Bellona (Part 1.5 of The Saskia Trilogy) Read Free

throat burns from the screams. I roar for a long time until the door opens. I turn to my mother, my hands outstretched. “Help me.” I sob. She shakes her head in disgust then looks at my mirror and then back at me.
    “You’re getting blood everywhere.” She turns away. “Corona,” she calls a servant in. “Clean her up,” is all she says and leaves, while I sit there trembling and feeling empty, so very empty.
     
     
     

 
    Chapter Two
     
                                              The First Meeting
     
    I stay in my room for a week, refusing food and refusing to meet the servant’s eyes as they come and go. The fire is lit at night, cleaned out in the morning; drapes open and close, food is brought and cleaned up. All the while I lie in bed refusing to move, refusing to speak. It is on the eighth day that my mother arrives to open the drapes herself. She moves to the end of my bed her nose crinkled as she stares at me, with her hands clasped, head tilted slightly. A look of pure annoyance is on her face.
    “This has gone on long enough. Get up.”
    I don’t move but look away from her. I can hear her sigh.
    “Bellona,” her voice is stern, but I still don’t look at her.
    “I shall get your father then.” My head snaps in her direction.
    “No,” my voice is raspy, my heart pounding at the thought of my father.
    She gives me a knowing smile. “Good then get up.”
    Something in her voice makes me curious; my mother is excited, almost happy. My face cracks into a nervous smile, wondering what has made her so happy, but at my smile her face grows stern.
    “Don’t smile, you look ugly when you do.”
    My smile falls as my eyes shoot around the room, my cheeks blaze from the insult. Stupid Bellona. I scowl myself. I peek at my mother, she is frowning now.
    “Today you get to meet your future husband. Saskia’s future King.”
    My heart slams against my chest. Today Nierra will finally see me. I can actually talk to him. I would actually see him up close. No more watching him from a distance.
    My face must have shown my joy as my mother’s nostrils flare. “You need to clean up. I pity him, really I do.”
    I jump out of bed, not allowing her insults to dampen my happy day. This is the best day of my life. I open my armoire with renewed strength. What am I going to wear? I need something new and spectacular. The hairs rise on my arms and neck, my mother hasn’t left, instead she stands watching me. Panic takes over. She knows, she knows I killed the girl, my mind races. Will she tell Nierra and destroy everything? My only chance at love.
    “The servants will arrive shortly. They have a dress for you that I want you to wear. I have told them what way do to your hair.”
    I eye her suspiciously but she turns and leaves, giving me no clue of what my dress may look like. I twist my hands as I wait for the servants to arrive. It seems like forever and my emotions won’t settle, they jump from pure happiness to terror. What if he doesn’t like me? What if he thinks I am ugly? I go to my new mirror and look at myself. My skin is snow white, not a mark or blemish on it. My brown eyes look brighter; my hand runs down my waist-length blonde hair. Color pours into my cheeks as my finger touches my bottom lip and my eyes fall to the floor. Am I pretty? I don’t know. My hands have healed over the last few days no marks are left, there is no evidence of my destruction.
    The door opens and the servants arrive. They move around the room with stoic faces, stealing glances at me. It is another reminder of what I have done. Then my dress is laid out across my bed, and my mind stalls as my heart flutters. 
    “Gray !!!” I squeal; it is the worst color on me. The servants stop what they are doing, their eyes now downcast. How could she? Tears well up in my eyes as I examine the hideous dress. It has three layers making it puffy and the large bow that is stitched over the