by Emily Sharp
A few minutes later, they headed into the game room. Louise walked ahead, and then turning around, held her hands up.
“This whole room needs redecorating, and I want a more modern feel to it.”
Adara looked around the room. A pool table made from stained oak sat to one side with only a few pieces of furniture and other decorations completing the room. And the walls, they were ugly. The red paint with yellow diamonds would have to go.
“If you really want my opinion, I will tell you.”
Louise walked over. “I do.”
“Well then, I agree, this room is pretty outdated, which is odd because the castle is only seven years old.”
“Yes, it is. Do you have an idea?”
Adara nodded. “The pool table can stay, but the rest of the furniture needs to go. The walls, I would go with white paint and framed posters of whatever you like.”
“Like art work?”
“If you want. I was thinking favorite movies or bands, give it more of a relaxed setting.”
“Excellent. What else?”
Adara looked around for a moment, then a smile came to her face. Hurrying over to a corner, she turned around. “You could put a bar here with a soda machine next to it.” She stepped over, extending her hand and touching the wall. “This whole wall…fill with video game cabinets. Actually, do the same with that wall as well.”
“That’s a good idea. How did you come up with that?”
“Emma’s father had a basement done the same way. We would spend hours in it sometimes,” Adara said, then bit at her lip, seeing the scowl that came over Louise's face. Her face was turning red, and Adara knew she was going to blow her top like she did most days.
“Do not speak to me of that woman again.”
Adara sighed. “It had nothing to do with her, it’s just the room. But I will try to remember,” she said, walking over to the middle of the room. Louise’s jealousy was another issue she had, and Adara did not feel like arguing about that point at this moment.
“You know, we can…” Adara started to say, looking at another wall, when their devices went off.
“Possible intruders, east sector, one mile out. Have a reporter at the gate as well,” the voice of one of the security guards said.
“I’ll handle the gate. Carlos and Peter, go east,” John said, his voice crisp and authoritative.
Louise shook her head. “Follow me.”
Before Adara could ask her anything, Louise took off, and not wanting to be left behind, Adara hurried after her. Heading into the library, Louise grabbed a remote and Adara watched in fascination as the purple curtains were pulled back, revealing numerous large screens. Each one covered a different part of the castle grounds.
“There, screen eleven,” Louise said, pointing to toward the top left. Adara followed her finger, seeing a man with a camera around his neck jogging along the dirt path. “I should have him shot, but lucky for him I consider myself a pacifist.”
Adara almost laughed. “Is he a journalist?”
“Yes. And he wants to take a picture of me!” Louise said, her voice rising. “But he will not be able to. No one can penetrate this fortress. Not even that idiot.”
Adara glanced over, Louise was breathing heavy, her face red. Her fist was clenched next to her leg, and when she turned, her lip was curled, looking much like the beast she swore she was many nights.
Raising her device, Louise spoke into it. “What about the gate?”
“It was a local reporter, Jill St. Valentine. We sent her away. She was no problem.”
Louise snorted. “She is a stupid woman. Her articles should be buried with her when she dies. What about the runner on the property whom I have every right to shoot at?”
“Almost there, Ms. Vandercourt,” another voice said.
Adara looked back up as two trucks came into view, the runner slowing down, then raising his hands in the air as the guards got out.
“They will not hurt him, will they?” Adara asked as panic rushed through her.
“He should be. But no, he will be escorted off the property.”
Adara looked back up at the screen just as the man was being led to one of the trucks. Louise sighed as she walked away, the curtains moving back to cover up the screens.
“I do not feel well. Let’s meet for lunch at the gazebo at noon, then we can figure out my game room,” Louise said, her voice sounding a bit choked.
Turning around, Adara watched as the woman hurried out of the room. Friend or not, Adara did not like to see anyone hurt. But Louise was already gone, and she knew from experience that trying to talk to her when she was upset was futile. With a sigh, she headed back to her own room.
***
Adara smiled at Thomas as he removed the plates and glasses from the table in the gazebo. A few moments later, he walked away, leaving the two of them alone. Adara was thankful for her sweater. With the gray clouds and light wind spreading the cool air, it was cold out.
She reached over and dug through her purse, pulling out a card she had made the night before, a simple token of friendship that she would hope would bring a smile to the sour face that sat across from her.
Standing up, she walked over, and Louise turned to her. She had not livened up since the incident a few days ago.
“What is that?” she asked, looking at the card that was extended to her.
“For you.”
With a suspicious dart of her eyes, Adara watched as she took the card and looked at it. On the front was the backdrop of the castle and two horses with riders on top of each in front of it.
“Who are these two?”
“Open the card to find out.”
Louise shrugged, and then setting her feet on the ground, let out an exaggerated sigh before opening up the card. Adara watched her eyes move back and forth across the words as she read them out loud.
Louise,
What started off as a debt, has turned into a friendship. I look forward to learning more about you and I hope you feel the same.
Adara.
Closing the card, she set it to the side. Her hands came to her knees and she remained quiet. Adara crossed her arms over her chest as she tried to fight off the cold. The words she wrote were true, she now considered Louise a true friend. And she hoped in the months ahead, Louise would see her as a true friend as well.
“Why us on the horses?”
“Well, you are a princess, and you said I was as well. We are friends, and friends do things together, don't they?”
“I don't have any horses. Is this a underhanded attempt to get me to buy some? All you have to do is buy them yourself. You don't need my permission,” she said, her voice cold.
Adara sighed. “I know that. It’s just something friends do sometimes, let the other person know they are appreciated.”
It was quiet with Louise saying nothing. Adara was frustrated and wondered if Louise even cared for the effort she had put in. Walking back to her seat, Adara stopped when she heard Louise's voice.
“Thank you.”
Turning around, she smiled, joy rushing through her. “You are welcome. And I wanted to ask you something else.”
Louise stood up. “Go ahead.”
“Tonight I want you to go somewhere with me.”
“Where?” Louise’s voice was defensive. For a brief moment, Adara considered not telling her what she wanted. But if she was truly Louise's friend, she needed to speak up.
“The front gate.”
Louise shook her head. “It is too dangerous, someone could be out there.” Adara felt like giving up. The whole routine of staying inside was driving her mad. The trips around the garden, though beautiful as they were, were becoming old. Even walking to the front gate seemed like an adventure compared to anything else they had done. Louise reached behind her, pulling her hair forward to cover her face, something she had not done for a while. “I will see you tonight at dinner,” Louise said, then walked over to the steps.
“What?”
Adara stopped in front of her and for the first time, she truly pitied Louise. The long blond hair that covered her face was an attempt to hide who she was, the golden drapes a security blanket but also a sign of despair. Reaching over, Adara took the golden locks in her hand, surprised at how soft and light they were in her hands. Gently, she pushed it back over her shoulders to reveal her face. Louise's body trembled, her blue eyes clouded over with pain so deep, Adara wondered if it could ever be healed.
With a smile, Adara reached down to take each of Louise's hands in her own. Her skin was smooth, and Adara wondered if the tremble coming from Louise’s body was of fear or from the cold wind.
“Come with me tonight on an adventure to the first gate with the stone wall. I will protect you, no one will hurt nor see you. You have my word. Trust me.”
At first, the blue eyes moved back and forth, and then Adara saw something beautiful. The dark clouds over them moved and a hint of light came across them. “I will trust you then. Very well, tonight, I propose at the gate,” Louise said, and then shocked Adara by letting out a laugh followed by a grin. Not only had Adara seen her smile for the first time, a real smile, she saw something else that she had never seen before. A woman with the capacity to be kind.
***
Adara waited at the bottom of the stairs. She was wearing jeans and the sweater from earlier, but had also added a gray pea-coat, scarf, and hat to keep out the cold that had befallen the air outside. A smile came to her face when she saw Louise walk down the stairs. She was wearing a similar outfit, though her coat was black. Her long blond hair hung around her but was parted enough to let her face show.
“Madam I…” Sofia said, then quickly turned and faced the wall.
“Did you see me?” Louise asked when she reached the bottom step, her hand resting on the banister.
“No, Madam.”
Adara looked over and saw that Sofia was visibly shaking. Turning back to Louise, she smiled. “She moves faster than lightning. She did not see you, I can assure you.”
Louise squinted her eyes for a moment, then came off the last step, her hand falling to her side. “Sofia, my bed linens need changing. Do that before you go to bed.”
“Yes, Madam.”
“Actually,” Louise said, walking over and moving her hand over Sofia's hair. “I will wait until tomorrow. Go ahead and go to bed.”
“Yes, Madam, as you wish.”
Adara bit at her lip, wanting to say something. She did not like how Louise talked to her, but now was not the time. She needed to get the woman out of the house first, and then she could have a talk with her about the way she treated Sofia.
“Very well, let us go then,” Louise said, walking over to the door. Adara watched as she stopped in front of it, and glancing over, saw Sofia still facing the wall. Opening the door, Louise stepped out, and Adara closed the door behind them.
Adara pulled her hat down, the wind, though not blowing hard, was very cold. Glancing over at Louise, she put her hand on her shoulder.
“Thanks for coming out with me tonight. It means a lot.”
“It’s no big deal, I am not scared.”
Adara smiled, knowing that Louise was terrified, the sound of her voice letting her know as much.
“Let’s go then.”
Moving down the white marble steps, Adara looked around. There were lights in the ground, highlighting everything from the water fountain which was now turned off, the hedges, and some of the grounds to her left and right.
“The gate is what? A half mile or so up?” Adara asked as they headed left of the fountain.
“I believe that is correct,” Louise said, her voice a bit shaky.
They came around the large circular driveway, the road ahead of them barely lit. They started to head down it when Louise stopped, her voice panicked.
“I can’t do this. Let’s go back.”
Adara turned toward her. Louise's blue eyes were frightened, the breath in the cold air coming out in short gasps.
“I won’t make you go, but what if…” —she reached down and took Louise's hand in her own— “we hold each other for support?”
Louise's hand trembled, her voice doing the same. “We can maintain a slow pace?”
“Of course. I will follow your lead.”
Without a word, they began to walk, with Louise setting the pace, her steps short. Adara watched as Louise glanced around continually, as though expecting trouble to come at any moment.
“Louise, I am proud of you.”
“Why?”
“Because what you are doing takes courage. I respect you for this more than you can imagine.”
Louise turned to her, her eyes filling with unshed tears. “Everything inside me is screaming for me to run back. But I won’t. I will do this…for you.”
Adara wanted to correct her, to tell her that she needed to do it for herself, but the steps Louise was taking were too big for such a correction. Instead, she gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
Neither spoke, and though the clouds covered most of the sky, a few stars still appeared. The lights beside them running along each side of the road were further apart now, barely visible between each one.
Then all of a sudden, Louise stopped, turning toward Adara, panic on her face. “I'm scared,” she whispered, as a single tear trailed down her face. Adara felt a pang in her heart and knew she needed to encourage her. But trying to find the words, she failed. As Louise went to leave, a thought came to her.
“Wait,” Adara said, not letting go of her hand.
“What?”
“Let’s not run from your fear, but toward it!”
“I don't understand.”
“There,” Adara said, nodding ahead of them. “There is the main gate just up ahead. Let us run hand in hand to it.”
“You are mad.”
“Maybe. What do you say? I will not let go of you. Come on, my fellow princess, we are summoned to the gates! The peasants await our arrival!”
Adara stood there watching as Louise lifted her other hand and wiped at her eye. Then with a short nod of Louise’s head, they began to jog, then a few moments later, ran.
The sound of their feet was loud upon the pavement as they rushed toward the front gate. Then Adara saw the security booth, a person inside. Quickly grabbing her device out her pocket, she spoke into it.
“The two princesses are approaching the gate.”
“Understood,” came the reply.
Adara smiled as she saw the figure in the booth turn to face away from the gate, his back now toward them. The tall wall appeared next, the iron gates just in front of them.
“Almost there! You’re doing great,” Adara called out, and then they both slowed down as they came up to the gate. Louise grabbed at the bars with her hands, sobs coming out between each breath, as she lowered herself into a squatting position in front of the gate.
“You did it. I am proud of you,” Adara said, and for the first time, she shed a single tear for her friend as her hand came to Louise's back. She let Louise sob while she gently rubbed her back, whispering words of encouragement.
A few moments later, Louise stood up and removed her hands from the gate. “The last time I was out here was when the limousine brought me here when I moved in over seven years ago. The memory of what brought me here…it hurts,” Louise said, putting her hands in her coat pockets.
Adara nodded, letting her speak, not wanting to interrupt. This was the first time the woman shared intimate details of her life, and Adara would not stop her from doing just that.
“And even standing here I am scared that someone will see me, that they are above or just beyond in the darkness. But with you here,” —she turned around, her eyes red— “I truly, for the first time in
a very long time, feel safe.”
“We are friends, real friends now. You can tell me anything, whether it’s good or bad. And I promise to do my best to keep you safe,” Adara said, her heart going out to Louise. Seeing the woman in front of her shake tore at her, the pain in her eyes great.
Louise nodded. “I believe you. And tonight, I will ask something different of you.”
“What is that?” Adara said.
“That you will always be my friend. Even after you are long gone from here.”
Adara smiled, and putting her arms around Louise, gave her a hug. “That is a promise.”
Chapter Ten
Having just returned from the gazebo, Adara had excused herself for a while, and Louise paced back and forth in the library. Adara had rejected her proposal for marriage once again and with each day passing, she would one day be gone. Louise still hoped that Adara would change her mind and say yes, but that hope was fading with each passing day. Since they had gone to the gate together over a week ago, they had made the trek three more times. Each trip consumed her with fear, her heart aching, wanting to turn and run. Yet the gentle, smooth hand that took hers and encouraged her along was enough to keep her moving forward.
But what would happen when the day came and Adara was to leave? There was no other woman who could match Adara's beauty, nor her grace, her laugh. Louise would just have to figure a way to make her stay. She stopped in front of a painting of a group of ships. It was painted in the 1600s, the exact date not coming to mind, only the value.
“If I cannot make your dreams come true, then I will do it for your father, at a cost to you…” she said out loud, though the room was empty.
That was it. Promise her father the world, give him not only complete control of her freight line of ships, but maybe also fund another venture for him. All Adara would have to do in return was stay here with her. Then over time, she would see the wisdom of what Louise was doing. Though Adara would never love her, she would be grateful and give herself to her.
But in the meantime, Louise would have to continue being her friend, keeping the ruse up that Adara had gone along with. Not to gain her trust necessarily, though that was important, but because she enjoyed it. Their talks had become more personal, and Louise had found herself smiling once or twice. It was something that intrigued her because it felt so foreign, but she wanted more of it.