The carriage came to a halt. Outside the window, I saw the grand house of the Graham family. Yet none of its corners felt familiar, despite her claim that I had lived here for five lifetimes.
"Are you truly fine, my lady?"
"I am," I answered quietly. "I'm quite tired right now. Please tell the coun- my father, that I'll have my dinner in my room."
The door opened, and I stepped down without waiting for Revan's assistance. Ignoring everyone who greeted me, I made my way directly to my room. Once inside, I locked the door behind me.
I lay back on the bed and stared up at the canopy, my mind swirling with unanswered questions and heavy thoughts.
What is the truth? And what is not?
She said I was Norielle... but was she telling the truth? And if she was lying, what could she possibly gain?
My hands trembled uncontrollably, my heart hammered faster and faster. A sharp pain throbbed at my temples, while my breaths came heavy and uneven.
Eventually, my eyelids grew heavy, and sleep claimed me.
*
Darkness swallowed everything. I couldn't see a thing. My foot struck something wet with a heavy thud. As I bent down, the shadows hid everything from my eyes.
"Norielle Graham, thirteenth incarnation of Iris. A cursed child blessed with fairy's blood."
An unknown voice whispered, soaked with sorrow and pity.
Suddenly, a white-hot spike stabs into my skull again and again, pounding relentlessly as if hammers were breaking against my head.
"You are truly pitiful... and foolish."
My left eye burns fiercely, tears scalding my cheek like molten drops of fire. My throat is a furnace, raw and burning with every swallow. My heart twists cruelly, as if pierced by a thousand shards of ice, each one stabbing deeper than the last.
"Forgive me, my love. But let us not meet again in your next life..."
A deafening ring explodes inside my ears, drowned beneath the roar of angry voices. Suddenly, heavy stones and rotten eggs slam against my body, each blow sharp and bruising. The sting burns fresh with every hit.
It hurts. It cuts through me like broken glass.
I gasp, no air fills my lungs. It feels like I'm drowning in cold, dark water, my legs heavy as lead, refusing to move. Panic claws at my mind, tearing it apart piece by piece.
"My child, it's all my fault... Norielle, my previous daug-"
Pain shoots through my neck sharply, twisting the world into a dizzying blur.
It wasn't my fault...
A sudden, searing jolt flashes through me. My body trembles violently as dizziness drags me down, and I crash to the cold, unforgiving ground.
.
.
.
I woke drenched in sweat, my breath ragged and heavy. Slowly, I sat up, fighting to calm the storm raging inside me.
"Are you alright?"
My gaze shifted to the right, where Evander sat quietly on a chair not far from me, his eyes filled with quiet concern.
Why are you even here?
I ignored him and rested my head back on the pillow, surrendering once more to restless sleep.
***
Two days had passed, and I was just strolling through the garden when I met Evander. Now, we sat together having tea in the gazebo.
"You may all withdraw," he said, dismissing the servants.
Everything still confused me, about my six past lives, about being the real Norielle, about that book I thought I read. Did it even exist?
"You seem troubled these past few days," Evander said.
I looked up and met his eyes.
I'm not feeling like myself. His presence used to scare me, but after the witch's words, those feelings vanished. My heart no longer races when I see him. Because of fear, that is. Now, I feel nothing just a deep, strange numbness where emotions once lived.
"I am, but you don't have to concern yourself with me, your Grace." I replied.
He stared at me intently, "My name," he said. "Call me by my name, it was you who suggested. And, I have to concern myself as you told me to be nicer to you."
I looked at Evander, his face calm and unreadable, silence thick with unspoken thoughts. Despite the distance in his eyes, I sensed a quiet warmth beneath a subtle kindness reaching toward something deep inside me.
I sighed. "I'm fine, Evander," I paused. "You... do what you want."
Evander's eyes flickered with quiet concern, though his voice remained steady and calm. He took a slow sip of his tea, all that while watching me carefully, assessing my every reaction.
"You." His voice grew sharp as he set down the teacup. "I don't understand you. You told me to be nicer, then why ignore me?" He sighed heavily, clearly frustrated.
I stayed silent, unsure of what to say. Evander stood halfway up, then sat back down, his brow furrowed as he stared at me, clearly frustrated and concerned.
He changed.
His attitude shifted completely, turning a full 180 degrees.
He used to ignore me, now he really followed and act friendly. Is he really that easy to be friends with?
"I'm sorry for causing trouble. It's just that there's a lot on my mind," I explained softly.
He stared at me for a moment. "Your dress will arrive the day after tomorrow. Then, I will excuse myself." He replied.
He stood up and walked away. He seemed frustrated, but more than that, he looked sad. I watched him go until he disappeared from the garden. Suddenly, my heart hurt, a sharp pain I wasn't used to feeling.
"... Do not worry, Elle. He still likes you."
What was that?
I looked around, hearing a faint voice, but saw no one. I was alone in the gazebo. The maids and knights stood farther away, it couldn't have been any of them.
"He always act like that... He is no good."
"Shut up. At least he is not as bad as the hooligan."
Again. I heard voices, two people speaking.
My brow furrowed. "Who's there?" I asked quietly, only loud enough for them to hear, not the servants nearby.
"Eck. I told you guys not to be loud. Let's go leave." A third one appears.
Is it the witch's friends? Is the witch trying to kill me?
A gust of wind swept through the garden. I closed my eyes for a moment, and when I opened them, my breath caught, the first thing I saw was a tiny boy with a captivating glittering wings.
A f..fairy?
Suddenly, another small figure appeared. Without thinking, I reached out and gently caught the second one in my hands.
"Aelindra!"
The tiny boy fluttered his wings, shining like drops of morning sun. His pale blue-green eyes met mine, full of gentle innocence.
Aelindra, held softly in my hands, looked up with curious green eyes. Her clear wings moved quietly as she settled.
Behind her, another figure appeared with silver-purple hair and pink star-like eyes. She stared at me, wide-eyed and trembling, caught between fear and shock.
"Woah. Fairies?" I whispered, unable to hide my surprise.
The little ones were as stunned as I was. The one with mossy green-brown vine hair, Aelindra. The one in my hand, gave me a wide smile.
"Hello, Elle." She greeted happily.
The silver haired fairy stepped forward cautiously, her delicate wings shimmering softly.
"Please release Aelindra," she pleaded. "We do not harm, we are your protectors."
I stared at them, struggling to grasp the reality.
What the hell is this?
After a witch, then now fairies... I never heard, right there was no book.
The tiny boy fairy flew in front of me and then flew around in circles.
"Elle, you have truly returned," he said with teary eye.
I frowned. "What…?" I whispered, feeling confused.
I looked down at the fairy in my hand. Then the little boy's wings fluttered gently as he hovered nearby. The silver haired fairy floated closer, and I slowly let go of the fairy in my hand.
All three moved closer, almost brushing my face.
"You're the real one," one said.
"After all these years, we can finally speak to you again!" another exclaimed.
What is this?
I smiled awkwardly. "Who… what are you?" I asked.
Their bright, pleased expressions faded into disappointment.
"Right, you have lost your memories again.." the mossy green-brown vine haired sadly said.
"Aelindra, don't be sad," the silver haired trying to comfort her.
The pale green-gold haired boy watched them both and said, "Nymeria, Aelindra, don't worry. Her memories may be hidden, but her heart still knows."
A comforting warmth spread through me, not just in my heart, but throughout my body. It felt gentle, like a quiet reassurance embracing me from within.
"But, who the hell really are you guys? And what do you want from me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Happy New Year everyone!!!