AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Nope,” I said, shaking my head. “I’d rather not go on another nightmare dive, if that’s what you’re offering.” Nauseous by the very idea of it.
She gestured to my ears, then back at her lack of mouth before pointing to her hand.
“The meaning of that was lost on me,” I said honestly, my confusion slightly lessening my fear.
Her head dropped to look at the ceiling in annoyance. She looked at me seriously, holding up a finger to be sure she had my attention.
“Yes, I’m looking,”I said.
She pointed at me and then her other hand and made a talking gesture.
“Me, talking,” I said.
She nodded. Then she pointed at herself and made a talking gesture with the other hand.
“You talking.” I clarified.
She nodded faster. Then she made the two hands hold each other, letting go to speak to each other and then pointed to my hand.
“If I hold your hand… you can speak in my mind?”
She clapped vigorously before holding her hand out for me to take. I looked at it wearily; the Mistress had said she wouldn’t do any dives today. Could I trust her?
“You promise you won’t go into my head?” I hedged, looking around to see if there was some lever labeled ‘escape’ that I’d somehow missed.
She nodded, making the talking gesture with her hands again before holding it out for me to take.
I came closer, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath before I put my hand into her overly large shadowy grip.
Oh thank the stars, I was going to die of boredom if you didn’t agree. Hello Nettle! I’m Roya! What do you want to do today? Also, what did you do to your dress? Her voice sounded like the tinkling of a bell, completely different from her otherwise monstrous appearance.
“Hi… Roya?” I looked down at my stained dress. “I… don’t like to keep still, so I did a bit of training.” I looked up to see her hand had risen to cover her lack of mouth in shock.
Don’t you know better than to train in Chiffon? Oh, The Mistress will be displeased if you’ve injured yourself.
“What else was I supposed to do? It’s not like they gave me a book to entertain myself.” I scoff.
Oh, would you like a book? I can fetch one now while I get your food?
“Ummm… sure, if that’s allowed. I don’t think I can train anymore, anyway.”
Alright! Please sit on the bed and rest until I return!
She rolled into a ball and disappeared beyond the locked door. Well, it seems the mistress hadn’t been lying about her. She was nice. At least for a creature that could steal your memories and make you relive your worst nightmares.
…
She returned quickly, an enormous book under the tray of food, which I quickly inhaled. Roya tidied the space while I ate, returning eagerly with her outstretched arm when I’d finished.
“Are you ready to read?”She gestured to the Book whose title was bright, the first line in a language I didn’t recognize. The second, smaller line read “The Fall of the Fae.“
“What’s this language?” I asked, tracing the odd runes.
“It’s the language of the fae.”She breathed, as if the fae were more than a myth or legend. Although, remembering whose bed I was on, and who I was talking to, perhaps I didn’t know as much as I thought I did. The thought disturbed me.
“How will I read it then?” I ask, opening the book to see the same map as before. The banners from the hall were listed on the page beyond. The name Ravensford captured my eye next to a yellow banner, with a raven holding a key.
“You will see, trust me.”She spoke gently, turning the pages until the first chapter was visible. Placing our bound hands onto the first page.
