"Oh, L-lady—Hnngh! Oh, Lady N-Norwood," Alexia gasps, as the cursed Lady Norwood drinks blood from the light brown-haired servant's neck.
The pale nude noblewoman ignores her servant's gasps and wails, wanting to satisfy her curses craving for blood. She lightly bit into Alexia's neck, now she drinks from it like she has done for the past weeks; the blood of her main servant is satisfying enough to keep her from leaving Castle Nor's basement and terrorizing Norwood Woods.
"Ah. Ah!" Alexia moans. "A, a l-li-little forceful t-that time d-de-dear."
The pale woman ignores her, continuing to drink. She then removes her mouth from Alexia's neck. Blood drips down her chin as she looks at the loyal servant whose upper body is exposed. The cursed pale woman stands up, picks up her grey cape, and picks up the rapier with the gold handle and adorned with rubies; she plays awkwardly with her light blonde hair, her red irises darting around as she views the dim basement.
"What's wrong, don't you want a little more of me," Alexia says, pushing up her bosom hoping it attracts the cursed noblewoman.
"S-spec-special treat hurt," the pale woman groans.
"What?" Alexia says. "No, I am fine. A little whoozy, but fine. Come on, isn't this the blood you crave."
"NO! I can't!" the pale woman shrieks, rushing to the hole in the basement, then scurrying through it.
"Lady Norwood wait!" Alexia pleads, but the cursed noblewoman is deep in the hole. Alexia knows she will be outside of Castle Nor soon.
"Shit, what went wrong. This is suppose to keep Lady Norwood from leaving the castle and terrorizing the forest."
Alexia, covers her upper body—with whatever remains of the pink light gown that was shredded by the cursed Hannah Norwood—and heads out of the basement. She finds a jacket left by a careless soldier, and puts it on, even if it is too big. She rushes up to the top of the castle wall's, her bare feet clomping on the ground as she runs up. She gets to the top of the wall that leads to the castle tower that has the basement. She looks into the dark landscape to see if she can spot Hannah. She then sees a grey cape swaying on the shape of a woman. She knows it's Hannah, her dear lady is heading into the woods. Alexia then hears a great shriek come from the woods.
"No. Why is this happening," Alexia says to herself. "Why did Lady Norwood say that I am hurt. Does, she feel shame for hurting me. No, that can't be. The curse makes her feel nothing, only a desire to kill and consume flesh. Am I doing something to change her? Whatever that is not important right now. I have to bring her back somehow."
Alexia leaves the castle walls, and dresses in proper attire for traversing in Norwood Woods (a warm shirt underneath the jacket, thick pants, wooly socks, and hardy boots); once the clothing are put on she heads out, holding a lamp to help her see, and a long rifle for protection. Meanwhile the cursed pale woman is erratically scrambling through the woods, not knowing where she wants to go.
The dark woods appear bright to her red eyes, the forest floor's twists and turns exposed as she frantically moves. She craves blood, flesh, something to get her mind off the special treat. She doesn't know why, but its wrong to drink the blood from the special treat with the light brown hair.
Her running takes her to a small creek. She walks up to the water and looks at her reflection, her red eyes brightening the image; in the water she sees her light blond hair, pale nude body, mouth covered in blood, and red irises.
"W-why?" she says. "W-why hurt her."
The pale woman gives out a loud horrifying scream, her head facing the stars. She then runs around irrationally, swinging her rapier manically, slicing up the trunk of any unfortunate tree that is close to her. Her wild screams lead to her ignoring a witch approaching the creek. She looks nothing like the witch Esmeralda, who enchanted the pale woman along time ago. This witch is an old woman. Her simple black robes cover her entire body; only her aged wrinkly face, long warty nose, old hands, and grey hair are exposed. In her hand she carries a broom that helps her fly, that also acts as a staff.
"Poor creature. Shut up already," the old witch says. She then casts a spell that makes water from the creek come up toward her mouth and help her quench her thirsty throat.
The pale woman stares at her bewildered. She licks her blood-stained lips as the old witch finishes her drink.
"F-fo-food."
"What did you say. My hearing can be quite bad," the old witch says, stopping her drinking.
"Food!" the pale woman shouts, rushing across the creek, waving her rapier manically.
"Peh. Forco Fieldo," The old witch says.
She casts a magic barrier, the pale woman rams into it, and it shoots her back across the creek. The pale nude woman attacks again and again, and the magic barrier keeps forcing her away. The pale woman stops her attacks, standing in the creek, gasping madly.
"Are you done sweetie," the old witch says. The pale woman shrieks as a response.
"Fine, take this then. Oh great waters, tie, tie, before me this wild and vile lass!"
The old witch then chants in a strange language, and slams her broom staff on to the ground. The water shoots up around the pale woman, entangling her. The pale woman struggles to break free, but the water holds her tight; her grey cape and rapier are tossed on to the ground near the bank of the creek, leaving the pale woman, naked, and armless, as the water coils around her body. The witch makes the coiling water move the pale woman to her. She hears the pale woman groan and whimper defiantly as she is presented, her body lifted high in the air by the enchanted water.
"Now what should I do with you," the old witch says. "Eh, I only landed to find a drink. And I feel refreshed. Sit there coiled until I leave."
The old woman gets on her broom, and flies off. Once gone the magic controlling the water holding pale woman is gone. Both fall down, the nude pale woman crashing into the creek, with the water that held her filling back into the creek, with some splashing on to the ground near the creek. The pale woman shoots up out of the water and scurries to her grey cape. She covers her body with it, hoping it will warm her. She then walks over to her rapier, shivering with each step, but once she picks it up and its red rubies glisten in her eyes, she feels warmer, and rushes off deeper into the woods, looking for food.
Meanwhile Alexia continues to track the cursed Lady Norwood. With her lamp in her hand shining her path, she heads to where she heard the shrieking that sounded like her lady. She reaches the creek, but nobody is there. She does see water spewed everywhere, along with sliced up tree trunks.
"I wonder what caused this," she says. "It must be Lady Norwood. Oh dear, she is in a fit of rage. But, where is she?"
Alexia wanders around the creek looking for any tracks that can help lead her toward cursed Hannah. She finds nothing.
"Ugh, what do I do know," Alexia groans. "If I head back, Lady Norwood will kill an unfortunate soul. On the other hand if I pursue her, I might get lost until sunrises."
While she decides, three small gnomes march up to the creek. They carry small lanterns to help them see in the dark. Like the old witch, they too have come to the creek for a drink. They collect water, but then the leader Teedle sees Alexia.
"Oh hello there!" he calls, stroking his long beard.
"Huh? Who said that?" Alexia asks.
"Down her lassie."
Alexia shines her lantern, spotting Teedle and his comrades.
"Gnomes," she states. "What are you doing up at this hour."
"We gnomes are always traveling to do things you humans will never understand," Teedle says, lighting his small pipe. "Just happens we need to get a drink."
"Anyways, I am Teedle, the beardless one is Corble, and the fat one is Shams."
"Nice to meet you," Alexia says. "Now I must go I am looking for a friend."
"A friend," Corble says. "We always find friends. Good at it we are. Can we help."
"Uhh?" Alexia says nervously.
"Don't worry lassie," Teedle says, lighting his pipe and blowing a smoke. "We gnomes are friendly. Now tell us who are you looking for."
Alexia minds chooses her words carefully, she doesn't want to expose Hannah's secret.
"I am looking for the 'Banshee of Norwood Woods'."
The eyes of the three gnomes bulge with terror.
"The Banshee!"
"That killer specter!"
"Why look for it."
"You said it is your friend."
"Are you crazy!"
"You are going to get killed."
"Will you three shut up!" Alexia snaps. "I thought you said you were going to help me."
"We did lassie," Teedle says. "But searching for the "Banshee of Norwood Woods", that is a dangerous pursuit, I tell you."
"Please," Alexia begs. "This may sound strange, but I have been able to quell her, and keep her from killing regularly. She suddenly went crazy while I was quelling her, and is out in the woods. I wish to find her before she kills and unfortunate victim."
"Hmmm," Teedle grumbles, stroking his long grey beard.
"Well Lassie, we won't get close to that specter, but we can take you close enough that you can spot that horrifying creature."
"We will," Shams stammers.
"Yes we will you fat coward."
"Oh thank you!" Alexia says.
"All we ask for in return is that you can get us into Castle Nor. We wish to drink and eat simple foods from the lady of the land's kitchen."
"That I can do," Alexia says with a smile.
The four head off, the gnomes guiding Alexia in the direction of Hannah.
Meanwhile the cursed noblewoman's hunt for blood continues, leading her to exiting Norwood Woods to a village that resides next to it. However, the villagers are not dumb, they have already barred up their homes in case the "Banshee of Norwood Woods" comes; tonight the evil specter that terrifies them does, and is currently on the outskirts of the village.
The pale nude woman sees the first simple village house, she awkwardly walks in its direction, but slams her bare torso into a fence meant to protect livestock. She wails in frustration. One light in the house turns on, but nobody exits; the villagers are smart enough to not leave the house, hoping the "Banshee of Norwood Woods" will attack one of their locked-up livestock instead.
The pale woman doesn't try to go past the fence, instead shuffling around it, until she is on a road the leads to the simple house. As she inelegantly walks toward it, she sees bright lights flutter out of the grass, and float around the road. She stops moving, her red eyes entranced by their bright flying dance. The fluttering lights get closer; they have orb like bodies, with insect like wings, and blue fly like eyes. The folk tales call them will-o-wisps, small magic creatures that are known for guiding lost travelers in the dark to their doom. However, the pale woman doesn't care, she is captivated by the bright fluttering of the ten will-o-wisps.
"Banshee, banshee! Come, come!" they say, flying around her nude pale body.
"Ah! Gruah," the pale woman groans, swaying her rapier.
"Banshee, banshee! Don't hurt us. We will lead you. Follow us, we will give you a prize."
They fly off beaming their lights to guide her back into Norwood Woods. The pale woman doesn't follow them. Her curse screams for blood, making her ignore the will-o-wisps calling.
"Banshee, banshee! Why so slow?" they say, flying back towards her and fluttering around her.
The pale woman gives out an annoyed scream. More lights around the village turn on, the villagers terrified if the "Banshee of Norwood Woods" will attack. However, she is more concerned with the irritating fluttering will-o-wisps.
"Banshee, banshee! Follow us. We know where to find what you want," they say.
"FOOD!" she screams.
"Food, food. We know where to find food banshee. Follow us."
They fly and beam their lights, directing into Norwood Woods. The cursed woman follows them. Their lights illuminate the dark forest as they guide her. However, any simple man would state that will-o-wisps cannot be trusted; they have no loyalty, not to the lost traveler, not to a soldier, not to Lady Norwood, not to the terrifying "Banshee of Norwood Woods". They only like to cause mischief and chaos. Where will they will lead the cursed woman could be one of peril, and they can always fly off before meeting her wrath.
Meanwhile Alexia is lead by the gnomes to the village that was almost attacked by the "Banshee of Norwood Woods". As she exits the woods, she sees a dark shadow that looked like Lady Norwood's, following bright lights back into Norwood Woods. As they reach the fence, the gnomes stop in their tracks.
"This where we stop," Teedle says, smoking his pipe. "Those bright lights were those of will-o-wisps. We'd be fools to follow those dammed creatures."
"I guess you can't be convinced to follow," Alexia says. "Well thanks for taking me this far, I however, am going after the specter and those will-o-wisps."
"Well you can't stop a fool for chopping off their own thumb," Teedle says. "I'll be sure to make a painting of you soon to be corpse."
He and his comrades take off, saying goodbye, before Alexia can respond. Alone, she gathers the courage to head back into Norwood Woods in the direction she saw the will-o-wisps lead Lady Norwood. She walks fast through the dark woods, her lantern allowing her to see the rough ground. She can see small bright lights ahead of her, and believes those are those of the will-o-wisps.
As she continues her walking, she hears a buzzing near her right ear, followed by buzzing near her left ear. She shines her lantern while still walking in the direction of the distant beaming lights; the lantern reveals two small green humanoids, with butterfly wings, flying on each side of her head.
"Fairies, is the whole forest alive today," she says, still walking.
"We have come out more, since the evil specter that haunts these woods isn't around to possibly attack us," the fairy on the right side says.
"Well I am heading toward the "Banshee of Norwood Woods", and will-o-wisps that guide it," Alexia says.
"Then turn back!" the one on her left side says, flying in front her face to stop her, but Alexia brushes the fairy off. It continues flying next to her left ear.
"Come on and play with us," the one on the right one says, its dark green eyes giving doe eyes. "We are more fun then the doom you are heading toward."
"Sorry," Alexia grumbles. "I have personal business with that specter."
"Why?" the fairy on the right side inquires. "Did it take someone you loved."
"No, but the person it took was a young child a long time ago."
"Well that specter that haunts these woods, took many," the fairy on the left side says. "Why throw your life away to avenge a long ago death?"
"I am the only one who can control that ghastly woman. And I don't have time to explain it to you two."
"Aw." The fairy on the left side says.
"Well foolish human, I hope you enjoy your chase," the fairy on the right side says. "If you wish to turn back, we will quickly find you. We are more fun to play with than that killer specter."
The two fairies fly off into the dark woods. Alexia grumbles, and continues to chase after Lady Norwood and the will-o-wisps.
Meanwhile the will-o-wisps continue to lead the cursed woman, saying they will bring her to food. Their bright guidance leads her to a cave.
The will-o-wisps flutter around the cave, beaming their lights erratically. The pale woman is puzzled by their bright display. They keep flying around, and begin to giggle.
"Banshee, Banshee. How silly you are," they say, their giggles sounding sinister.
The pale nude woman sways her head confused.
"Bye, bye. Bye, bye forever Banshee. We hate you. We hate you. We hope you DIE!"
They quickly fly off, laughing sinisterly; these will-o-wisps decide that they wish to see chaos. They want to see the "Banshee of Norwood Woods" fight another monster, the lights they beamed into the cave attracted another to its possible doom.
As the will-o-wisps laughing becomes faint, the pale woman hears a grumbling come out of the cave. She hears loud stomping on the rocky floor, but she is not frightened, her cursed mind calls only for blood. The thing in the cave comes close to exiting, giving out a warning growl, however, the pale woman screams back in response. From the cave a griffin exits. The nude pale woman's red eyes sees its fierce eagle head wings and talons of its frontside, and tense lion body of its backside. The griffin gives out an intimidating screech, its talons digging into the ground to threaten a charge. The pale woman responds by waving her rapier manically, screaming loudly.
This griffin is not frightened by the pale nude woman's appearance. It came to these woods to sleep for the night. It knows nothing about what haunts these woods daily. All it cares is that a pale nude woman, with light blonde hair, red irises, blood on her body, wearing a grey cape, is screaming at it, and brandishing a sword at it. It tenses its muscles getting into a defensive stance.
Meanwhile Alexia arrives close to where she saw the will-o-wisps lead the cursed Lady Norwood. Her lantern shines in the dark woods, and she spots Hannah screaming and waving her rapier at the griffin; the mythical beast is fiercely screeching back, the two anticipating the other's first strike. Alexia's heart races with fear, even if the curse makes Hannah have special abilities, she is still nude, and the sharp talons and claws of the griffin can inflict grave damage to her cursed lady.
She is close to them, but the darkness of the woods masks her presence, so much that the two fighting beings don't notice her. She raises her long rifle, gripping the forestock with her arm that is also holding the lantern, steadying her aim. She aims the rifle at the griffin's head, but her pull of the trigger is interrupted by a woman chuckling. She points the gun in the direction of the chuckle, the barrel of the rifle pointed at woman sitting on a large rock. She has light skin, brown hair, and dazzling bright eyes. She wears a white peplos with a golden girdle, her feet wearing silver sandals. Alexia struggles to keep her rifle aimed at this mysterious woman, perplexed by her appearance.
"Hmm, what a fine battle I will record," the mysterious woman says while staring at the pale woman and the griffin, holding a pen in her right hand and a scroll in her left. "I wonder what desperate scholar will love to hear this tale."
"There isn't going to be any tale," Alexia says, the woman doesn't turn her head, but listens earnestly to the servant's words. "Now tell me quickly who you are, so that I can go back to shooting the strange beast attacking my lady."
"That strange beast is called a griffin. And I am Clio, Muse of history."
"A what? Never mind. I have to save Lady Norwood."
"Who is Lady Norwood?" Clio says turning her head to Alexia.
"Uh, uh," Alexia stammers not wanting to reveal Hannah's secret to a stranger.
"There is no need to hide. I am the Muse of history, it is my job to preserve the events of what happens on this realm, so that future man may be inspired to write about it," Clio says. "I came here to write down about the mysterious "Banshee of Norwood Woods" so that those scholars locked up in their ivory towers can write down the peril and power of this spectral being accurately."
"She is right there!" Alexia shouts, pointing her gun back at the griffin's head.
She fires, but holding the rifle forestock with the hand that also holds her lantern tires her arm, making her aim unsteady, and misses hitting the griffin's head. The noise of the shot attracts the beast and the pale woman. The two stare at Alexia—ignoring Clio who sits near her—and both growl at her.
"Fascinating the "Banshee of Norwood Woods" stands before me," Clio says ignoring the peril. "Here I thought I was going to write a short tale about a naked woman fighting a griffin during my search for this banshee. Lucky me, the story become more and more interesting."
The pale woman and griffin continue their growling, but the two don't attack, still trying to scare Alexia off, so that they can go back to quarrelling. Alexia stands frozen unable to find the courage to fire again. The griffin then launches itself up, and lands in front of Alexia, it flaps its wings, terrifying her, causing her to drop the rifle, and fall to the ground, but she keeps a hold of her lantern. Her lantern shows the mythical beast rearing up and swinging its talons, but this is a scare tactic to see if she will flee, so that it can get back to facing the pale woman. Alexia screams, putting her arms above her body to protect her.
"Special treat!" the pale woman screams. "No!"
"That sounds like a voice of care," Clio says jotting notes down on her scroll. "This tale unraveling in front of me gets more and more interesting. Yes some poor scholar is going to love writing down this story when they search for inspiration."
The pale woman rushes the griffin, slashing from behind the rapier into its lion right leg. The beast screeches in pain, then turns around and swipes at the pale nude woman with its talons, but she moves out of the way in time. The griffin continues swiping its talons, but the pale woman parries each sharp talon swipe with her rapier. The attacks and parries, gradually move the two closer to the cave. Alexia's breathes faster with fear, she doesn't know why Lady Norwood tried to save her, but she now fears the cursed noblewoman's conflict with the griffin will be perilous.
"Don't get up just yet," Clio says to Alexia. "Wait for a second. Something epic might happen."
"Are you crazy, that is my Lady Norwood out there fighting that thing!" She shouts at the muse. "I have to save her!"
"The "Banshee of Norwood Woods" is the Lady Norwood of Castle Nor. How interesting." Clio says, writing the information down. "You gave vague hints earlier, but an emotional conformation must mean it is true."
Alexia shuts her mouth. She is filled with too much fear and anxiousness that she doesn't make her next move. However, the cursed pale woman does.
The griffin rears up ready to swipe again with its talons. However, the pale woman's red eyes stare into its eagle eyes. The mythical beast suddenly feels entranced and is unable to attack. It lowers itself, its lion legs tired from being reared up, yet is still too entranced by the pale woman to attack. The pale woman smiles with glee, the beast is helpless, now she can slice it up and drink its blood.
"Well this is a nice twist," Clio says. Alexia looks at her stunned, then looks at what is about to unfold. She knows that even if this mythical creature attacked her, she can't let Lady Norwood take a life tonight, other than hers if needed.
"Lady Norwood stop!" she shouts at the pale woman.
The nude pale woman looks at Alexia confused.
"Come, don't you want your special treat," Alexia says in a soothing voice. "Don't you want my delicious blood."
The pale woman screams with excitement and rushes over to her; the griffin is free from the pale woman's trance, and it flies off deciding fighting her is not worth it. The pale woman tackles Alexia to the ground, placing the lantern next to them, its glowing flame illuminating the pale woman stripping the servant of her jacket, and unbuttoning her shirt.
"Yes that's it take it," Alexia says with a playful smile.
However, that smile strikes something in the pale woman. She jumps off the servant, and backs away while breathing manically.
"No! No! N-no!" she screams tossing her rapier to the ground, and pulling on her light blonde hair. "N-no don't h-hurt her!"
"What?" Alexia says nervously.
"I won't!" the pale woman screams.
"Hannah do you feel pity for me," Alexia says, getting up and walking close to the pale woman.
She responds, by picking up her rapier, and pointing it at Alexia.
"STAY B-BACK!" she screams, so loud it echoes through the forest to the villages that reside near it.
Alexia keeps quiet and doesn't move. She doesn't understand what is going on with her noblewoman.
"Hannah," she says softly. "Are you in there. It's me Alexia, can you comprehend my words."
The pale woman sobs and wails, still pointing her sword at the servant.
"Only I call you by your first name, but even with our closeness I still address you as Lady Norwood. But I know that first name use means more to you. So, Hannah, can you understand me?"
The pale woman whimpers and groans.
"Are you guilty of hurting me," Alexia says. "Hannah it is okay, I am only trying to help and protect you. Don't worry about my pain. I will be fine."
"Sp-special t-treat d-don't," the pale woman wails. Alexia comes close to her, the pale woman unable to swipe at her.
"Shh. It's okay," Alexia says, guiding the cursed woman's arm to lower her rapier. "It's going to be all right."
The pale woman drops her rapier and hugs Alexia tight. She wails and cries, tears flowing from her eyes on to the loyal servant's unbuttoned shirt. Alexia pats the pale woman's nude back, comforting her.
"I can't l-lose you!" The pale woman wails "I can't b-be a-al-alone!"
"You won't, Hannah," Alexia says reassuringly. "I will always be with you. We are friends aren't we. I will never abandon my friend."
The two continue to hug. The cursed woman wailing, the loyal servant comforting her. The will-o-wisps above curse, and fly off. They wanted to see the cursed woman and the griffin tear each other apart. Clio stares at the two, stopping her writing.
"What am I even seeing," she says.
Then the muse writes down what she sees, before walking over to the two. The pale woman lets go of Alexia, but doesn't attack the Muse. She gets in a defensive stance, just in case if something bad is about to happen.
"So let me tell you what I have written down. The "Banshee of Norwood Woods" is Lady Norwood. She is naked, wearing a grey cape, caring a rapier, and covered in blood. Tonight she was led by those mischievous will-o-wisps to fight a griffin. However, a woman dear to her comes and stops the quarrel, and I find out you two have a personal history, where she is afraid to hurt you," Clio says to Alexia.
"Yes," she says back.
"Do you mind if write down more about this tale. It seems there is more to than I have been given," Clio says.
The pale woman low growls, Alexia is unsure if she wants to reveal more.
"Maybe, but only if you must keep this story a secret," Alexia says.
"Young mortal I have many secret histories written down, hidden from the public. I only wish to preserve what happens in this world, so that it isn't lost to the sands of time."
Alexia agrees to tell Clio the full story. The three sit on the large rock, the pale woman laying her head in Alexia's lap. Alexia doesn't just tell Clio the story of tonight, she tells her everything that led up to tonight's events. She tells her of Hannah's long curse, of how many she has slaughtered in Norwood Woods to satisfy her curse, how her family did everything to help her and it failed, how Hannah tried to cure the curse and failed, and how Alexia runs most of the castle and keeps Hannah sane. She tells her of how her noblewoman struggled in craving a witch's blood—killing many to get that high—only to be saved by drinking her loyal servant's blood. Then she tells Clio of how tonight Hannah stopped drinking her blood, and rushed out into the forest, and how strange creatures helped her track Hannah down. While she tells this to Clio, the pale woman nuzzles Alexia's lap, she responds by patting her head.
Clio finishes dotting all of the information down on her scroll. Her face beaming with excitement.
"Thank you for telling me all of this. This is great prize for me."
"And you won't tell anyone," Alexia says.
"No I will not," Clio says getting up and walking away.
"Oh dear mortal. I felt like you were saddened to tell me this long tale. But be happy you have a greater prize than me."
"What is that?" Alexia inquires.
"Look down," the muses says, then disappearing into the dark woods.
Alexia looks down to see the pale woman curled into her lap like a baby, sleeping softly. Alexia blushes, stroking the nude woman's light blonde hair. She knows that Lady Norwood's curse is slowly losing its grip on her. When she recited the history to the Muse, each event recounted made the anguish of curse seem less and less influential, and more and more like the cursed noblewoman was slowly overcoming it. The cursed woman who in earlier times would have slashed Alexia's throat is sleeping her like a calm child.
"It's going to be okay Hannah. Its' going to be okay," Alexia says, stroking the pale woman's light blonde hair.
She is able to pick up the pale woman and carry her in her arms. She then grabs the lantern, and carries her back to Castle Nor. She sneaks her back into the basement, then goes back out to get the Norwood family rapier, the jacket, and her rifle, then heads back to leave a fresh set of clothes for Lady Norwood. By the time she if finished, dawn rises, and she is tired. Once everything is put away, she crashes into her bed, not changing out of her attire. She sleeps until the afternoon, the other servants of the house doing work without her leadership.
She continues her sleeping, when Lady Norwood, enters her room.
"Alexia. Alexia are you still sleeping."
She awakens and sits up, shrugging off the grogginess.
"Forgive me Lady Norwood," she says, struggling to get out of bed. "I must have over slept."
"Alexia," Hannah says.
"Y-yes."
"I know what you did last night, Alexia."
"You did, Lady Norwood."
"I want to say thank you," Hannah says softly.
She then darts off before Alexia can respond.
The two eventually talk about the night's events. Hannah apologizes for continuously hurting Alexia, but her servant reassures her that last night showed the curse is having less of a hold over her, that she felt guilty for craving Alexia's blood, and that one day her mind might free her wanting any type of blood, possibly ending the curse that has had a hold over her for so long. The loyal servant tells her master that she will aid her, and they will overcome this curse together, as dear friends.