Chapter Eight
Disquietude
"Good morning, Katelynn!"
I woke up to the cheerful greeting of Alice. I smiled in return, for I was still half-asleep, and could manage no more. The very idea of last night makes me want to fall asleep where I stand. Would I ever receive a peaceful night of sleep?
"How are you feeling?" Alice asked cautiously, subliminally asking if I was still hurting from Peter's words.
"I'm okay... I think." How could I know? I wasn't face-to-face with Peter.
"Good, because you're heading to the Castle today." Julius murmured, before taking a sip of his tea.
"W-What for?" I asked, unsure if I could handle bumping into Peter or not.
"Remember? Vivaldi wanted to meet you again for tea, since she had to leave so quickly last time. One of the Castle's soldiers came to bring the message while you were still asleep." Alice explained, then flashed me an apologetic smile. "It's okay if you don't want to go. I mean, I'm definetly not one to want to meet with Peter, but... Vivaldi might disapprove." Alice shrugged, with her smile still plastered on.
"No, no, it's fine, I'll go." I nodded, maybe a bit longer than neccessary. I was trying to prove to myself that I'd be alright, along with Alice.
"Hmph." Julius muttered. I flinched, how comforting.
"That's great!" Alice cried, trying to ease my anxiety of going to the Castle. But going to the Castle didn't mean I would meet with Peter.. It just made the chances alot higher.
What was I afraid of, anyways?
Was it that I was afraid he would be just like Carsyn? Did Peter not already say he hates me? It was not to my face, no, but, still... Did he have plans to confront me? He couldn't... wouldn't he have flipped out on me already? I think I'll be safe, he pays too much attention to Alice, anyaways...
It felt like I got struck on the head, with rememberance of yesterday. I was so forgetful... "Oh, that's right, Julius. Didn't you say you wanted to talk to me about something?" With all the excitement of yesterday, I had completely forgotten about Julius. However, Julius had seemed to have forgotten as well, so, it couldn't possibly be all my fault, right?
"No," Julius murmured simply.
"Eh?" I cried, taken back. "Yesterday-"
"Was yesterday. Today, I have nothing to tell you." Julius narrowed his eyes.
"Julius!" Alice placed her hands on her hips. They both knew something that I did not.
Suddenly, nervousness flickered through Julius' eyes, an emotion I thought I would never see in him... What could put such an emotion in Julius, whom I thought cared not, felt not. "I have nothing to say. Don't you two have to be at the Castle?" Julius asked.
"Uh, yeah, I guess we could head there." I murmured, glancing at Alice, who was glaring at Julius. Julius, catching her eyes, looked away, ashamed. Odd... what did Julius want to tell me, that he can no longer?
"Right," Alice spat through her teeth, glaring at Julius, though he still wasn't looking at Alice. She glanced at me. "Let's go."
As Alice led us to Heart Castle, I couldn't keep my mind off of how odd Julius had acted. I glanced at Alice sideways. "Uh-" I started, then backtracked when Alice glanced at me. I shook my head. "Never mind." Although I knew Alice knew, I thought it was best to leave what was to be said to Julius. Obviously, it had to do with Julius. Once he's comfortable with telling me, if he ever will be, he'll tell me. I'll leave it to Julius.
"Welcome, Alice." The five of hearts card soldier greeted.
"Welcome, Katelynn." The six of hearts card soldier greeted.
I felt overwhelmed with joy that the soldier remembered me, that although Alice merely nodded at the gatekeepers, I returned the greeting. "Hello!" I cried as cheerfully as I could, hoping my gratitude was expressed.
Alice glanced at me, seeming amused.
I blushed a bit and stared straight at the Castle.
Alice pushed open the doors to the Castle. However, the Castle was bustling with maids- yet no Vivaldi, nor Peter, were seen. I glanced at Alice. "Where do you think Queen Vivaldi would be?"
"We are here." I jumped as Vivaldi appeared before us. "You came to join us for tea, yes?"
"Yes!" Alice smiled.
"We are pleased to have you join us for tea at such a beautiful time. Our favourite time." Vivaldi explained, as she led us to a long table outside. What is so beautiful about the evening? There were many things that interested, as well as confused, me about Vivaldi. The biggest thing would be how she goes by "we."
The coast is still clear... no Peter. Then, I shook my head as I took a seat. Jeez, Katelynn, chill out! Why wouldn't you want to see Peter... handsome Peter... -I mean! What is the worst that could happen, when, although you were in shadows, you experienced his hate... It couldn't possible be any worse face-to-face, right? I felt my head spin as I quarreled with myself. My arguement was going around in circles.
"Katelynn,"
I jerked at Vivaldi's call. Best not to zone out when dining with the Queen!
"Have you made your decision about your place of stay?" Vivaldi asked.
"Place of stay? Err, at the Clock Tower?" I guessed. Was that not worded oddly?
"Hmm, how odd that the misanthropic clock maker should take in two outsiders. But yes, that is your permanent place of stay?" Vivaldi asked again.
"I-I didn't realize I could stay elsewhere." I answered, then began to worry. If Julius is known to not enjoy the company of people, then maybe that is what he wanted to talk about! Maybe.. he wants me out!
"But of course!" Vivaldi exclaimed. "People of this world love outsiders, so naturally, they could stay anywhere. We included wouldn't mind if either of you came to stay at the Castle."
I took a sip of my tea nervously, and exchanged glances with Alice. My own doubt was reflected in Alice's eyes. "Although the Castle is magnificent, Vivaldi, you know how I cannot stand Peter..." Alice explained.
"You need not give us an explanation. We understand completely; White often irritates us, too." Vivaldi shook her head as Alice smiled.
I glanced away from Vivaldi and Alice, losing myself into my thoughts, despite being company. If I could choose where to stay... would it be at the Tower? Or would I want to be somewhere fun, like the Amusement Park? Or close to someone I carefor, here at the Castle? Though, I've always liked being the Switzerland of the group... I pondered over the idea... excluding the Mansion completely.
Then my thoughts wandered to Peter. Despite his hate towards me, I still felt bad for him. He didn't deserve all the hate he got from Alice, nor whatever ill emotion Vivaldi felt towards him. He deserves only the best.
I snapped back to reality when I heard a door open, and I saw Peter walking in. Suddenly, my thoughts were racing at a hundred miles per hour, and I couldn't put on the brakes. I felt adrenaline pulsing through my beins, and the "fight or flight" urge fell over me. I literally felt as if I was in danger; I needed to escape it.
Not realizing yet what I was doing exactly, I stood up and ran the opposite direction of Peter. I heard Alice stand up, but I kept running- I didn't care if I got lost... I just knew that I couldn't face Peter. Not that he would pay any attention to me... But, it was personally too much to bear.
I left the Castle, yelling a quick "thank you" to the card soldiers. What I just did was stupid, I thought. I'm being ridiculous.
I opened the door to the Tower, not believing how quickly I had gotten away from Peter and the Castle. Julius turned to me, and I suddenly felt the adrenaline seep out of my veins. My heart was pounding and I could barely breathe; my body was numb and I felt as if I was going to pass out.
I was physically inept.
"Katelynn! What happened?" Julius demanded, placing his hand on my shoulder.
"How odd that the misanthropic clock maker should take in two outsiders."
I shrugged away Julius' hand, and snapped at him. "Why do you care?" I asked, before leaving the Clock Tower.
Dumb-ss, dumb-ss, dumb-ss. I repeated over and over in my head.
I headed into the forest, and once I felt I was far enough, slunked aganst a tree. I'm not sure why I went to the Tower if I was just going to run away. But, my thoughts became blurry, along with my vision. I felt exhausted and I still had yet to calm down from running so far, so fast. Laying down against the dirt, I blacked out.
-Heart Castle POV-
Vivaldi stared at Peter, who had interrupted her tea party with Alice and Katelynn. He had caused Katelynn to run, in what Vivaldi thought was fear. Alice then, after a quick apology, followed.
"White." Vivaldi called to her Minister.
"Your majesty?" Peter asked.
"We believe you must change your attitude." Vivaldi murmured, glaring at Peter.
"Deja Vu, I've been told this before." Peter commented under his breath, Then, to Vivaldi, asked. "How so?"
"Towards Katelynn." Vivaldi explained, her tone suggesting it was obvious.
"Katelynn? Why, I rarely see her, let alone speak to her." Peter glanced around at the now-deserted tea table. "Was she here?"
"Yes. She saw you, and ran off. We believe she is afraid of you." Vivaldi muttered, walking away. Thinking twice, she said over her shoulder. "If you do not care to have kind relations with her, fake it, so that she is not afraid to come and visit us again."
