"Mommy and Daddy's arguing makes me sad," Serana spoke out to no one in particular. She sat alone on the stone ground in her mother's well kept garden. "Daddy isn't very nice anymore. He doesn't smile like he used to." Serana stood up and wandered over to the nightshade plants. She gently touched the side of the purple petals. "He doesn't do that to me anymore either," she frowned.
The little girl sighed and began to wander: hoping she'd discover something interesting, or better yet, someone interesting. She opened the door to the unused hallway that led away from the greenery. This passage was unknown to her careless father, and dismissed as 'excessive and dangerous' by her mother. Serana wasn't supposed to play there. Her mother told her not to, but she wasn't watching Serana. The once engaged parents now seemed to have very little time for their daughter.
"Mommy hasn't wanted to play very much lately," Serana's thoughts left her mouth. "She doesn't talk to me as often." Serana hesitantly gazed into the hall before her. The cautious child felt the temptation, but was hesitant to disobey her parents. She was a good girl. But if she was good, why did Mommy and Daddy stop playing with her? Was Serana not a good daughter?
Serana looked down, shy from disobedience, but soon gave in: "Maybe Mommy doesn't care if I go in now. Maybe I'm allowed to since she doesn't talk with me anymore." With reservations aside, the child went into the forbidden hall. Stopping to even look at the most bland end tables and shelves. They must feel lonely after being forgotten for so long. Even a glance should give them joy. A touch? Even more. Serana made sure they didn't feel bad after being alone for so long. She didn't want anything to feel what she felt.
Her mother's warning was far from her mind when she fell on the stairs. The castle her family lived in was quite old. Much like everything in the hallway, the stairs were aged and worn. They crumbled beneath her step. It was a small section of stairs, maybe four steps. But the pain was sharp and frightening, and little Serana's eyes overflowed with tears. Her knee was scraped and her mind was ravaged by guilt and regret. Serana held her cut for a few minutes and then fled the decrepit hall for her mother's arms.
Serana found her mother in her room; diligently working away at her alchemy station. The tears were still flowing onto her cheeks: "Mommy-"
"Serana I am very busy. Go play somewhere else," Valerica answered without turning around.
"Mommy I-"
"Leave me!"
Serana's eyes widened at her mother's coldness. She knew it was hopeless to pursue further.
She closed the her mother's door and went to her room where she tended her wound alone.