Elisa
I opened my eyes, and the sudden burst of sunlight attacked my eyes. I closed my eyes and reopened them slowly, waiting for them to adjust to the light.
I stared at my environment, which was strange and different. I was on a bed, in a room filled with antiques.
This wasn't home, this wasn't home with Mama.
I rose to my feet, my head heavy and my entire body weak and tired. I held my head and stood up, my legs wobbling. I walked up to the window, wondering where I was and why it sounded so awfully quiet.
I froze as my memories returned to me in a rush.
The curse, my mother sprawling on the floor. The blood moon's chosen one…. the fog and the shadow that had grabbed me.
I rushed to the door and pulled it. It was locked.
I am in Blackthorn Manor.
I pulled the handles and banged loudly on the door.
" Let me out! Who's there?".
I choked on my screams and coughed violently. I held my throat as I wheezed and slowly sank to the ground.
"Someone please let me out," I managed to say between raspy breaths.
The doors suddenly flung open, and a woman came in with a tray. She seemed to be in her mid-forties and didn't have a smile on her face.
Instead, she looked annoyed as though I'd been a menace to the peace of the Manor.
Her red hair fell to her waist in thick curls, and her chilling dark green eyes stared at me for a long while.
" Screaming isn't going to help you", she began as she set a cup of what looked like tea and cookies before me.
She seemed ordinary, and I wondered if she was just a servant. She had this aura about her that a regular servant would have, but there were rumors too, that all the Duke's servants had fled the Manor.
He had been a terror right from birth.
I looked at her as she straightened up and turned to go. I reached out and held her sleeves.
" Please let me out of here".
She turned to look at me, her face unreadable. She managed a smile and stared at the tonic.
" If you don't drink that up pretty soon, it'll be your body that'll be let out. Hmm?"
She walked out, shutting the door behind her.
I coughed again, my eyes blinding with tears. I remembered the later incidents of last night before I passed out.
Those eyes…. Was that the duke?
My cough intensified, and I reached for the tonic. If it were poisoned, it would be much easier for me rather than be used as another ritual.
But I doubted they'd give me the easier way out. I drank the tonic with shaky hands, and halfway through it, the cup fell from my hands and shattered.
My hands shook and I heaved, trying to catch my breath. I felt very weak and slowly slid to the floor.
Someone let me out. Help me, Mama. Rowan.
********************************
I had healed pretty fast. The tonic had helped ironically.
The same woman came to my room every day with a cup of tea and some food. She didn't say more than a sentence.
" Eat, you'll need your strength".
And I recovered, strong enough to move around and hum to myself. There was nothing much to do here except sit down and worry about my fate.
I hadn't seen the monster, nor had anyone told me about my fate.
The door creaked open, and the same woman walked in carrying a tray.
I watched her as she set down the tray, expecting her usual line, but this time she said nothing. She just searched my face quickly and hurried out the door.
I grabbed the plates and began to eat. As I picked the last cookie, it suddenly hit me.
I didn't hear the door lock click. Usually, I was locked in here and everything was provided for me, my bath essentials and food, but this time I didn't hear the lock click.
I stood up, my heart pounding fast, and slowly approached the door. Maybe this was a trick, but at least I could try.
I pulled the door handle, and the door opened. I froze momentarily, then I took a deep breath and looked outside. No one was in sight; everywhere seemed deserted.
This was it, my chance to escape from here somehow. I closed the door quietly behind me and glided through the hallway, which was polished and clean, as if people lived here.
Well, I had no time to confirm that. I needed to find a way out of here as soon as possible.
The only thing I had to trust to save me at that moment was my instincts.
I navigated every turn and curve I made, hoping to see something, anything. I heard the sound of rushing water and rushed quietly towards it.
Soon, I burst out into a garden, the cool wind hitting my face. I paused and took in a deep breath.
The garden was beautiful with this lovely water fountain in the center of it. If it were in a better time and place, I could have explored it and reveled in the beautiful sight.
But right now I had to leave. I scanned my environment. There were walls at the far corner of the garden with creepers on them. I didn't know what was on the other side of the wall, but at least I had to try.
I had to try.
I hurried to the wall and grabbed onto the creepers, using them as a rope to hoist me up.
At first, they didn't help, but soon I got the hang of it. I climbed up, my heart pounding so loud that I could hear it.
I had to do this so I could be free.
I was halfway into my climb on the wall when I felt a presence. Then I heard small, steady footsteps approach me. I lost my footing and slid back down to the ground, heaving.
There was someone in the garden with me.
I turned around to see who my attacker was. I'd rather die right now than go back into that Manor.
I was stunned to see the man who stood before me. He towered above me with an impressive height and intense dark eyes.
He was beautiful, just beautiful in a way that stole your breath away.
"What do you think you're doing?"
If I was worried about his beautiful face stealing my breath away, well, it was because I had not heard him speak.