Chapter 23
ORNELLA
The screams of my friend, someone I called my sister, could be heard throughout the entire castle. After a few hours I could
no longer stand it. I had to leave. There was no way I would stomach any food as the pleas of help came flooding through
the walls.
Morgana, April, and Vanessa tried their best to distract me with card games and even had the castle musician come in and
play. Nothing helped.
I felt awful. Horrendous and sick to my stomach.
The man I had agreed to marry was somewhere torturing Kathlyn and most likely Hector was next.
“Perhaps some fresh air may help? We can take a wander down to the stables and maybe go for a ride?” Vanessa suggested.
“She can’t leave the grounds, Ness.” Morgana elbowed her only to receive a stinking look in response.
“I know that, but the grounds are vast. We could take her to the border where she won’t hear this.”
I would go anywhere, anywhere that took me away from the screams. I didn’t question it, only folded my cards, stood from
the table and headed outside. Stepping over glass shards, as the castle staff were still cleaning up and a carpenter still had to
come and repair the doors, I couldn't get out of the room fast enough.
“Eh, your highness,” April called, “We must get you in some proper attire, you cannot go riding in that gown.”
I’d forgotten about my dress entirely—we would ride horses in dresses without question back home. I expected the same
here, but they had different ideas. Nodding, I turned on my heel and followed the three women towards April’s quarters.
She along with her two sisters had the entire west wing of the castle to themselves. There were endless rooms for them to
do with as they wished. A games room, an office or two, a walk-in dressing room as well as living quarters.
“Morgana, your clothes fit Ornella, go and fetch some stuff for her to wear and I will prepare her in here.”
April, the oldest out of the three women, took charge of everything whenever she was needed. She seemed incredibly
headstrong and ready to take over at any given moment. I’d watched the last couple of days how she and Nicholas regarded
each other, and how they spoke to one another. There seemed to be a lot of mutual respect and understanding between them.
She was still planning my wedding, but I was now wondering if I should regret my choices.
“Ornella, don't be discouraged by my brother. He may seem like a tyrant on the outside but you and I both know he is soft at
heart,” April spoke gently as she pulled at the ribbon that did the back of my dress up.
“I’m afraid I may anger him one day and he will hurt me, by accident, of course.” I didn’t mean to say my thoughts out loud,
but hearing those screams made me want to run away in fear.
“He will never hurt you—he used to talk about you a lot when we were kids. I often caught him sneaking back into the
