Eloise opened her eyes slowly. Morning light filled the room, soft and warm against her skin. For a moment, she didn't move. She just lay there, staring up at the ceiling, feeling like she wasn't sure where she was.
Then it all came back.
The dinner.
The stares.
The garden.
Vincent's hand brushing her hair away.
She sat up slowly in bed, looking around the room. The window was open a little, letting in cool air. A vase of white flowers stood on the little table beside her. Their sweet smell filled the room, and for some reason, it made her chest feel tight.
A gentle knock came at the door.
Eloise's heart jumped. "Y-yes?" she called.
The door opened, and Maren came in holding a tray. There was a cup of tea and some bread and fruit on it.
"Good morning, my lady," Maren said kindly, setting the tray down. She looked at Eloise for a moment, her face soft, like she was worried.
Eloise gave her a small nod. "Morning."
"I thought you might be hungry," Maren added quietly. "You didn't eat much last night."
Eloise looked down at the food but her stomach twisted at the memory of last night's dinner. The heavy silence. The sharp eyes watching her. The king's loud voice. But then she remembered Vincent's words in the garden… his touch. The way, for a little while, she hadn't felt so alone.
She reached for the cup of tea. Her fingers shook a little.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Maren lingered by the door. She opened her mouth like she wanted to say more, then stopped. After a moment, she spoke.
"The Queen wishes to see you this morning."
Eloise froze, the cup in her hand.
"Queen Calypso?" she asked, her voice soft.
Maren gave a small nod. "Yes. In the white chamber."
Eloise felt fear crawl up her throat. She wanted to say no, wanted to hide under the blankets, but she knew she couldn't.
"I… I'll go," she whispered.
Maren gave her a sad, gentle look, then left the room.
Eloise sat there for a while, holding the warm cup. She wasn't sure how she was going to face the Queen. Every part of her felt like a scared child again. But she also felt… something else. A little spark of something she hadn't felt in years
She stood up, washed her face in the small bowl by the window, and put on the simple gray dress Maren had left for her. It wasn't fancy, but it was clean, and the soft cloth made her feel a little better.
She looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was messy, and her eyes were still a bit red, but there was something steady in them too.
For the first time in a long while… she didn't feel like she was disappearing.
Eloise took a deep breath, turned away from the mirror, and left the room. She didn't know what the Queen wanted but she would face it.
The hallway felt too big as Eloise walked through it. Her feet made soft sounds against the floor, and the light from the tall windows made the walls glow. She held her hands tightly in front of her, trying to stop them from shaking.
A guard waited at the end of the hall. He didn't speak, only opened a tall white door for her
Eloise stepped inside.
The room was bright and cold. White walls, white floor, white curtains. It felt too clean… too quiet. In the middle of the room, sitting by a window, was Queen Calypso.
The Queen wore a long black dress today. Her dark hair fell in waves down her back, and her pale hands held a glass of red wine. She didn't look up right away.
Eloise stood still, unsure if she should speak.
Then the Queen's voice broke the silence.
"Come closer."
It wasn't a request. It was an order.
Eloise swallowed and stepped forward.
The Queen finally looked at her. Her sharp eyes, cold as ice, seemed to look right through her. It made Eloise's skin crawl.
"I see Vincent still keeps you around," the Queen said slowly, her voice calm but carrying something sharp underneath. "I expected him to grow bored of his little toy by now."
Eloise felt her heart pound, but she said nothing.
The Queen stood and walked to her. She was taller than Eloise, and when she stopped in front of her, the space between them felt too small.
"Listen carefully, girl," the Queen whispered, her voice low and poisonous. "You might have Vincent's attention now… but it won't last. And when it doesn't, you'll wish you'd never stepped foot in this castle."
Eloise forced herself to keep her chin up, though her hands trembled at her sides.
"I didn't ask to be here," she said quietly.
The Queen smirked. "No one asks, girl. We're all dragged into this place one way or another. But you… you're not one of us. You never will be."
She brushed a cold finger under Eloise's chin, lifting it slightly. "Stay out of my way. Or you'll learn what happens to pests."
Then, without another word, the Queen turned and walked back to her chair.
"You can go now."
Eloise didn't wait. She turned and left the room quickly, closing the door behind her. Her chest hurt, and her stomach felt sick.
But as she walked back down the hallway, something in her tightened. The Queen's words hurt but they didn't break her. Not this time.
For the first time, in a very long time, she felt a flicker of anger. And something else.
Who told the queen she planned on staying here forever? She let out a sad little laugh and reminded herself that she had to look for her family. Although her mother was gone, her grandparents and her sister were still alive. And her father….even if he abandoned them. She was going to look for all of them.
She wasn't going to let them destroy her. Not now, not ever!