Frostbite (The Dragonian Series Book 3) (19 page)

I put the ham roll away and took a heaped plate back to the dog.

I put it in front of him and he turned his head away.

“No!” I found myself lying in front of him and turned his head back to me. “I know how you feel. We all miss him, Cat. He would want you to eat.” A tear rolled over my cheek and to my surprise the dog lapped it up. I giggled at him. “Please, just eat.”

He looked at me for a couple of seconds and then at the plate of ham.

His tail started to wiggle slowly and I watched with relief as he started to eat.

I stroked his head softly. “That’s it. One day at a time.”

“I’ve tried everything to make that dog eat.”

I jumped at Queen Margerite’s voice. She giggled and apologized. We both started to laugh.

“Maybe he just needed someone to tell him how things will be from now on.”

She crouched down in her pajamas next to me and stroked the dog’s head too. “Thank you, Elena.”

“It’s nothing.”

She smiled and we watched Cat eat all his food.

We said goodnight again by Lucian’s door, this time with Cat right behind me.

Cat made himself comfortable on Lucian’s bed and I crawled in next to him.

Lucian’s scent that lingered on his bedding filled my nostrils. I was sure if I was human I wouldn’t have been able to smell him anymore, but I wasn’t human. “I miss you.”

HE NEXT DAY was Christmas Eve. The castle was pretty quiet and it was snowing outside. Every fire place was lit and it was toasty warm. Cat followed me everywhere and we ended up inside the library. I found a good book to read. The staff served us lunch inside the library, and around three in the afternoon Queen Margerite entered.

She came to sit on one of the chairs opposite me after she patted Cat.

I put the book down and looked at her.

“There is a Broadway Lucian and I used to go to. Helmut isn’t a huge fan of musicals and I doubt that Lucian was either, but he came with me every Christmas Eve. Would you like to come with me tonight?”

I smiled. “I’d be honored.”

“Thank you, Elena.” She touched my arm softly, got up and went to the door. She turned around right before she exited. “I’ll have the staff bring you up some clothes around five.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

She left and I looked at Cat. “We are going to a show, Cat.” I ruffled his face the way Lucian used to and laughed as blobs of slime spattered everywhere.

At five Brigitte and the two other maids entered Lucian’s room. They laid the most beautiful dresses and two piece suits out on the bed. I set my mind on the turquoise pants and a beautiful matching halter neck with a gorgeous cream coat. It came with a pair of cream boots that had killer heels.

I took a deep sigh and decided to go with the boots. I had to learn how to walk in them without breaking my legs someday, and today was just as good as any other.

Queen Margerite looked beautiful too and she’d also gone with a pant suit, a dark one.

“You look absolutely breathtaking, Elena.”

“So do you, Queen Margerite.”

“I told you not to call me that.”

I giggled. “Now I know where Lucian got it from.”

She giggled too and hooked her arm inside mine as we walked to the lobby. “Let’s say I got it from him. He hated being royalty.”

“And yet he was so good at it.”

“Yes, he was.”

I didn’t want to say what I thought of next. It would’ve broken both our hearts and tonight we were going to try our best to get into the Christmas spirit. He would’ve been a great king.

We were soon picked up by a limousine that Emanuel was driving.

“How is he?” she asked.

I frowned because I had no idea who she was talking about.

“He’s doing fine, my queen.”

I looked at Queen Margerite. She just winked at me. “Nothing for you to worry about.”

HE CAMERAS WERE flashing again as we exited the limo in front of the theatre. Queen Margerite gave them her most beautiful smile and you would never imagine she’d just lost her son. I followed her lead and she grabbed my arm as we walked to the theatre.

The balcony reserved for us was huge. It was cold but at the same time warm. It was a very hard feeling to describe. The stage had the most beautiful scene of a wishing well in front of us. It was stunning.

I opened the leaflet to see what this play was all about. It was about star-crossed lovers, one from a wealthy family, another from a poor family. It sure reminded me a lot of the love I shared with Lucian. It was very Romeo and Juliet. I hoped nobody died at the end.

“They say it’s new and really something else. I hope it’s going to be worth it,” Queen Margerite whispered softly.

“I’m sure it will be.”

“Have you ever watched a play?”

I shook my head. “It’s my first time.”

“I hope you will enjoy it, Elena.”

“I’m sure I will.”

The lights started to dim and loud music played. The characters entered and the story began. It was very Paegian-like with dragon figures flying in the air and some of the characters pretending to have abilities. The love between the rich girl and poor boy was beautiful. I found myself dabbing a couple of tears away and leaning forward, resting on the edge of the balcony to see things clearer.  As the play broke for intermission, I quickly slipped into the bathroom to go to the toilet and found a huge tray of goodies when I returned to Queen Margerite.

We each had a nice cup of eggnog and tried to make conversation about the first half of the play. I really had enjoyed it.

When the lights dimmed the second half started and I found a completely different scene in front of me. The ambience went from light to dark in a couple of minutes and if it wasn’t for the characters I would have sworn that we were watching a completely different play.

Half an hour later the stage moved to a cave. I watched in horror as I kept witnessing similarities to what I’d gone through that last time in the cave with Paul. The rich girl got her head bashed in and found herself tied up on a podium.

Images of what happened to me played in flashes on the podium. I had to shut my eyes for a few seconds to see what was real and what wasn’t. Sweat dripped from my temple as Paul was dancing his steps across the floor. I shut them again and when I opened them the character was laughing the same way he had.

I shook my head. This couldn’t be real.

“Elena, are you okay?” Queen Margerite asked with a concerned tone.

“I need to get out of here. I’m sorry.” I got up and ran out of the balcony.

The lobby of the theatre was deserted but I found Emanuel at my side in only a few seconds.

“Elena, what is wrong? Where is the queen?”

At that moment Queen Margerite was exiting as well. She wrapped her arms around me. “What is it, was it the play?”

I nodded. “It felt as if I was back in that cave with him.”

She hugged me again. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. It just was so real.”

She pushed gently away to look at me. “What do you mean it was real?”

“The dialogue, everything. It was exactly how I remember it.”

She looked at Emanuel. “She’s here.”

’M NOT GOING to leave you here, my queen. If that hippogriff is here, your life is in danger. Let’s go back to the castle, you’ll be safe there. I can always come back to investigate.”

The queen nodded.

“You think she’s here?”

“She might be.” Queen Margerite looked worried. “Let’s go.”

I pulled myself out of her grip and just looked at Queen Margerite. “If she’s here…we’ll never get another chance like this.”

“No, Elena.” The queen’s hands held mine gently. “In times of desperation the mind plays tricks on us. You’ll see things that aren’t real and the wrong people will pay for them.” She begged me to listen. “I know what I’m talking about, please, just come with me.”

“But…”

“It will turn ugly, please.”             

I desperately wanted to go search for Nora. She was Lucian’s murderer and she was still out there.

“Elena, I’ll come back once I know you and the queen are safe. I promise you I will find her. But not now, not when your life’s at stake,” Emanuel pleaded.

I nodded, it was hard but I gave in and Emanuel led us to the limo.

Queen Margerite had her arm around my shoulder, she hugged me tight as if she was scared I would break free and run off to go find Nora.

We exited the main doors of the theatre.

Again flash lights lit up the night and our faces. Gosh, I hated them and the feeling of wanting to roast their asses again grew stronger.

Emanuel kept them at bay as questions of why we didn’t finish watching the play filled the air. Once outside I knew Nora wasn’t going to be found. Our immediate exit would tip her off and she would know that Emanuel and King Helmut would be coming for her.

Regret washed over me like a bitter river. I cursed myself for listening to Lucian’s mother, sickened by my obedience. Didn’t she want to catch her son’s murderer?

I took deep breaths and buried my head between my legs.

The Queen’s soft hands stroked my back gently. “I know how you feel, Elena, believe me I do. I want that bitch as much as you do, but believe me when I say a crowd full of innocent people will pay the price.”

My head shot up. “How do you know that?” My tone was harsh.

“Because I was once where you are now.” Her eyes were stern and her lips thin. She sat back in the chair as my big round eyes just looked at her.

“After Desi died I thought I was going to die too, but that was nothing compared to how I feel now. She took my baby boy and nothing is going to bring him back.” She inhaled a deep breath. “I was at a function when Helmut searched for Wyland. Lucian was little and had stayed with the Nanny. I thought I saw Wyland in the crowds, but I was way off. He didn’t even have dark hair. Our minds play tricks when we think we have what we truly want. It makes them real and I thought I had the chance to avenge my daughter, but I didn’t. An innocent man died and it’s on my conscience every day. I have to live with that. I don’t want that for you.” She touched my cheek softly.

“I’m sorry that I sounded so harsh,” I apologized and gave her a hug. “I just wanted her to pay for what she’s done.”

“She will, in good time.”

“Promise.”

“With God as my witness, we will get justice for what she’s done, Elena. I promise.”