"But you look a bit familiar, remind me, where have I seen you?".
She asked. Quickly I lowered my hood even more,turning my head to the side. "I am from a far…land".
I claimed, trying to ease her suspicious gaze.
Celestine raised her brows, her gaze pinned on me. She wasn't buying my story, but before I could excuse myself, a voice thundered before me.
"Celestine Varon dulf".
I froze.
It was Celestine's father— Marquis Damascus Varon Dulf.
I spun around quickly, covering my face even more than it initially was. This was bad.
Very bad.
He hurried towards my directions. His long strides full of worry. He grabbed young Celestine gently by the shoulders, and patted her hair with the other hand.
"I've been looking every where for you" he said, his eyes soft with love.
"I was just looking around," little Celestine replied, her face beaming with a smile, bright and Innocent.
Then she pointed at me, "and I made a friend"
My heart sank.
I could feel the cold gaze of tha marquis lingering on me, it sent shivers down my spine. He was a nice, soft man. But that warm side was only reserved for one person—his daughter.
The others basically saw his scary side. The one he shows to his enemies and opponents. An Intensely petrifying aura.
Just like me in this very moment.
"Who might you be?" He asked. I could see through the corner of my eyes, he was scanning me up and down. He knew I didn't belong here.
"I…I was just looking for the powder room" I responded. Crossing my fingers that he would believe me.
The silence that followed was suffocating.
I saw his gaze sharpen, assessing, peeling back layers I desperately needed to keep hidden.
His hands tightening on Celestine's shoulder.
"The powder room?" He repeated, slowly, as though tasting the words. "And where exactly, did you wander from?"
My heart hammered. His tone wasn't harsh, but it carried enough weight to crush me. For the first time since I arrived, I wished more than anything to be young Celestine in that moment. Safe beneath the warmth of his tender care.
But now I was a suspicious person who his daughter was found speaking with.
"I….must have taken a wrong turn, my lord," I whispered.
Celestine tugged at his sleeve, the cuff lined with red embroidered designs.
"Father, she was nice to me. And she was also going to tell me about the fire".
"Fire?," he asked. His tone as calm as ever, though a hint of suspicion edged in his voice.
"Yes! she mentioned a fire happening at the Left wing, and she was about to tell me," Celestine explained, a grin etched on her lips as she turned to look at me.
"Isn't that right, Lady from…a far…land?".
This little witch.
She did that on purpose.
The marquis stepped closer, his eyes glowing with interest or something far dangerous. He was going to take off my hood. It dawned on me, I had been discovered. And, there was only one alternative left.
RUN!!!.
I took off on my heels, eyes fixed in one direction: Forward.
I sprinted, my ears catching the marquis's voice echoing through the halls " Guards, Intruder, After her!,". But I couldn't spare a glance back, my life depended on moving forward.
Being caught as an intruder was one thing.
Being caught for something that was about to happen?. That was a recipe for immediate beheading. I haven't even lived long to try fixing my story.
I twisted through corridors, bolted through doors, and ducked into passages I didn't recognize. The sounds of pursuing guards grew louder. Enough so i had found myself in a maze-like garden, going through cycles till the roaring footsteps of the guards began to fade into the distance.
Finally I slowed down, humphing and gasping for air. I glanced around. The hedges of the maze, towering above me like walls of green, covering the moonlight making it difficult to see. I took slow steps trying to find a way out, but every turn I took led me to a dead end.
My legs ached, my back throbbed. I had done more cardio today than I had in my entire life. Luckily I stumbled upon a stone bench, collapsing onto it, gasping for air. My chest heaved, and every muscle protested, but at least, for a moment I was safe… or as safe as one could be in a maze designed to trap Intruders.
There was no way out, but at least it would take awhile for the guards to find me.
But deep down, my mind raced, there had to be a way out of this maze. I stretched my arm into the cloth bag, hanging lazily over my hips, sweeping through for my book.
I flipped through the pages. Yet, nothing mentioned an exit, neither did it still mention an identity or whereabouts of a killer.
What does it all mean. I wonder. My brain trying to make sence of the plot I created, but now desperately wanting to escape.
Suddenly a memory clicked. One I had suppressed believing I could succeed in my mission. Only now coming, along with the thoughts of failure.
I had seen the icon pop up before I stepped through the door. The last-minute warning it had given: Failure to succeed, would result in severe consequences, it read.
What were the consequences if I failed?.
Death?. I asked myself. My fingers drifting instinctively to my neck. The fear tightening in my throat pushed me to one decision: to go back and finish my mission.
I stood up abruptly from the stone carved bench. Eyes glistening with determination, but first I had to find a way out.
I glanced past the three paths that surrounded me. One behind me from which I had come through and arrived at this place. And the other of which were a mystery.
Only one way would lead me out, but which was which. Suddenly I heard footsteps, coming from the path behind me.
The guards?.
With no time to ponder, I picked up my dress racing through the left path ahead. Right or wrong, there was only one way to find out.
Branches whipped past as finally I had burst out of the maze, then stumbling to a stop.
Jaw dropping in awe. Before me laid a breathtaking lake, kissed by the reflection of the moon, shimmering across the clear waters like scattered sliver dust.
Mesmerized, I stood still. Staring, admiring such beauty.
Another snap of footsteps immediately pulled me out of my daze. My eyes darted around wildly, searching for a place to hide. Then thankfully landing on a tall tree which stood nearby.
It's base were surrounded by tall grasses. Tall enough to keep me hidden. Quickly I slipped behind it, crouching, peeking through the blades.
My breath suddenly caught, eyes widened.
It was Lucian.
Well… young Lucian.
A calm breeze swept through the garden, bringing chills along with it. It's cold finger brushing through his raven dark hair. It was cold, but yet he stood there, completely still. His gaze fixed on the lake.
He stepped forward, slowly, graceful. Moving close enough for me to see him clearly.
My creation.
His eyes—pure and innocent, glowing a faint sliver. He was beautiful. Suddenly he looked up, his hands lifted out as though waiting to catch something.
Snow.
It had began snowing.
My gaze slowly drifted upwards, as soft flakes carefully settled against my cheeks, then back to Lucian.
His face was flushed, his cheeks a bright red. Not sure whether it was from the cold or the ridiculous grin he wore on his face, I couldn't tell.
"I knew!," He shouted, "I knew it was going to snow today!,".
His smile streched even wider, his eyes shimmering with joy.
All this…for snow?. I couldn't help but chuckle. He was so adorable as a child. No wonder Celestine fell for him.
I heaved a deep sigh. Watching him be a child warmed me in a way I didn't expect, yet it hurt too. It was sad knowing this would become the last moment he would ever truly be happy.
At least for a while. A really long…while.
As much as my heart yearned to stay and soak in the moment, I had a mission to accomplish. And hopefully…. it might be something that helps him in the future.
I turned to leave, but froze. "What was that?"
Something flickered at the edge of my vision, Something unwanted, yet familiar.
Something that felt… wrong.
I snapped my head towards the source, and suddenly it was behind Lucian.
A hooded figure lurking within the shadows.
The same one I had spotted in my previous loop at the execution ground.
Just then, a loud scream could be heard coming from the direction of the mansion. I spun my head towards it, as shock and fear trailed down my spine.
Smoke filling the air, forming thick grey clouds of disaster above the estate.
The left wing had caught on fire. A loud splash caught my attention, followed by a desperate cry for help. My eyes whipped through the lake.
Lucian.
He was in the water, thrashing wildly, gasping between choked cries.
"Help…Someone…. help me" he cried out, desperately trying to remain afloat. And above him, on the bank, the hooded figure recoiled….then bolted back into the shadows.
My heart lurched.
What should I do?, do i chase him?, do I go to the left wing?, do I save Lucian?.
Everything slammed into my head at once: the flames swallowing the left wing, the hooded stranger fleeing into the woods, and Lucian sinking beneath the water.
No more thinking.
I threw my bag and cloak and dove straight into the lake. The lake swallowed me with a freezing bite, but I reached him, small, trembling, half concious.
I dragged him to the shore, collapsing with him on the grass, but his chest wasn't rising.
Devastated, I placed both hands over his chest, quickly performing CPR.
"Come on, Come on Lucian.. please,". I said. Pressing down hard, with blurring eyes.
Again and again, until he chocked on air, coughing violently. He was alive, thankfully, but barely.
His eyes stared blankly upwards still and unfocused. His chest expanded out and inwards slowly gasping for air. I shoved my drenched hair back, grabbing my cloak and bag, but a small hand clamped against my palm.
Lucian.
I knelt beside him, as I could only say to him "you'll be fine, I promise," reassuring him, for his pain had only began.
Tears rolled down my cheeks, but quickly I wiped them off, "just stay here, someone will find you."
His finger slipped weakly off mine as I pulled away.
My heart pounding, adrenaline screaming in my veins as I dash after the figure.
Completely ignoring the flutter of movement behind me. I drew out my gun, breath sharp, I could hear my heart beating so fast it might burst out my ribcage.
Running past tree branches that tugged on my dress and jumping over logs, my mind raced from a turmoil of questions.
Who was that man?.
Why did he push Lucian?
Why was he even here?
I never wrote this in my story? None of this was meant to happen.
Branches whipped past as I chased him through the forest, the night growing darker, colder, stranger.
Finally the tress opened, and there he was, standing at the edge of a cliff, the trail ending with him.
I raised my gun, my grip tight, his back still turned to me.
"Who are you!," I demanded "and what do you want,".
My voice steady, though a slight tremor slipped through. He remained still, his face bent down staring at the edge of the cliff.
"Why did you do that?" I asked again, a pit of rage in my chest carefully masked.
Suddenly a strange thought flashed through my mind, sending a tremor through my hands.
Is it even human?.
Instantly, I ordered it to turn around, my gaze sharp, my hands Ice-cold.
It obeyed.
Slowly, it turned to face me.
My eyes widened in shock as the hooded figure revealed itself.
It had no face.
Only darkness beneath the hood, empty, shifting as though it was fading in an out of existence.
The words slipping from my mouth before I could even think to stop them
"What…are you?".
It spoke.
It's voice was cold, eerie, distorted— it's words unraveling like letters torn from a page.
"I…. exist…. because….you do"
My breath hitched.
"What?".
It stretched out his hands and lunged towards me, my mind went blank.
My fingers pulled the trigger.
Slowly, it staggered backwards. It's hands clutching onto its side where the bullet had struck.
My jaw dropped open.
It was going to fall.
I lunged forward, reaching for it–
and slipped.
The cliff vanished beneath my feet and we fell together. Midair, it's form began to break apart. It faded completely, dissolving like dust scattered by the wind.
The world tilted upward.
I was falling alone now, plunging into a dark abyss, watching creations above me as light swallowed me whole.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆♡☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
I jolted upright, my chest heaving as air rushed violently in and out of my lungs. My mind reeled.
Where…was i?.
I looked around, and soon realized. I was in Celestine's room once again.
My room.
My fingers were still clenched tightly around the gun. All that was real. I had shot a person.
A chill swept through me, as I toss the gun to the side from both fear and disgust. My other hand rested against my clothe bag, which laid beside me.
That was strange.
Frowning, I grabbed the bag, aggressively emptying its contents into the bed. My heart pounding loud enough to be mistaken as drum beats.
Nothing. The draft was gone. I could have sworn I put it back in.
"Please don't tell me it fell?" I spoke out loud, my hands falling to my head, shaking from disbelief.
My gaze soon dropped to my open palm. The burn scar from the spilled tea staring back at me. I gasped.
"My handkerchief!!". Had I lost that too?.
My thoughts spiralled, The hooded creature–the faceless entity, the fall. None of it made sense.
But I had to focus, i still had a mission.
Yes, my mission.
Unexpectedly, my door burst open. Nanny Elara walked in, wearing a large grin on her face.
"My lady," she called out, her pupils shimmering with excitement, "I've got great news," she gasped
"The duke has returned."
My blood ran cold as my mouth fell open.
Immediately the icon flared to life above my head.
You have failed to discover the true killers of the Duke's family. Consequences will take immediate effect.
I swallowed.
I was so screwed.