Chapter 35

After our conversation that night, my uncle once again led me back into my room, suggesting I get as much sleep as I could. But, I could not rest. For several hours I lay awake, my heart beating in its familiar rhythm, remembering all that had occurred in one day.

Tossing and turning about in my bed, my mind kept its constant vigil over Velkan, thoughts of him overruling any sort of rest. How could I have become so infatuated with one person, refusing myself sleep only because I longed to think of him? In time, however, I soon found myself drifting off into a deep slumber. But, I would soon find, it would be far from a comfortable rest.

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"Mmmmm…Good drink." My uncle commented as he was taking a tiny sip from his cup. He had walked over to where I sat waiting, after he had spent several hours of exercise exploring the grounds. But, he did not sit, preferring rather to saunter about the table, nibbling at the food we found there.

Some moments before, Anna had come out, leaving some food and drink on the table, as we waited for her father. She smiled sourly at my uncle as he stared at her with a smile that belied his true intentions. It was minutes before he said anything to her.

"Would you be so sweet as to pour me a drink?" he had asked her, as she set the cups and pitchers of wine on the surface. Anna widened her eyes in surprise, her anger flaring as she noticed the arrogant smirk my uncle had on his lips.

"Pour it yourself." She had ordered him coldly. I heard my uncle choke back a chuckle of surprise.

"But I am your guest!" he answered sarcastically.

"As far as I am concerned, you are nothing but a thorn in my side." She responded angrily, her accented voice clipped with anger. Christopher laughed at her remark.

"All the same…" he began, failing to finish his sentence. Hands on her hips, Anna stared at him, her eyes daring my uncle to continue what he said. But, he did not. Her hands slowly left her hips, as she returned to her work.

"Such a sour woman she is." Christopher muttered to himself, slightly angered at Anna. My eyes narrowed to slits of confusion, wondering what could have possibly happened to make her hate my uncle as much as she did. But, it was far from something I knew I wanted to be involved in. Let them solve their own disputes.

"You said something?" Anna asked him angrily, never turning her gaze from what she was doing. Christopher huffed at her angrily.

"Nothing, my dear, nothing." He said. "Go and get your chores done, will you?" Anna whirled on him, her mouth opening to answer his challenge. But, noticing someone across the way, she did not answer Christopher. Instead, Anna sauntered off quickly before he could make any sort of smart remark. He poured himself a drink, wiping away the extra drops that had fallen over the side. Bringing the drink to his lips, Christopher merely smiled as she retreated, returning his soft gaze once again to his cup.

For some moments, I regarded my uncle with a curious expression, noticing the slight upturn of his lips as he savored the taste of the wine. As he took another sip, I noticed his eyes playfully looking at me from over the rim of the cup. I smirked.

"Try some." He said, holding out the drink to me. I shook my head in refusal, pushing his hand away, but he persisted. "Come now, you must be parched!" he continued, once again holding it out to me. I turned my mouth away as he tried to bring it to my lips.

"Thank you for the offer." I said. "But I am perfectly fine." He smiled, seating himself beside me. I kept my gaze turned from him, as he looked at me with a curious expression on his face.

"Why is Anna so angry with you?" I asked him after a moment, wanting so much for him to stop staring at me as he did. I noticed his quiet laugh, his eyes slowly growing distant.

"It is a long story." He answered calmly. "Not one I care to tell right now." Crossing his legs, I noticed him taking another sip of his drink, his gaze locked on something of interest. "It looks like we have another visitor…" he murmured quietly to me, nudging me gently against the ribs.

Slowly turning my gaze away from my uncle, I found myself looking at Velkan. I barely suppressed a smile of glee as his eyes searched for and then found me. Christopher muttered something quietly under his breath, almost in anger, but I did not care to hear what it was.

"I trust you had a comfortable sleep?" Velkan asked, stopping at the end of the table, his hands carefully held behind his back. He did not move to take a seat, waiting expectantly for my uncle to offer him one. It was some moments before he did.

"Ah yes, we slept rather well, now didn't we, Christine" Christopher said, taking one final sip of his wine. I did not say a single word, noticing the smile of suspicion Christopher had as he looked between us both. After some moments, He stood, holding his hands out for him to take a seat. "Come, sit with us." Velkan moved immediately to sit beside me, but Christopher quickly held out a chair for him.

"Here." He said, gesturing to a seat beside him. "Come sit by me." Velkan hesitated for a moment before taking a seat beside my uncle. A few moments of uncomfortable silence ensued.

"So," my uncle began, placing his cup back on the table and turning his attention to Velkan. "What brings you to call on us this fine morning?"

"My father sent me out to tell you both that he would be with you in a few moments. He is getting dressed." Velkan replied.

"He is coming." I heard suddenly, I raised my eyes to see Anna approaching. Christopher's gaze shot immediately towards the young woman walking in our direction. He smiled as her cold gaze met his.

Ignoring my uncle's cold greeting, she took a seat immediately by my side, purposely avoiding the one across from my uncle that he had gestured for her to take. I narrowed my eyes slightly, but immediately readied myself as I noticed their father approaching.

"I apologize for the wait." Came the cold hard voice of Boris Valerious. "Velkan, Anna, would you please accompany Mr. Aveire back to his rooms. I would like to speak to Christine alone, if I may." My gaze turned to Christopher, noting the mild shock I found there. This was definitely not a turn of events I was expecting. "We have some grounds to establish, you and I." I heard as I slowly returned my gaze back to the unwavering glare of the elder Valerious.

Christopher stood silently, allowing Anna to gently nudge him behind his back to the building. Velkan turned his gaze on me for a moment in apology, before rousing himself to leave. I was alone…