by A. D. Duling
Anna’s back was no better than the front. Corrine grabbed a bottle and a clean rag from off the nightstand and held them out to her son.
“Clean her wounds with this,” She directed him and grabbed her own set. They went to work quickly on Anna’s wounds, working gently and thoroughly as they went to each one. Very few whimpers were verbalized by their patient who took what was given admirably. When they flipped Anna back over, Corrine quickly covered her private areas with towels, even though modesty had been long lost to both the patient and her male caregiver by then.
The wounds were tenderer for Anna on the front and the whimpers came more frequent as they worked this time around. Occasionally her eyes would open and Hayden would pause and look into them as he rubbed Anna’s forehead to give her comfort.
“What is this stuff by the way?” Hayden asked his mother as he worked down Anna’s legs.
“Some medicinal herb mixed with aloe Vera and an analgesic to numb the wound,” she answered him, working on the scratches of Anna’s torso. Corrine poured some more onto her cloth and went to the girl’s arm, “Anna the doctor should be here any minute with some medicine for your pain…I know your hurting dear…” She spoke softly to her patient and received an incoherent reply in response.
Corrine gently cleaned at the scratches on Anna’s swollen fingers, doing only just enough to spare her suffering. Hayden gave the same courtesy on Anna’s other battered hand at the same time. Corrine was just covering her with a blanket when the doctor arrived and Hayden left the room so he could give his examination; Corrine remained inside to assist him.
“Her wounds appear to be only superficial and thankfully there appears to be no broken bones,” the doctor told her as he re-covered Anna a few minutes later, “You did a wonderful job on cleaning her up Corrine and I think what you’re using is just fine. I would keep the bandages on the worse parts for tonight, but remove them tomorrow and I should think they won’t be necessary after that,” He added. Corrine nodded and watched as he examined Anna’s neck.
“She’s going to be bruised awhile and her throat will be sore, but again nothing serious,” He said and dug into his bag.
“I have licorice tea that should help with that,” Corrine shared.
The doctor nodded and handed two vials to her, “Mix a teaspoonful of these into her water every two to three hours; it should help with the pain and prevent infection,” He instructed her. Corrine nodded again and took them. He then leaned over and lifted Anna’s eyelids, to check her pupils, “My dear can you tell me your name?” he asked her.
“Anna Kippling…” Anna croaked.
“Good! Now can you wiggle your fingers for me Anna; on both hands?” he asked her. Anna’s fingers hurt, especially on her left hand, but she managed to still wiggle them for him.
“The swelling should go down by tomorrow my dear, they will be stiff still…but moving them often should work that out,” He assured her and gently rubbed the top of her head, “That was a very brave thing you did out there Anna, I must say it is an honor to meet you...” He shared with her and she opened her eyes to look at him. He smiled at her and Anna gave a small smile in return. The doctor gave the top of her head a gentle pat and then closed his bag. He stood up and walked with Corrine over to the door, where she thanked him again as he let himself out. They found Hayden standing directly outside, waiting for the news.
“She’s taken quite a beating my boy, but she’ll pull through!” The doctor assured him and patted his back.
Hayden thanked him and stepped aside for the man to pass by and went inside the bedroom. He shut the door behind him, keeping his back to his mother as she dressed Anna in a nightgown. When she finished, Hayden pulled the chair over from against the wall, next to her bed and sat down in it. He then gently slid his hand underneath hers; allowing Anna’s swollen fingers to rest upon his.
Anna’s opened her eyes at his touch and looked at him. With his other hand, Hayden gently stroked her forehead to give his love. Anna fought hard to keep her eyes open, but with each gentle stroke, her eyelids grew heavy, until finally Anna closed them in a final surrender and went to sleep. Hayden fell asleep an hour later in his chair next to her, still cradling her hand.
Chapter Twenty Three
The sun’s rays passed through the window pane and shined on Anna’s face; waking her up. She went to sit up, but stopped when she felt pain and remembered last night’s ordeal. Every inch of Anna’s body hurt and felt like one big bruise to her. A soft snoring came from her left and Anna found Hayden sleeping in a chair next to her. He looked completely uncomfortable in the position he was; head tilted back a little to the right and his legs sprawled out far off to the left of him.
He was snoring and the bit of drool that had slipped out of the corner of his mouth was trickling its way down along his chin. Anna couldn’t help herself and laughed at the sight, stirring him awake. Anna quickly covered her mouth to muffle another laugh, but his eyes shot open, catching her.
Hayden wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve and sat up, “How long have you been watching me?” he asked her, blinking the sleep away as rubbed the stiffness out of his neck.
“Long enough to know that you snore and drool..!” Anna teased him, chuckling.
Hayden grinned, “Can you blame me? I normally don’t sleep sitting up.” He defended himself.
Anna smiled back, “How’s your neck?”
Hayden reached up and rubbed it again, “Stiff!” he replied and then reached down and palmed her hand, “At least they’re not swollen anymore, “He observed, “do they hurt much?” he asked her, examining them.
Anna shook her head. “No, just stiff,” she told him and then wiggled them for him, to show they still functioned.
Hayden let go of her hand and stood up. He stretched and then looked down at her, “I’m hungry, how about you?” he asked her. Anna nodded her response and he smiled, “You relax here and I’ll go prepare us a wonderful breakfast feast!” he announced to her.
Anna laughed, “You mean your mother will…” she corrected him and he gave her a wounded look.
“I would like you to know that I actually cook very well and everything I prepare is a feast!” he defended himself, playfully.
Anna laughed and shook her head at him, “Well ok… you go and cook your feast and I’ll decide if I agree with that statement, once I’ve tasted it,” she teased him.
Hayden grinned. He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead, “You’ll be eating you words right along with my amazing meal…” he guaranteed her and left the room.
Anna stared at the closed door for a long while, fighting off the many different emotions that suddenly threatened to swarm her. Hot tears welded up in her eyes and she blinked at them to make them stay, but they fell anyway. Anna pulled her pillow out and pressed her face into it, to muffle her sobs. She was sad, angry and afraid all at the same time. The safe little bubble that Anna had lived in for so long at home would not protect her here. What she had gone through last night was unimaginable and Anna wanted so badly to scream out for her mother and run home to the safety of her parent’s arms and the safe little bubble.
Yet the man she could hear now climbing the steps to bring his breakfast feast, took Anna’s thoughts away from home and brought other emotions back to her. Emotions Anna was not ready for. Love was a strong word that Anna did not think she was ready to use.
Two voices speaking on the other side of the door, made Anna realize Hayden was not alone. Anna strained to listen and heard a woman’s voice that wasn’t Corrine’s. Anna quickly wiped her eyes and straightened herself up before the door opened and in walked Hayden with her breakfast and a very beautiful woman behind him. Her clothing was elegant and Anna sensed an aristocratic aura about the woman.
“Anna, I would like to introduce to you Empress Anya,” Hayden announced her.
The Empress smiled and bowed her head to her, “Hello Anna, I have been anxious to meet you, but I wi
sh our meeting could have been under better circumstances… How are you feeling?” she asked her.
Anna smiled at her, “A little tender your highness, but I’ll survive…” she assured her.
The Empress laughed, “I know you are lying for my sake, but I thank you none of the less,” She responded.
Hayden walked over to the nightstand and sat Anna’s breakfast tray down, “I’ll leave you two ladies now and let you talk,” He said and walked back over to the door. Hayden turned back and gave a slight bow to the Empress and a wink to Anna before he left.
“He is a very entertaining young man, isn’t he?” the woman asked her after the door shut and Anna nodded.
“A little boy, more like it…” she told her, sending them both laughing. Anna motioned to the chair next to her, inviting the woman to sit down.
The Empress walked over and sat down, “It is well known that you are here to save me Anna, I cannot lie to you on how much this frightens me… yet it reassures me at the same time,” She expressed to her.
“Reassured is the last thing I would expect you to be feeling right now Empress; especially after how sourly I handled this recent incident…” Anna replied to her statement.
“Oh no…” the woman shook her head in disagreement, “You handled that very bravely my dear and with quick wit! The only thing sour is what you had to endure!” the Empress told her.
Anna silently nodded and then repositioned herself, grimacing a little. The Empress noticed her discomfort and stood up to help her by plumping the pillows behind her back, to give more support. Anna thanked her and leaned back against them and the woman returned to her chair. “Your highness, what worries me most, is if I’m even capable of protecting you,” said Anna.
“Anna you are far stronger than you think you are,” said the Empress.
“I’ve been hearing that a lot and I sure do hope so…” Anna commented.
The Empress leaned forward in her seat, “Anna, I was told about your book and about it being able to answer any question you ask it. Is this really true?” She asked her. Anna nodded. “May I see it?” the Empress asked.
Anna looked to the nightstand for her book, but it wasn’t there, “You know… I actually don’t know where it is right now, we’ll have to ask Hayden when he comes back up,” she said.
“Perhaps it is in the drawer!” The Empress suggested and opened the drawer to the nightstand. Anna watched her roughly push around the items in search of it. When the Empress didn’t find it, she slammed the drawer shut and almost growled in frustration.
Anna stared at her in astonishment and the woman shifted uncomfortably in her chair, “Please excuse my behavior Anna, but understand my excitement over this. Anything that could help change the outcome of my future is very important to me…” She explained and recomposed herself.
“I understand your highness and I’m sure Hayden knows exactly where it is. You could go and ask him and I’m sure he’ll get it for you…” Anna suggested to her.
“Yes, of course!” The woman shot up out of her chair and quickly went for the door.
“Oh, wait your highness…You may need this,” Anna called her back as she reached into her nightgown and pulled the necklace out.
The Empress rushed over and snatched it from Anna, revealing a tattoo of a crow on the inside of her forearm where her sleeve had slid up. “Where did you get this?” She asked her, almost in a growl.
Anna blinked, surprised again by the woman’s behavior and the unusual tattoo, “It was my Grandmothers.” Anna answered her.
The Empress looked at the bottom of the pendant, clearly knowing what she was looking for, “Where is the key that opens this?” she asked her.
“I think Hayden might have it,” Anna answered her.
“Of course…” the woman composed herself, sensing Anna’s suspicions, “I will go to him and ask.”
The Empress gave Anna a smile and Anna smiled back at her. The Empress then quickly left the room with the pendant clutched tightly in her hand.
Chapter Twenty Four
The uneasiness Anna felt over the Empress’s behavior during her visit, did not leave after the woman left. Anna had always assumed royalty as being refined, but this “Empress” seemed far from that. The tattoo Anna had seen on her wrist didn’t seem to be a marking one would find on one with such stature. That’s because this woman is not the Empress… you idiot! Anna’s thoughts insulted her and she quickly threw the covers aside. Every bit of the effort it took for Anna to slide her legs over the side of the bed, tortured her bruised body, but Anna continued on and climb out. She rushed over to the door, ignoring the pain her movements brought her and flung it open.
By the time Anna reached the stairs, her face was already beaded with sweat and she was panting in exhaustion. She could hear voices below and leaned her body against the rail as she descended down, still determined. The imposter was at the bottom with her back to Anna, talking to Hayden and his father.
Anna leapt into the air and tackled the woman down to the floor, surprising the men and both of them jumped back. They stood dumbfounded for a moment watching the women fight on the floor at their feet. Anna wrapped her arms tighter around the woman neck and looked up at them.
“This is not the Empress!” Anna screamed at them and Hayden immediately reached down and grabbed the woman. Harmon leaned over and helped the exhausted Anna up, supporting her against him.
“How dare you!” The woman shrieked, but Hayden still held on.
Corrine rushed into the room and looked to their faces for an answer, “What’s going on?” she asked them.
“Pull the sleeve back on her right arm,” said Anna.
Hayden pulled the woman’s sleeve up and revealed the crow tattoo. Corrine looked to her husband, “The Empress is my friend and she does not have a tattoo!” she confirmed to him.
The woman gave a sinister laugh, “Such a smart girl… such a brave one too!” she spat out in Anna’s direction, “Here to save the Empress!” she laughed at her.
Anna let go of Harmon and walked over to the woman, “This is mine…” she spat at her, yanking the pendant from her hand. Anna then looked to Hayden, “Where’s my book?” she asked him.
“I’ll deal with this son,” Harmon told his son and took the woman’s arm, “You take this one back upstairs before she collapses,” He told him.
Harmon was right; Anna could already feel her legs giving on her. Hayden picked her up, just as the last of her energy left her and carried Anna back upstairs to the bedroom. He laid her down on the bed and recovered her before he walked over to the dresser and opened the top drawer, “I placed it in here when we were stripping you, and I’m surprised it even stayed in your pocket…” said Hayden as he pulled it out.
Anna sat up more and pulled the covers more over her body, shivering a little. “Are you cold?” he asked her as he closed the drawer and carried it over to her.
Anna shook her head, “I’m alright,” She assured him. Hayden placed the small book on her lap and then reached inside his pocket, “I had meant to put I back inside, but forgot,” said Hayden, pulling the key out, “Now I’m glad I did,” he laughed and handed it to her.
“I shouldn’t have been so trusting,” said Anna and she took it, “But if I hadn’t given the pendant to her, I would have never found out she was an imposter. Imagine what she would have done if she had gotten ahold of this!” she exclaimed and slipped the key into the tiny lock; Anna had locked it the other night afraid to open it again after yesterday afternoon.
Anna unlocked her book and then slipped the key back inside the pendant. She then returned the necklace back around her neck and tucked it inside the top of her nightgown. Corrine came into the room with a glass of water and went over to the night stand. She grabbed both vials sitting on top of it and measured out her dosage to pour into Anna’s glass. She gave it a stir and then handed it to Anna.
Anna drank it down quickly and handed it back to her, �
��Thanks Corrine, I needed that!”
The woman laughed, “I would think so! After a match like that, I would be hurting too!” she teased her with a wink.
Anna opened her book, “Where is the Empress?” she asked it.
She was captured last night, during your attack. It answered her.
“Where was she taken?”
She is in the Chancellor’s castle, locked up in a cell. It wrote.
“So last night, my attack was just a distraction, so he could get to the Empress,” She spoke softly, discouraged.
“I don’t think that was entirely a distraction,” said Hayden, “Remember the Chancellor also wants you dead too,” He reminded Anna.