“Olivia!” Adelaide, giggled climbing atop the mattress.
“I’m sorry, Lady Olivia, but I didn’t quite know what to do with her,” Tria admitted.
“It’s just Olivia,” I corrected her. I wrapped my arms around Adelaide, tickling her. “Do you like waking me up in the morning?”
Adelaide giggled and laughed nodding vigorously. “I wanted to wake Joshua, too, but he was already outside.” Tria walked out of the room, leaving Adelaide with me. I shifted onto my back, letting my eyes adjust as Adelaide bounced on the mattress excitedly.
“Are you hungry for breakfast?” I asked. She must have been ready to eat. It was why she’d wanted to wake me, right?
Adelaide shrugged. Her eyes lit up with a smile. “I want to show you something.”
I nodded through heavy eyes, sitting up in bed. “What is it?” I asked, trying to seem interested even though I was tired and cranky from lack of sleep.
Adelaide smiled. “Promise not to tell?”
“I promise.” I kissed her cheek and she clasped her hands together and blew into them. She giggled and opened her palms as a butterfly flew out.
“See what I can do!” she squealed with delight.
I sighed, realizing she’d figured out about the Mindonsiphan long before the rest of us had. Perhaps she hadn’t fully known or understood what she was capable of, but she was smart and imaginative, a dangerous combination.
“I bet I can make fairies, too!” She giggled clasping her hands together again.
“Wait!” My eyes widened as I stopped her, resting my hands above hers. “We need to talk,” I breathed. Adelaide frowned, confused. It hadn’t been the easiest conversation to have with a six-year old. Trying to explain to her what we’d done to save her life and how she was now forever different. She didn’t mind that. What she hadn’t liked was the fact we insisted she keep it a secret.
“I don’t want to,” Adelaide whined, climbing off the bed as she sulked out of my suite.
“Adelaide!” I called out to her. I climbed off the bed, grabbing the robe from the previous night as I headed for the hall. I glanced from side-to-side trying to make out which way she’d gone. “Adelaide!” I tried to keep my voice down, unsure the hour and concerned about waking the entire town. The sun had come up some time ago and based on Adelaide’s previous time living with us, she was an early riser.
Joshua turned the corner, a steaming hot mug in his hand. I stopped abruptly, careful not to walk into him. “What’s going on?” he asked.
“Adelaide knows,” I emphasized giving Joshua a look.
“Knows what?” He frowned.
She’s figured out about the Mindonsiphan.We didn’t have time to sit down and talk. I needed to find Adelaide. I explained she couldn’t use her power or speak about it around anyone but she ran out of the room.
“Where’d she go?” Josh asked taking a sip of tea from the mug.
“I’m not sure.” If I knew where she ran off to I’d have sat her down again, tried to reason with her.
“Okay.” Joshua sighed, thinking it over for a minute. “Go back and get changed. Meet me outside in five minutes. We’ll find her before breakfast and both of us will sit down, try and figure this out together.”
“Thanks,” I breathed, rushing back into our room. In a hurry, I grabbed the first gown from the wardrobe, pulling it down from a hanger and tossed it on the bed. Stripping out of my pajamas, I slid the gown over my head. This one required the back to be tied up, but I left it for the moment, unsure how to do it on my own. The gowns were extravagant, nothing like the dresses I wore in Haven or Shadow.
Heading out of my room, Joshua stood in the hall, waiting for me. “I need some help.” I gestured towards my back. The sleeves of the dress were short, but kept me covered as he examined my back. “Not too tight,” I warned him.
“Okay. I can figure this out,” he muttered working on the ties as he laced them properly and tightened them down, giving me a bust I never knew I had. “I think it’s a corset.” Joshua smiled as he tied the bottom and I turned around to face him. His eyes moved over and down my body and I felt my cheeks redden. The bottom of the dress fanned out.
“Quit staring,” I chided, grabbing his hand before leading him down the hall. “We need to find Adelaide.”
We spent most of the morning searching the hall and square. Tria was setting the table as we entered the dining room. “Have you seen Adelaide?” I asked. I bent down, glancing under the table to make sure she wasn’t hiding there.
Tria frowned. “Not since I brought her into your room this morning.” She paused for a moment. “Have you tried the kitchen or the school?”
Joshua and I exchanged a look. “I’ll check the kitchen,” he offered as Tria pointed the way.
“Where is the school?” I doubted she was taking classes, but it was a place to hide. No one would question why a child was at school during the day.
After she gave Joshua directions she turned towards me. “I’ll take you there,” Tria offered.
“Thank you.” I followed her out of the dining room and back to the square where we’d come from. From the city square, we descended stone stairs that led further into the building. I had no idea there were so many halls and places to hide.
“If you don’t mind me asking, why did Adelaide run off?” Tria led me through the corridors and down to the school. Adelaide wasn’t there.
I’ve got her. I heard Joshua’s voice and glanced at Tria. “We should double back to the kitchen. Make sure Joshua hasn’t found her.”
Tria didn’t ask again and I was glad she hadn’t pried for more information. We turned around and headed up the stairs. I squinted as we escaped the dark narrow halls surrounded by stone walls and back into the city square. Tria escorted me past the dining room and towards the kitchen. I didn’t want to tell her I’d found my way the previous night there with Henry. I didn’t need Joshua worrying and rumors spreading.
The last leg of the way, Joshua came walking with us, Adelaide in hand. “I found her!” He waved towards us with a relieved smile.
“Thank you, Tria.” She disappeared down the hall and I headed towards the two of them. “Where have you been?” I scolded Adelaide, eyes wide as I gripped her arm. Joshua let go as I guided her back up to her suite. I wasn’t even sure she should have her own room here.
“I don’t have to listen to you!” Adelaide pulled from my grasp. “You’re not my mother,” she retorted. I showed no emotion, not giving into her temper tantrum. We were all she had left.
“You’re right. I’m not.” I led her into her suite, with Joshua right behind us. He shut the door. Adelaide didn’t budge from her space, standing in front of me defiantly. She was strong-willed and had already experienced so much as a child. I stared at her, leaning forward and down to her eye level. “You do magic.” It was the only word I could use to describe what she’d done, what we were all capable of. “And they’ll see to it you’re locked away without ever seeing the light of day again.” I had intended to scare her, whether it would work or not, I wasn’t sure.
Joshua watched the exchange and I was happy he didn’t play the good guy, undermining what I said to her. I’d saved her once, I wasn’t sure I’d be there the second time.
Adelaide stared at me, her lip pouty and she crossed her arms. “You lie!” she screamed at me, scrunching her face, judging me. It was all she could do: try and determine if I told the truth.
“I wish I were, Adelaide.” I moved towards her bed, seeing it already made. I sat down above the covers, patting for her to join me. “What we can do, others view as dangerous,” I tried to explain it to her in a way she’d understand. “We’re special, so special that everyone who finds out will want to be just like us.”