Drifting into consciousness, it was slowly dusk. Her head still throbbed a bit. Fortunately, she felt better. Resting up, in a quick moment, she felt her heart beat accelerate before dropping down to normal, suddenly reminding her of the pain she still couldn't remember.
Just then, a maid came into her room to check on her well being. Immediately she noticed she was awake, her head popped back out as soon as it came in, with the door closing shut, making the young woman furrow in wonder. It was then she realized she was back on the bed. Her memory was aching, but she remembered seeing the bed last before she closed her eyes, and something else before that.
She sighed in irritation, ignoring the weird action that just took place,because that suddenly became a major question in her mind. She needed to put her thoughts together. How did she get here? Why was she here? She recalled seeing her father's carriage leave, the document--Her head throbbed as she struggled to remember that she had to rest on her hand for support. What was she given that made her so drowsy with vague memory loss? She starred around, and the more she did, the more she questioned everything in her new surrounding, but she didn't have much time to think to put whatever piece she had together when she heard a knock on her door, and suddenly she felt a strange shiver down her spine.
Another maid, this time; elderly, came in abruptly with two others, startling her. The one who popped in her head earlier was among the two. They gave off a strange energy, but so did everything else.
They all bowed, baffling her even more.
"The prince wants you ready for dinner."
Her breathing accelerated as she just starred back at them from her new bed.
They waited a few more moments for her response but they did not here a command to urge their obedience.
The eldest, who was the head maid that spoke, took a peek from their bowing form, and she could see panic mixed with confusion in her eyes. The lost girl opened her mouth to speak, but then suddenly halted midway, her eyes lowering in pain as she turned away, lying back on the bed in a curl.
"Excuse me, princess?" she tried to sound as polite as possible, irritated by her attitude ignoring the prince's command.
Instead, as a reply, facing the opposite direction, she covered herself with the blanket, terrified.
The maids all looked at themselves before excusing themselves out. Outside the door, they spoke, whispering.
"Who's-- that rude vermin?" one muttered.
"Did you s-see her face? Do you think she notic-ced anything?" the other asked, concerned about their plan.
"Queit! Both of you!" The eldest cautioned. "She might hear you."
"S-so what?" the first replied in low voice.
"We mus-s-s-t tread with caution. We don't want to s-s-scare our guest now, do we?"
They all smiled wickedly, understanding what she meant. They watched as she brought out of her pocket a small perfume with a crazily crafted glass case, designed with the curls of a snake, with its cover, the golden head of a cobra. Just as she was about to go in for the second time, a cold chill ran down their spines.
"S-s-sad!" The eldest slithered sarcastically.
They all turned in the direction of the stairs, his calm steps echoed gently, like a ticking bomb taking its time.
"He's-s-s here." The two chorused like a curse.
"We should leave. He mus-sn't meet us-s here!"
And in a moment, a small black pool swirled around them, as they transformed into completely long-dark-hooded faceless beings, before vanishing into thin air.
His steps continued until he was on that ground level. But once his foot stepped on the last step, his senses became alive of who just left. His eyes facing downwards widened. Quickly he zoned in to her room with his mind, before heaving out calmly. She was still there, but he couldn't tell if she was alright. She seemed to be... panting hard.
"Prince Levi, is anything the matter?"
The original elderly maid asked, standing behind him with the other young innocent looking two behind her.
Without looking back: "See to it her well-being, and inform me of update," he ordered.
"Yes, your highness."
They all bowed, as she they heeded to his command, walking past him.
On knocking, there was no response. Concerned, she let the door open,walking in with the two, and bowing after they made their entrance.
"Good morning, your majesty. We're your personal hand maids, and we're here to help you with anything you need."
*
*
*
The elderly maid went back to find the prince, who was just about leaving the castle with his guards.
"You're Majesty," she greeted to draw his attention. Halting in his tracks, he dismissed his guards for a moment, permitting the head maid to approach him.
"Is there a problem?"
The head maid's head was still lowered, and he noticed she seemed to quiver, which he didn't have time for.
"Your Majesty. It's her Highness."
His cold aura seemed to lighten.
"Speak."
"She... she's …"
Her agitation was making him, anxious, that he stormed past her and to her chambers.
"Your Majesty!" She cried after him, but he wasn't stopping for anything.
He made his way down the halls, and up the stairs, bursting into her chambers, like a ready lion, but with the heart of a frightened lamb. But on stepping in, he soon froze as hard as a rock when he eyes fell on the two maids who were just about leaving. They bowed, startled at the sight of him, and quickly scurried off, while he wondered where his wife was.
And his question was answered with the click of the bathroom door handle.
His mind immediately became more aware, as he thought rapidly that instant. He realizing the maids must have just finished helping her have her bath, as well as set her evening dress for dinner on her bed. His eyes watched the handle to bathroom door bend, ready to be pulled open, and his stiff body was refusing to move.
Should he wait to see if she was alright?
Or should he leave and wait to see her at dinner? He felt a sweat break out.
'No. I can't meet her like this. Not yet.'
He concluded in time to himself. And just as the door swung open, he closed the door in-front of him.
"Your Majesty!" the head-maid cried finally, reaching the top of the stairs where his wife's chamber was. She was panting deeply. He looked in the old woman's direction, after having instructed the maids to have her ready for dinner.
He felt furious because he felt like a fool. He had thought the potion had affected her health worse than he last saw her, and panicked.
Like a predator, his steps crawled towards her, while he held a menacing gaze that demanded she explain herself before he had her beheaded.
She managed to compose herself, catching her breath to utter the words she couldn't earlier.
"She's gone!"
"What?"
Confused, he opened the door again, wondering who it was that was in her bathroom. And a maid, who also pulled the door open with his push, quickly bowed once she realized it was the prince.
She didn't wait for his question because she already knew what is was going to be. Trembling, she answered:
"She's not in the bathroom either your majesty."
His panting accelerated, while his head swirled with questions. He didn't know wen he shouted the words:
"Guards!"