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“I can feel it inside me,” Ariadne said. “I know I’m close.”
Just then Emma entered the flat. She looked at the two sisters sitting next to each other and immediately knew something was wrong.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. Emma, like their mother, had also been a prostitute. But she left that life behind after their mother died and she came to live with them.
“Mrs. Tula was here. She was asking for rent and even threatened to cast us out if we couldn’t afford it,” Leda said
“Lords, of course, we will give it to her,” Emma huffed. “The woman thinks to bully us now that her husband is gone. Well, I won’t let her. Let me have a word with her.”
Ariadne stood up. “No, that will make everything worse. Let me handle this. I’ll get the coins she needs.” She staggered to the door in an attempt to go out. She could sell flowers again. The income was petty but it was something.
“Poor dear, you look terrible,” Emma said, her brows furrowed in concern. “I cannot allow you to go out in such a condition. You’re going to make yourself sick.”
Ariadne shook her head. “I need to go.”
“Don’t be so stubborn Ariadne. Don’t just think of today. You will have to work tomorrow, and the next day, then the next. Save your energy,” Emma said sternly.
Emma was right. Her bones were tired and aching.
“All right, I’ll take a short nap now,” she said. Ariadne yawned as she could no longer hold on to the exhaustion within herself.
* * *
When she woke up dusk had already fallen. Ariadne stumbled out of the bed, rubbing the rest of her sleep from her eyes, and proceeded toward her father’s room. As she entered, the sound of laughter greeted her.
She found Leda and Edward sitting next to each other, deep in conversation. Ariadne felt a stab of an unfamiliar feeling in her heart. Leda looked up as her sister came in.
“Ariadne!” she said. Leda was sitting on the chair beside Edward. “There you are.”
“How was your nap?” Edward asked politely.
“Fine,” she said.
“Ariadne didn’t leave your side for a minute when you were asleep,” Leda said. “The first night after she brought you here, I found her beside your bed where she had gone off to sleep with your hand in hers.” Leda giggled.
Ariadne felt affronted. He wasn’t supposed to know such things. “Leda!”
“Is that so?” Edward asked, now looking at Ariadne with a strange look in his eyes. Ariadne wanted to scold her sister so badly.
“I only speak the truth,” Leda said. “Our father always used to say that your worth lies in the tally of your words.”
“Used to?” Edward asked.
“He passed away a few months ago,” Ariadne said curtly. “This is his room.”
Edward’s brows furrowed and his lips drooped. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Leda stood up, smoothing her skirts. “I’ll take my leave now since Ariadne is here.”
Edward nodded and smiled at her as Leda walked out of the room.
“I assume you’re feeling much better,” she said. She didn’t know why this fact was bothering her so much. She should be glad that he was doing well now. The faster he was out of here, the less trouble they would be in. Ariadne had no doubt that already people out there were looking for him. The last thing she wanted was for trouble to follow them here.
She held up a shirt in her hand with a small smile. “I brought this for you.”
“Is that your father’s?” Edward asked with a smile in return.
Ariadne nodded. “Night has fallen and our floors grow colder. I don’t want you to catch a fever.”
