What if she thinks I left her like my mother did?
My stomach roils and my mouth fills with saliva, as I surge up to find the room Odessa said was the bathing room.
I pass the sizable armoire and step into another large space. There’s a short wall around the corner from the door concealing the toilet, and I’m so grateful for the modern comfort as I retch.
Once my stomach is empty, the effects of the shock subside, and I lean against the wall. The bathroom is as elegant as the bedroom. Everything is crafted from the same pale-blue marble with dark veins of charcoal running throughout. A wide rectangular sink is carved into the wall. Right above it hangs anoval mirror that seems to glow from the natural light pouring in from the skylight overhead and the towering windows that make up an entire wall. A sunken tub, spacious enough for five adults, is tucked into the corner.
Despite the abundance of light and cold stone, there is a comforting warmth instead of a chill. Flames flicker from sconces hung around the room, but their light is overtaken by the sunlight. I pad lightly to the sink and rinse out my mouth. The water is crisp and frigid, invigorating my senses.
A knock echoes through the room, and I freeze before I remember Odessa said she’d have refreshments sent up. I wipe droplets of water off my chin with my sweater sleeve and make my way over to the bedroom door.
I crack the door open hesitantly, but no one is there.
A tray of food sits on the ground with a small glass of water. I glance down the hall before I push the door open farther and bend down to pick up the tray. I’m not really hungry. Shock is still numbing my limbs, and my mind is still spinning.
I place the tray on the bedside table and sink onto the side of the bed. But when I see the splattered mud on my jeans and boots, I lurch off of it. I eye the sheer curtains over the windows for prying eyes before I slip out of my muddy clothes and into the clothes Odessa laid out for me. The fabric feels divine and allows the breeze to cool my heated skin after shedding my thick sweater.
A breeze flutters the skirt around me like the curtains by the windows. It’s cream-colored and flows down to right above my ankles. The matching tank top is sleeveless with a square neckline and four ruching lines cut across the bodice, similar to the dress I found in the attic. It’s lovely and comfortable, and my mind appreciates one less thing to worry about.
The bed is like a cloud as I collapse onto it and try to grapple with my current situation. I lay the pieces out in front of me. So all the stories my parents told me were real. I somehow traveledto another realm, and I’m stuck here until, hopefully, my magic manifests because I am supposedly the only person who can restore magic to this realm.
No big deal. I can figure this out.Right?
The smell of the food permeates the room, and my empty stomach growls. The shock must be ebbing, finally. It’s roast pork, some cheese, and what looks like raspberries. Some food might help me think clearly, so I sit up and dig in.
I’ve never, in my life, had food as delicious as this, and I wind up devouring the entire plate. With a full belly and the effects of the adrenaline rush, I slip into a deep sleep.
I’m awoken by a gentle knocking on my door and Odessa calling my name. My head leaves the pillow so swiftly, the room spins. I stumble my way to the door, pulling it open. She breezes past me and into the room.
“I’m so sorry, that took much longer than expected. I had to have several discussions about your sudden appearance and who you are.” Odessa sits regally on the corner of my bed, her dress fanning out around her. “Have you had enough time to adjust? How’re you feeling?”
I lean my back against the door. “I feel a bit better after eating and napping, but it’s definitely an adjustment.”
“Hm, well, how about a tour? Or is that too much for you?” Her tone is still gentle, but there’s a hint of a challenge in her eyes that makes me bristle.
“A tour is fine, but are there certain shoes I’m supposed to wear? I don’t know the customs here,” I reply, looking down at my bare feet.
Odessa glances down at my bare feet as well and then heads to the armoire. She shuffles things around and reaches to the very back to pull out a pair of leather sandals with many straps.
“We’re not stuffy with customs. These should fit you.” She tosses them to me, and I catch them with a small oomph.
Apparently, I passed that test; she beams when I don’t drop them. I lace them up and follow her out the door.
“If you start to feel overwhelmed or tired at all, let me know and we’ll come right back here, ok?” she calls over her shoulder.
I feel a huge sense of gratitude for her compassion.
She must be a very beloved queen.
I nod and continue following her, but I slow down as her wings reappear. The feathers are a mix of lengths, but the longest ones make up the end of her wings. They resemble a swan wing, delicate but also mighty. They’re astonishingly white, opalescent, and the light refracts off of them in rainbows.
Odessa’s steps are confident, and her arms swing slightly, her muscles tense with the movement. She is incredibly toned. Her body looks like it’s carved from the marble we’re currently walking on.
Our steps echoing off the floor are the only sounds, and I feel the need to break the silence. “It’s really quiet. Do many people live here?”
“Not anymore,” she sighs. “Now it’s just a few of the remaining Valkyrie,” she ticks off her fingers, “their mates, if they’re mated, and a few servants. Then there are the guards, but they live in the barracks attached to the training grounds.”
Mates.
