Feeling better, Emma went back to sleep as soon as Ginger left. The maid said that she would come later to give her a bath, but Emma wasn't used to taking baths from maids. So when she woke up next, she decided to take a bath on her own instead of calling the maid.
She removed the sheets from herself and stretched her limbs with a yawn. It had been ages since she had felt this rested. And that too in a place surrounded by vampires. The irony wasn't wasted on her.
She wondered how her brother must be now. Avice had mentioned that he was going to be better after the potion that contained vampire blood would be given to him. Who must have given blood to him? Well, whosoever gave, she hoped that her sacrifice didn't go for a waste and Angus was fine.
Emma walked to the window and drew its sheer red and golden curtains out to let the soft breeze in. The scenery outside was… stunning. Vast landscape that molded in mountains -all of it covered with white snow that reflected the sun's red and orange rays. Few snow-covered trees dotted the area as if obliging the lands with their presence. Mist coiled around them in thin tendrils, squandering and appearing with the gusts of wind.
She took in a deep breath of the fresh and cool air and then turned to inspect her room. A large dressing table occupied a wall next to the closet. She sat down in front of the mirror and slowly started to remove the baubles and pins from her hair. She unbuttoned her gown and tugged it off her shoulders. Just as she was about to slide it off from her body, the door of the room opened. She was expecting Ginger. "I can take a bath myself, Ginger," she sighed.
"Oh, I haven't come to give you a bath, Emma," Maeve's soft voice fell on her ears and Emma turned sharply. Maeve chuckled. She came closer to Emma. She cupped Emma's cheeks. "You are beautiful Emma," she said, her purple eyes fixed on her. "I can't wait to enter your body…"
Disgusted, Emma backed away. She got up and moved away from her. Narrowing her eyes, she said, "The body you have possessed is that of a very young girl. Then how come she is dying?" Emma wanted to know how it was possible that when Maeve would possess her, she wouldn't face the same fate.
Maeve's lips curled up. She covered the gap between her and Emma in a second. She picked up Emma's hand and squeezed it lightly. "This mortal is unable to contain my magic. I am a goddess and it comes with its costs. My magic is so potent that a mortal can't handle it."
"But I am a mortal," Emma reasoned.
"Yes, you are," Maeve left her hand and stepped back. "But your body will be marked by Lazarus."
"So?" Emma asked, not understanding what that meant. She hated Maeve by the minute.
"Hmmm… nothing," Maeve giggled. "I don't think your mortal brain could fathom the mysteries. Just prepare yourself well." Maeve patted her cheek and then left her.
Gritting her teeth, Emma slipped down her gown and entered the bathroom. The bathroom was like a… dream. There were porcelain sinks and a huge marble bathtub right at the corner, overlooking the beautiful snow-covered mountains. She ran hot water in it and sank her body in it. When she emerged from the water, she yelled, "I hate you more than hell, Maeve."
She picked up a soap bar and started scrubbing her face and body with it. "I am going to find a way to escape and I will not let you win, Maeve. I will run away before you can cast my soul out of my body!" But even as Emma said those words aloud, she hated the miserable feeling she was experiencing.
She wanted to go back to her normal life. Why was it that she was chosen by Fate for this misfortune? It could have been anyone in the Lore. Why was it that Lore was so biased towards her?
She began scrubbing her face and hand harder where Maeve touched her as if ridding herself of her.
She stepped out and dried herself. Wrapping the towel around her body, she came out and entered her closet. The closet was wonderful and extravagant and she couldn't deny that she loved it. She chose a light pink silk gown and came out. As she dried her hair by the fire, her mind went back to Lazarus. When she asked if he loved her, or whether she loved him, he hadn't given her a satisfactory answer.
She started to comb her hair. One question kept bouncing in her head. Did he love Maeve or not? And whether all the vampires were just as rude as he was? Lazarus was becoming more of a puzzle to her and she wished to solve that puzzle.
She wore her gown and left her hair open. She thought of going to her bed, but she looked at the door and decided to go out and explore the palace. She went back to her closet, grabbed a shawl and just when she was coming back, she spied a door behind a curtain. Earlier she thought it was a window with stained glasses, but when she pulled the curtain, she realized it was a door.
Surprised she slowly walked towards to open the knob and see what was on the other side. When it didn't open, she knelt at the doorway crack to listen to any sound.
She heard a rustle of sheets and several expletives.
Lazarus.
This was Lazarus's bedchamber? He had told her that he had to go for 'princely' work, and this was what the work was? To laze in his room? Lazy liar.
She was about to turn back when she heard… a groan?