Chapter 177
Chapter 177
“You know I’ll work you until you die,” she said, in a low voice that wouldn’t reach the warriors posted as guards, “I’m carrying Gideon’s child, and once I give birth he won’t care at all what happens to you p>
I did my best to ignore her as I pulled myself to my feet with the help of the railing. I knew she was just here to lord it over me, to flaunt that she had what I did not – Gideon’s good graces and future heir.
“ Oh gross, you’re bleeding all over,” Dierdra sneered, pointing at my bandaged arm that was bleeding once more after my fall, “Gross. Be sure to clean that up once you’re done building my fire p>
I bit my tongue between my teeth as I struggled up the stairs towards her. For a moment, I thought she might shove me at the top of the stairs. This was exactly the sort of situation I had been afraid of – that without Gideon’s approval and attention, I was at her mercy.
It was the perfect opportunity for her to stage a convenient ‘accident p>
I squeezed my eyes shut, knowing that if she chose to move against me now, my body was in no shape to defend itself.
To my surprise, she stepped back out of the way when I reached her. It wasn’t until I progressed further down the hall that I saw why. Gideon had appeared at the far end of the hallway and was walking
towards us.
“Get in there, you lazy swine,” Dierdra hissed as she passed me, “Build that fire and hold your tongue,” then she raised her head with a brilliant smile and greeted Gideon, “I thought your meeting was to last through lunch? Back so soon p>
I ducked into the room with my load of firewood, and knelt by the fireplace to replenish the flames.
“The meeting ended early, ” Gideon was saying in the hallway, “Is everything alright up here? I heard a noise. Did you fall? ”
“ Oh, no! Thank you for your concern,” Dierdra purred. I couldn’t see her, but I could just imagine her draping herself across Gideon as she responded to his attention, “There was a little mishap with the firewood, but I have Avery picking it up p>
“Ah,” I turned my head slightly and saw Gideon step into the room. For a moment, I thought he might remark on my torn clothing, or the blood that still dripped down my arm, but the corner where I was crouched was shadowed compared to the brightness of the flames, and my injured arm was on the far side of my body.
He looked me over once, nodded, and left.
The sudden vacuum of his presence made my heart sink. He was the one person with the authority to save me from Dierdra’s abuse, and he hadn’t even noticed.
I rose from my task and limped down the stairs to the kitchen to fetch rags. My own blood was spilled on the steps, and I had to sidestep it gingerly, then return with a bucket to wash it away.
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gratefully.
“Watch out for her, ” he said in a low voice, “We have been instructed not to intervene with the Luna’s
wishes p>
I nodded miserably. He was kind to give me the warning, but the fact that these warriors could see my daily struggle and were not permitted to help me, save at their own risk, made me feel incredibly alone.
“Best to keep your distance then,” I said, with my head lowered so that he couldn’t see the tears in my eyes. He nodded, and stepped back.
For the rest of the day, my mind was fixated on how I might try to escape. I still needed a plan for saving my mother, and I would have to do it on my own, but right now I couldn’t even save myself.
Staring at the moon at sunset, on the way back to my apartment after hours of back–breaking toil, I suddenly remembered the last person I could possibly turn to.
That night, in my apartment, I penned a final letter.
‘Dear Sofia,‘ I wrote to the enchantress who had once given me the resources to learn how to use my healing powers, ‘Please help me. If you cannot do that, then please, help my mother p>
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