The Lost Princess

Chapter Eighteen

I laid on the bed staring at the ceiling in my fancy room in the castle. I had barely slept since dinner in the ballroom. I was exhausted, but I couldn't seem to fall asleep for very long. My mind raced about what King Maddox was going to use me for.

The ceiling had painted animals on it in bright colors. I looked around at the walls that were also painted in bright colors. This room was meant for a little child but had adult furniture in it. This must have been Princess Riyah's room before King Maddox killed her family.

I thought about Princess Lorica. I looked a lot like her, but her hair was a shade darker than mine, and her eyes were blue instead of green. She had a special relationship with King Maddox that no one else seemed to have. He would stand for her, but everyone else stood for him. He seemed to love her very much and she didn't seem interested in anything but herself. I rubbed my forehead trying to figure out who she is.

I rolled out of bed and walked over to the vanity. I sat down on the stool and looked at myself in the mirror. The makeup from last night was smeared across my face. Black eyeliner ran down my cheeks. The red lip stick on my lips smeared down my chin. My hair was frizzy and matted. I shook my head.

I pulled out a piece of blank paper from the draw in the vanity. I also found an ink quill in the draw. I drew a large rectangle in the center of the paper. Then I drew a long hallway in the middle of the rectangle. I made a small square for my room. Then I mapped out the doors that I saw last night. I labeled the kitchen that I saw, the door to the cells, and the ballroom. I stared at what I had mapped out so far. Nothing has shown me where an exit would be.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Hang on," I said standing up quickly. I looked around the room. I slipped the piece of paper underneath the mattress. Then I shoved the ink quill in the draw. I jumped onto the bed. "Come in."

The door opened. Princess Lorica and two maids came into the room. I stood up instantly. The maids quickly went into the washroom. Princess Lorica looked around the room. Then she walked up to me, standing inches away from me. She looked me up and down. Then she circled me. My heart raced as she continued to circle me without saying a word.

"They told me you were my lost sister," Princess Lorica said.

"That's what they told me too," I said shaking.

"Hmmm. And how do you know that you are my sister?" Princess Lorica asked.

"I don't even know that I am Princess Riyah," I admitted. "Keaton captured me, and King Maddox said I was her."

"Interesting. Well, I didn't find out that you were here until I entered the ballroom," she said. "I was not pleased by the surprise."

"Well, it wasn't my idea to surprise you," I said. "Also, I didn't know that you were even still alive."

"What?"

"Everyone in Kenora thinks you died the night King Maddox killed King Davidson," I said.

"Why would they think that?"

"Because no one has seen you since then," I said. "And the King isn't looking for you."

"Interesting," she said. "Well, that has to change."

"Okay," I said.

"So, do you think you are my long, lost sister?"