There was no one, not even the servants were present to clean up the place. It was completely deserted, no signs of life found As if everyone just disappeared. You would think that no one was meant to be hear or use this place due to the emptiness, the only signs of it actually being used is the mess left behind by the nobles.
As I searched around the hall and corridors, my sights fell on a porcelain vase which contained a white stargazer lily, I paused for a moment as I cautiously stare at the lily as though it might change into a monster and jump at me. Didn't happen. An image of my mother popped up in my head, holding that same lily and her unusual behavior before she collapsed. The sickening memory of yesterday.
Could it be mother. She wasn't feeling well yesterday to the point of collapsing , could it be her condition has gotten worse.
"…No..." I desperately breathed out. A rush of anxiety and panic surged in as I made my way to Baltic palace. My premonitions have always come through dreams, only on rare occasions would it come from feelings like today. This is the first time it came so strong that all my feelings overwhelmed me. My mind went blank, not being able to think properly, I let my feelings take over, running barefoot for what felt like an hour.
I made my way through the dark and empty corridors of Baltic palace, leaving behind a trail of blood forming my footprints which seemed more prominent than before. It was the only thing that had colour in the black and grey corridor, lit up with flickering candles, truly a gruesome atmosphere I have grown accustomed to.
I stood outside the mahogany door for a good two minute, hesitating, preparing for what's to come, because deep down, I sort of knew what lies on the other side wouldn't be pleasant. I opened the door only to see my sister covered in blood, holding a spiritual sword in her hand which pierced mother through her heart.
"Ah, you're finally here. Took you long enough" she said hysterically snickering with her bloodlust eyes aimed at me. She looked a bit worn out, heavy breathing like she was just fighting. Now that I take a closer look around the room, there wasn't just the tree of us present. Lifeless bodies lay haphazardly around the room, belonging to the soldiers and maid servants.
Chills ran down my spine, I shivered visibly. Eyes wide open, breathing from my mouth as my body started failing me. "wha…" I desperately tried forming a sentence but unable to. From the safe heaven of the Dalia palace, I was ruthlessly dragged into hell. I was drowning.
"Happy Birthday my dear little foolish sister, this is my heart felt gift to you" she said as she presented a bleeding heart to me due to the hole made by the sword. Snickering once again like she has lost her mind.
Mother fell to the ground the moment Selena let go of her. She fell in the pool of blood as more gushed out like a fountain from where her heart used to be.
Shock was an understatement of what I was feeling at that moment. Selena was a whole different person, a stranger I'm seeing for the first time, yet it was hard to deny that it wasn't Selena. It made me doubt my memories of her for the past 6 years she's been with me. No. Something must be wrong. Something must have happened to force her like this, to force this great change in her.
Selena slowly walked to me like a predictor to its prey, but the worst thing is that it seems like I'm that prey. My legs felt like jelly due to the immense pressure I felt from her that I almost collapsed.
When she reached arms length, I shut my eyes tightly, waiting for my impending doom. Which for some reason, never came. She forcefully took my shaking hands and placed the fist sized heart, dyeing my hands with blood. My stomach churned from the site, making me puke out all the content I consumed in the banquet.
"don't break my heart by rejecting this gift I carefully prepared for you" she said with a hint of craziness and obsession lingering in her eyes, and passed by without saying anything else. I finally realized the meaning of my premonition. Lost. I lost my mother forever when I saw her through the stargazer Lily. I lost my sister metaphorically when she left my sight.
"you've done well, I have to say. Didn't think you would actually pull through and succeed" a voice came from behind. I didn't sense its presence at all. A man wearing a black hood with a mask covering his face was standing in the dark corridors, hiding behind the shadows, if I didn't hear his voice then I'd think we were alone. How long has he been there? Was he there before I came in, or after?
From his outfit you could clearly tell he's one of the elite soldiers under the emperor, in charge of protecting him. The most fearful group known to the world as 'The Shadows', because like the name suggests they work within the shadows invisible to the world.
What was a member of 'The Shadows' doing here?
"what are you doing here?" Selena asked, surprised not expecting a shadow to be here.
"Master asked me to help you if you came across any problems" he said while taking a glance at me.
"why don't you just say he ordered you to follow me to spy on me?" she sarcastically said, before turning back to look at me intensely. " tell your master I've fulfilled my end of the deal, I hope he keeps his promise and fulfills his part".
After that day she changed for the worse. Avoiding me like a plague, but I realized one thing from that brief conversation that the emperor was somehow involved and perhaps also the reason why Selena killed mother.
For that reason my resentment and hatred grew stronger and stronger through the passage of time.