting her know she was there.

Solar and Pilar were left waiting in a parlor they had been led to by the butler. They were sitting at a coffee table having coffee and cakes. It was all very civil and odd too. They could have met Skylar at the hotel or a restaurant in Florin. There had been no need for the palace tea party setup.

The cakes were delicious, though, and the room was spectacular.

Pilar's keen photographic eye loved the details and the mix of old and new. The view over the gardens made her want to find her camera and hide in her creative bubble; but she sat there, nervously fidgeting with the hem of her blouse.

She had not wanted to go back to Maridioch ever again, she knew rationally that it was not the country she had an aversion against, it was what it represented. That was the place where she had let her sister down, where she had been the cause of more pain than she could comprehend.

All the beauty had kept her preoccupied but now the nerves were beginning to show. She had held on for their entire trip there, confident that she was doing something for Skylar, but now she was nervous.

If Skylar was not ready to forgive her, she did not know what to do. She had no words to explain how bad she felt about everything her sister had gone through, the guilt was eating at her, crippling her actions and ability to move forward. The words she wanted to say had been circling in her head since Solar had called and asked if she would come to Maridioch. 'I'm sorry' seemed cheap and somewhat demeaning to the sacrifice Skylar had made, but they were the only words she had.

Strangely she had been trying on five different outfits before they were picked up. She had wanted to look nice and on the other hand she had been afraid if she looked too well it would make Skylar feel bad. Pilar did not know what to expect, she had no idea how Skylar looked now. If she was still the most beautiful woman she had ever known, or if she had faded because of what had happened. Though she knew she had gotten plastic surgery, it was not a certainty that she still looked the same.

Pilar had avoided all contact with Skylar since they came back to Los Angeles. She could not look her in the eyes, could not bear to see her wonderful sister hurt and broken, so she had kept her distance. But she had missed her. She had cried more times than she could count because usually when something was wrong, Skylar was the one, she had always turned to.

The one who was there for her that she could count on.

She turned her head when the doors at the far end of the room opened, and she saw Skylar walk in followed by two men.