Nanny For The Alien General by Athena Storm
Serafina
At first, I just thought it was that I was a stranger in a very strange land. The palace is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Knowing that food and support is just a call away is bewildering.
So, when I had trouble telling what time it was, I chalked it up to that. But now that two days have passed without seeing Keilon, I’m starting to think it isn’t due to my disorientation.
Why haven’t we seen him?
On the first day without him, the children pestered me with questions. Every few moments, I’d catch them looking at the nursery door or out the window asking me “Where is he?” Or “When’s Daddy coming back?”
It was easy to deflect the questions at first. “He’s busy, sweetie,” or “He’s been away a long time, there’s a lot to catch up on,” and so on.
Truth is, I don’t really know where he is or why he hasn’t come to see us. One day away from us I could understand, but not two. Not even a message has come to us. Could we really have been forgotten so easily and so quickly? Has he forgotten all about the night we shared?
What’s more alarming is how soon the children have returned to old habits.
After that first day of incessant questions about their father, the questions suddenly stopped. As we played in the nursery, I noticed a glaze fall over their eyes and a feeling of apathy seemed to set in.
For some hours now, I’ve been fighting the urge to ask them about it. If they don’t want to talk about their father, why would I bring it up? But I can’t keep it back anymore. I have to know what’s going on.
“Emex, think we’ll see your Daddy today?” I try to keep my tone noncommittal and casual. It sounds tinny and overly loud in my ears.
He barely looks up from the tower of blocks that have been occupying him for the past fifteen minutes.
Shrugging, he says, “Dunno. Daddy working.”
“Oh, I know. But he needs to take a break sometime, doesn’t he?”
Belanna chimes in, but she too has a look of apathy and disconnectedness. “That’s what Daddy always does. The palace makes him do it.”
“It does what? What do you mean, exactly?” I’m trying to keep things light but I can feel anger rising up within me.
Belanna looks at me, her voice and affect perfectly flat. “When Daddy working, he’s not around.”
“But you must see him sometimes, yes?”
Keep yourself under control.
“Not for long time. Days,” Emex replies, the smallest hint of sadness in his tone.
Well, that explains a lot, actually. And I condone not one bit of it.
Standing up, I grab each of their small hands. The gesture causes them both to snap out of their lethargy and look up at me with curiosity.
“What’s wrong, Sera? You look mad,” Emex says, concern on his face.
“Well, to be honest, kiddo. I am. I don’t think it’s right that you don’t see your Daddy for so long. Let’s go fix that.”
I don’t need to tell them twice that we’re about to embark on a little adventure. Suddenly, their energy spikes and they are game to leave the nursery and go exploring.
Marching out of the nursery at full speed (or as fast as toddlers will allow) I almost lose my nerve when we enter the labyrinthine hallways. Gone is the safety of the nursery suite and I realize very quickly that I have no idea where Keilon is and, even if I knew that, I wouldn’t know how to find it.
“Umm, would you happen to know where your Daddy might be right now?” I ask both kids. To my utter relief they both respond in perfect unison. “His office!”
A passing servant is kind enough to direct me towards his office. I try to ignore her look of concern as our little trio thanks her and walks on. But this is ridiculous. Of course he’s a busy man, but no parent should just disappear for two days straight without an explanation.
We turn down a hallway that seems more decadent than the rest and I know we’re heading in the right direction. A heavy door, painted in soft greens and browns, appears before us. Both children point at it in recognition as their father’s office. I am relieved to see that it’s not heavily guarded or that I have to get past any meddling advisors to gain access.
Without even knocking, I open the door.
A vast office greets me, dominated by a large desk that is riddled with comm-pads, devices, papers and, hidden behind it all, the King of the Lakes.
Keilon looks up in complete surprise as enter. He stands, which causes a small avalanche of detritus from his desk to slide to the floor.
“Serafina! Kids! It’s so wonderful to see you! To what do I owe the honor?”
Is he really serious? Does he think that’s a real question?
“Are you really going to play ignorant? I chalked up the kid’s hesitance to play with you at first to so many things but not one of them was because of outright negligence.” My voice is icy and full of daggers.
I see him swallow in response. I also see his anger flush his already red skin. Apparently, this is not how you speak to a king.
To hell with that.
“What are you talking about? And do you realize—-“
“We have not seen or heard from you in two days. Do you really not understand?”
“I have been busy. I have been away from the kingdom for weeks. I need to—-“
“And I appreciate that. But you have a duty to your children as well. You must make time for them.” What I don’t say and what I want to scream out loud is that he could have made time for me too. But that, I feel, would be a bridge too far.
“You have no idea what it’s like to run a kingdom.”
“No, I don’t. But it’s easy to see what ignoring your children is doing. And you can fix it so easily. So, do it.”
He begins to sputter a reply but I’m not having it. Turning on my heel, I instruct the children to follow me.
Truth be told, I’m not even sure where this anger is coming from but my words can’t be taken back now.
Whatever reply he has for me dies at my back. We walk swiftly back the way we came and I only hope our little scene didn’t upset the children too much.
I don’t have much time to contemplate it, though. When we reach the nursery door, a pair of guards stand nearby.
“Can I help you?” I ask, completely oblivious of what is to come.
“You can come with us,” one of them says gruffly.
“I’m sorry? I don’t quite understand.” A knot of fear coils up in my stomach.
Could I have made Keilon that angry?
“You are under arrest. Come with us and nothing bad will happen to you.”
“You can’t arrest me, I’m the nanny. Someone has to take care of—“
“Arrangements have been made. Come with us,” is all the answer I receive.
The children begin to sniffle and I know things are bad. But it’s inconceivable to me that Keilon could be behind this. Sure, I made quite the scene back there but, deep down, I know his heart is too good. He could never do this to me. Certainly not in front of the children.
Looking to them, I try to put on a brave face.
“Don’t worry, kids. This will all be sorted out very quickly.”
One of the guards grabs my wrist roughly. Although I want to struggle and fight, I don’t. The kids can’t see that.
Fear grows and surges within me as the guards yank me away.
The last thing I see of the nursery before being dragged down the hallway are the wide, frightened eyes of two children I’ve come to adore.
