Hello everyone, this is a transitional chapter so bear with me here. Here's chapter 4:
The room where Jenna opened her eyes was dimly lit. She tried to move that pain filled her body. With a loud groan she started to get sitted.
"You awake?" Septimus's voice came and she turned to her right. He ran to her and knelt beside her.
"Better? We were worried sick."
She looked around and saw the room's wrecked state with its torn curtains, darkened windows and broken furniture. Beetle was sleeping against the wall in sitting position. No matter how she looked around she didn't see Syrah. "Where's Syrah? Where are we?" Jenna asked urgently and crutches Septimus's cloak.
Septimus looked down. "I dont know. After mp defense broke down, I was carried to the place where they had captured you and Beetle. There I saw Syrah on a horse being guarded by one of them but after we were brought here..." he let out a loud sigh. "She was dragged away and us three were brought here." gently, he tucked Jenna's hair behind her ear. "Beetle and I did all we could to relieve your wounds but I'm afraid it wont be enough. You might be feeling pain in your body right now."
Of course Jenna felt pain but not physically. She hid her face behind her both hands. If she hadn't been that stubborn and just continued her daily life non of this would have happened. Who knew what had happened to Syrah and it was all her fault. Septimus's soothing words didn't calm her down. She felt her tears falling down in between her fingers and sniffed, she had to be strong.
"Jenna," Beetle's had woken up from their sound. He rushed to them and gazed at her anxiously. "Hey hey look at me." he said with a low voice when he saw her red nose between her hands. Jenna brought her head up slowly and looked at his bruised face. "Thank god you're okay." he reached forward and ran his fingers under her violet eyes to wipe her tears. "We gonna get out. Don't worry."
"Yeah we can get out from here." he agreed loudly to remind them of his presence. Quietly Beetle sat back as if being brought to reality.
"Can't you open the door?" asked Jenna hopefully. She kept gulping to quit crying and concentrate in the situation.
He shook his head in denial. "I dont know what kind of place this is but I can't summon my magyk."
"We were blindfolded." added Beetle. "So we didn't see where they were taking us. I guess we should wait for now. They will probably say what they want from us and then we'll be on our way." he managed a fade smile but he himself wasn't so sure of his words.
All of a sudden the door opened harshly and made them jump. Before they knew it or could even protest they were dragged out of the room.
Once out of the dark hallways they finally reached a massive courtyard. Jenna was amazed at its beauty. Shining icicles were hanging from trees that matched the snowy atmosphere of the courtyard. Everything from the tall palace walls to the floor beneath them was white and shiny, so much that it hurt the eye.
They were pushed forward to walk. After walking for few minutes they found themselves in front of three ice decorated chairs. Two at lower step with the highest in the middle.
"Eastern snow planes.' Beetle whispered to them and pointed with his eyes to the man wearing a white crown sitting in the middle and the two also crowned women at his sides.
Jenna looked at their pale faces and realised something. "Sep, it's Princess Drifa." she was bemused at seeing her.
"Who?"
"The girl that rode the dragon ship with us not long ago." She reminded him but couldn't go on any further as the man with long white beard stood up with great posture so that his giant crown wouldn't move an inch.
"It has come to my attention that you have invaded our territory without permission to do so, is that correct?" he voiced in sturdy tone.
Beetle shifted uncomfortably in his place and looked at Jenna who was silent. "It is correct but it was an accident."
"Accident?" Princese Drifa smirked. "Explain to me this accident."
"Well_"
"I wouldn't take that tone if I were you." Jenna's harsh statement cut through Beetle's attempt to clear everything. She tilted her higher and ignored Septimus's nudge on shoulder. "You know well who I am, don't you?"
Princess Drifa narrowed her eyes. "I do,"
Getting strength, Jenna raised her voiced. "So do you think treatment deserved by criminals is suited for a royal of the Castle?" she may have hated that Queen book all her life, but she knew tone and posture lesson by heart and would use it to her advantage. "And you might be interested to know that here with me are Chief Hermetic Scribe and Extraordinary Wizard's apprentice."
"It is true, we can prove it." accompanied Septimus earnestly.
Set back by Jenna's outburst the man looked at Princess Drifa to confirm. She nod her head once and caused him to look at the other woman with distaste.
He motioned at the guards to open them. "Please accept our sincere apology of not recognizing you sooner, Your Majesty." he sat back on his chair. "You may leave anytime you want."
"Where is Syrah? That girl who was with us." Septimus asked as if suddenly remembered.
With forced smile, Princess Drifa gazed at him. "She is being treated but don't worry, she's fine." she looked at the man. "Father, don't you think it's better if the stay with us until she fully recovers?" she asked and looked back at Septimus and Beetle, deliberately avoiding Jenna's gaze. "We will have special dormitory set up for you. Will you accept?"
Septimus, Beetle and Jenna exchanged silent defeated glances.
Later at night after dinner, Jenna took shower which she soon regretted after experiencing the ice cold water. Much to her surprise the maids told her that they never use hot water for showering so it's not that big of deal.
Freezing, she followed the maid to the room they made for her. "Are we all staying in this room?" she asked the maid.
"No Your Majesty, there is another room down the hallway for guests." she politely opened the door for her. "May you have a pleasant sleep."
Jenna smiled and thanked her. She walked into the room and the maid closed the door behind her. The room was beautifully designed. Silver and gold colours gave it royal and warm yet snowy feel. The light was dim so she couldn't see much of the furniture. After moving around a bit she clutched a long wood and realised it's the bed frame.
Glad to finally rest, Jenna sat on the bed. The bedding was soft silk. As she moved her hand on the blanked she touched something. It was a hand. Startled, she screamed and jumped up to move away from it.
A figure sat us. "What? What's going on?" Beetle's paniced voice came through the darkness.
"Beetle?" Jenna called and moved forward. "What are you doing in my room?" she placed her hand on her chest that her heart was still pounding in it.
"They gave me this room." he answered shortly while still being sat up.
Jenna pulled a chair from the table in middle of the room and sat on it. "Why would they do that and just separate Sep and Syrah from us?" flustered she wiped her face and pushed her still wet hair back. "We shouldn't stay here. I have a bad feeling about this place."
"Agreed,"
"Then in the morning we'll go find Sep and Syrah and we're out."
Beetle wasn't so sure about that but didn't say it out loud and just resorted to nodding his head. "You need to rest, we both do." he let out a loud sigh and clapped his hands on his knees once. "Come on you sleep here and I'll take the couch." he got up and took a pair of blanket and pillow with him. As he was walking to the couch, softly, Jenna took his hand and he came to halt.
"How are your injuries?" she asked guiltily as she had suddenly seen his bruised arms and face when he walked into the candle light.
With one hand still holding onto the blanket, Beetle circled his other hand around Jenna's wrist while she still held onto his wrist. He looked in her eyes with sudden feeling of genuine happiness of her caring so much about him. "I'm alright, you don't have to worry about anything. Just be well yourself so that I can be okay." he smiled and started to let go but couldn't do it.
Jenna didn't want to let go either.
They stayed that way and looked into each others eyes. With newly profound courage, Beetle let go of her wrist and so did she. Slowly he reached up to her face and touched her cheek. She closed her eyes with a smile as he caressed her face.
He wasn't thinking about anything and started to bend his knees to level with her. Slowly he came down without breaking his gaze even once.
Jenna opened her eyes and met his gaze. She didn't know how this magical moment was occurring but she didn't feel that she wanted to stop it.
He got closer to her and she just watched him. Beetle was so close now and Jenna felt it was all she had wanted. At that moment, in her mind, Beetle's eyes were replaced by Septimus's. She didn't know how did Septimus pop up but became so confused that the moment broke for her. Abruptly, Jenna turned her head away from him and left his hand hanging in the air. "I, we_" she started as she saw Beetle's disappointed gaze from side of her eyes that he stopped her.
"We're both tired. Better get some rest." he voiced as if nothing had happened though feeling too crestfallen inside. "Good night Jen," with that he got up and lied on the couch. Only if he had known what happened that stopped them; with that thought he closed his eyes to sleep.
Jenna too lied down and closed her eyes. For the first time in her life she couldn't understand her feelings. She felt unable to figure out whether it was Beetle that she liked or Septimus and it was horrible. She couldn't do that to them, it was too cruel. With the thought of never letting anything like this happen again she fell asleep.
"Thank you for the your hospitality, Your Majesty." Septimus said polity to the King as he enjoyed the breakfast after a good night rest. "We will be sure to return it upon your visit to the Castle."
Jenna and Beetle nodded in support and stayed silent. None of them had slept well the night before.
"Extraordinary Wizard's apprentice, have you seen Drifa's magyk shelf? I think it will entertain you greatly." the King caressed Drifa's hair and she smiled.
"Oh that's sounds great." Septimus voiced with enthusiasm. "Can I see it?" he asked Drifa politely.
Drifa shifted in her place and her proud smile grew larger. "I'll show you the way." she immediately got up and so did Septimus.
"You guys coming?" he asked Jenna and Beetle.
Reluctant to see magykal objects, Jenna shook her head but Beetle got up before seeing her answer. He eyed her with worry of leaving her alone but she blinked once to reassure him so that he can go with them.
Once they were gone; the King turned to Jenna. "How are you handling the political affairs? A bit tiresome am I right? Especially for a girl at your age." he wasn't sarcastic but Jenna felt offended.
"On the contrary, handling them are not hard. Although_" her answer was interrupted by the entrance of a young man.
He messed his black hair and walked to them in a carefree manner which was unlike Drifa's who was well poised. The shining floor got marked by his muddy foot prints as he reached the table and pulled the chair back with his feet to sit down.
Jenna saw the King twitch his mouth but didn't say anything.
"Let me introduce my eldest son, Prince Dave."
"Nice to meet you. I am Jen... Queen Jenna from the Castle." she used the best tone she could muster at seeing his arrogant stare locked at her.
Dave crossed his legs and started buttering his bread. "Queen, huh?" he mocked and took a bite of his bread. "I think Castle is my next destination. Am I right father? I've done all the hunting possible in here." he relaxed in his sit and watched King's irritated expression.
Jenna felt she was sitting on nail under his stare so she got up and excused herself to go to her room. Glad by her understanding the King allowed her.
Briskly she walked to the massive doors the she heard Dave's voice. "Why haven't I seen you before, beauty?" she turned back out of curiosity to see him holding a maid's wrist and smirking while she was struggling to get get free.
"Your majesty, please let me go." the maid pleaded in low and frightened voice.
"What to do? You are wasted like this. If you and I_"
"Let her go!" Jenna demanded loudly when she saw that the King wasn't doing anything but just continuing his breakfast as if nothing was happening.
"What did you say?"
She moved closer to them with her head held high and a deep frown. "I said you let her go right now."
Dave laughed mockingly but didn't let go of the maid's hand. "She belongs to this palace. That means she belongs to me."
"She's not an object."
"She knows what she is when she lives here."
"Then explain why she is resisting you." retorted Jenna and crossed her arms at seeing his laughter increase.
"What? Want me to hold your hand instead of hers'?" Dave teased her. "Fine by me. You're more beautiful." he stood up without letting go of the maid's hand.
"Dave," the King warned but he didn't even look at his father who seemed too defeated to protest further.
Jenna let out a laugh of frustration and anger and took Dave's coffee cup. "What to do? It seems you can't hold any of these hands." with a swift motion she hit the cup against the table and and scratched Dave's wrist slightly with it's sharp broken edge.
With a quiet shriek of pain he let go of the maid's hand and held his wrist with his other hand. He looked at her with disbelief.
Alarmed by her action, the King jumped up but before he could say anything Jenna took the crying maid's hand and stormed out of the room.
Septimus and Beetle's sound of talking and laughter grew closer to her room. Jenna was laying on her bed with her eyes wide open. She was still breathing rapidly with anger from the way Dave had treated her.
The door opened and she heard them call her name. Closing her eyes to pretend being sleep, she didn't reply.
"Hey Jen, wake up. You're going to love this." Septimus shook her arm persistently.
She got up and acted as if she had just woken up from a good sleep. "What is it?"
"Princess Drifa took us to the frozen lake. You gotta check it out."
Beetle sat beside them on the bed with a huge grin. "He's right, it was amazing. Just your type."
Still a little dazed, she tried to smile and fixed her hair. "Sure," Jenna wasn't sure how to ask them so that they won't get suspicious. "But how about we leave? We've stayed for too long."
A knocking sound came and Beetle got up to answer. Septimus was still energetic from witnessing so many magykal elements from somewhere other than the Castle. "Yeah, but we still have time. Remember Syrah? We should wait for her to wake up. Until then I think we can explore as much as we can." he smiled reassuringly and took her free hand. "I know you're worried about your queste. we'll get to that, I promise."
Jenna had completely forgotten about her queste. "Oh yeah, sure." she was saved by Beetle who came to them with an envelope.
"We are all invited to Princess Drifa's birthday party tonight. They said they"ll send clothes over for us." he gazed at Jenna. "You okay with it?"
"Yeah why you ask?"
"Just because." he answered curtly looked at Septimus. "We better leave her so that she can get ready."
"Alright," Septimus got up, clearly pleased with the treatment they were receiving. "Then see you tonight, Jen. Let's go Beet."
Jenna followed them to the door. Septimus went out first. When she wanted to close the door, Beetle paused and turned to her. "What was it? Did anything happen at the breakfast?" he asked with a thoughtful expression.
"No, I'm fine."
He kept his stare locked at her violet eyes. "You sure that there is nothing you want to tell us?"
Jenna felt lost at not telling them. For some reason she felt her humiliation from Dave's behavior would get deeper if she admitted to it ever happening. She shook her head in denial.
Beetle nod once and reached in his pocket. "Okay Jenna, if that's what you say." he turned to leave and Jenna let out a sigh of relief that he again turned back and held out the napkin to her. "Better clear the wound first." he took her hand that Jenna just realised was injured from breaking the cup and blood had dried on it. She cursed herself for not realising when she was fixing her hair with it. "You can say again that nothing happened tonight that the evidence is gone and I'll believe it."
With that he left the room leaving Jenna dumbfounded. She clutched the napkin and gulped to not let her tears of guilt fall.
Okay so another chapter done. Hope you like it though it was a little introductory. Will do my best update soon and have the story get better. Please review and tell me how you think about it. Bye for now.