Althea sprawled across her bed, eyes sunken, rimmed with red, and glassy from the relentless crying that had consumed her for days. Her hair, once neatly kept, now fell in tangled waves around her pale face. She didn't move, just stared ahead, unblinking. She was a shell of herself. The kind of empty that no words could fill.
The soft golden curtains were muted by the grey cast of the stormy sky outside. The ornate mirror in the corner reflected her form…a broken figure curled like a question mark, searching for something that wasn't there anymore.
A knock came in and like the many others, Althea ignored it. The person knocked some more but Althea didn't budge.
"Can you open the door, my lady? I heard you haven't eaten for days now."
Althea sprang up the moment she heard that voice. She couldn't mistake it for anything. The voice that had been by her side serving her all through her life.
Despite her body's protests, she stumbled to the door, nearly collapsing as she yanked it open.
There she was.
"Eliza?" she choked, disbelieving, eyes already swimming with fresh tears. "Is it really you?"
"Yes, my lady," Eliza replied softly, tears sliding freely down her cheeks.
Althea lunged forward and embraced her, her arms shaking from the sudden motion. The tray of food Eliza had been holding clattered to the floor. Althea buried her face into Eliza's shoulder and wept as the dam had finally broken.
She cried uncontrollably as if she hadn't shed tears for days. The overwhelming emotion took its toll, and before long, she felt dizzy and fainted in Eliza's embrace.
When Althea opened her eyes again, her bedroom ceiling greeted her. The light was softer now, and the storm outside had quieted to a whisper. She turned her head slowly. Eliza was at the foot of her bed, laying out a fresh gown with the careful precision she always used.
"Eliza…" her voice was raspy.
Eliza turned quickly and hurried to her side, supporting her with an arm and piling soft pillows behind her back. "Take it slow, my lady. You've been through so much."
Eliza shifted slightly away, but Althea tugged her closer, wrapping her arms around Eliza's waist and resting her head against her stomach. She was afraid Eliza would disappear and it was all an illusion.
They stayed like that for some minutes with Eliza rubbing her hands through Althea's silk hair to provide her comfort.
"I'm not going anywhere," Eliza replied, stroking Althea's hair in slow, calming motions.
Althea's stomach grumbled loudly but she barely registered it.
"Let me go get you something to eat, you haven't eaten for days now," Eliza said as she tried to gently pull herself away.
"I'm not hungry," Althea murmured, but her stomach let out another loud growl, betraying her.
Eliza laughed softly. "Yes, you are. I'll be back before you know it."
"Promise?" Althea looked up at Eliza with puppy eyes, her hands still wrapped around her waist.
"I promise," Eliza said, brushing the hair off Althea's forehead.
Still hesitant, Althea finally released her.
As soon as Eliza left, the silence returned like a familiar enemy. Althea sat still, her heart pacing fast, her mind racing with every second Eliza was gone. What if they took her away again? What if this was a setup? Her nails dug into the blanket beneath her. The seconds stretched like hours.
The door creaked open and she lifted her head, expecting Eliza's face. Her mind calmed down when Eliza walked through the door with a tray of food. Eliza's lips were pursed and her body language hinted at discomfort. Althea's smile faded once she saw Nathaniel walking in behind Eliza.
Althea's stomach clenched. Whatever relief she had felt vanished.
What was he doing here? She gritted her teeth as she watched him walk across the room and towards her.
Oh heavens, give me strength and I will distort whatever guts he has to do this to me out of his body, Althea silently prayed.
Eliza quickly bowed to him and placed the tray on the side table, avoiding Althea's eyes. Then she left the room without a word.
Nathaniel approached with that ever-calm expression he wore like armor. "You need to eat," he said plainly, sitting beside her and lifting a spoon.
Althea turned her face away. "My hands work just fine. Leave."
Nathaniel ignored the venom in her voice. "Will you eat, or should I send Eliza back?"
Her glare hardened….but her hunger outweighed her pride. She and she ate the food from his hand. She begrudgingly ate the porridge which she hated but she was so hungry she could eat a horse.
"I'm full," Althea grumbled when she couldn't stomach anymore but Nathaniel wasn't having it.
He looked her over, measuring the curve of her arms, her sunken cheeks, and her fragile frame. Compared to Hilda, she looked withered. She was really skinny, he thought to himself, urging her to eat more,
"You're not," he replied.
By the time he was satisfied, Althea slumped back against the pillows, stomach bulging slightly under her dress. Her breath came out in soft pants, her limbs heavy. She didn't even have the strength to glare anymore.
"I'll leave you to rest now," Nathaniel said, standing and brushing invisible dust from his coat, a satisfied smirk tugging at the edge of his lips.
As soon as the door shut behind him, Eliza reappeared.
"That young sire is really handsome!" she whispered with a playful smile.
Althea rolled her eyes so hard it hurt. "He's a beast," she muttered.
She couldn't see past his condescending self, forcing a young lady out of her kingdom and caging her in this God-forsaking hell hole. He was nothing but a beast, Althea thought.
She forced herself upright with effort, cradling her stomach. Some of the food had started to settle, giving her back a little strength. She grabbed Eliza's hand tightly, her expression shifting from weariness to something fierce.
She held her servant's hand. "It is good that you're now," she looked at Eliza seriously. "Let's escape!"