Seventeen: Marythelia

I was in the library with Cam the next day, reading the history of Korgenyegia when I heard someone come in and immediately stop. I look up and saw Zargis staring at me in confusion and shock. I just stared back, not sure what to say or do, but then Zargis shook his head slightly and went to a shelf, grabbed a book, then left. I stared after him, and felt hurt. I don't know why when I haven't seen him in months, but I was hurt and told Cam I needed to be alone. So I went back to the attic room and sat, staring out the window.

My discussion with Otreg the night before had me curious about their kind. I wondered if what he said about humans were true and thought to research it. Cam helped me find books on dragons and humans then let me read, often answering a few minor questions about who certain people were or terms referring to a dragon.

I was lost in my thoughts and didn't realize I'd fallen asleep until I awoke to darkness. I went down and fell into bed, unable to keep steady on my feet the whole way.

When I woke the next day, I felt sick and stayed in bed, sleeping restlessly. That night, Otreg came and sat beside me, helping me drink some broth and giving me medicine. He offered to get the healer, but I declined and fell asleep.

The next morning, Thiebaut fussed over me and when he was about to leave an hour later, I stopped him. He turned a curious expression to me and I asked, "Where is Zargis?"

He seemed shock but said, "In his study with Otreg." I nodded and he waited, then asked, "Would you like me to fetch him?"

I hesitated. "Just tell him that I have an important question for him when he has time."

Thiebaut bowed his head. "Of course." He left and I fell back into a dreamless sleep.

It seemed like only seconds before I woke to someone saying my name, but when I opened my eyes it was dark. Beside me, Zargis sat on my bed and brushed my hair off my face. "Thelia?" he whispered.

I blink. His eyes flashed from blue to amber and back again and I thought back to the conversation with Otreg. I furrow my brows now and ask, "Why do your eyes turn color?"

He raised a brow. "My dragon wants out. I'm fighting to keep him down." Now his brows furrow. "Are you sick?"

I shake my head, not able to answer. I tried to think of why I wanted him here, but my mind was in fog. I gave up searching for the reason and sighed, closing my eyes again. I heard Zargis's voice, but sleep took me in it's grasp.

I was in and out of sleep for the next few days before I finally woke for good and sat up, wrinkling my nose at my stench. I got up and went to shower, then dressed and brushed my hair. I was just starting a plate of pancakes when my door opened and Zargis walked in. He halted when he saw me standing there, fork in my mouth and the fluffy pancakes drowned in sweet syrup.

I swallowed my bite and licked my lips, embarrassed for some reason. "Hi."

His eyes went from me to the plate and back again. "You're feeling better."

I shrug and continue eating. Before I knew it, my plate was empty and I stared at it, dumbfounded. I had finished a whole plate of food for the first time. After I got over the shock, I searched for more, but was disappointed. Grunting, I put the dishes in the sink and went to sit on the couch.

Zargis was still watching me as I crossed my arms and pouted. "Are you still hungry?" he asked. I thought he sounded nervous.

"There's no more. It's fine."

He shook his head. "There's always more, Thelia."

"I just looked. There isn't more."

To my surprise, he pulled me up to my feet and to the kitchen where he proceeded to grab different ingredients and dishes. He looked at me again. "There's always more food."

I stepped back and hugged myself. "Otreg told me food supply was low and that is why you were at Citron's in the first place."

He just finished dumping stuff into a bowl, and was now mixing it all together. "He's not wrong."

"Then what would happen if you ran out of food?"

"I'm not willing to dwell on that until I have to," he said and poured small round circles onto a pan that immediately started to sizzle. "Likely, we would have to be a bit harsh and begin stealing. If it comes to that, well… Let's just say I'd rather starve."

After a few minutes, he set four golden-brown pancakes on a plate and drizzled the syrup on them, then handed it to me. I took it and said, "Have you ran out of food before?"

"Several times. Each time gets harder and harder because we have more children to look after. But we only take as much as we need for a week or two and we don't harm anyone."

I nod. The silence grew and it became awkward, so Zargis cleaned up and I ate the pancakes. When we were both finished, I said, "I have a request."

"Go ahead."

I set the plate down and didn't look at him. This was probably going to put both of us in bad moods, but if there was anything to find, I wanted to find it. "I would like to have a look in Unda's rooms."

"Why?"

I shrug. "Curious?"

Zargis was silent, then sighed. "Follow me." He led me down a few hallways and onto the main floor. Finally, near the entrance to the castle, he stopped at a door. Turning to me, he said, "Try not to move anything. When…if she returns, she'll know someone's been inside."

I nod and he walks away. I open the door and am overwhelmed with whatever perfume she uses. I step out and close the door again, steeling myself for the bombardment, then went in. First thing I noticed was pink. Everywhere I look was pink. Then I noticed the wigs and wondered if the hair she has is real. Walking around, I take in the items that would tell anyone how rich she was. I was disgusted. She seemed to hide herself with makeup and clothes.

I opened a desk drawer and saw nothing. I went into her bedroom and found her armoire full to bursting. On a table, a little box caught my eye and I opened it. There were jewelry and hair pins inside, but when I began to close it, I heard something. At first I thought I imagined it, but I took out everything except a ring, then closed the drawer again. There it was again.

I took the drawer out and set the ring on the table, then examined the drawer. There, just barely visible, was a spot where a piece of the wood had lifted. I used my nails to lift the piece up, expecting to find myself looking through to the table, but instead found a hidden compartment. Inside that compartment was a tube of lipstick.

My brows furrowed. Why would someone hide lipstick? The jewels Unda had would be plenty for any robber or thief. I read the label and opened it up, sniffing. Coughing at the unpleasant scent, I shut it again and stared for a moment, unsure what to think.

I replaced everything before going to find Cam and taking her to the attic. There I asked, "Why would a girl hide lipstick?"

Cam seemed confused. "Usually it's because she was afraid someone jealous of her would steal it, but there are times when it has dual purposes."

"What do you mean?"

"Some girls, especially those who like to get what they want, will use certain things for multiple reasons. To the eye, it's a pretty color on lips. In disguise, it's a weapon or a tool."

"Could it be poison?"

Cam shrugged. "Could be."

The next day, I went back to the library and read up on different potions one can make. The answers I found were not comforting.