Chapter Seven
Catherine
"Enter, Catherine." her voice is loud, clear, "what news have you brought us? It is good, I suppose?"
I stare at her. Why is she playing dumb? "You already know, Margarita, have your spies ever let you down?"
She guffaws at my sarcasm. I hiss at her under my breath. Remember why you're doing this. Peter is putting his life in danger for this unworthy woman. No. I think immediately. He is putting his life at risk for me. "Margarita." I say to her, my voice polite but stern, "twenty best To Sotos guards will be at his beck and call at every moment of the day. Or I will ask him to leave."
She laughs her maniac laughter again. "That certainly won't happen honey, without his protection, you would die too." I grimace. I hate her. I hate her. I hate her.
Countess Margarita rose from her chair. With her hair piled onto her head, she could easily be termed a giant. Her face is white, with two wicked, slanting eyes sharpened by her olive-green coloured eyeballs. Her lips are a haunting shade of bright red and even with all her layers of make-up and her immensely powdered cheeks; she looks not a day below 50. Margarita walks down the stairs to where I stand, the purple satin of her dress flowing behind her.
"I would rather die than have him lose his life." I say to her.
She stops at her place. "Honey, you've known each other for what, four months?"
"I've known him since we were seven."
"Right. Best friends for three years and then haven spoken till four months back. Honestly, what happened?"
I blink at her candidness. I didn't expect that. "Don't say that." I murmur. "I would die for him- and there is so much wrong in what you said!" I repeat.
Margarita walks up to me as if I have said nothing. "Okay then. Twenty of my own personal guards will accompany him always."
I wait, there is always something more with her- and I am right.
"I will meet him tomorrow, here at the To Sotos headquarter. But obviously, he must not be told of the location. Is that okay, darling?"
I sigh, knowing I would have to bring him here eventually. "Okay."
I turn my chair and pushing the wheels forward, I leave.
-
"When?" He asks me, sitting down on my bed.
"Well, she said tomorrow. And I am warning you, she will not just let you in. She will test your four powers."
"That's easy. I have been practicing like mad since the very first day after the Ceremony." his blue eyes blink lazily.
"Be careful- and vigilant." He nods. I can only hope he is ready.
He turns to leave.
"And Peter..." He looks back at me. "Take care of yourself. Please."
He smiles softly and leaves, the bedroom door clicking shut behind him.
I wheel myself to my desk, bumping into my bed on the way. I curse under my breath. At least it's my last day with this...thing slowing me down.
-
I am seated at the dinner table. The atmosphere is surprisingly happy, my parents now knowing that Peter is ready to help us and has agreed to meet Countess Margarita. Why are they so gullible?
"What's wrong?" Dad asks, a wide smile on his face, poking into his lettuce leaves, "I, for one think that this is an extremely good advancement for the To Sonto, the Tetrakinita agreeing to help us!"
I slump over my meal. "His life is in danger and you guys are happy about it!"
I push away my dinner and roll my wheels to my room, confused. No, I'm not going to moan about it- there is something weird going on, and I am going to find out what. I jump into my chair and switched on the computer, ignoring the calls from outside. It's not like them to act like this- completely okay with an innocent life in jeopardy