Cici S.

Chapter 14

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On Isle of Elah. A week after. Bianca received a letter from Dove Lorraine.

“The falcon had fallen.  The tiger cannot return the dove back to you. The vulture doesn’t trust tigers. The tiger has taken in the dove. The vulture wants to see if the tiger will devour the dove or vulture. Another bird needs to help the dove. Tigers cannot risk losing their stripes. The tiger must be fierce.  Flock of bats are watching the tiger.”

Bianca burns the letter.

What a ridiculous code. How more obvious could he be?

Tiger for his name Taigerius. Dove for my daughter, Amanda. Vulture for that king which is the only fitting name for it. A better name would be worm. Slugs instead of his army of bats. Falcon…

I paused as I watched the fire burning the rest of the letter.

Garreth…

---

“Bianca, how was your trip? I heard you have a child. Congrats. Who is the sire?” The empress asked from her throne that was still 10 feet high.

The throne room was as ominous as ever. Nothing had changed since I was last here.

“An honorable man.” I replied as I emptily stared down.

I was once again kneeling on the cold ground.

“Then it’s not the king’s then…”

I froze and looked up. How did she-?

The Empress had a smirk on. Her eyes glittering mischievously.

She knew….She knew about -!

“What’s your take on Dove Lorraine?” The empress asked, changing the subject.

I clenched my fists so hard that I wouldn’t be surprised if I bled. I tried to keep my breathing leveled.

She knew about that lecherous king, and she still sent me there! I wanted to rage but this is the Empress and that would be a great offense…which wouldn’t really matter if not for- Caroline!

I took a shaky breath. Forcing the frustrating tears to subside.

“It’s a peaceful land under the wrong rule.” I finally bit out.

“Hmm…Yes, wrong rule.” She rubbed her chin in false thought.

I kept my head down to hide my lack of composure. Lessening the quiver of my lower lip.

“What do you suggest we do?”

I had so many questions, but I needed to respond first. Yet my thoughts were swirling out of control. Like why did she sent me there? What was the purpose? Was it punishment? Did I offend her? What is her goal? Is she just toying with me? How much does she know about what happened in Dove Lorraine?

“Lady Bianca Regin, the Empress is still waiting for your answer. ”

I silently gasped. I saw her watching me as a cat watches her prey.

‘She wanted me on that island. She knew of the king’s reputation. She knew what he did to me.‘ Those things were clear.

There were knights around the room. They were alert and on guard as if to strike at the glance of the wrong move.

Therefore there was only one right answer.

I gritted my teeth.

It was so hard to not hyperventilate. Not to rage out. So, I focused on my burning hatred for that man. That man who ruined me and took my everything!

“King Albert must be KILLED, and Dove Lorrainne must be OURS.” I answered with more conviction than I felt.

The empress chuckled in delight, her legs kicking as a child would. “Alright, go back home and rest. Then tomorrow you’ll be known as Queen of the North. I’ll send my advisor to you as she’ll be giving you tasks. And soon we will do as you wish in due time.”

I bowed my head to the ground then stood up without casting a glance at the empress.

I briskly walked away and tried not to run. Although every part of me was desperate to get to home.

Caroline! I must go to Caroline!

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My castle in the north was surrounded by guards. Ones picked by the Empress herself. In due time, I will choose ones that will be on my side.

I dismissed the nanny who the advisor had brought in to watch Caroline. On my own terms, I’ll chose a more qualified nanny with no ties to the Empress.

Caroline was sound asleep in her crib when I came into her room. Breathing softly as if she had no care in the world.

Her eyes were closed for the moment. Which was best since it still hurts to look at her eyes. Caroline with her emerald, green eyes…the same eyes as him.

Garreth…

I sighed and softly caressed her auburn mandarin hair.

Child, if only you looked like him. If only you were born a boy…who looked like him…with his dark hair and tan skin…

My heart started to ache. I tried to push away my anguish.

Caroline in that moment grabbed my finger which startled me. Her little hand. So small and so fragile.

I took a deep breath.

I need to focus all my determination to protect her. From the empress. From Dove Lorraine. From that disgusting king.

I bit my lip as I stared down at our connection.

And even from myself…

---

3 Months later

“What do you mean? The Empress does not trust me?” I turned to the advisor.

We were in my office. I was just writing my report about a recent mission. Missions were more like threatening people and territories, taking stock of supplies, or gaining useful information.

Other than that, I had to do meaningless paperwork that the Empress needed to be the one to do. Nothing important.  Just meaningless work she’d leave her advisor to do in the end.

It was a bore but more preferable than the option to leave Caroline alone in the castle. Even with the nanny I myself appointed.

I was almost done when the empress’ advisor came in. Which brings us to the now.

“I mean the Empress would feel comfortable if your daughter stayed at the palace while you were away on your missions” Her nose angled up high even though I could easily tower over her.

She somehow grew more arrogant than when I last saw her. I heard rumors that she had outlasted any advisor that came before her…

Maybe there needs to be a change soon. I thought darkly.

I narrowed my eyes annoyingly at her. “I’ve done my missions with no problem before. No questions asked and dutifully. Why bring this up now?”

Usually, I dare not question the Empress. But the Empress was not here. And I was not afraid of this shrimp of an advisor.

Especially when it pertains to my daughter.

“There must be something I can do to prove my loyalty without resorting to drastic things.” I insinuated.

There was something they wanted. Either the advisor or empress. It was a gut feeling.

Because if not, I’d be ordered to hand over my daughter. Which I would fight tooth and nail to prevent.

The advisor turned away and was feigned to be lost in thought. “Hm…there is someone that is starting to snoop around the dealings of the Empress. It causes her worry day and night.”

“Who?” I asked. An eerie feeling coming over me.  

She turned back to me and smirked. “Katherine Cross ne Ian”

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ONE YEAR LATER…

“So many things happened, Katherine. I had let my guard down. And we were ambushed. The love of my life is gone… And all he left behind is Caroline…who has the same emerald, green eyes as him,,,”

I rubbed my arms as the chill started to come in.

“…My heart aches… to be reminded of him… It hurts to recall everything.  I thought I knew true pain before Dove Lorrainne.  But now I’m walking towards my own funeral on a pathway of fire.”

I turned to the headstone. Katherine Cross ne Ian. Beloved mother, wife, cousin, and friend.

Tears flowed down my face. “You were the best friend I ever had. You were my dear sister and I’m sorry I let you down. For betraying you.”

“Bianca?”

I looked up from the cold ground. 

Nathan…

He was still tall as before. His brown hair and forest green eyes were also the same. His face had just aged a bit. Not much of a big difference.

Though now he had approached me cautiously instead warmly. His wary eyes accessed me carefully.

I could imagine what he was seeing now as his former student, no, his wife’s murderer. Pathetic on the ground. Eyes bloodshot. Hair in tangled. Wearing a dress that had seen better days.

He opened his mouth a few times before sighing and flopping down on the ground a few feet away from me.

“What’s going on Bianca?”

I hiccupped and rubbed my nose before opening my mouth.

“…I –“

I sighed before trying again.

“I’m sorry, Nathan. I’m sorry for taking her away from you.”

Nathan stayed silent…looking at the ground. “I always wondered how I would feel if I saw you again…”

I looked down at my hands. They were thin and dirty. Dirty physically and poetically. Especially from the things that I had done.

“Honestly, I am still in disbelief. I cannot comprehend how you, Bianca, was able to kill in cold blood the only person who saw you as their sister. “

Tears began to flow again. “I’m sorry. I was in a bad place and instead of asking for help. Instead of thinking of solutions…I just did what I could to save the one person who I have left from him.”

“Him?”

I nodded and my lips quivered. “Garreth…he was my whole world and ever since he has been gone… I’ve tried to do the right thing ….but…I’ve been so lost Nathan…I don’t know what to do anymore.”

I succumbed to my sorrows once more. Silence before I felt a pat. I looked up in surprise.

Nathan had moved closer and was patting my head. “Bianca, you do realize that you took away my whole world, right?”

I hid in my arms. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

He sighed. “I don’t think I can forgive you. But let me help make things right.”

“I would give you my life but only if you promise to take care my daughter.”

His eyes widened. “You have a daughter?”

“Twins.” I shuddered out. “One is here at Isle of Elah…the other is still at that island, Dove Lorraine.”

“How old are they?”

“…Three, I think.” My head was throbbing.

He froze before standing up. “She’s three and still at that island?!”

My head was hurting more. “Yes.”

“Ok, so what’s the plan?” His forest green eyes stared at me with determination.

I stared back in confusion. “What plan?”

Nathan face turned bewildered. “The plan to get your daughter back.”

I closed my eyes and laid my head on my knees. “There is no plan.”

Nathan grabbed my arm, making me jerk my head up. His glare made me forget my pain. “This is your three-year-old daughter, Bianca.”

I pulled my arm away in anger and huffed. “She is held hostage by a perverse king who is obsessed with me. The last thing I want is for him to put his grimy hands on me again.”

His forest green eyes widened before narrowing back at me.

“And its ok for him to put his grimy hands on her?” He pointed it out.

I shook my head. “He has no interest in children. Only me. He probably thinks I would go back for her.”

Nathan crossed his arms. “A good mother would.”

“Well, I never thought myself as a good mother!” I spouted back.

We glared at each other for a good minute before looking away.

Nathan ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “Bianca, look, you need to make things right…If it was Garreth, what would he do? If he was still alive?”

I froze. Garreth?

“He would go back for her no matter what.” I whispered. I started tearing up again. “He was a good father. He loved those girls so much. He died because he was protecting Amanda.”

“Amanda? Is that the one at Dove Lorraine?”

I nodded as I rubbed my eyes.

“And what’s your other daughter’s name?”

I sighed. “It’s Caroline.”

“I have a son named Demetri. He is five. We should have them meet.” Nathan extended his hand to me to help me get up.

I took it. His hand and his help.