Most people believed in wishing on a shooting star. Not me. I didn’t need wishes. I always got what I wanted.
Except love, a voice inside my head whispered. It sounded like Fizban again. Or Greg. Their words filled my mind: For your vanity, your cruelty and your cold, unfeeling heart, a curse I leave upon you . . . A year shall not pass before your true form will be revealed. You are Vaktare, daughter of royalty, born to deliver your people, created to save your species from the extinction they so rightly deserve . . . You, your father and your mother have been sentenced to die . . . Unless you can learn to give love unconditionally. Only then will your species have a chance.
Isaac had walked in and paused just inside. “What do you require?”
I heard Isaac speak, but his voice sounded so far away. The curse burned itself on my heart, my soul, and each and every fiber of my being.
“Miss Beatrice? Are you ill?” He came forward and touched my arm.
I flinched, turning away. With my back to him I answered. “I dropped my plate in the closet.” I pointed in its direction, too afraid to go in there myself. I didn’t want to catch a glimpse of my reflection, worried I might see the changes on my face.
“I’ll take care of it.” He went in my closet. I heard him pick up the plate. Then he reappeared. In one hand he held the plate and in his other was my cell phone. “It seems you have several missed calls from your friends.” He handed me my phone.
“Thank you.”
Isaac raised his eyebrows in shock. His features contorted in surprise. I figured that was how my face must seem as well. Words like “thank you” weren’t part of my vocabulary. I didn’t owe him my thanks. My family paid him handsomely for his service. That was all the thanks he required. The words had just slipped out, probably because of my crazy dreams or whatever. “I’ll have the Nelle come in right away to clean the carpet.”
I nodded. “Have Adam’s rooms been prepared?” I asked, quickly glossing over my comment.
“Yes, miss. And the contract has been faxed over as well. All is ready for Mr. Haddox’s return in the morning.”
“Good.” I said, sitting on the window seat, my body thirsting for the moon’s light like a fish needed water.
“Is there anything else you require?”
I stood. “Will you wake me at ten in the morning?”
“Of course.” He went to the door.
“Oh, and please . . .” Another freaking word I didn’t use. “Have Cook prepare me a rare steak for breakfast.”
Isaac glanced at the empty plate. I could almost hear him questioning my need for so much red meat. He didn’t ask though. “Very well.” He left the room, closing my door.
“What is my problem?” If I were suffering from some kind of drug-induced dementia, it was lasting a long time.
For the first time in my life I was scared. I felt like a little girl. And I was alone.
Ask Fizban. She said she’d help, my mind said.
“No!” I growled, flopping onto the cushioned window seat. The moonlight on my skin was like a salve. I’d never been a night person. In many ways it’d scared me, made me unsettled. “What’s happening to me?” I curled my small frame into the window seat, pulled on a blanket and closed my eyes.
Five
Practically Drooling
Mrs. Dotts bustled into my room carrying a tray and humming. “Good morning, Miss Beatrice. How did you sleep?” She busied herself, setting the tray on my desk.
“Fine,” I said, feeling slightly more like my old self today. I yawned and stretched.
Mrs. Dotts walked over and picked up the blanket I’d used last night. She folded it and placed it back on the window seat. She then picked my clothes off the floor. It was Nelle’s job to tidy my rooms, but Mrs. Dotts was one of those who saw a need and handled it.
I glanced down and realized that at some point while I slept I’d removed everything except my underthings.
“It’s ten o’clock. Mr. Haddox will be arriving shortly. You’d better come and eat.”
I glanced over at the tray. As I requested there was a steak, along with some orange juice and fresh fruit, which up until yesterday had been all I ate for breakfast.
Determined to get my life back, I picked up a strawberry and popped it in my mouth, excited for its sweetness. I could barely taste it. I tried another. If anything I tasted the second one less. I took a sip of orange juice. In the past I’d loved the flavors of the juice and the strawberries mixed together. Just like the strawberries, the juice was completely bland.
I cut into a piece of steak. It was rare, way too rare for my previous tastes, but I put it in my mouth anyway, practically drooling. It was delicious. Ignoring the fruit, I quickly took another bite.
“Chew it well. You don’t want to make yourself sick.” Mrs. Dotts spoke as she went into my bathroom.
I took another bite and tried to chew more slowly.
The shower in the bathroom turned on. Mrs. Dotts returned with my clothes and towels in her hands. “Your shower is ready.” She gave me a once-over before her eyes found mine. “Will you need me to help you with your hair?” Her eyes kept a steady gaze on my face and not my almost naked body.
She was doing Celeste’s job. My hair was long and could be unruly. I had a hard time dealing with all of it. Celeste had been a master. Now she was gone. “Yes, p—” I paused, changing my mind, remembering I’d told Adam he would do it. “Adam will do my hair when he arrives.”
I watched her work to keep a smile off her face. “As you wish.”
“Th—pl—” I let out a strange growl. “Send Adam up to my room when he arrives.”
“Yes, miss.” She left, taking the tray and my clothes and somehow managing to close the door behind her.
I went into the bathroom, took off my underclothes and got in the shower. When I finished, I got out and spent extra time brushing, flossing, and sterilizing my teeth, tongue, and mouth. I left the towel on my hair and went into the closet.
My phone rang and I dashed out. “Hello.”
“Where the hell have you been? I’ve been calling you and calling you. I’ve left tons of texts. Why haven’t you returned any of them? I mean you just left your party and we haven’t seen you since.” It was Ashley. The girl knew how to have a one-way conversation. “Bea? Are you there? Bea? Bea?”
“I answered the phone didn’t I?” I put my phone on speaker and went back into my closet. I needed something totally hot, yet casual, so Adam wouldn’t think I was trying to impress him.
“Okay so talk. Tell me what’s going on? Eva said you slept with that guy she liked. Greg. She’s pissed because she saw you walk down to the wine cellar with him. After that she couldn’t find him and he never came back. She thinks you have him stashed in your room.” Ashley sounded pouty. She constantly worried that I was mad at her. It drove me insane. Her personality made me mad at her.
I contemplated what to tell Ashley. Obviously as soon as we hung up she would call Eva and tell her what I said. Should I make Eva mad? Should I lie and say Greg and I did hook up, even though it didn’t happen? It depended on what I wanted.
“Beatrice!”
“What?” I pulled on matching underthings.