Once she reached the deepest side of the forest, Anna stopped running. She bent down, heaving for air as her chest rose up and down with each passing second.
"Ahh!" She cried out at the intense pain in her back. She could feel something growing out in her back. She knew it was her wings but why was it growing at this time? It usually comes out in small size and she would just cut them off before anyone notice. But now it had grown in full length.
Squeezing her eyes shut, she forcefully pull out the wings from her back. Anna yelped in pain when the wings came out. Holding it in her hand, she could see the wings glittering blue. Her eyes looked around, searching for where she could dispose it without anyone seeing it.
She usually burn it up together with her old skin but she was in the middle of nowhere. What if they find her here to see her like this?
She quickly dumped it into the shallow water and watched it swim to the other side of the water. With this, no one would know what had happened.
She splashed some water on her face and breathed out in relief when the blue veins disappeared from her face.
Now she just have to find her way back home. The only thing she could hear was the sound of crickets and chirping of birds. Unfamiliar with the place, she headed straight. She didn't know if she was following the right path but she kept on running, not deviating from the path she was running through.
She heaved for air as she ran, hoping this was the right path home.
...
After about two hours of running in the forest, Anna found herself in front of the Mansion. She breathed out in relief before walking in as her body was drenched with the rain. Her whole body was in pains and it felt as if she had been overworking while running. Entering the Mansion, she headed to the kitchen to prepare a hot bath for herself.
She removed her wet clothes and poured the warm water on her skin. Her body slowly became normal when she continued to pour the hot water on her skin. Taking the blue soap which she had tied in a black polythene bag, Anna rubbed it on her skin to feel some of her skin start to fall out.
Today had been quite a stressful day, Anna thought. The hunting for fairies had resulted in her almost revealing her identity. She was glad to have noticed it immediately and ran away before Marcos came to touch her.
Thinking about all the things that happened today caused chill in her back. Hearing her name being called by Edith, she quickened her bath and stepped out of the bathroom with a black nylon containing her old skin.
If she went outside with the nylon, Edith might ask her to open the bag so she kept it beside the bed. Hopefully when everyone was asleep she would sneak to throw it outside the Mansion.
She hurried outside the room to see Edith holding a tray of food.
"Give this to the Young Miss." She handed the tray to her.
Anna nodded her head before walking through the corridor. Reaching Elizabeth's room, she knocked on the door to hear Elizabeth tell her to come inside.
She opened the door to see Elizabeth looking at something on the table. When Anna moved closer, she noticed some wings of different colours lying on the table.
"Aren't they beautiful?" Elizabeth asked with brightened expression.
Anna smiled before nodding her head. "Yes they are."
As if realizing something, Elizabeth paused and turned around to look at Anna.
"We couldn't find you? Where did you go? We searched everywhere but couldn't see you?" Elizabeth questioned.
Anna felt her heart skip with fear. "I.... Uhm..... I actually got lost and my mom found me."
"Your mom?" Elizabeth raised a brow.
"Yes, she is a hunter. I met her in the middle of the forest and she took me back here. I apologize if I made you and your brothers worry." Anna bowed her head after speaking.
"No." Elizabeth shook her head. "It's nothing. I was just sad that you weren't there to witness the process. Brother Lucian brought a merchant who took their bodies and some of the wings to the market to process them into cosmetic for us. We actually had fun..... It was a pity you didn't witness everything that happened."
And I am happy I didn't witness it, Anna thought.
"Well...." Elizabeth blinked. "I should give you this to beautify your room. It cost more than you could imagine. Keep this as a gift from me to you."
"I.... Uhm..... I can't take it." Anna shook her head.
"Why?" Elizabeth asked.
"I am—"
"Just a maid." Elizabeth chimed with annoyance all over her face. "I want you to keep. Are you rejecting my offer? People would die to lay their hands on this and I am giving them to you for free."
"No..... No..... It's just that... Don't worry I will take it." She plastered a smile on her face as she took the wings from Elizabeth.
This was nothing to her, Anna thought.
"You may leave." Elizabeth told her and she bowed her head before walking out of the room only to meet Marcos who was standing at the door entrance.
"Young Master Marcos." She bowed her head.