The disaster began from the small fireplace where the red flames dances quietly. Suddenly they started roaring and growing in size, turning into hungry tongues waiting to devour anyone who approached them. Then the half empty bottled in Miss Angelica's desk broke, many glass shards getting on the dusty floor, the cheap liquor spilling on her papers and splashing her clothes. The older woman raised her arms ready to protect herself from getting harmed.
"You ungrateful bitch!" She screamed as she stared her in the eyes. The red color seemed to be getting brighter and brighter as her anger became wider.
"Don't touch him again!" She shouted and stood in front of the young Duke.
"Alice it's okay. Stop. Didn't you see what happened? You…you…" Philip mumbled as she gently touched her arm, hoping to calm her down. She turned and looked at him, then at the mess she seemed to have created. Magic? Had she done that? "you need to release her from this place immediately. She needs to attend that Academy." He said and Angelica began laughing.
"The Academy? A whore like her? It seems like you inherited this gift from you mother after all. She never attended the Academy either what makes you believe my lord that you can tell me what to do in my shop? You might be royalty but these things don't matter at the bottom zone. Get him out" The woman said and one of her buff lackeys grabbed Philip.
"No! Don't hurt him" Alice begged as he watched Philip struggle.
"I will come back!" The man told her as she was being thrown out.
"Go to him and tell him to never step foot here. Or else I will have people kill him do you understand me?" She asked Alice.
She wished she could do it again. Break everything and break her too. Turn her into a messy pile of limbs for the way she had treated Philip. She didn't care about herself, about staying in this place she had given up on her hopes a while back but he was the last light of happiness she had. The worst thing with magic was that of you didn't learn how to control it you wouldn't be able to use it. Right now she had just managed a cute stunt that was mostly a negative rather that positive. Angelica and her were both aware that she was weak.
"I will. Just don't harm him" She said and walked away slowly, her bare feet feeling the unwashed carpet as she stared at the floor. She met him right at the door where he was still struggling to get inside. He even attempted to bribe the guard to let him in. It was such a shame; she would be losing him so fast. Her very first love.
"My lord…"
"Alice what happened? Did she do anything to you?" He asked her and approached her. "Listen to me I will talk with the Academy. I will tell them I found you on the streets and I will bring you in. This is your chance. A new start. No one has to know who you were or what you did it. Just wait for me alright?"
"My lord, please leave. I do not wish to go to the Academy. Also I do not wish to see you again. I am fine here" Alice said. She had always been able to keep a cold front. He was the only man she smiled at. The only person she seemed to be able to see through her but now even he wasn't able to. His kind eyes were filled with surprise as he stared at her. His lips slightly parted, unable to say anything.
"What? But why?"
Because I do not want you to get hurt, this woman she is evil. She works with people who you a pure royal raised in heaven would have never met or even believed they existed. Even if you locked yourself at your house you wouldn't be able to escape the shadows of murder they casted. Staying by myside will only hurt you. And I love you, I can allow that. Her thoughts, her truth was that but she could never say it. That way he would never leave. That way she would be putting him into more danger.
"My lord, are you in love with me?" She asked him with a smirk.
"What…Alice…I"
"Well you shouldn't be. What a foolish attitude from an adult. You think that someone like me would fall head over heels with you? I am a whore. I say the same things to men every night just to get more money. Why would I want to go to the Academy? Live a new life? This is nonsense. I am fine here. So please stop being so troublesome. You are being ridiculous and pitiful" she told him and wrapped her hands over her chest. "Please leave before someone kicks you out. I hoped that I could be nice and get some more money out of you, maybe a few jewels but it seems like you want me to follow the straight path" she joked and let out a cocky laughter. "So foolish. Men are really deluded. You are not anything special. Now you should better go. Goodbye" She told him and turned around.
This would be enough. She thought as she ran back inside. Her eyes stinging from the tears she was so hard trying to keep in. All she wanted now was lock herself in her room and disappear. She wanted to just cease to exist. After what she had done, after what she had said she did not deserve to face the sun again. He was the only one who helped her move on. He wished for her a new start, a new future but she had ben cruel. It was all so she could protect him. It would be alright even if she now was a vicious and despicable person in his heart. He would marry a young noble lady and forget everything about her. He would live a perfect life so it was alright. Why did it hurt so much though? The thought of them being separated like that? She felt like her heart was being teared open and with every step she took she felt like she would faint.
She didn't make it to her bedroom though. Angelica stood right in front of the stairs looking down at her. She grabbed her hair and forced her to raise her tear stained face.
"Now, now. What can I do with a little magician? I had kept your mother because her ability was useful but you might be a good investment. Should I sell you?" Alice's eyes widened in fear at the world. Would she turn her into a slave? She wondered and her heart began beating faster. That was a fate worse that the one of a prostitute's. "Oh, I have just the byer for you sweetie" She said with a devilish grin and with a swift move she threw her on the ground.
Alice's head bounced on the hard material and she let out a gasp. Soon everything started to spin and her eyes felt heavy. In just a few seconds everything around her had turned dark.