Chapter 13. Where IS she?
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. The eldest of the, Raven Harpy twins, princesses thought. With each step Seraphina took down the hallway, to the right and then left at the opening at the end of the hallway, headed towards the formal dining room. She was steeling herself against her own warring thoughts, which were whirling in her head. With tidal wave, after tidal wave of differing emotions slamming from her heart into her stomach.
This is my kingdom. She echoed the words Lyla had quite passionately uttered. Seraphina was playing them back to herself in a loop. Not the entire conversation, just the stark realisation and the emotion that accompanied that… the feeling and realisation that today also marked the beginning of the twin sisters becoming one step closer to one day being a Queen themselves.
Seraphina in particular was being groomed to take the thrown of the Raven Queen by, none other, than Lady Nox herself – their mother. Famed for her battle prowess on the field, her political scheming and maneouvering and… worst of all, known by those who were staff at their castle, or manner, by the horrid and unthinking way she unleashed her anger and irritance on the household help; cooks, maids, cleaners, and sometimes gardeners.
The words that Lyla had uttered… They were certainly bold! Especially having come from a servant, who had survived working 6 months at the Raven Queen's abode. Considering what she witnessed only this morning with a fellow co-worker who had only gotten in the Lady Nox's way at the wrong time, a day of high stress and high importance and before the affairs had begun.
Seraphina knew how her mother would have just about lynched the girl for speaking out of turn, never mind accompanied that with such unfiltered and challenging perspectives.
Lady Nox believed that those below her should, "Know their place."
Seraphina hated the way her mother treated the staff of the house. Her little twin sister, Sephora agreed with her and also hated how the house staff were treated. How many times they had to help someone leave and provide some small trinket or treasure that may be considered valuable as apologetic compensation. There were other ways that the twins had helped staff that had been injured by her. Fetching the doctor for them, slyly. Getting them the Doctor to look at a "sprained wing," or sore talon when the talon was outstretched.
After getting orders for them to rest, or instructions on how to stetch or clean their talons or wings… or some other basic form of care. The twins, either of them, if not both, would ask the doctor to have a look over a staff member.
They would ensure to keep a proper, staff to employer tone when the doctor was around. Never anything too formal, to ensure their mother would never discover the backroom kind and good deeds the twins did almost on a weekly basis, for one staff member or another.
Both of them had the kindness in their hearts of the old Raven King; their father; Lady Nox's husband. The one whom Sephora had inherited her, "imperfect," icy eyes from.
This thought had entered Seraphina's mind while she took a few steps towards the portrait of her father, which hung at the end of this hallway before it opened to the left and right. "Daddy…" The eldest princess pleaded, her voice broke as she did. "Please do not let this go as badly as I feel it might. If any of your spirit lingers… if anything of you remains… please… let something divine intervene and prevent whatever it is that mother has in her designs for us. The daughters you left far too soon." Her eyes glimmered a little, beads of tears welled in the crook of her waterline.
Suddenly, "Young Miss?" a sharp voice said mid gasp, "You should be at the formal lunch by now. Do you want me to escort you?"
Seraphina looked kindly at the blue-hue servant girl; she knew this one was very new to the household and wasn't actually sure of her name yet. "Thank you." The hint of a smile teasing at the corner of her lips and dewy eyes, "Yes… yes please. I would be grateful for that…" She struggled with this new girls name.
The blue-hue servant girl had aided her in holding back the flood of tears, with the emotions that walled in her like a stormy sea front, daring to break the banks with each lashing wave. "Alright Young Miss, right this way."
"Umm…" Seraphina looked around, checking to ensure they were they only ones in this stretch of the hallway. Specifically… no mother.
The young servant girl was immediately alarmed and began following each checking movement that Seraphina made, "Is… something the matter?" She had been hear long enough to understand that this family wasn't like working for the other nobles of the Raven clan. Their mother for a starters and this was the eldest. She looked just like Lady Nox. The servant became nervous and wondered just how similar she was to Lady Nox, would this princess strike her? The other staff members had said contrary to that but-
Interrupting the servant girls thoughts, Sephora finally asked with a curious look that now replaced the sadness which lined them, not only moments ago, "What is your name, by the way?"
The servant girl was caught off guard by this, as it was so unexpected. "Aurora…" She blushed, "My mother loved the name Aurora after Princess Aurora. Your father's sister, er, your… aunt?" She relaxed and ruffled her hair to ease the embarrassment, "…but, everyone calls me Roray for short."
There hadn't been enough time to get familiar with the newest members of staff. The twins had absolutely no opportunity to. Seraphina was glad for this opportunity, "Okay, Roray. Please, lead the way."
The blue-hued servant girl smiled, and nodded happily. Whirling on her feet and proceeding forward. Through further openings, hallways.
Seraphina returned to her thoughts about those that were gathering and those that she may potentially meet and be betrothed to.
Having only started a two or three days ago, it hadn't been enough time with all of the preparations the sisters had to do to prepare themselves; studying up on the other harpy clan customs and ways, at least briefly. To know what is an acceptable faux pas that might get them a slap of the wrist, versus a completely unacceptable incident.
Nothing would come of any arrangements immediately. It wasn't the harpy way. It could take months to years of negotiations between noble families of the same clans, for a marriage between their houses, or families. It was an affair of social politics, not feelings. It never had been and Seraphina had no expectation of love. Just a hope that she would be able to choose the one that she liked the most, or at least that she would have say with her mother on who were the ones she believed that she got on with the most.
She couldn't imagine being paired with a mate that she didn't get on with. These things did happened. Yet, her and her sister were considered the jewels of the Raven Clan. Surely, they would not be co-signed to a fate of a disinterested mate their entire lives? Seraphina could only hope.
Within minutes they were at the open lounge area above the 2nd story stairs, laying by the balcony; two plush and comfortable black sofa seaters that had never been used, until today. Creases and marks outlined that they had been recently lounged on.
The door into the dining room was slightly ajar. The ironmongery wasn't fully on the latch. A loud and animated voice carried itself through the small gap of the door. The voice was certainly not that of a raven. It wasn't deep and raspy. It was deep and clear but in rounded bursts, rather than sharp broken calls.
Roray could see that Seraphina's nerves had reappeared, she was about to say something to the oldest princess.
Before she could, the princess had a hand up to her. A finger raised to halt any words which she might say. This servant was new, and this was the wrong place for her to let her guard down and for her mother to observe any nicities which may be exchanged.
Given that the Raven Queen couldn't actually see outside the door, it wasn't open enough for even an eye to peep out. It was enough that any voices would be clearly heard outside that door. Seraphina was doing the young servant a favour.
The princess moved to the door, turning the handle slightly as she moved to enter the room. Half way though the threshold, the room had a hush breeze over it, perfectly timed for Seraphina turning to the servant to say, "Please, may you go and request from the chef any venison that remains? If you will tell him that Seraphina requests her favourite dish. He knows which one to prepare." Without a second glance at Roray, Seraphina moved into the room, taking the only seat remaining.
Her mother was at the other end of the table, seated at the head. Where she was at the other end, where a large man sat at the other head. He had deep-set amber eyes, which seemed overly alert, despite the mand relaxed posture. Such bright eyes were adorned with eccentric eyebrows in a rounder head than usual.
Seraphina was glad that she had Lyla go over descriptions of everyone who was there, this was the Lord Easton that she had mentioned most notably. The princess curtseyed before the Lord at the head of the table, "Lord Easton of the Eurasian Eagle Owl Harpy Clan, I presume? It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
The Lord's eyes never left Seraphina, and she felt as though this harpy could strip away every lie and peer into her very soul… at least the way he was looking at her. This was the stripping gaze of an inquisitive and respected Owl Harpy.
He sprung into action, "Why, yes!" Leaning forward, in a fashion that seemed far too casual for the setting that was in front of everyone there. "Which daughter might you be…?" Again, his eyes perused the elder twin princess, no detail missed. He then briefly made a noting glance at Lady Nox; who was sat in the most tense position possible, attempting to look relaxed – an unthinkably unusual sight for the Raven Queen.
What has mother so anxious? Thought Seraphina, as she followed Lord Easton's gaze to her.
"Your eldest is so strikingly similar to yourself Lady Nox," the Lord boomed in his voice, elegantly but so unusual for a raven harpy to hear, "You must be Seraphina, then? The dark jewel of the Raven Clan, or so I hear!"
Lady Nox moved to speak, the tension from her posture made her movements seem so mechanical and so false. "She is my truest darling." It was as if she was holding back, Seraphina couldn't help but wonder what on earth had her mother so rattled.
"Lady Seraphina, please take your seat," it was Master Loris, sitting across from Lord Easton – at his right hand, or right wing side. The positioning spoke volumes.
The older brother of the Eagle Owl twins, that Lyla had told her about while doing her hair and make-up; both who would be courting the Raven Princesses. They were similar to the twins in that they were also born from the same clutch and were a year or two older than them, but no more than that. He looked like a mini version of Master Easton.
His younger brother, was sitting in the chair beside him, smiled politely at her. Saying nothing but maintaining the formal pretences he was likely drilled into following.
Even bemoaning Seraphina's beauty, it was an underhand way that mother would often use comment unfavourably towards Sephora's beauty, or lack of it in her eyes.
"Speaking of twins," Lord Easton boomed again in a lower tone, "where is the younger? My own youngest, Master Lucas," The Lord stretched out his wing to motion towards the second chair down from his right, "…was so looking forward to meeting Sephora. He had heard that her eyes were quite something." His eyes snapped straight to the Raven Queen, who's poker face at this time resembled closer to that of a cracked face mask – revealing everything, thoughts and emotions – but voicing none of them.
She had never thought of Sephora's eyes as a complement, and never dreamed of them as a redeeming feature. "…speaking of your sister. Seraphina, where IS Sephora?" The taughtness of her mothers tone sent chills down her spine. The smile that accompanied it, while attempting to portray kindness, only looked insidious.