Standing in the doorway, I watched them. Stella is sitting with Johnathan’s arm over her shoulders. The rest of the group sat around them. Johnathan’s group with them. All laughing and smiling. Did she even notice that I was there? Did she care?

“Oh yes, I’m sure she can hear you just fine over here.” Alexander stepped beside me. He stood there staring at them with his hands behind his back.

I just stood there and stared at them. Their smiling faces. “I really hate kings,” I said.

“Oh yes, you keep saying that.” He said, just as the other two walked up.

“That’s because I do.” I smiled at him as I stepped into the room.  All eyes fall on me. Along the far wall stood the three guards who brought me to the woods. Smiling at them, I gave them a little wave.

“Oh god what happened, Izzy?” Stella asked. She stood up and made her way over to me. She reached out to touch my face but stopped. I stared at her, and she stopped.

“The salve properly said something out of line. She doesn’t know her place.” Johnathan said. He and his group laughed.

I watched Stella’s face. So much shame and panic. She was so worried about them finding out. My heart ached with dull pain. Biting my tongue, I pushed past her. Johnathan stood up, knocking his chair over. But he stopped.

“What is your problem?” Stella snapped.

I stopped and faced her. “Drop it, Stella,” I said.

“I will not drop it, Isadora. I’ve been understanding and gave you space.” Stella started.

“You gave me space!” I laughed. Pain shot through my body.

“Lately, you’ve been acting distant! I gave you space till you wanted to talk! Now you act out and go pick a fight with some random person!” She yelled.

“I’ve been distant!” I snapped. Laughing, I looked around. “Tell me, chosen one, when exactly did you notice I’ve been distant? Was it today? Just a few minutes ago? Years ago?” I asked, stepping closer to her. 

She looked at me, then around. “Talk to me, Izzy. What’s going on?” She reached out for me again. 

“Okay then, let’s talk. Let’s talk about how they all think you felt pity for me and set me free.” I said.

“You're only here because she got you out!” Johanthan snapped.

“She got me out!” Laughing, I faced him. Looking around, they all just stood around watching us. The only one who seemed amused was King Alexandre. “Why don’t I tell you the real story behind Stella Hill?” I said, locking eyes back with Johnathan.

“Isadora, stop this!” Stella yelled.

Turning around, I faced her. “You wanted to know what’s wrong, why not start with the beginning of it all?” 

Her eyes grow wide as tires formed. “Please.” She mouthed.

“The day her gifts arrived, we had just gotten freed from Lord Luise when King Gil arrived,” I said.

“What are you talking about, Slave?” Johnathan snapped.

“Your precious Stella Hill was a—” I started, but Stella slapped me.

She slapped me so hard that it turned my head. Everything around us seemed to go quiet. Slowly turning my head, I meet her eyes. They were in shock. Like she didn’t believe what she had done. My face burned where her hand met my face.

“I’m not ashamed of who I am. In fact, I’m proud of it; without it, I would not be who I am. We were both born into slavery. The chosen one, Stella Hill, was a salve.” I said. Stepping closer to her, she shook her head. “The great savior meant to save everyone is sacred of everyone finding out that she was a salve.”

Tears started to fall down her face. It hurt to see her hurt. I always protected her. Hurting anyone who made her cry. 

“I’m done, Stella. I’m done being pushed around. I’ve fought my way out of it, and I will not go back.” Walking past her, I bumped into her.

Almost knocking her down. I kept on walking to the door. A chair shot past me, hitting the wall. Stopping, I stared at the broken chair. She threw a chair at me.

“What’s wrong with you?” She asked when I turned around and faced her. “Why are you acting this way?” Tears streamed down her face as things floated around her.

“Your friends treat me like I don’t exist. Your fiancé constantly belittles me and calls me a salve. But yes, let’s get angry when I get tired of being pushed around.” I snapped, throwing my hands up.

“No one is—” She snapped.

“God, are you that blind that you can’t see what’s right in front of you!” I yelled.

“You're so stuck in the past that you can’t accept that we got out of it. We’re not slaves anymore.” She yelled as the tables went flying.

Picking up the vase on the closet table, I throw it at her. It hit her in the face. “You’re an idiot if you think we got free! You don’t get belittled or dragged into the woods to get beaten, but you do as they want when they want! You're nothing but a pet to them!”

Everything crashed to the ground. I didn’t flinch but held her eyes. She stared at me. 

“I’m done protecting you, Stella. If you are so willing to let them treat you like a pet and treat me like a salve. I’m gone.” I said. 

This time, I walked out. I had to get away. I wanted to get away. My feet had other plans. I found myself in the west wing. Right back to the woman who helped me earlier. Walking into the room, she was working with some herds. She stopped and looked up at me. 

“Can I help you?” She asked, going back to work.

“I—” The words got stuck in my throat. Why was I here? 

Looking around, she made this room a little med bay.

“Either help me or leave.” She said.

Stepping beside her, she handed me a knife. For a while, we just worked on some medicine in silence.