Chapter 22 - Am I going to die!?
After dancing for a while me and Kodi both go outside to the balcony to get some air.
I must admit even though he's a bit strange I was really having fun being around him. "Glad t-that's finally o-over!" I say breathing the fresh air. "If I die by the way, I will come back and haunt you." Kodi says with a straight face.
I wave my hand to assure him. "Don't w-worry no one's g-gonna kill you…I t-think...." He squints his eyes at me. "How reassuring."
He then smiles for the first time as he speaks "I will say however I found your company to be pleasant." I looked at him excitedly. "Does this m-mean we're b-best f-friends now!" He laughs nervously. "How about we begin with acquaintances?"
I shake my head and a big smile beams across my face. "Nope! We're b-best friends!" He sighs "Well, if it can't be helped I guess I will have to play along." I laugh at our little banter. "
By the way I've been meaning to ask but were your eyes always like that?" I smile as I answer him. "Since b-birth, yes. They are j-just like my m-mothers." He smiles at me "I find them to be quite fascinating."
I was taken aback by his words then smiled excitedly. "Oh my, Kodi! You s-sure know how to make a girl blush!" Kodi laughs at my words and we both spend the evening talking about different things and getting to know each other more.
Soon it is late and Kodi must leave but before leaving he leaves his address with me suggesting that since I'm somewhat tolerable that we should stay in touch through letters. I happily accepted.
After everyone left I made my way to my room but before I could leave Father and Uncle called out to me. "Iridesa, may we have a word with you...?"
I break out into a nervous sweat and turn around with a nervous smile. "Y-yes…?" They both smile at me but I can tell by their eyes they weren't very happy.
"We saw you made a little friend." Uncle said and I laughed "Yeah, he seems fun…haha…" "Was the dance fun too?" Father asks with a childish frown and I sigh. "You can't accept me to pick one out of the three of you so I had no choice but to find a fourth option."
They all seemed to understand and lowered their heads feeling guilty, finally noticing how much pressure they put on me. "We're sorry for being pushy."
I smile, "It's ok." I replied.
"Ok I'm going to bed as I want to wake up early and ask Master Octavius to help me write to Kodi tomorrow! Goodnight!" I quickly ran out of there leaving those words as a little payback for all the trouble they caused me. Father and Uncle are stunned speechless and I laugh.
That night as Miss Delphine helps me prepare for bed, I can't help but take notice of gnawing pain in my stomach that I never felt before. Miss Delphine worries as she asks. "Is everything ok, My lady?" I shake my head reassuring her. "I'm f-fine."
She helps me get into bed and soon leaves. I was about to fall asleep when I felt the pain in my stomach again. "Argh…what is t-this…?" I try my best to ignore it and eventually fall asleep hoping it would be gone in the morning, however this was only the beginning....
Paris sat at his study looking through some documents with his brother Arthur who drank his usual earl gray tea in the morning.
"Why do I have to do paperwork? It's so tedious…" He grumbled as he tried to understand the complex pieces of text.
Arthur however managed to get through his stack of papers quite fast. "We have no other choice. Most of the servants are on leave today so it's up to us for now." Arthur said as he picked up his quill.
The door opened and Tybalt came in with a frown. "Why did Kore decide to go without me!?" Paris looked at his son who sat down in the chair slouching and grumbling.
"She has to find medicinal herbs and I doubt you will make her job easier. Besides, she'll be back later so stop moping and make yourself useful." Tybalt squinted at the paperwork feeling completely lost. Arthur pushed up his glasses and spoke with concern. "Brother, if you want our work to go smoothly I beg you not to ask for his help. You remember what happened last time." All their faces went Grimm as a traumatic memory flashed through their minds.
"H-how about I go check on Iridesa, instead?" Tybalt suggested. Paris then realized she hadn't woken up yet and became a little concerned. "She's still asleep, which is unsual. I think you should go see if she's well." They all agreed, feeling a little concern. Just then a loud shrill scream rips through the castle walls and they all pale in shock. "KYAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"
The three of them immediately stood up as they broke into a cold sweat. "That's Iridesa!" Arthur exclaimed and Paris felt a furious fire rage inside of him. "Looks like someone has chosen to die by my hands, today…"
I woke up today feeling a horrible pain in the pit of my stomach and terribly nauseous.
My chest felt so tender and sore. I wanted to cry and scream at the horrible pain spreading around my stomach, hips and waist.
"M-miss Delphine...! Argh....!" I called out but then remembered that she had the day off for today and won't be back until tomorrow.
She wanted to stay back for me but I would feel bad if she did so I insisted she take the day off. Miss Kore should be back later today so maybe it'll be okay.
I'll ask for her assistance and maybe she can help heal whatever it may be that ails me. I stood up from my bed, planning to go to the bathroom.
"Huh…?" I was stunned speechless when I saw a large red stain on my bed. How was that even possible!? I didn't wound myself. "H-how did this happen…?" Just then I felt something wet and warm trickle down my legs and I stilled. "D-did I just pee…? That can't b-be…..." I hesitantly lifted my nightgown to check my eyes went wide as I saw something terrifying…
My body began to tremble and I felt all the colour drain from my face before I screamed in horror at the top of my lungs. "KYAAAAAAHHHH!!!!"
I collapsed to the floor onto my knees as I felt dizzy, breaking out into a cold sweat. "I-I-I'm b-b-bleeding…!!! "A-am I g-g-gonna die!!!!??"
Just then my door burst open and I jumped out of my skin. "IRIDESA!!!?"
Father was the first to burst in with Uncle and Brother following him and behind them the rest of the castle knights!
I felt mortified and anger, not wanting everyone to see the blood stains on my bed! "What happened!? We heard you scream-Woah!?" I grabbed a pillow off my bed and threw it at them and father quickly dodged it. I grabbed another one and flung it.
"G-GET OUT!!! A -ALL OF YOU!!!" They all looked very confused. "Iridesa, we're here to help you-Wah!" Uncle tried to talk to me but I hurled more pillows and teddies at them shooing them out of the room. "EVERYONE OUT!!! I SAID, OUT!!!!" They all quickly run out whilst dodging all the items and I slam the door shut behind them!
They all stood outside dumbfounded. "Well…that was certainly strange…" Tybalt said as he stood lost as the rest of them. Arthur used his magic to survey the area for any intruders or suspicious activities. "Everything seems fine. There's no one in the castle."
Paris felt relief at hearing his words but he still felt unease considering how she screamed and the way she suddenly panicked. "I'll go see her myself, the rest of you can go back to your stations."
All the knights leave and the three of them stand outside her door. Paris tried to open the door again but it didn't open. "What's wrong with this door?"
No matter how much Paris tried, the door didn't budge. "Looks like you're becoming old, father! How about you let your young son who is much stronger try?" Paris glared at his son. "Haha! I'm only kidding!" Tybalt laughed nervously.
Arthur observed the door and seemed to realize what's wrong. "She used a barricading spell." They both looked over at him. "But she hasn't learnt one and her magic is very weak!" Paris exclaimed.
Arthur explained further. "Her emotions are triggering her magic and it seems she subconsciously barricaded the door. Her magic and spells may be weak when she tries to cast them herself because she's inexperienced but that doesn't mean her magic affinity itself is weak."
"What do we do now!?" Tybalt panicked. Arthur used his magic to try and unlock the door. As he got closer to opening it he detected a faint hint of blood with his magic and his eyes widened. "She's bleeding!?" They all panicked. Paris couldn't wait for Arthur to finish his spell and burst open the door with an inhuman amount of strength!
"IRIDE-!!???" They all rushed inside panicked but as soon as they entered they all stilled and broke out into a cold sweat.
I stood in the middle of the room my hair hanging over my face. I turned around to face the three of them, feeling my patience wear thin. "I told you all to stay out…" The aura that surrounded me was heavy and dark and the three of them gulped in fear. I looked up at them, and they almost forgot to breathe when they saw the dark look in my eyes. "It looks like you've decided your fates...."
I lifted my arm slowly my palm limp and the three of them stood still, paralyzed with fear. The next moment I snapped. Extending my hand I unleashed all my anger. "Don't blame me for what happens next!!!!"