~ ZARA ~
Nervous, heart pounding, I slipped out of the bed and quickly got dressed.
I was listening hard and could hear the bustle of servants in the hallway, but I still didn't know what time I'd come to. It felt like a cold hand was gripping the back of my neck. I kept waiting to hear those sick thuds, or screams.
But when I opened the door slowly and peered out into the hall, one of the maids trotted past. She nodded to me once, then her eyes went wide.
"Oh! You're returned! I will let the mistress know immediately! They've been waiting!" she said, bobbing a quick curtsey, then running back in the direction she'd come from.
My heart was still racing, I was still uncertain what the best thing was to do, but it wasn't long before my mother appeared in the hallway, walking as quickly as I'd ever seen her move, her face tight, but relieved.
