Isolde.
Isolde had lost count of how many times the candles on the candelabra dripped their liquid onto the prongs. Initially, it was kind of fun counting the drops of the liquid, finding something that moved her mind away from the thoughts of killing Lord Draco.
However, now, Isolde had lost patience. She leaped up from the bed and walked to the window, tensed.
Carldo was taking too long. What was delaying him?
Isolde peered down at the grounds, trying to see if she'd find Carldo, but instead she found her enemy, Draco.
He stood high and mighty, addressing a group of males who knelt before him, covered with bruises. Isolde took that moment to study Draco's features. He had a well-proportioned body, easily the hottest she had seen in Abbator. This morning, his long, dark hair was curled and tied at the nape of his neck, leaving a few fringes on his forehead.
He was nearly seven feet tall, the tallest male she'd ever seen. Though she wasn't close to him now, she could feel his aura, the power that floated from his being.
The tensed look on the males' faces as they stared at Draco confirmed she wasn't the only one scared of him. His people were. They were terrified at the sight of him, yet they never spared a minute in chanting words of adoration to his name.
The harder Isolde looked at him, the more she felt the fear and excitement the sight of him brought to her. Isolde raised her hand and ogled the fabric tied around her thumb. It had a tinge of her blood on it, but Isolde didn't mind as she untied the fabric and brought it to her nose, dragging in a long, deep breath.
His scent brimmed her nostrils, filling down to her lungs. The powerful scent of Oakmoss and leather stirred her heart. Watered her soul. Nothing had ever smelled this great. The way her body responded to the scent surprised Isolde. Like her body and inner being were attuned to the scent.
Like she knew the scent from way back.
"I don't understand..." She muttered strangely, pulling the fabric away from her nose and glared. Her mind whirled, and she pulled the fabric back toward her nose, perceiving. She felt that same trickle in her being, like she knew the scent from somewhere.
Isolde tersely whipped it back to her side, looking at the lord, eyes blinking. She had only just met this male, so why did his scent smell like something she knew firsthand?
As if the lord felt her eyes on him, Isolde saw him turning and staring towards her window, the very one she stood in front of.
She gasped in shock, ducking from the window as her heart thundered. His blazing eyes just now made her forget how to breathe. Isolde practiced Carldo's breathing technique until her breathing normalized.
What was happening to her?
At first, she woke up from a nightmare that felt so real. Everything in the nightmare, from the room to the clothing she wore, was the same. Now, the lord's scent was boiling deep into her soul like she knew it before.
A knock came on the door, disbanding her barrage of thoughts, and Isolde happily welcomed the distraction.
"It must be Carldo," She eased away from the wall and walked to the door, fluttering it open. Rightfully so, it was Carldo standing at the other side of the door.
He marched into the bright room at Isolde's welcome gesture and turned to look at her.
Shutting the door behind her, Isolde hummed. "Have you found her?"
The young male was barely holding it in. His hands trembled as he worded out, "Yes, my lady. Your sister is in one of the Lower Houses of the castle. Grastes garden to be precise."
A smile bloomed on Isolde's face as she neared Carldo. "Take me to her."
"My lady, I can't. The lord will have my head if he finds out I went against his rule."
Isolde ground her teeth before spitting. "I'll have your head before he does if you do not take me to my sister."
Carldo's face lost its color. Of all the lord's nine Lunas, none was as threatening as Isolde, and it scared him. Swallowing down his dread, he nodded.
"I will take you there, my lady. But you must promise me that no matter what happens, you'll never reveal my involvement to the lord, please?"
Managing a nod, Isolde agreed. Then Carldo led her away from the tower. Their footsteps silently thudded over the floor as they stealthily sneaked away from the royal residence.
Isolde's nerves were corded, the strong desire to hold Lucinda in her arms blinding her rational thoughts. If Draco ever caught her, there was no telling what the lord would do.
But she still needed to do this. Only by finding Lucinda would they start making plans of escape.
They finally made it to Grastes Garden. The one-story building looked unique and classy. Carldo gestured at Isolde to come with him as they ventured through the halls until they found the stairs that led to Lucinda's room.
As soon as Carldo opened the door, Isolde shoved inside. She released a breath and scanned the room until her eyes landed on the form lying on the bed.
She seemed to be asleep.
"Lucinda!" Isolde gently called and bounded across the room to the bed just as Lucinda stirred, tossing to face her.
Her blonde curls were unkempt, and her dull face was streaked with tears. However, upon setting eyes on Isolde, a smile bloomed on Lucinda's face.
"Sister,"
Hands outstretched, they flushed into each other's hold, hugging. An eternity passed before they broke apart, tears streaming down their faces.
"I cannot believe my eyes. Creators be blessed!" Lucinda hummed, her teeth flashing in a full-blown grin. She momentarily shut her eyes, savoring Isolde's touch on her cheeks as she wiped her tears away.
"My heart is singing, seeing you again, Lucinda," she kissed Lucinda's fingers reverently.
Amid her smile, Lucinda let out, "I never thought I'd ever lay eyes on you again, Sister. All those years in Kalingrad, no one knew how you were faring." Bitterness crossed her face as she thought of the past.
"I was faring well, Lucinda..."
"Aye, only the coins we got assured us you were alive. The keeper sent them every month."
Isolde was happy to know the keeper kept to her promise by sending her payment home. At least, the keeper wasn't totally inhumane.
"How about father? And mother?" Isolde clicked her tongue, hissing. "They must be lonely and missing us. Look, Lucinda..." She clutched her sister's hand and hummed. "I'll find a way to get us out of here, I promise."
While Isolde was talking, Lucinda broke down in tears. She sobbed, and her shoulders quaked. That struck Isolde with confusion. She nudged Lucinda on the shoulder, muttering.
"I won't let any harm come to you, Lucinda. I won't let them turn you into a breeder. I'll take you back to Brindlemark..."
"No..." A wracked sob escaped Lucinda.
"Why? Is everything okay?" Isolde grew worried. She held her sister as her body tensed.
"Everything is not...okay," Lucinda sniffled and held Isolde's hands. Boring watery eyes into Isolde's, she announced, "Mother and Father are both...dead."
Isolde jerked her hands away from Lucinda, stepping back as her heart thudded. A single tear made it out as she let out.
"What did you just say?"
TBC.