Eden Forest (Part one of the Saskia Trilogy) Read Online Free Page B

my face go. It rests on my chest. I don’t
    have the strength to raise it. All I can see now is Lucian’s legs as
    he walks away from me and returns to the hole beside the altar.
    “We will meet again.” And at that, he leaves and the demons
    follow him. When the last one goes through, the hole in the
    ground closes up. My eyelids flutter and I collapse.
     
    When I awake, the room is in darkness. My body feels stiff
    and sore. Grabbing the altar helps me steady myself and stops the
    room spinning. I stumble up the stairs, inspecting my face with
    a shaky hand. It is crusted  in dry blood. I hold on to the wall as
    I make my way back to my chambers. I stagger to my bed and
    collapse on it, falling into a nightmare of the underworld.
    When I wake, I feel disorientated. I am lying on my bed in my
    gown. Raising my shaky hand to my chest, my fingers rest on my
    pendant. I let out a sigh of relief at feeling it under my fingertips.
    Moving my hand to my cheek, the skin feels rough. I rise on
    shaky legs and examine my face in the mirror. The left side from
    my cheek down to my neck is still crusted in dry blood, but the
    puncture wounds have healed.
    I have never encountered anyone like him.
    Taurus is stationed outside my chamber doors. When I open
    them, he takes in my appearance. I can see he is straining to keep
    his face composed.
    “My lady?”
    “Taurus, get Corrona to fill a bath for me and prepare my
    supper.”
    “Yes, my lady.” Taurus leaves. I sit down on one of my
    armchairs beside the unlit fire. I have seen a lot in my hundred
    and fifty years, but never anything like Lucian. And to discover
    that another world exists… not a world I would ever want to
    rule. Corrona enters my chambers and her gaze falls on my
    cheek. She looks away quickly when she catches my eye and
    starts filling my bath.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
    Marta - Saskia-
     
     
     
    T he next morning, I awake to pounding on my door.
    Rubbing my eyes, I open it and Corrona bursts in.
    “Marta, how are you asleep? I have been awake since
    sunrise.” Corrona is busying herself lighting a fire to boil some
    water for tea.
    After shutting the door, I sit at the table. Corrona stops what
    she is doing and sits across from me, taking my hands in hers.
    “Are you feeling unwell? Is it the baby?” She places a hand on
    my forehead. “You feel a bit warm, but no temperature.”
    I flick her hand away. “Stop fussing. I am fine, just a bad
    night’s sleep.” Hurt flickers across her face. I never tell her about
    Taurus, because I know she will just end up worrying about me.
    “I am sorry. I’m just tired.”
    She gives me a lopsided smile. “All is forgiven. Now, we have
    to get you organised for the festival. Bethany is coming over to
    mine, as are you, and we will get ready together.” Corrona’s
    eyes are sparkling with excitement.
    I can’t help but smile back. “All right, but first I need a hot
    cup of tea to wake me up.”
    Corrona pours out two cups of tea. I cradle mine in my hands.
    We still have three hours before the festival begins. Corrona is
    not coming, as she is married already, but she loves dressing
    me up. When we finish the tea, we leave my cottage and make
    our way to Corrona’s. We chat while waiting on Bethany. She
    works with Corrona in the castle, taking care of the cleaning
    and running of it.
    The castle is divided into three sections—left, middle, and
    right. Both of them work in the left wing and are called L1 and
    L2, as they are head maidens over several other girls.
    After an hour, Corrona gets up from the table. “I am going
    over to Bethany’s to see what is taking her so long. It isn’t like
    her to be late. She was so excited last week when we made plans
    for tonight.”
    I give Corrona a small hug. “All right. I will start getting
    ready.” Corrona throws on her cloak and leaves.
    Sitting in front of Corrona’s dressing table, I start with
    my