The time passed with Regan, either watching from the window or just pacing around. Althea didn't come at all, maybe she was ordered to left her starve. She wasn't really surprised though. They all hated her and she was okay with it.However, as more time passed, she grew hungrier and knew she couldn't sleep with such empty stomach. Literally, she hadn't eaten anything since the day before and she couldn't stay like that, relying on the others.As night crept upon the realm, she decided to go and eat herself. Although she had no idea about the ways of the castle, she couldn't stay like that. But there were still things holding her back like; what if she would lose again? Where was the kitchen?Determination filled her mind as she courageously opened the doors and quietly stepped outside.Taking a good look at her surroundings, she visualized the details and the paintings in order to not lose like before. The hall was now darkened and only the oil lamps were the ones that illuminated it dimly.She took her steps quietly to not make any sound. Near the end of the hallway, she saw some stairs that went the way up. Thinking that they kitchen might not be in the same floor as her, she stepped on the luxurious stairs, which stretched on the length of not only one floor.She couldn't shake the feeling of unease, that someone would see her wander around, and worse, attack her. As she finally climbed the stairs, they stopped to a familiar floor. As she took a glance on her right, she could see the pentagon hallway, its chilly doors. Upon realizing this wasn't the best territory for her to have stepped in, she didn't know what to do.Why did she have to end up here?She cursed the castle for being as confusing and twisted as it's owner.Before she could decide, he stepped out of one of the chambers. Panic spread over Regan as tried to hide back, but it was late enough. He had already seen her.Regan cursed under her breath for having to get herself in such situations, when she could just have stayed with an empty stomach, instead of getting it filled with undeniable anxiety.She stood frozen as she noticed he was coming her way. He seemed tired, his hair disheveled as if he had run his hand constantly through it. He was wearing a white shirt and black pants and his shirt was slightly unbuttoned. That smirk playing on his lips was enough to make her scowl."Not over the tour yet? Legend has it you're still searching for your room," he taunted, running a hand through his dark hair."I know well enough where it is." Regan retorted coldly.Unfazed, he continued, "Well since you admire this castle so much, you might also have some sort of affection for its owner." He said, his smugness evident as he leaned on the wall next to the door.Embarrassment and unease crept up in Regan's whole being. She couldn't stand anymore, being mocked around in that way. She felt her cheeks flush crimson."I don't give a damn about you or your castle, Sirius. I was looking for something else," she furiously retorted."Well, I don't think you were looking to come inside my chambers," he smirked, gesturing on his way."Exactly," she hissed."Go to your room. Don't wander around in the dark," he said sternly, now his expression turned stoically serious.
"Don't let curiousity harm you."
Regan shifted uncomfortably, not forgetting the real reason she was wandering around."I wasn't wandering around, I wanted to eat something," she replied awkwardly, her eyes darting away from his."Didn't Althea bring food to you?" he asked, furrowing his eyebrows."No," she snapped.His expression turned into a frown as he stepped closer. "Go to your room. Now." He ordered, his voice dangerously low and cold.Regan bit her cheek from inside, feeling the weight of his gaze. "Fine," she said, turning on her heel to head back down the corridor. The unease lingered, and she couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched.She stepped down the stairs, her steps quick. She became familiar with the sight and saw the door at the end of the hall.Stepping inside her room, Regan cursed Sirius under her breath and lay on her bed bored and frustrated. Maybe it wouldn't kill to sleep without eating.But then, suddenly, Althea finally entered Regan's chamber with a tray of food. However, there was something off about her demeanor, a strange unease that Regan couldn't quite put her finger on."Here's your meal," Althea said, her eyes avoiding direct contact with Regan.Regan eyed her suspiciously but still grateful, "Why so late? Did something happen?"Althea hesitated for a moment before replying, "I was busy with some other tasks."Regan noticed her unease but didn't pry further, "Fine, whatever. Just leave it there," she said, motioning to the small table.As Althea placed the tray down on the table, Regan couldn't help but see how her figure was trembling."Is there a problem, Althea?" she asked concerned.A brief flicker of panic crossed Althea's face, but she quickly composed herself."No, nothing.""Well uh....Thanks. Goodnight," Regan said uncertainty."Goodnight," Althea replied, her expression unreadable.As Althea left, Regan rushed to the tray with food and started to eat. Her meals consisted sometimes of earthly foods, sometimes of unknown foods, however they tasted good each time and didn't seem to cause indigestion or something. So, she wasn't worried about the ingredients.After she finished eating, she wondered about Althea's odd behavior and something clicked in her mind.What if Althea was taking orders from Vesper and other witches? The thought itself rose her panic, thinking that Vesper might be doing some sinister plan as poisoning her food."No, she wouldn't do that, would she?" Regan asked herself uncertainty. She had already eaten the meal and fear spread up her whole being, the negative thoughts of hers invading her mind. What if Vesper was plotting against her? What if she had done it already?"What a delusional person she is." Regan told herself, when she remembered her words.She sighed, trying to shake off the unsettling thoughts and she prayed to God that Vesper's plans hadn't reached to her meals.She left the tray on a small table and locked her room. Then, she walked to the wardrobe and searched for clothes to sleep in. She had been wearing the same clothes from that wardrobe and she didn't really bother to change. She grabbed some comfortable long pants and a shirt to sleep in. Inside the wardrobe were also silky and cotton long nightgowns, but never was she going to wear any of that.After she changed her clothes, she lay on the bed and covered herself with the silky sheets of blankets. She couldn't help but think about her aunt; what was she doing, what lies had Vesper told her. She thought of how it could have been different if she'd had trusted her earlier, and not believed she was mentally unstable.Then, she thought about his cryptic words about her past. What could be so important of her past? What revenge did he want? She remembered his words: seek the truth. What truth? She knew she had to demand answers and maybe he was the only one who could give them.Slowly, she feel into a deep slumber.The next morning, she woke up from the dim glowing light that filtered through the tall window. She slipped out of the bed and a new sense of determination washed over her. The sorcerer invaded her thoughts again and she couldn't shake the feeling that he was indeed hiding a lot of things. She wanted to gather the courage and ask about these untold mysteries.Regan changed her clothes with the ones she had been wearing yesterday and washed her face. Then, she stood near the window and even though she couldn't see anything else except the trees and the sky, she knew there were so many things to explore.She waited for Seraphina and Althea suddenly entered her room, bringing the tray of food. As usual, Althea's face was blank, as if her previous personality was wiped.She quickly excused herself as she left the tray of food in the small table and left.Maybe they're threatening her, Regan thought.She couldn't help the thought that Vesper and her witchy friends were planning something against her.Instead of eating, she waited for Seraphina to come, so she could ask her at least.After what felt like an eternity, the wise woman finally showed herself, her heavy jewelries crackling as she walked in."Good morning, dear. Why haven't you eaten?" Seraphina asked."Well, uh... I don't know. I think Vesper is planning something against me," Regan awkwardly answered, as she gestured at the food.Seraphina's eyebrows furrowed as she looked at the food. She cast a spell, looked at the food with narrowed eyes and then turned to Regan with a smile."There's nothing wrong with the food, really," she clarified.Regan sighed in relief, trusting Seraphina's words, "Alright. It's not like I'm hungry now. I'll eat later. Let's start with the lessons."Seraphina didn't let the books on the table as she spoke, "I learnt you were allowed to go out of the chamber. If you want, we can take the lessons outside.""Outside?" Regan asked confused. Was she even allowed to go outside?"Yes, in the gardens. We aren't going to pass any restricted area, don't worry," Seraphina chuckled.Considering the idea, Regan felt a rush of excitement as this was something she really was longing to do. To walk out of the dark walls."Of course!" she exclaimed.Regan followed Seraphina eagerly as they stepped out of the chamber and walked to the hall, going up the same stairs that Regan had stepped yesterday. They passed that chilling pentagon hallway and walked straight. Regan tried to memorize and not forget her surroundings, so that she wouldn't be lost.As they walked through the castle's passages, Seraphina explained, "The castle has beautiful gardens. It's a tranquil place where you can practice your powers without any disturbance."Regan rolled her eyes. She was longing more to walk on the fresh air and to step on the unknown planet's land, rather than to hang around in a garden that was property of Sirius. Nevertheless, it was still better than staying isolated inside all the time.The walk led them through various corridors and stairs until they reached a set of grand double doors. As Seraphina pushed them open, a breathtaking sight unfolded before Regan - an expansive garden with roses, pavement streets, ancient tall dark trees covering the sky, and weird small animals that she noticed hiding after a shrub.She inhaled the fresh air deeply stared at the view in front of her that seemed well familiar, like she had known this place. The realization hit on her, as she remembered the dark unsettling forest from her dreams. There were the same red roses, the same dark tall trees. It wasn't the exact same place as when she walked, she saw a huge fountain in the middle of a square.A wave of fear washed over her. The unease grew as she looked at the roses. They seemed to taunt her, to stare at her. Their scent was so vivid, so intoxicating, that it made her nauseous."Damnit," she cursed under her breath. She hated roses, she really did. Especially red ones.However, once she gazed at the sky, the violet sky, she stood in awe. The trees stretched endlessly and she furrowed her eyebrows at what she was seeing. There on air, were some floating islands. They seemed to be far, but still visible. She had never seen something like that before.They were just floating, magically, illogically, she couldn't fathom it.As she turned her head, there were celestial objects hiding behind the trees, that made her stand in awe. She couldn't figure out if they were moons or planet.Three of them were spread in the sky, two that had grey colors and another one, although smaller, looked like Venus. She stood there in fear because she had never seen a sky like that on earth. Although it was extraordinary beautiful, it was terribly scary.Seraphina who noticed her halting in steps, approached her and smiled."The garden is very beautiful, I told you. It's marvelous," she said."Yeah, it is," Regan nonchalantly replied, as her mind wasn't really in place.Seraphina led her to a secluded area, where they passed the large fountain filled. They walked to a place covered with woods and roses. On the side, there was a small pond, its water crystal clear in blue.The mentor approached a bench, that was covered by vines and thorns of the roses. She casted a spell that made the vines to sneak away and she sat down.Regan stood still, her eyes roaming around the garden, the smell of the roses filling her nostrils. She didn't like it but chose to ignore it.Suddenly, she felt something tickling her ankle and looked down, to see a small creature like a rabbit with eyes of a cat and ears of a dog, dragging her ankle. She jumped away in fear and pushed her ankle, to throw the animal away. The weird, small animal landed somewhere, behind the green shrubs.She noticed how Seraphina wasn't minding attention to her ridiculous situation, so Regan tried to shrug it off."Now, that's a peaceful place where you can focus and feel your power freely," the mentor said.Indeed it was peaceful, it offered tranquility and calmness, despite the environment that had haunted Regan. The air was filled with the sounds of birds and insects. But only that, the roses seemed to haunt Regan to the core.As Seraphina tried to get to the point of her lessons with Regan, little did they know by who they where being watched.Hidden in the shadows, the sisters were staying hidden and observing, their faces crossed by frowns, their eyes glimmering with malice."So that's what the oldie Seraphina had been doing all that time. Mentoring the redhead," Allegra sneered, her face twisted into a scowl."I knew she was hiding something. Stupid woman!" Vesper vented."You both forget the real orchestrator of all this," Circe chimed in.Her sisters looked at her with an angry expression."What? Isn't it obvious that Sirius is behind that ridiculous thing?" she asked, raising an eyebrow."We already know that, Circe. You don't have to make stupid points. What are you trying to imply, huh?" Allegra said, her voice furious and accusing.Circe smirked as she leaned against a tree, "I'm not implying anything. I'm just saying.""Well then, shut your mouth Circe. You've been much of a nuisance lately," Vesper snapped with her commanding attitude.They stood watching in silence, until Vesper spoke again, "I'm starting to think that the plan to let that loser out of her chamber, was such a fiasco," she said, her anger palpable."Well, it was you who convinced Sirius about that." Allegra retorted, sensing the downsides of their plan."It was your idea in the first place!" Vesper snapped back, angrily."What's done is done, sisters. Let's just think of a way to improve our goals," Circe silenced them.