Finding Eden by Camilla Beavers Page A

are Narah's
daughter,” the other twin says as if it's a confirmation, “what
is your name?”
    “ Eden,” I
say.
    “ Eden,” the
man says, “well then, let's get you cleaned up and fed, shall
we?”
    The twins then lead me
though the castle, down hallways that I cannot keep track of. Soon I
find myself forgetting lefts and rights.
    “ Here we are,”
a twin says, perhaps Samir.
    I look up at Sahariel.
    “ We are at your
room” Sahariel says, go in. A bath and fresh clothes are
waiting.”
    He pushes open the door
and all I can see is the four post canopy bed that sits in the center
of the room like a centerpiece during a feast.
    “ Holy crap.”
    I hear someone laugh
behind myself, but I don't care. I walk into the room, my fingers
brushing over the thick heavily embroidered blanket on the bed.
    “ The washroom is to
your left,” one of the twins motions, “get yourself
cleaned up. There will be a change of clothing waiting for you and
food shall be served shortly after.”
    The door is closed and
for a few moments I stand and look around the room in amazement.
Slowly I make my way to the washroom where a huge tub, which sits
down into the floor, mirrors the appearance of the bed in the
bedroom.
    I stare at the tub. I
don't know how the rub is supposed to work. There are no knobs or
pulleys anywhere. I stand at the edge of the tub with my hands on my
hips.
    “ Well, I'd like to
take a hot bath at some point.”
    The bathroom hisses and
creaks around me. The sound of rushing water fills the room and I
look around for the source. I look in the tub and like a small
fountain, water is bubbling into it.
    The tub fills and I stick
my hand in, snatching it back as soon as it enters. The water is
scalding hot.
    “ Too hot,” I
say.
    I hear the sound of
rushing water again. A test finger confirms that cool water has been
thrown into the mix. I smile, somehow knowing that magic is the
reason why. I strip my clothes off, grateful that the rough material
is no longer on my skin. I lower myself into the tub, sighing as the
water brushes my earlobes.
    Once my fingers resemble
raisins, I pull myself out and dry off. I walk out to the bed and
notice someone has placed some clothes out on the end of the bed. I
finish drying off and pick up the dress. It's heavy, but soft, like
thick cotton. I pull the dress over my head and straighten out the
many layers.
    I slip my feet into the
matching deep green slippers and finger the necklace around my neck,
realizing, incidentally, that the necklace and gown match. I open the
door and nearly bump into one of the twins.
    “ Oh,” I say,
“I'm sorry.”
    He looks at me after
regaining his footing and I automatically overt my eyes.
    “ Your Highness,”
he says, “it is I who should be sorry. I shouldn't have been
standing in a place that you would need to walk.”
    He bows and I fidget.
    “ It's okay...”
I fumble with his name, not sure which one he is.
    “ Samir.”
    “ Samir,” I
say, “just... please stop bowing,”
    “ Your Highness?”
    “ It bother me,”
I say, “I feel‒ I don't know. Just‒don't bow,
okay?”
    “ I'll bow only when
absolutely necessary, alright?”
    “ Thank you.”
    “ You must be
hungry,” He says, “how about we go eat now?”
    “ Yes, please,”
I say and follow him down the hallway.
    The smell of something
delicious enters my nose and my mouth waters. My stomach responds
with a growl and I try not to be embarrassed. Samir smiles at me and
we walk into a room dominated by a long, elegant, wooden table.
Sahariel and Perul are already there.
    “ Milady,”
Sahariel bows.
    I fidget and Samir
stifles a laugh.
    “ Samir,”
Perul says, “thank you for escorting her while I spoke with
Sahariel.”
    “ My pleasure.”
    They motion for me to
take a seat at the head of the table. Sahariel pulls the chair out
for me to sit down and Samir gives him an odd look that I can't quite
decipher. The colors here are more intricate. It's going to take