65

As Artemis left, Regan was alone. Just minutes later, a knock was heard. That time it was Cora. Cora was holding a glass tray, with food. Her expression was kind of annoyed and weird, one that Regan suspected."So, is your name Regan or Cornelia?" Cora finally asked, putting the tray on a table."Cornelia," Regan answered."Oh, okay," Cora replied, "lady Artemis said that you should rest and sleep. Tomorrow, in the morning you will eat with her.""Ok," Regan dryly answered. She didn't want to sleep, she couldn't shake the feeling that Agnar was going to be a nuisance.Cora nodded and left. Regan walked to the table, grabbing the tray. She ate the food and glanced outside the window. She was on the second floor but the windows couldn't show much. She only saw some dried trees covered in snow, the ice hanging on their branches and the grey-white background.The window also had icy tubes hanging on. Being bored, she slid the window open. She tried to break the ice but the moment she got the ice on her hand, it melted immediately.Regan sighed in frustration and slid the window off. She glanced around the plain room. There was nothing to do. It would have been freezing but the room has panels that spread the warmth around. She entered the bathroom, which was icy cold. On the sink, she grabbed the toothpastes and mixed them. It was senseless but something to kill off boredom.Then, Sirius got in her mind. She was angry and confused, like she had been every time. She was so mad that she felt as if suffocating by thinking about him.She cleaned the sink with the water, which was just white and sighed in frustration, leaving the bathroom.Knowing there was nothing else to do, she went to bed and fell asleep.The next morning, she woke up with the same boredom, anger, and frustration. The snow was still there, and the same view was there as well. She couldn't find a difference in day or night but shrugged it off. Maybe she'd convince Artemis to get her out of the fortress and show her the city.Slipping off the bed, she glanced once more outside the window and turned to open the white door.The coldness washed all over her as she met with the cold corridor. An air of chilling silence hung around and she merely wanted to go and meet with Artemis. She stepped down some stairs, and came face to face with Cora."Oh, I was just going to get you," Cora said, her expression startled, "Come with me," she added and gestured for Regan to follow. Regan followed, having nothing better to do.Cora led her to a large room, where the diner was supposed to be. In the middle, there was a long crystal table, adorned with laces of ice.On the table there was seated Artemis with her husband at the head of the table, an older woman, and another younger boy. The younger boy, had a similar appearance as Agnar, she assumed he was his brother. As for the woman, she thought it to be Agnar's mother, but if he was a prince, would his mother stay there as well?"Oh, Cornelia, come here!" Artemis said as she gestured for Regan to sit beside her. Regan walked in uncertainty, feeling completely defiant under Agnar's creepy stare.As she sat there, uncomfortably, Agnar's stare lingered, his eyes holding an evil glint. Artemis tried to ease the tension by stirring up a conversation with the older woman, who seemed to be eager to talk."Artemis, where is your friend from? What is she? Sirius's mistress?" Agnar suddenly asked, his gaze predatory."Watch your tongue, man." Regan retorted through gritted teeth.Artemis bit her lip, her eyes widening from Regan's comeback, "I apologize, Agnar. She's not related to Sirius. Re-, I mean, Cornelia is a long-lost cousin of mine. She was lost in the woods as a child and was raised by wolves. She's still getting used to our ways."The words stung Regan, but she didn't say anything. Anger and fury was written all over her face, from Agnar's poisonous words. Her fists clenched, digging up her skin. She wanted to get rid of Agnar's presence, but she couldn't. Not without hurting Artemis.The woman sitting beside Artemis, who Regan thought was Agnar's mother, leaned closer and whispered something to her. Artemis glanced at her and then at Regan, before she nodded. Regan had no idea what they were talking about."So, Cornelia, what is it like to grow up with wolves?" Agnar asked, his voice still cold and dangerous as he took a sip of his crimson drink. For a momewnt, Regan thought as if he was a vampire. She wanted to tear his throat out."It's extraordinary. It makes you learn the nature of the beasts and their sinful deeds. It's a hard life, but you grow stronger. You learn to survive and protect what's yours," Regan spat, her jaw clenching, her eyes narrowing as she glared at Agnar, "I'm sure you'll understand that better, given your....condition."The words hung in the air, heavy with anger and defiance. Artemis looked at Regan, shocked, but did not say anything. The prince's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Regan thought he might actually make a scene. But, he leaned back in his chair, a predatory smile curling his lips, showing his sharp fangs."Well, Cornelia, you seem to be quite the firecracker. I must admit, I'm intrigued. Perhaps we should get to know each other better," he said, his voice dripping with malice.Regan felt a wave of anger run through her. She remembered Sirius had called her firecracker once, but now it was a thousand times worse to hear it from someone else. She wanted to stir up a fight just now and there, but given in the unknown place, the unknown surroundings, and the unknown creatures, she doubted where this would lead to.The older woman cleared up her throat, trying to remove the air of tension, "Well, you seem to be quite the survivor. I'm queen Frida, prince Agnar's mother."Regan took the appearance of the woman. She had light blue hair, styled in braids and certain crystal decorations. Her eyes were the same shade as Agnar. Her attire was a white thick turtleneck dress, adorned with pearls. Her neck was covered with heavy pendants of the same pearls."Thank you, Queen Frida," Regan replied, nodding at her. She glanced at Agnar, then back at the woman, "From where I come, creatures are very strict when it comes at surviving and defending their own. And they don't hesitate to protect those they consider as their own." Regan said. She knew she was making things up about where she came from, but she just wanted to protect her own pride and honor.Agnar chuckled, a low and sinister chuckle, "Oh, I've seen those. They end up going as concubines to the princes and kings. They never truly belong to their own kind, do they?" His eyes wandered over Regan, his gaze creeping on her. Frida shot him a warning look, but he didn't seem to care.Regan's fury was palpable and Artemis grabbed her hand tightly, eyeing her with a pleading look, to not fuel the matter further."That's not true, Agnar. Not everyone is the same. We know so many that are raised by the wolves and are decent creatures, And we also know those who are raised by our own kind, yet they turn out to be monsters. It's not about where they come from, it's about who they choose to be." Queen Frida spoke up.Agnar's predatory gaze shifted to the queen, "You're right, Mother. Maybe she proves what she's capable of," His voice was laced with malice and cruelty.Then, he pointed at Cora, who was standing near a wall. Cora walked closer and leaned to him. He whispered something in her ear, and she nodded, before walking back to her place."Well, if you'll excuse us," Agnar said to the queen, standing up from the table, "I have some urgent matters to attend to," With that, he left the hall, followed by Cora. The tension in the room eased somewhat, and Artemis let out a shaky breath.Regan's gaze followed them, defiant and mad. She knew she hated Agnar already. His appearance and the way he acted, spoke enough of his wicked personality and she didn't want to prove otherwise.She was going to vent about Agnar to Artemis, but knowing that Queen Frida was there, she seemed to be a decent woman, not like Agnar.Regan felt lost in thought, unwillingly comparing Sirius to Agnar. Were they any different? Yes, she thought. Sirius was different in his own way.Artemis nudged her arm, "Cornelia, why don't you eat?"Regan shook her head, drown in thoughts. She blinked a few times, trying to shove Sirius away from her thoughts."Cornelia?""Uh, no, I'm not that hungry," Regan nonchalantly replied. She looked at the younger boy in the table. He hadn't said anything. His head was lowered and he didn't seem to be interested to talk."This is my other son, Natsu," Queen Frida said, "he's a bit shy.""It's not a problem. I understand. It was my pleasure to meet with you," Regan said, forcing a smile."It was ours, as well," Queen Frida replied.Artemis urged Regan to finish her plate. Being embarrassed by both Artemis and the queen, Regan ate, although she didn't like the food."Sirius's castle's food was better," she thought, "Ugh! Why am I thinking that?!"She clenched her fists, being angry at herself for thinking that.