Only it never came.
"Tsk!"
She looked down at me one last time and whispered, "This isn't over! I will haunt you down to the ends of the earth if I need to, but I will kill you!"
And like ink splattering on stone she disappeared.
I am sorry but I don't think you can kill me after all. At least not before I fall victim to my wounds.
This was not the death I wanted. I wanted it to be more cruel. So that I could experience what Claudina felt. But I will make do with this. I will die due to blood loss. Not exactly painful but the initial injuries are aching.
Footsteps came closer but my strength left my body.
…I want to die…
…I hope it's not a child. I don't want to traumatize it…
"OPHELIA!!"
A familiar figure came into my already weak vision.
Lord Chronos dropped beside me, clutching his heart, whether in pain or something else, I am not sure.
"Ophelia!"
My fingertips twitched. Seems like my Holy mana is trying to heal me…
…that's no good…I need to die…so that I can see Claudina again…
"Eugh! S-stop that!"
…Stop what? Dying? No.
"Stop sealing your Holy powers!"
I stirred my head to the side. Lord Chronos heaved, hand poised above his heart. His expression of pure agon and pain.
I nearly forgot. The oath. If I die, Lord Chronos will face a life threatening injury.
Claudina was always curious about the Divine bleeding…it must be her last attempt to satisfy her curiosity…
White spots came and went like fireflies buzzing.
"Ophelia, stop with this…madness…!"
Dying sure is painful…
"...Drop dead…I am seeing her again…"
His agonized face turned to shock so quickly, it almost made me laugh.
I went back staring at the ceiling.
My lungs couldn't take in oxygen. I felt cold. So cold. I could feel the blood draining from my face. Colors were fading in and out. My head was slowly losing consciousness and my body felt numb. Beside me Lord Chronos' voice became distant.
"FINE!!"
I no longer had strength to even move my eyes…
"Fine, fine! I will send you back! This instant in fact!!"
Words bounced off my head. My darkening vision saw a burst of starlight dancing up high. My body felt light. As if I was floating in a pool.
I could feel it.
The boundaries between the self and the surroundings blur, leading to a surreal fusion of sensations. It's as if the soul starts disentangling itself from the earthly confines, gently untethering from the vessel that once housed it.
…But it never came.
I didn't feel the floating sensation. Instead something pulled me back with tremendous force.
My lungs took in a mouthful of air. The numbness of my body faded while tension returned to my fingertips. Warmth bloomed in my core.
My eyes burst open.
Gasping for air I let my eyes roam.
…This…doesn't look like the cathedral…
Startled, I sat up.
Were my hands always these tiny? And did I always wear ballet flats?
Lord Chronos' words rang in my head.
…Did he truly send me back?
I stood up. Looking around it looked like my old room. Those curtains went out of style years ago and my step mother who was fond of aesthetics and latest trends won't have anything outdated in the house.
…Mirror…I need a mirror.
Getting up on my feet I let my mind trace back to a side mirror. I stood in front of it. Looking back at me with wide eyes was my younger self.
I looked at my reflection. Sure, enough standing in front of me was a much younger version of me. Large red eyes too big for my head, thin lips, sunken cheeks and distasteful blood red hair. With my pale skin, it appeared as if all my blood went to my eyes and hair when I was born. The frilled green pinafore dress made me look like a creepy doll more than usual.
I hate frills. I never wore any dress that had frills after my debut. As an adult stepmother couldn't force me to wear any frilly or lace dresses.
"I went back…" I clutched my neck, my reflection following suit turned surprised. Even my voice sounds younger! "I really went back! Lord Chronos really did send me back!!"
…But how far did I go back?
I ran outside and crashed headfirst into someone.
"Oh my! Lady, please do be careful!"
I looked up. It was my nanny, Mariana! She left to get married when I came of age. She looked younger than I remembered. Mariana's hair was chestnut brown but her clear grey eyes still held the same warmth. "Mariana, how old am I?"
"You lady?" she said confused. "Lady you are about six years old."
Six. I am six years old right now. I went back 23 years in the past.
A past where I haven't met anyone yet. Not Claudina. Not Lucian. Not anyone.
I swallowed the growing lump in my throat.
It's fine. This is completely fine. I just need to meet them again.
"Milady! Why are you crying?" Mariana knelt down and took me in her arms.
Crying? I touched my face. It was wet and sticky. I didn't notice…
"Are you hurt somewhere? Should I call the physician?"
I stopped her and shake my head. "I am fine. Really. Something just got in my eye."
Mariana didn't look convinced but let it go. "Well if anything is wrong, please tell me. I care about you so much it hurts my heart to see you in pain."
I smiled and nodded.
I know how much you love me Mariana. You would always shield me from step mother. You didn't accept the marriage proposal because I was too young and you didn't trust any of the nannies step mother would bring. When the other maids started to whisper and bully you, you never blamed me. You would always open your arms to me with a smile. You never once hated me.
Now that I am back, I won't let you get killed by Mother anymore.
"Where is SHE?!?" At the other end of the manor house, I recognized the voice.
It was the voice that belonged to someone that came to hate me as much as I hate myself.
I could hear the shatter of porcelain hitting the ground, the maids that shrieked and ran away from being hit from the large cane.
Mariana held me close. "Milady, it's best if we move outside in the back gardens. The gardeners are proud of the flowers that bloomed. How about we have a picnic today?"
I could hear the fear in her voice, the tensing of her shoulders, her worried eyes straying from me to the other end of the hall.
I opened my mouth before closing it again. I shouldn't do anything rash.
In fact I can't do anything yet.
Not when I am so powerless.
I need to formulate a plan before I go forward. But first…
"HEY!! I told you to bring her to me!!! WHY is she here YET!?!" Judging by how loud the crash was, a heavy vase must have been smashed into the ground.
…
I looked up at Mariana.
"...Let's go."
Mariana smiled sadly. "I will pack an apple pie for the picnic Milady."
Taking my much smaller hand in her own, we quickly left the hall lest the maids come looking for me.
…Even though I came back, I am still scared. You are so pathetic, Ophelia.
I gripped tightly on to Mariana's hand whereupon she looked at me sadly and rubbed her thumb over my hand to soothe me.
To still be comforted by others, I need to change myself.
I need to take fate into my own hands.
To protect my loved ones, I will become stronger.