Chapter 18 - Where I belong.

Chapter 18 - where I belong.

Erida shot up from her seat "It's not proper for the child to say something! She's just 12 years old! You can't take a 12 year old child seriously!" Before my father could say something from anger I intervened. I remembered all the lessons Master Octavius gave me for etiquette and used it to compose myself and finally put them to use. I had everyone here with me, I had no reason to fear them any longer. "Was it not y-you who wanted me here in the f-first place, dear grandmama." I added the last part to tick her off and it seems to work. Everyone behind me snickered under their breaths.

Erida glared at me, and I didn't waver once. The judge gave me permission. "She's not wrong, Iridesa Orion may speak." The judge ushered me to the stand. "Go ahead child, what is it you would like to say?" I stood on the stand trying my best to control my stutter, speaking slowly and calmly as Master Octavius had taught me. "I will s-say this once and o-only once, so listen c-carefully." Everyone watched me in silence as I spoke. "I am Iridessa Orion…Daughter o-of Opal Orion and…Paris Orion. I am m-my fathers daughter. I have n-no need for the wayward name, thank you. I will stay only with my father a-at Crescent City... where I belong." I spoke loud and clear as I looked Erida in the eyes, never once faltering. I didn't care that I still stuttered a little. "T-thats all, your honor. Thank you." I stepped down and walked over to my father, my posture straight and head held high. "I see. Hearing that, the court makes its decision that the custody of Iridesa Orion belongs to her Father. Paris Orion!" After hearing that I smiled brightly and my brother and I both exclaimed excitedly. "Yes! We won!" Uncle Arthur cleared his throat and we settled remembering we were still in court. "T-that can't be! This is injustice!" Hearing Erida whine I smiled and called out to her. "Grandmama…" she looked over at me with anger fuming in her eyes. "Yes, dear!?" She said through clenched teeth. "Would you like to hear a-about my little accident e-earlier?" Hearing my words, Erida and Cera both broke out into a sweat. Understanding my threat they finally gave up and accepted their loss. "This won't be the last you hear of me!" She spat as she stormed out with her butler and daughter following behind. Cera glared at me but upon noticing my fathers dark eyes she quickly looked away, trembling as she touched her bruised neck.

We all gathered into the room we were in earlier and everyone excitedly praised my sudden confidence as Father held me up in his arms proudly. "You were absolutely amazing, Lady Iridesa!" Ruby said excitedly. "Haha! I almost curled over in laughter when you said Grandmama!" Brother said as him and Evelyn both clutched their stomachs in pain from laughing so hard. "It was epic! Did you see the old bats expression?!" Evelyn added as she and brother both fell to the ground in laughter. Ruby sighed at the sight and I giggled. Uncle Arthur cleared his throat "Now if you've all done having fun, I believe we should leave for home and first get Iridesa cleaned up." Brother nodded his head in agreement "I'm used to seeing father in this state but when I saw Iridesa, I was stunned speechless!" I remembered my state and the stench that tickled my nose suddenly made me nauseous and covered my nose trying to block the smell. Uncle Arthur noticed this and glared at father who avoided his eyes nervously.

Once we reached home we didn't consider how everyone would react to my bloody state. Some of the servants and maids had fainted left and right. Miss Kore had pulled brothers ear telling him to take better care of me next time and he teased her about how she sounded like his wife causing her to become flustered and more angry. Master Octavius, who was not fazed in the slightest nagged my father to allow him to take some wolf blood samples off me. Father was so angry and annoyed but it wouldn't shake him off at all, it seems he's met his match. "Lady Iridesa?!" Miss Delphine soon heard of the news and came running over with tears in her eyes. Father lowered me to the ground as I ran over to her, she almost collapsed at the sight of me. "Lady Iridesa! Y-your not hurt are you?!" I shook my head and reassured her she held me tightly in her arms crying tears of relief. For the first time in a long time I felt as though I was being held by my mother and I hugged her back, my tears pouring out. "I'm so glad you're safe." she wiped my face with her apron. "Look at you, poor thing! Let's get you all cleaned up."

I was about to leave with Miss Delphine when I heard a loud thud behind me. "Father!" I heard my brother's voice and turned back to see father collapsed on the floor. I then remembered he had been bitten by the wolves and the venom is still in his body. "Father!" I ran over to him. His face was scrunched in pain and broke into a cold sweat. I had a flashback of my mothers similar state the day she died and I grabbed fathers hand as my tears flowed out. "F-father! Please do-don't leave me! Please! Please don't leave m-me like M-Mother! I don't w-want to be alone again!" I cried as he reached out a hand and wiped my tears and I placed my hand over his as he cradled my face. "I didn't fight that old witch, just to lose you again…argh…!" He groaned at the pain as he spoke. "I have cheated death…m-many times before…and I will again…" He smiled proudly as he said this. "Father….Father….!" I called out desperately as his eyes slowly shut. Lady Delphine pulled me back as my brother and Evelyn lifted him up and carried him away. "Don't worry Iridesa, I will save your father." Miss Kore handed me her napkin as she said this. I accepted it and wiped my tears. "I can assure you, Miss Kore is the best healer I know. Your father is in safe hands." Uncle said gently. I nodded my head. Miss Delphine gently led me away to my room to help me clean up.

After I bathed Miss Delphine helped me put on a white gown and a thick robe over it. "Are you sure you don't want to wait till morning? You must be very tired." she asked me as she brushed out my hair gently. "I have to s-see him now…I won't b-be able to sleep, o-otherwise." Miss Delphine understood and after she had done detangling my hair she walked me over to fathers room, and once she made sure I was okay she retired for the night.

Miss Kore was standing outside fathers room with Uncle and they both turned over to me. Uncle kneels before me. "What's wrong, precious. Can't sleep?" He must have noticed I've been crying a lot due to my puffy my eyes and my nose which was tinged red. "H-how is father…?" Uncle smiled as he replied. "He's out of danger." My heart swelled with relief and I dropped my head onto uncle's shoulder. He held me gently. "M-Mother looked the same…she was in s-so much pain…" They all patiently listened as I spoke, remembering one of the worst moments of my life. "I screamed a-all night…but she was gone." my tears fell down as I recalled her last words. (My precious Iridesa, don't cry…I promise I'll always still be with you, my love…I will never let you go…I love you, my little treasure...) After that she had closed her eyes and never woke up again. I raised my head and my uncle let me go, wiping my tears. I looked over at miss Kore. "could I m-maybe see him?" She nodded. "Of course, but he is unconscious at the moment and may be so for a few days. It's a normal side effect and nothing to worry about." She moved out of my way and allowed me through. I opened the door, and shut it behind me. Uncle and Miss Kore had both retired for the night and left. I walked into the vast dark room. The interior of this room was very dark and suited fathers taste.

I saw brother sitting over on fathers bed next to him. He noticed me and smiled. "Irides, come here." He beckoned me over. I went to him and he lifted me up, placing me in his lap. I leaned my head against his chest and he cradled me. I looked over at, father, he looked much better and was sleeping peacefully. "Are you not sleepy?" Brother asked as he kissed my head. "I w-wanted to see, father." I replied and he smiled. "Yeah…me, too." I didn't want to leave him and go back to my room. "Would you like to sleep here tonight?" Brother asked and I nodded my head. "C-could I? I really don't want to leave." He placed me on the bed and tucked me in next to my father. "I'll be here too. I'll be sleeping on the sofa, so don't worry too much and get a good night's sleep." He kissed my nose and then got up and walked over to the sofa. I curled up next to my father, the same way I had with my mother every night when we lived at the inn. He felt warm and safe and I immediately fell asleep, all the fatigue finally catching up to me.