SPELLBOUND

Chapter Seven: Do you remember me?

Amy

I was late, it wasn't really my fault but I was late. Still, I knew Alec would wait, he had said so and he never backed on his word. Or at least not that I had chance to see while my residence in the Windam Palace.

I went to the spot by the river where we were supposed to meet. I found it empty. At first I thought that he had delayed as well but, as the stars rose higher and higher in the night sky, I knew he wasn't showing. It didn't occur to me to think that something bad had happened. There was no blood; no sign of struggle and Frog was always shadowing Alec's every step. It was a massive dog and he would never, ever let Alec be taken without a fight.

After waiting for two hours and realizing that he wasn't coming, I picked myself up and went back to the palace. I wasn't afraid of the forest. I had lived in one for the better part of the last couple of years, so I just walked guided by the moonlight. I stopped for a second when I reached the clearance from which the Windam Palace, and much of the Cloud City, was visible; it always took my breath away. It was all what those old stories my brother used to tell me said.

I didn't notice it right away but something wasn't quite right. The very air felt different. Suddenly, my heart was sized by an inexplicable fear, a feeling I had had only once before… the fateful afternoon when life as I had known it end it.

I ran half wild with apprehension.

But when I got the palace everything was in order. I asked Mrs. Rose if everyone was okay –as subtly as I could – and she said that everyone was just fine, but that the Royal family was having a semi-formal dinner since so many of their guests had showed up before due and they wanted to welcome them. I asked if Alec and Cherith were in attendance, and she just said 'Of course'. So maybe that's why he hadn't showed up.

I went up to my room and tried not to over think things much. Alec had been called by his parents; it wasn't like he could say no to them. That's why he hadn't showed up. It was going to be three years, soon, of that day when I had last seen my brother and Dionne, and I was letting my memories and my fears get the best of me.

I closed my eyes and tried to sleep.

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Cherith

Alec was acting weird.

Weirder than his usual weirdish self. It was most disconcerting.

It started last night.

I was under the impression that he was seeing Amy by the river side, at their favorite spot, just around twilight. But he came back shortly after six and he was escorting one of my mother's guests – that's how she introduced herself, but mom doesn't seem to remember ever inviting her – and then, at the semiformal diner that we had given for the guests who arrived early, Alec spent most of his time fawning over her.

Alec was never the type to fawn over anyone or anything.

The lady was pretty, I reckon, but Alec had never been particularly impressed by physical beauty. I distinctly remember him telling Gerry that beauty was all but fleeting and wasn't wise to make choices based upon such attributes. And I know Alec meant those words, they were discussing how now that Alec was soon to be twenty-two, he should start to occupy himself with finding a wife and all that.

Anyway, back to the present, Alec was fawning over this one lady. He wasn't acting at all like himself but more like a horny-green-lad of fifteen. It was embarrassing, and also worrisome.

My worry grew more when I saw the way he behaved with Amy the next day.

See, since I was bored and didn't want to stand with my parents for greeting-the-guests duty, I had gone to the kitchens to help out there, where I could actually do something. Amy was there, as expected, working on some cookie dough for the tea refreshments. She looked very, very distracted.

"Mind if I help?" I asked her.

"What? Oh, yes. Cherith! Hi!" She said. "I'm just a little distracted, that's all." I nodded and set to work. We worked well together, and it was fun, so it wasn't really much of a chore, even when it was Amy's work. "I really shouldn't let you do this." She whispered. "You should be out there entertaining your guests instead of helping me with the chores."

"I prefer to be here than out there with the wolves!" I said vehemently.

Amy smiled.

Amid the windwirl of activity, I almost didn't hear Alec's approach but suddenly he was there. "Mother wants to see you, Cherith." He said in this weird formal voice he had been using since last night. "You shouldn't be here."

"I'll go to her in a second." I answered. I waited but to my surprise Alec didn't acknowledge Amy's presence, and look that Frog – ever trailing at Alec's heals – has practically out of his head with excitement at the sight of Amy and was currently whipping his tail and trusting his muzzle on Amy's hand. I looked at Amy, and at Alec. I frowned. "Where are you going dressed like that, anyway?" I asked, to fill the heavy silence that had settled.

Alec was dressed with riding clothes. Formal riding clothes. Alec never bothered with such things.

"Where does it seem I'm going?" He fairly snapped at me. "I'm going for a ride with Dionne." He said as if it was nothing. Dionne is the lady he has been doing calf eyes at since last night.

It might have been my imagination but I swear I heard Amy gasp at the mention of the name Dionne and a second later; she dropped the cookie sheet she had been holding.

Alec didn't even spare her with a glance. Alec-Alec, my beloved brother, would have already been on his knees helping Amy – or anyone for that matter, but especially Amy – to pick up the mess. He was never the type to just ignore; yet he strode from the room without even looking back.

I stared after him for a moment or two and shaking my head, I bend down to help Amy. I noticed her hands kept trembling. "Is something amiss?"

"No-nothing, I'm just a little clumsy today." Amy said, licking her lips to moisten them since they had gone dry. "Can… can you tell me a little about this Dionne person? I don't think I have ever heard her name before."

"Oh, she's just some random girl that for one thing or another ended up with an invitation to Mom's dance. I don't know much of her, she arrived last night with some servants she claims are form her household – though she hasn't deemed necessary to tell us where her household is exactly – and a quite attractive young man she claims is her cousin and travel companion. He seems like a nice enough fellow, but doesn't speak much at all."

Amy nodded. She looked pale, ghost pale. "I'm sorry? Have I said something to upset you?" I asked perplexed.

"No, Cherith. My mind is just getting the best of me these days… I'm sure I'm just tired. But fine. I'm sure."

Another I'm sure and I would be sure she was lying. "Well, I suppose I better go look what Mom wants." I said.

This day was really working out to be one of the weirdest ever. But wait, the weirdest of it all was yet to come.

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Amy

Dionne…

It couldn't be the same person. It couldn't.

Just wasn't possible.

Cherith left to see what her mother wanted and I tried to keep on working but I couldn't. Finally, noticing my discomfort and sheer distraction, Mrs. Rose sent me for more supplies –sugar and flour – to the storage room.

I walked slowly, taking deep breaths to calm myself to no avail. There were so many thoughts and ideas and voices running through my head that I couldn't hear anything outside, or see where I was going. Which explains why I ran straight into this large object.

"I'm so sorry, sir." I said, truly ashamed of my clumsiness and fearing that I had probably offended one of Lady Kaze's guests. They were all over the place.

"It's quite alright." A male voice said. A male voice that sounded remarkably familiar... a voice I would never forget, even if two years had passed since I had heard it last.

No, I can't leave Amy. It had said.

I looked up.

That was Erik, alright.

His dark hair that was the exact same color as mine, and his grey eyes. My brother, who I never expected to see again, was there, larger than life and right in front of me.

"Is there something amiss?" He asked, probably because I was staring at him and my mouth was gapping open.

"I'm sorry." I repeated, dropping my eyes.

What was going on here?

I risked a glance up. There wasn't even the smallest hint of recognition in his eyes, they were empty and blank...

"There was no harm done." Erik said. "Have a nice day, miss." He added and sidestepped me, and began to walk back towards the palace's guest wing.

I stumbled forward and that's when I saw her.

She was standing in the courtyard, wearing a stylish green ridding habit; she had her arm linked to Alec's, he auburn hair was shinning beneath her hat. She was too far away, I couldn't see her eyes but somehow I knew she knew I was there, that she was looking.

No, no, no, no.

Not this, not again.

Not Alec!

I walked quickly, and hid behind an ivy covered arch that separated the front drive from the courtyard. I looked at them; they seemed to be waiting for horses to be brought around. I closed my eyes and rested my head on the arch, the cool ivy giving me a measure of clarity.

I heard her laugh.

The sound high and merry, almost musical.

A terrible music… it was Dionne's laugh alright.

She was back, most definitely back.

I knew the pattern, Alec wasn't acting like himself already, and soon Dionne's influence would spread as she began to charm people… that's when bad things would begin to happen.

At first it was just petty mischief… then she got hurtful and the world as I knew it ended… for the second time around.

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End of Chapter Six.

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li'l bling bling: Thanks! Since I already finished my school paper, I think the next update will be real quick.

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Masked Dragonfly 0926: I'm sorry that I'm annoying, really. I'll try to update again ASAP.

Bratsie-love: Hey there precious! I'm glad you like it. Kaze and Chris are still very much in love for which I'm very happy. Um… Emily and Adam might show up in the next chapter and... You'll see how are them.

Katty: Hugs! Hey there! Thanks for reading!

Clavie: Funny choice of name :P Well, You'll see what happened with Alec soon, I promise.

Nurin: and more drama is yet to come!

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Clavie- The Bad One.