I laid in bed and watched over my mate noticing how her face no longer showed happiness, everyday she seemed to get worse, her usually calm demeanor was now starting to break, she was stressed, more agitated.
I would catch her staring off into the woods as someone was talking to her about their concerns, I would catch her speaking to herself and even wondering into the woods, following her I would eventually see her stop and act as if someone was there. Whenever I intervened she would look confused, not knowing how she ended up there, but she no longer talked to me about the issue, she would just turn around and head back to the village.
She told me that she was hearing voices in her head, them telling her to kill everyone because they no longer worshipped her, but I knew that to be a lie, everyone adored her, looked up to her. Something was feeding her lies and I wanted to try and figure out what it was, but every time I tried to talk to her she would tell me she was just tired and wanted to lay down, I always followed her not wanting to be far from her when this was happening.
Our castle seemed to have started reflecting her behavior, the flowers were dying more frequently, no longer showing the beauty she worked so hard on. More and more everyday it would be more dark, more gloomy. People were starting to ask if she was sick and if that's why it was looking how it was. She took pride in her home, always making sure it was covered in different colored flowers, she wanted it to feel more welcoming, now it just said to keep out.
Talon eventually made his own cottage on the edge of the forest, saying whatever was going on inside the castle told him to leave, he knew that she wasn't doing good. I didn't understand why he would abandon her, they were very close and she looked to him for strength in times she doubted herself, but then I started feeling it as well, a presence that didn't want me here, something evil. I never heard any voices, but i no longer felt welcomed.
I got out of bed before she woke up, deciding to go to talon and speak to him about the things I've noticed, I no longer could keep this a secret, her actions showing it was only getting worse.
"Where are you going?" I heard her say as I reached the door.
"For my morning walk my love, got to make sure everything is alright."
"I don't believe you." I looked back at her and saw she was barely even looking at me, it was like she was looking past me.
"I do this every morning babe." I said, it wasn't a lie, most mornings I was up before her, walking around checking everything out, she just never woke up before I left.
"Hmmm. Then why was I never aware that you are trying to take over my kingdom?" She sat up. "Do you no longer love me like my people?" I walked back to the bed and sat on the edge.
"How can you even say that? Do you know what creature I am?"
"A demon."
"A demon has only one Mate for their entire life, and you are mine. I could never stop loving you!" I said touching her face. "As for your kingdom, I do not want it, it is yours, I'm just trying to help you." Her hand found mine and her fingers intwined in mine, she sighed loudly as she pressed her head into my touch.
"I'm going crazy Elijah, all I see is everyone not loving me anymore, I see disgrace on their faces! I do not know if it's whatever is in my head that is making me see it or if it is actually real! I cant tell the difference between fake and real anymore!" She was finally opening up, finally letting me see pass her hard exterior!
"Maybe try and focus on the love, maybe go outside and make your castle look alive again and focus on all the good, maybe that will over power whatever it is inside your head."
"Maybe." She said. "It is worth a shot." She let go of my hand and laid back down, she looked exhausted still, like she hasn't slept in months.
"I am going to go check the land, would you like me to bring you anything my love?"
"No, just you." I smiled, bent down and gave her a kiss on her forehead, happy that she still wanted me around!
I walked out of the room and headed straight to talons cabin, I was determined to get the Genevieve I fell in love with back, the one who loved her people, and would never think Of hurting them. It took me no time to get to his place, he chose the closest area to the castle he could find. When I got there I didn't even have to knock on the door, he opened it as soon as I stepped up.
"Brother, how can I help you?" Over the years him and I got real close that we started seeing each other as brothers, and that was something I hoped would never change.
"Our goddess is in trouble, but even more the people are in grave danger." He looked at me, then looked around, I'm guessing to see if anyone else was standing around, he motioned for me to come in and I did as he said.
"What are you talking about Elijah?"
"You've noticed the castle?"
"Of course. Everyone has." He walked to his eating quarters and got something to drink.
"There is more." I explained everything I have witnessed, from her losing time, talking to herself, wondering in the woods and even what the voices were saying to her. He seemed to be frozen as he processed what I said, just staring out his window.
"I knew something was going on, I just didn't realize how bad it was." He sighed. "Her castle is becoming whatever it is controlling her. I can feel it, it screams evil, that's why the flowers are dying."
"So it isn't a creature that can cloak itself?"
"Wishful thinking Elijah, but there is no such creature, at least not on this realm." He sighed. "I have no idea how to help her, and that is something I'm ashamed to admit." I saw the defeat on his face, everything I said not making sense and having no idea about any kind of entity that could do this more or less how to stop it. Talon was made into her second hand, her main protector and not even he could do anything. "Has she spoken to her gods?" He asked finally breaking the silence.
"She says they have abandoned her." He then turned and looked at me, his face blank.
"Whatever it is, it must be blocking her connection, her gods would never abandon their greatest creation."
"You need to get closer to her talon, you need to see what I've been seeing, you are the smartest creature I have ever met, maybe you can break this if you can just see what it could be."
"It's worth a shot."
"But she won't be happy I told you." I told him remembering that she wanted to keep it between her and I.
"Then I must not say anything and or give her a reason to read my mind."
"Agreed." Talon nodded and I headed out, thankful that we came up with something, a plan of some sort, it might not work, but talon was the smartest creature I knew, if anyone he could break this spell on my love.
I walked home with hope, and for the first time sense this started I really thought this plan would work.