Trigger warning: Mentions of physical abuse
The old fabric of the dress I was wearing was stiff against my skin. We walked down a rickety set of stairs and out a beaten down oak door to be met with a lavish hallway. Perfectly clean windows lined the left side of the hallways, looking over a beautiful garden. Large hedges lined the neat pale pink cobblestone path. Large bunches of colourful flowers like roses, daffodils, lillies and more bloomed. It almost looked like heaven the way the trees swayed and the light glittered over it. The ceiling of the house was adorned with gold embellishments, and the walls were a deep burgundy. The doors lining the walls were white and gold, and much more luxurious than the beaten down door that I just left out of. The contrast was so jarring that it almost made my head spin. Going from the cramped attic to the luxurious hallway was almost like Alice walking through the looking glass and now I was in wonderland. Other maids were fluttering by, some holding trays or sheets and some handling papers. Some didn't even acknowledge my existence while groups of them would turn to each other and snicker.
What did I do to make them hate me so much? I wondered as we almost jogged through the glittering hallways. This frail body was not made for physical activity and I could feel my lungs crackle. I was still great that I could feel my lungs though, the previous part of this bad dream flashing across my mind. The images caused me to flinch and almost trip over my own feet. I old feel the tension in the air coming from the old maid in front of me, as if my actions displease her. She lead me down intricate hallways of glass and stone, large unfamiliar but beautiful paintings hanging from the walls. Sculptures of birds adorned the halls, and even acted as lamp posts. We finally stopped at a door that was almost in the center of all this luxury. The woman before me straightened out her already perfect posture and gathered her hands in front of her before knocking strongly. The sound reverberated through the vacant halls almost hauntingly.
"Count Roswell, I've brought the girl." I almost flinched at her words as they sounded harsh and was laced with disrespect towards me.
"Come in." The strong and strict voice boomed back. The sound rolled down the hallways and commanded authority. I automatically trembled at the noise, and felt like I was about to wet myself. The maid pushed the door open to let the shining light spill out onto the floor. Large intricate windows shaped like birds wings were before spilling the midday light into the room. The left wall was a bookshelf and the right wall had a small lounge area he most likely used for tea which white and gold velvet plush chairs. The man who the booming voice belongs to sat at his desk with his back to the light. There was a skylight above him that was shining a spot light on him. His completely white hair was the first thing I noticed. It was long and pulled back tightly with a navy blue ribbon. His sapphire eyes sparkled in the sunlight, pale skin almost translucent. He had sharp handsome features, and a slight beard. It was trimmed close to his jawline and neat. His white dress shirt was covered in a navy blue satin vest and a white cravat over his chest. I had never seen him before and yet he seemed so familiar. The maid bowed and I woozy stood there, and tried to copy her curtsy but I fumbled a bit. I was tired of this dream lagging, I wanted to wake up. This man's terrifying and looming presence didn't help at all.
"How do you feel?" The question may have been nice but the tone was unyielding and harsh.
"Erm... a little confused on where I am sir."He narrowed his eyes and me and I recieved another crack on the back of my head. My head dropped forward and I winced from the strike.
"Watch your tone." She hissed into my ear. I wanted to reach over and slap this girl, my I held myself back. Something didn't feel right.
"I don't believe the poison should have caused any mental impairments." His eyes narrowed at me and his voice grew dark. For some reason my fingers grew numb, almost like they were cold and hot at the same time.
Posion? What are they talking about?
"The test was successful Count," The maid spoke up and stood in front of me. She flashed me a look that almost threatened me to stay quiet.
"Miss Mercy was passed out for four days. I have personally moved the some of the poison to the house of Marquess Spigen. When we slip the posion into Agatha's drink at the upcoming party, it will be easy to cast blame and eliminate a competitor for the Crown." Her dark and almost sickly smile sent shivers down my spine as the Count grinned.
"If it's causing mental aftereffects I am hesitant on letting Agatha take it." These names were sounding so familiar and yet I couldn't place it.
"The Crown Prince Sylvain von Aegis and the..." She had to swallow she spit for a second, "...and the Grand Duke Jayce du Hraesvelgr will be attending the tea party in a month." Her eyes quivered as she said the second name but those names clicked everything I place like a puzzle sliding together. My legs collapsed beneath me as I stared in disbelief at the floor.
The names belonged characters in a book I just read called the Red Vow. In the novel, the villianess Mercy Roswell the half daughter of Count Roswell, tortures her older sister Agatha the Saint. Jealous of her status as a full daughter instead of the daughter of a prostitute, her weak magic versus Agathas strong magic, and madly in love with the Crown Prince she creates schemes to frame others to get out of her way, and torment Agatha until she runs into the arms of the devillish Grand Duke. Thus a love triangle between the pictures perfect prince, and the gloomy, edgy tragic backstory Grand Duke begins.The story ends with Mercy poisoning Agatha. Poison was her specialty. She accidently poisons the Crown Prince instead, she marries the Grand Duke who take the throne, and Mercy has her head cut off.
If this was true, my dream made me Mercy. Only, unlike the novel it seems like the Count was in on the actions of Mercy. My imagination must have been wild, but even though I was convinced this is a dream every fiber of my body was screaming in terror.
"The Miss must be still weak. The poison is diluted enough to not cause any permanent problems but may cause weakness for a few more days." She shot me a death glare and my feet tickled from fear. The Count just hummed, looking down at me menacingly.
"Perhaps we can redo the trial, and eliminate any possibility of harming Agatha. You would be okay with protecting your sister, right Mercy?" It wasn't a question, but my head was spinning.
Why am I so confused if this is just a dream? There was a part of me that was starting to believe that this was reality. The cold stone beneath the palm of my hands, the sandlewood scent in the air, and the terribly harsh pressure that man was exuding. It all felt too real.
'If you don't say yes, Daddy will get mad.' A small familiar voice tickled in the back of my head.
"Of course." The words slipped from my lips before I could even think. I wobbled myself to my feet, looking down at the navy blue carpeted floor. I wanted his eyes off me. I felt exposed, a icy haze falling over my body. If I remembered correctly, Count Roswell was a water mage. The affinity for light magic in the Roswell line was passed onto women only just as the curse of darkness fell through the imperial family to only boys. The difference was only one member would have their curse, whereas the Roswell family women could potentially have multiple women of light. He used his icy stare to make me shiver on the spot.
"How weak was she last time?" He stood up from his chair, the squeaking making my body tremble.
"It was mild. Most of the bruises are mostly healed." It took me milliseconds to realize what they were saying. I tried to back up from his looming presence.
"Emma, block the door." The maid was moving before he even spoke.
"W-Wait hold on a second." I raised my arms in defense. Flashes of the rain and blood came to my mind and I tumbled back to the floor. I was already scared, but now I was so terrified I was about to cry. He had a look of sadistic glee in his face.
"Now remember Mercy, you're doing this for your sisters sake." That was the last thing he said before the blows started coming.
I could barely see out of my eyes as tried to refocus everything. My head was splitting, my fingers numb. I had a hard time breathing. The voices around me sounded like they were underwater.
'What did I do to deserve this?' I thought as my fuzzy eyes registered the door opening.
"Father what did you do?" I heard a female voice gasp. It was unknown go me, and suddenly my head was being cradled by a white haired blue eyed beauty. She looked at me with eyes not filled with concern, but moreso just annoyance.
"Don't worry Agatha, its for your safety." The Count reached down with clean hands and ran his fingers through Agatha's long snowy locks. I was waiting for her to defend me or mend me, and the good heroine she is. I was glad that Agatha caught the Counts behaviour.I may be able to befriend her this way, and help her with her love life with no unnecessary death. She looked at me with a dissatisfied look that sent ice down my spine. Suddenly there was a flash of light and pain bloomed across my cheek.
"It's not that," She struck the side of my cheek causing me to gasp.
"I'm just upset you didn't let me do it."