Chapter 216 - No place like home (2/2)

Cam gazed out the large window overlooking the gardens she'd entered the palace through earlier as she listened to the beautiful music filling the room. He hadn't been lying. His long nimble fingers moved skillfully across the keys. When the song ended, she turned her focus away from the stunning garden below and back to him. She gave a genuine clap. ”That was amazing. You really do know how to play!”

Ales smiled proudly back at her. ”The palace tutors are splendid! Perhaps you shall learn, and we may play a duet together sometime.”

Cam couldn't help but return his overeager smile as she agreed. ”I would love to learn...” Movement caught her attention, and she quickly spun back toward the window. Her eyes widened and her smile faded away as she crawled up into the window seat and pounded against the window. ”NO, WAIT!” She called out slamming her fists against the window. Tears began flooding her eyes. ”I didn't get to say goodbye!” She cried as she watched her parents pass through the tall fancy gates of the palace grounds. ”NO!” She spread her hands out against the window longingly as she watched her mother pause and glance back to the high windows of the castle. A single tear ran down her mother's cheek as she raised a hand and waved toward the window. ”Momma!” The word came out broken against her sobs. She hadn't realized Ales had joined her in the window seat until his small hand moved between her face and the window to brush away a tear.

”Please don't cry, Cam. I know it must be hard, but maybe they thought it would be harder if you had known when they left.” Ales's soft words brought her attention away from the window.

”What do you mean?!” She all but yelled.

Ales crawled closer to her and pulled her into a hug. ”I know when my parents have to leave, I don't want to release them. I only want to hold on tighter.” He tightened his arms around her. ”Mother said I was so bad as a baby, they had to wait for me to fall asleep before they could leave. Maybe your parents felt the same way. That it would be easier...”

Cam sniffled against his shoulder. ”But I didn't get to say goodbye... How long will it be until I see them again?” She pushed away from him and turned her focus back to the window, but her parents were no longer visible, and the tall gates were already shut back into place.

Ales frowned as he watched her stare longingly out the window. ”I promise you shall see them again, probably even soon. Until then, I shall keep you company. You shall be my sister and I, your brother from here on out.” He said trying to cheer her up.

Cam frowned but nodded, knowing there was nothing else to be done. She was officially alone, her parents gone. Her tear-filled eyes moved back to the window as she leaned her forehead against the cool glass. {Momma...}

Sadness filled Ales as his eyes moved from her teary eyes and began searching the room for a way to cheer her up. His eyes lit up as they fell onto the piano. He turned toward her. ”How about I give you some piano lessons? It shall take your mind off your pain.” He took her hand as he hopped down from the window.

Cam let out a long breath. ”I suppose it is better than staring out a window for the rest of the day...” She leaped down from the window and followed him over, taking a seat beside him. She sniffled back tears as she watched him place his fingers on the keys in what must have been a designated area.

”This is where you start when playing.” He ran his fingers across the keys as he named off each note to her and played a simple toon. ”Now you try.” He slid down the bench giving her access to the keys. ”Place them here.” He said moving her fingers to the right keys. He placed his fingers over hers as he called out the names of the notes again pressing down on each of her fingers as he did so. ”Now your turn.” He lifted his hands and waited for her to repeat the notes. When she did correctly, he clapped. ”Great Job! Now try this.” He ran his fingers across the same keys again but this time in a different order producing a different melody. They continued the lesson until a servant came to get them for dinner.

”Your brother doesn't seem to like me...” Cam commented as he showed her to her new room.

He shrugged. ”Fern doesn't like anyone.” His bright blue eyes moved to hers. ”That is why I was so excited when they announced you would be arriving today. Fern never does anything fun. He is always too busy learning about this and that and never has time to play...” He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. ”I am happy to finally have someone near my age living here!” He pointed to a door two away from the one they stood in front of. ”That is my room. If you need anything or just get bored, feel free to knock.” He twisted the knob to the door they stood in front of. ”And this is your new room.” He waited until she stepped inside before following her in. ”It is much like mine and the servants has most likely already put away your things.” He pulled open the armoire to reveal her neatly hung dresses before shutting it back. ”The chamber room is right this way.” He said showing her through another door.

Cam could barely believe the beauty of the large room. ”This is mine?” She asked in a stunned daze as she took in the beautiful thick floor-to-ceiling pink and gold curtains that hung over the windows and surrounded the massive four-poster bed.

He nodded. ”Yes, I hope you like it. If not I'm sure mother and father would allow you to switch, or have it changed to whatever you'd like better.”

Cam's eyes widened in shock as she turned her attention to him. ”Oh no, I love it! It's amazing! My room at home was nowhere near as beautiful!”

He smiled. ”Then I'm glad you like it.” He turned toward the door. ”I shall leave and let you get settled. If you would like, feel free to visit my room later. I have games we could play.”

Cam had not made it to Ales's room for games, instead, she'd fallen asleep almost instantly when she'd laid down on the plush mattress of her new bed; but an unfamiliar noise roused her from sleep. Scared from waking in the darkness of the unfamiliar room, Cam quickly remembered Ales's words. She shot up from the bed and began fumbling around in the dark for a wall to lead her toward the doors. She tripped and stumbled several times before finally finding the door and rushing into the hallway searching for the second door.