Page 44 of Unkindness of Crimson Ravens

With Francis’ hand still atop mine, I pushed the door open, taking a careful step into my old wardrobe.

“Your Highness, you should get back to your chambers.” Mories’ voice came from the room and my heart stopped in place.She knows I am here!My gaze found Francis’ when Mories’ voice broke through the wardrobe door. “Your Highness, the Queen requested for you to leave.”

“No,” a broken voice whispered in reply.

Icy sweat swept across my skin, making my palms sticky. What could Mories possibly have been doing in my room at this hour? Who was she talking to? She’d saidYour Highness.

I slowly moved toward the light coming from the small gap in the door, hoping to assess the situation.

“Dear, we both will get in trouble if you don’t leave.” Mories added softly, taking a few steps toward my old bed.

My gaze collided with Francis’.What do we do now?We should have left, gone through Brian’s chambers perhaps, but I could not force myself to move.

The sounds of footsteps made Mories take another step closer to the bed, as if protecting whoever was underneath the blankets. “Your Majesty,” she bowed.

Damnation!

Francis covered his face with a palm in pure annoyance. We were doomed. Only one door separated us from my room. One wooden door could be the reason for our execution.

“Leave us.” The Queen addressed Mories, though I could not see her from this angle.

Mories nodded once, sending a quick glance toward the bed before taking her leave.

“Get up, Sandra, right this moment.” Mother’s voice shook my body, as if I was the one who angered her.

Sandra.

“Get up right now, and leave this room for good.” The Queen walked up to the bed, angrily pulling away all the blankets that hid Sandra from the world. “You have no reason to be here. Stop this foolish behavior.”

“I am hurting no one by staying here, Mother.” Sandra’s voice sounded so different than I remembered: as if the storm had passed through her, depriving her of any color within. My full-of-life Sandra now sounded drained of any emotion.

“Hold your tongue, child,” the Queen bit out. “I am tired of your childish behavior. You are a disgrace to this dynasty just like Cordelia now.” Her features were collected, despite her harsh words.

Sandra stared straight into the Queen's eyes, no fear shown on her face.Sandra, please just do what she tells you to.I told her in my mind, praying that the Moon would kindly send her my message. I could not see Sandra get hurt. Not my Sandra.

“Get off the bed right this moment, before I call the knights to drag you out,” the Queen interrupted their staring match.

“Why are you doing this to me?” Sandra shouted in reply. Something I had never heard her do. “Why do you hate me?”

I was going to be sick. I could not continue watching this, yet my eyes refused to leave the scene that played out in front of me.

“Get! Out!” The Queen pointed at the door.

“No,” Sandra whispered.

My heart was about to jump out of my chest. My body shook as though the cold ocean enveloped me in its embrace.

“Pardon me?” Mother’s voice sent a chill through me.

“I saidno,” Sandra repeated slowly, emphasizing each word.

“You can either go to your rooms right now, or spend the night in the dungeon.”

Francis moved toward me, gesturing for us to leave. I shook my head in refusal. Francis’ lips turned into a thin line, yet he did not force me out.

Sandra’s loud laugh brought me back to the scene in my old room. “Dear Gods,” she whispered with a wild smile on her face. “Is that what you told Cordelia when she didn't want to marry him? Is that what you will do when I refuse his hand?”

For the first time in my entire life I witnessed my mother taken off guard, but she quickly masked it. I was not the only one to notice her change of emotions: the smile on Sandra’s face grew wider. “Yes, I know what he’s done to her,” she nodded at the Queen. “He told me so himself, and was sickly proud of it.” Sandra’s face turned, as though she smelled spoiled milk.