The next morning found Reya peacefully asleep in her bed. For the weeks she had spent in the Ravyns household,she found her hair styled by Betsy this time and her gown picked out by Heart.
She had risen to find Alaric was nowhere in the room,no note or explanation. She told herself he was busy. He had to be.
Gone were the days when they lived happily,with him showering her gifts and attending to her beck and call.
He'd rise before the sun made its entrance,trotting into the kitchen to fetch her food he had made himself. Sometimes even exploring Ravenswood with her - from the gloom elegance of Cobblestone Town to the lush vicinity of Hills' Rimsworth, which inhabited nobles exclusively.
Such was the disparity of the class system here.
The faint memory of last night played in her head, her nails tracing her chest with a blush. Alaric's mouth had slowly undone the strings of her corset,making her forget the sentimental event for discussion.
"Reya!" He bit her waist,his nails playfully drawing circles on her thigh."You're beautiful!"
"I know," she had replied. Her memory turned faint,drunk on his lustful stupor. "Listen,I have something to say "
Ignoring her,he let his hand wander. "But Reya,I'm starving here,"
"I'll give it to you anyway. I just," she moaned when his fingers sank deeper underneath her clothes. "I can't think properly,Alaric. J-just spare me a moment. "
With a kiss,he sat up with faint hint of boredom. "What's it now? Did my mother sit on your peace?"
"Not that! You know I came with you as your wife,not to play wife. There's a difference. Back in Vire,I excelled in business and want that to continue. I yearn to join any trade here,Alaric. I don't care what it is I just -"
"Mother controls business here,Reya!" He chided.
"I am aware. I only seek to be a part of what I was. I don't want to lose myse--"
Before any word could come out from her mouth,pleasure took over when his mouth found hers. His tongue danced with hers,breathlessness finding her being.
"Alaric the busi--" she gasped,throwing her head; which a husband needing his satisfaction, kissed her pulse point, weakening her.
She didn't know when or how. All she remembered was her temperature rising.
After having breakfast, Reya wandered downstairs, seeking to find her husband. Turning right,her eyes landed on the odd maid again, her steps rather quick for someone with a limp.
The maid turned back; eyes darting sideways twice, then darted into a room not far from Lord Bastian's.
Curiously,she followed the girl inside - only to witness her slip through a hidden door within the room.
What on earth was going on?
"Master?!," she heard the maid say,dropping the food upon the desk and scooping water from a wooden bowl.
"Did they see you?" Came a voice too deep, that if she were not married to Alaric, she would've fallen for him too.
"No,sir"
"They..didn't even ask?!" Queried he,his voice carrying a note of sadness..or disappointment.
"No,sir!They didn't.. no one!"
Curiosity burning hot in her bones,Reya peered into the half-split way in the door,and froze.
Right there was a man who looked unmistakably like Alaric. His eyes had a mix of Evona's peering red-blue eyes and that of Bastian's brown. He had a sharp jawline,bore a scar in his left cheek and there - most disturbing - completely disabled legs.
"Oh my!"
Turning sharply,she fell. The door widening further than it should have.
"Who's that?!"
"Lady Reya," cried the maid. "What are you doing here?!"
Strong arms lifted her from the floor,setting her gently on her feet. Rising on her feet,her eyes travelled to see who her saviour was.
An old maid; grey hair,immaculate face with very dry and cracked lips, clicking her feet against the wooden slab in contained fury.
"I'm not sure you ought to be here,Milady," She hissed,arms crossed.
Reya dusted her robes with her hand. "I thought I heard something,"
"You heard nothing!"
"Who's that in--"
The maid smiled,"Your eyes are playing games. You're hallucinating,Milady" Before turning to shut the door.
"He looks --"
"Lady Evona would not be pleased with you here. Please,leave."
Reluctantly, she turned to glance at the door one last time,sighed and walked off.
She couldn't believe her eyes and what she had seen.
How could Alaric be disabled?
But he wasnt! Was he?
What did she even see?
Hallucination, she whispered.
Maybe I am.
From the porch,she caught sight of Alaric , white waistcoat and golden stripped shirt. He stood beside a carriage,his back turned to her,speaking to a woman whose face Reya could barely see.
The woman laughed at something he said, covering her face with a fan and leaning on him for support.
"Will meet you later,darling," she giggled,stepping into the carriage.
Jealousy clawed its way into people's hearts,but Reya was never the type to easily get jealous. To her,she believed it was only business affairs and he wouldn't do anything to hurt her.
She had almost decided to walk away when her eyes caught something on the woman's neck.
A necklace- silver with twin crescent insignia.
The same thing Alaric had gifted her during their meet-up to the inns. He had promised it was the only one of its kind. Her breath faltered as she touched her necklace.
What was this?
By noon,the maids were busy setting the tables in the dinning hall. Selene had returned from her banquets, hurling orders at her maids and walking proudly like some snob.
Amber was nowhere to be seen.
So was Evona and Bastian.
"Lady Reya,would you please step out of the kitchen? No lady of the house is meant here," Reya had smiled when the head maid acknowledged her with a white teeth one.
Her eyes wandered off the dishes,appetite waning since she couldn't get over the fact she had seen more than she should,yet they said it were hallucinations .
Hallucinations
Such were the beauty of darkness and madness - eyes deceiving you into thinking you were an alibi of death. But no! That was a major symptom of madness.
Before she could turn to leave,she heard a sniffled sob.
Reya believed ahe was yet again hallucinating but it came once,twice..then a third,rather too loud for something that was not to be heard.
She pulled the curtain aside,revealing a young girl - no older than fourteen - crouched beneath the safety of the table. Her hands laid on her mouth,muffling any plea for help with tears streaking her cheek.
Reya bent down down,pulling her from there. "What are you doing here,young girl?"..
The girl looked into her eyes,breath heavy. "I..I.. I need money. They..will kill me. '
Attacked by confusion,she searched the girl. "Did you steal? "
The girl shook her head to say no.
"Did you get starved?"
"Yes"
"How did you get here?!" Reya paused,noticing the faint lines on her leg. Large imprints of shackles,whips,pain."Oh my!Who did this to you?"
Before the girl could speak,Alaric appeared at the doorway,fear stripping the girl her soul. "She's a thief. Take her!"
"No!"said Reya,pulling her by the hand. "She didn't steal from me she's--"
"She is a thief," Alaric said coldly.
"She is a child," she replied sharply. "And she's hurt and shackled. Maybe she was sold to slavery or--"
"There are rules here and you 'must' obey them. I won't repeat myself"
He turned and left.
Reya watched in despair as his men roughly dragged the girl by hand and her tears were too loud she knew she'd sleep with nightmares.
"Please,save me!" Her voice trembled,clutching at Reya's robes. With force,it shrieked and tore. This earned the girl a hot slap from the guards leaving Reya mortified.
"Dare not touch the lady!"
Reya didnt notice,but a tear escaped her eyes. She ran after them,her skirts gathering dirt in her quest to free the girl.
Then she heard - a gunshot.
Then silence!
She raced into the fields,turning to see blood on the dried hay. "No,no,no! W-who ..sh-sh-shot her?!"
She burst into tears. It was a rather gruesome scene,her neck bent over,legs akimbo and blood dripping from her heart.
"Who did this?" She cried.
"My lady,let's take you inside," tried Oscar,who wanted to assist her by hand.
"Leave me! Leave me! Who did this?!!," she grabbed the man who had dragged her roughly and without batting an eyelash he replied "Orders"