"This must be something really bad about Nicholas." That is the first thing Stella though when the servant said those words. But what could be so bad that would definitely break her heart.
The servant was so sure about it. So sure, it felt like she is scared of it. What makes her feel guilty.
It felt like her heart is in her throat as the servant pushes the door open. It made a heavy creaking sound that made her anxiety worse.
Stella is scared and for a moment, a part of her does not want to see what is behind that door.
But she has to. If there is some darkness that Nicholas has been hiding. Maybe hiding specifically from her. She has to know about it. It does not matter what happened last night or the other day. It does not matter if he has been kind to her. She has to know the truth.
The room's lights went on automatically as soon as the door opens. The servant holds her hand as she guides her inside. Her hand is cold and trembling.
"What could Nicholas possibly hide here to make this servant so terrified?" she asked herself. Keeping her head down, she follows her.
The servant shuts the door behind them then turns to her. "Look at me," she said.
Stella cautiously lifts her head to look at her.
The servant takes off her headpiece then undoes her bunned hair. Her straight long blonde hair drapes flawlessly on her shoulders. "What do you see? What do you see in me?"
She looks closely at her. Something seemed oddly familiar with her but she cannot seem to pin point. Forcing herself to look past behind Nicholas' affections, she inspects what the servant is trying to make her see.
And then the hard truth hit her.
Those eyes. That hair. That same complexion. "You're just like me," she said, her voice in shock. She was taken aback, hitting some kind of table behind her. She turns around and saw what seemed to be an altar. In the wall is a big portrait of a woman, almost the same age as Nicholas.
Hands over her mouth, she is horrified by the sudden realization. Her eyes wide open, appalled by the portrait in front of her. She looks exactly like her. She may appear to be older but she is indeed a spitting image of her.
"This is Beatrice Madden," said the servant, approaching her, also staring at the portrait.
"Nicholas' diseased wife," Stella said, her voice muffled in her mouth. Looking away, another portrait stands on the table, smaller than what is on the wall. Framed in gold. This particular portrait seemed familiar.
Though feeling lightheaded in shock, she forced herself to lean down and study the portrait. Her memory may seem a bit blurry as of this moment but she is very sure that she has seen this particular picture before.
"I took this picture in some garden. It was a windy summer yet she remained flawless. Wasn't even bothered by her hair blown by the wind. Oh her flawless smile. This was a few months before she died," Toto's voice echoed in Stella's thoughts.
She now knew who this woman is. They have this same portrait back at home. Standing by the living room, near the fireplace. This is the only picture they have on her.
For a moment, tears pooled down her eyes. "Mama…" She grabs the picture frame, embracing it close to her chest as she kneels on the floor.
Her father always say that she looks exactly like her mother. She never knew her. She cannot remember anything about her. Not even a glimpse of memory.
Looking down on her, the servant carefully brushes her hair. She felt sorry for her. "Beatrice's died in The Wipe Out. This drove Nicholas and the rest of the Highborns to find the cure. I think you already know the rest on that story, right?"
She nodded.
"What most people don't know is, her death drove Nicholas insane. Nicholas loved his wife so much, he just couldn't let go of her. He keeps on wanting to find her. In the process, he developed this sick fetish. It starts with keeping anyone who closely resembles his wife as his servants, just like me. Used for most of his needs. Blood. Sex. Everything he wishes."
Stella then remembers that night, when she first saw Nicholas feed. That servant. Even the servants who bowed at them the moment they entered the house. How could she overlook such details. All her judgement was being clouded by her affection for him.
The servant leans down, kneeling beside Stella. "Your mother, Emelia Leighton, is Beatrice's distant relative. You are related to his wife, that's why you share so much of her image. That's why he so badly wants you."
Lifting her eyes, she stares at the portrait of her mother again. "Papa said our mother died of illness after my sister was born. Nicholas then told me that she was killed after getting caught in Papa's cases here in Wisteria." She turns to her, her brows furrowed. "Does Nicholas have anything to do with my mother's death?"
"I'm not--"
They were distracted by the sound of the front door swinging open.
"He's back. You have to go now," the servant said, keeping her voice down. She then hastily parts the curtains at the right side of the room, opening another door. "Go through here. Just keep running and follow the straight path." She hands over the keys. "This should open the back gate. Get as far away from Sangria District as possible. Don't let him get a hold of you again."
"Come with me."
"I can't. I need to stay. It's my job."
"But he'll kill you."
"At least I died saving you." She forces a smile. "Now go!" She pushes her to the door then shuts it, pulling back the curtains.
Tidying herself up, she wipes off the slight hint of tears from her eyes, forcing a straight face as she exits the turn. She locks the door behind her then headed back to the path where they came from.
With her mother's portrait still in her hand, Stella kept running as fast as she could. Despite the spiraling thoughts in her brain now, she has no time to process them. She has to get out of her first.
As she goes further, it felt like the air started to become thinner. Maybe it is just the exhaustion, or probably the shock. Her vision seemed blurry but she should not stop. She has to keep going. Wiping off the tears pooling at the sides of her eyes, she focuses on the path. Despite running in an almost pitch black tunnel, she just kept along the straight path, as instructed.
From afar, she heard a horrifying wail of a woman. The sound resonates through the tunnel. She knew well whose voice that is. He got to the servant. He has done it. He killed her.
He now knows that she is out to escape and he is coming after her.
"Keep going. Keep going," she convinces herself. She does not know what should take over her first. Is it her fear? Her anger? Or her will to survive?
With a vampire's heightened ability, he could easily track her down. Maybe outrunning him is impossible. But now is not the time to be pessimistic.
She has to survive. Nicholas may not killer just yet once he catches her. But being with him is now the worst case scenario. She has to live. She has to live for Cora and Toto. She has to live to know the truth. She has to live for her mother.
"Stella…" Nicholas' voice resonates through the tunnel. "I thought you love me. I love you. Why don't we talk about this properly? I'll explain everything to you." His footsteps echo in the dark.
"Don't look back! Don't look back!" she thought to herself.
"STELLA!" he yelled out frustratingly. "I will find you, Stella. I will find you and I will have you again." His voice now deep and ominous.
This is not the same Nicholas she remembers. This is way too different from the gentle or the wild Nicholas she encountered. This one has a sinister aura all over him. Haunting. Threatening. Way too real.
This is the real Nicholas Madden and she is just realizing it now.
It seemed like she has been running for hours already, until she stumbled upon a cast iron gate. It is padlocked. She hastily pulls out the keys, finally unlocking it then pulls the gate open then exits. Dropping the keys while doing so.
Upon exiting, the lights of the neighborhood's houses turned on, with people peering through their windows. Their stares, wicked.
"What kind of place is this?" she thought to herself. Her heart beating really fast as panic takes over her.
"Keep running." The servant's voice crossed her mind.
Keeping herself out of sight, she went towards the narrow paths between homes. She doesn't know where to go. There is no plan or a map to follow. She doesn't even know where the end of this district is.
The sky is dimmer than the last time she saw it. She couldn't see her path clearly, stumbling and almost crawling in the dark. People could definitely hear everything she hits in her path, making loud sounds as they clash. Whatever those were.
Looking back, she couldn't see where she came from anymore. "What now?" she whispered to herself as she catches her breath.
All of a sudden, someone grabbed her, pulling her back further in the darkness. Immediately covering her mouth as he restrains her.
"Finally found you," he whispers.