Disclaimer: If I haven't told you enough times already, I own nothing that Gail Levine put in her books! Happy?!
Eric couldn't convince Catherine to leave the book. She held it protectively to her chest, and kicked Eric if he tried to take it, and she could really kick! Eric had bruises on his knees after trying. "Alright, but you have to hide it. If mom finds out you took it…" He said, trailing off to let Catherine think up what would happen…
That night, Eric dreamed…
He saw his mother, only younger, scrubbing floors. A fat girl stood over her demanding that she scrub harder, when the floors were already shiny and clean. The scene changed:
Ella crying as she wrote a letter…
Eric woke up in a cold sweat. The dreams had been so real… So lifelike. He noticed that it was early morning, rays of sunlight poured in the windows. He heard soft footsteps and an insistent knock on his door. He knew it wasn't his mother, she wouldn't knock. He quickly pulled on his trousers and shirt that lay on the chair next to his bed.
He opened the door, and Lauren stood there. Her hair was wild, as if she hadn't brushed it that morning, and her eyes were wild. "Have you seen Catherine!?" She asked, worry etched across her face.
Eric shook his head. "No. Is she missing?" He asked.
Tears streamed down Lauren's face. "I don't know. I woke up, and she was gone." She said.
Eric's thoughts raced. Where could she be? He thought, knowing that Catherine rarely went anywhere without telling someone first. "Don't worry, Lauren, we'll find her." Eric said, with a confidence he didn't feel.
Lauren stopped crying, and drew a long breath. "You're right. There's no reason to panic." She said.
He smiled, reassuringly. She smiled back. "Let's ask my mother." He said…
They walked down the hall to the queen's chambers. Ever since the king fell sick, Queen Ella had taken to sleeping in her old rooms that she'd used during her and Char's engagement. They were less comfortable then the rooms she shared now with Char, but the other rooms that he wasn't in were needed for doctors who cared for him around the clock.
The guard outside her room bowed slightly as Eric came, and knocked on the door. "Milady, your son is here to see you." He said.
Ella opened the door. Her hair was down, and fell in brown-gray waves around face. "Hello Eric, hello Lauren." Queen Ella said.
Lauren curtsied. "Mother, have you seen Catherine?" Eric asked.
Looking worried, Ella shook her head. "Why, is she missing?" Ella asked.
Eric nodded, worry flooding his thoughts. If she wasn't with his mother, where was she?