SPELLBOUND
Chapter Eight: Heavy Breathing
Cherith
I was on mom's bedroom. She had summoned me to give me some earrings she thought would look lovely with my gown, but currently she was talking very fast with Mrs. Rose, going over last minute details for the party. I waited patiently. I needed to talk with mom, after all, and though I trusted Mrs. Rose with my life, I didn't want to sound silly in front of her if what I said got dismissed as nonsense, which probably would. Not unkindly, since my mom didn't have an unkind bone in her body, but still, one desires privacy when making a fool of herself in front of one's mom.
Finally, Mrs. Rose left and mom sat at her vanity table, picking up a brush and beginning to work it through her long coffee-colored hair until it shown with fiery highlights, I have hair just like that, and her blue eyes too though she was a good three or four inches taller than me. Dad often says I look a lot like my grandma – his mother – only that with my mom's coloring. Alec is all Dad though, with the same gray-purple eyes and black hair and both are tall, there are some deliberate mistakes that prevent them to look like a carbon copy of each other – besides age – like the fact that Alec has mom's mouth and the shape of her eyes.
Anyway, I had something to tell her.
"Mom," I began softly, relinquishing my spot on her massive four poster bed and standing up to walk to where she sat.
"What is it, sweet?" She asked with a big bright smile.
"Mom, don't you think Alec is acting a little –very- weird?"
Her tone was light but her eyes were trained on me, watching everything. "Why do you say that, love?"
"I don't know… I mean, he has been all over that Lady Dionne since last night…"
"Well, he's a man and is of an age when most guys stop thinking with the head over their shoulders and begin to think with their…er… their other head. It's natural; it probably will be over in a week."
"But it isn't like Alec to act his way, and you know it." I persisted. "And then, this morning, I was in the kitchen with Amy, and he came to tell me that you wanted to see me and he completely ignored Amy! He didn't even say 'hi' to her. Mom, that isn't like Alec either. He should have said hi, would have! It's only polite and you have drilled politeness into our brains since we were kids! It makes no sense! Plus, I was under the impression that Alec liked Amy, and even if they had had a fight – which I doubt since I would know about it – Alec wouldn't be so cold, he has the least icy heart out of all the people I know."
"Maybe he didn't see Amy?"
"Mom," I said, losing my patience a little, "Alec has a twenty/twenty vision! He's one of the best hunters here for God's sake!"
"No profanity, if you please." Mom scowled me.
"I don't like Dionne."
"Oh, darling…"
"And Frog doesn't like her either. And Frog is NEVER wrong about people!"
Mom stayed still for a moment, pondering over what I just said. Finally she nodded. "That's true." She admitted. "That's very true. I guess we will have to keep our eyes open. See how this plays out." She said with a smile. "But you must know I didn't doubt you, love, just that you and Alec are so very close and I would consider natural if you felt, well, a little jealous when someone else demanded attention from your brother."
I rolled my eyes. "Mom! It's not like that. I've never minded that he spends time with his friends."
"Because Gerry convinces Callie and Alec to let you tag along most of the time."
"And I never minded when he and Amy left me out to go do whatever they did all the time in the Forest." Mom's interest was picked, I knew, by this last sentence. "Not that I think it was bad, more like they just really enjoyed each other company." I added hastily but with a big bright smile. "And you know Alec is way more outdoorsy what me."
Mom smiled and shook her head. "Very well, I promise I'll keep both eyes on Alec to see what's going on." She promised. "Now, have these," She said placing a set of amethyst earrings on my palm along with a delicate necklace. "And go and get ready!"
I kissed her cheek. "I will, mom." I said and ran out of the room.
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Amy
After I saw Dionne and Alec in the courtyard I went up to my room and cried for a good half an hour, then I began to think on what I could do. The answer was very simple, actually- or so I thought- I would have to go to Alec and tell him all I knew about Dionne. It wouldn't be easy. I had never told anyone the story about my scar or how she had destroyed my family and why I disliked magic so much. But I needed to tell the truth.
I hadn't been able to save Erik and I wouldn't let the same happen again.
However, luck wasn't on my side.
I was climbing up the stairs to the fifth floor of the Palace, ready to seek Alec, when I heard some whispered words in an ancient language. Like most everyone in the Windam Valley, I knew enough about Magic to know that it was a dark spell, just the intonation of the words was proof enough, even if I didn't understand what they meant.
I felt something very cold touch me and spread through me. I shivered and nearly had heart failure when suddenly a small hand was clasped to my mouth and another hand twisted into my hair, pulling it painfully, as the owner of both hands dragged me backwards into a dark notch of the staircase.
I tried to scream but Dionne's voice hissed in my ear a rather convincing "Shut up, you little bitch." Though I did shut up, that didn't mean I wasn't putting up a struggle but Dionne was two inches taller than me and about fifteen pounds heavier and I was still weak from all the crying I had been doing.
"Now," She said once we were in the dark and all I could hear was my heavy breathing and the pounding of my own heart. "If you're so kind to tell me where are you going?" Dionne asked, releasing my mouth but grabbing my arm instead and twisting it painfully behind my back.
"I'm going to tell Alec all I know about you!" I said in an angry whisper.
Dionne laughed. "He won't believe you, darling. No one will." She assured me. "But still, I won't have you muddling my reputation!" Her voice dropped and poisonous venom purled into her tone. "Are you cold Amy?" She asked.
I was still shivering, and it wasn't entirely out of fear, so she didn't really need an answer. "You know why? Well, I'll tell you, I put a curse on you, Amy dear, a cleaver curse, one of my best even if I do say so myself. So listen to me and listen well, if you ever even dare to breathe a word about our… shared past, if you will, your brother dies. On the spot. It would pain me, of course, to part with Erik –a gifted lover your damn brother is – but I will do it for even if I lose him, I will still have Alec. I don't know how good Alec is in bed, but trust me, it won't take me long to find out, and even if he sucks at it, there are other perks at being courted by a prince…"
Dionne kept talking, telling me things a sister should never ever know about her brother. She laughed quietly in my ear as I gulped down my screams and swallowed my tears. I wouldn't cry in front of her.
"Well… I must leave you now, dear. I have a ball to attend to tonight, and I wouldn't want to leave our dear, dear Alec waiting." She said and quietly slipped back towards the stairs, leaving me in the shadows.
Only then I did cry.
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Amy still…
The next week was one of the worst of my life.
Alec and Dionne seemed to be attached by the hip, going together everywhere, and whenever I happened to be around, Dionne would send me this horrid little triumph looks and laughs. Alec kept ignoring me, much like Erik had done at the beginning, when he had just fallen under whatever spell Dionne put on him.
Cherith was supportive, as usual, saying that Lady Kaze had told her that Alec's infatuation with Dionne was just because he was of a weird age and was thinking with his second head and it would be over soon. I didn't understand really, my mind seemed very, very sluggish of late.
I kept going in circles inside of my head. Erik had been a brother and a friend and a parent to me half of my life… and then Alec… he had saved my life, not long ago, and had become my friend and made me feel like a person again. He made me smile; made me happy… he gave me hope.
I was never one to lie to myself. I knew I loved Alec. I loved him in a way I had no right to. I wanted to be with him, I wanted to be his but, since I knew this would never happen, I wanted the next best thing: for him to be happy.
Yet… I couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth and lose my brother.
See, whatever happened, I would end up losing a big part of myself, of my heart and after so many losses, I just didn't think I could keep on living, no matter what I did.
A few days later, Erik found my in the little vegetable garden outside the kitchens, peeling potatoes and despairing over what to do about Dionne. He came strolling from around the house. He and Dionne had stayed after the rest of the guests had left, Alec insisted.
"Hello, miss." He said. "I believe I got lost. Could you indicate me the way to the stables?"
"Of course," I answered, willing my voice not to break. "You have to go back down the path you just came from, and when you get to the bifurcation, you take a right." I answered.
Erik nodded. "Thank you." He said absently but then fixed his gaze on me and surprised me immensely by crouching down next to me – so we were on eye level – and talking to me, sounding remarkably like himself as I had known him.
"What's your name?" Erik asked me.
"Amy."
"Amy." He repeated, "Amy. It's a lovely name. Means 'beloved friend, right?"
"Yes. My brother picked it for me when I was born." I supplied and couldn't help to smile; it had been Erik himself the one who had proudly told me how he had picked my name.
"Erik, darling, there you are!" Dionne interrupted. "Darling, you shouldn't be mixing with low servants... or servants of any kind. Come here now." Her voice was kind enough but there was no doubt that she would not tolerate anything less than him doing exactly what she asked.
Erik sighed, the way he always did every night during harvest season when he returned home bone tired and exhausted, and stood up to follow Dionne out of the kitchen. But before leaving he turned back to look at me again, and I swear I saw a flicker of recognition in his eyes, but then Dionne called again and it was gone.
By her expression, I could tell Dionne wasn't happy that I had talked with Erik and she didn't make me wait long for her counterattack.
That very same afternoon as I helped Dulcie with her chores at the family quarters, Dionne came out of her new bedroom in that wing and, right in front of me, dropped the contents of a full glass of red wine all over her and then proceeded to shriek her head off.
"LOOK AT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE STUPID WENCH!" she cried outraged, causing several of the doors along the hallway to open and curious heads to peek out, trying to get a grasp on the latest gossip. "You have ruined my favorite dress!"
"I did not!" I answered loudly.
"Shut up! Don't be disrespectful of me!" Dionne said somehow managing to sound like a victim.
"Is there a problem my lady?" Mrs. Rose asked. When Dionne had started to yell, Dulcie had gone to find Mrs. Rose and alert her that there was trouble in the hallway.
"Yes! This stupid girl dumped that wine all over my dress! I demand that she's punished!"
"If you give me the dress, my lady, I'll see if it can be saved, as for Amy, I don't think she did it on purpose, I don't think she deserves to be punished, we all make mistakes."
"Well I don't think that's enough! This dress costs more money than what either you or her will ever see in your lifetime!" Dionne said, clearly making a mistake since Mrs. Rose didn't like at al what she said.
"Kindly, my lady, do not make assumptions of that kind."
"What do you know, you over rated housekeeper! I want this girl gone! I don't want her here!"
"With all due respect, you don't have authority to dismiss Amy."
"Fine then, I'll ask His Highness Prince Alec to support my case." Dionne said confidently and threw me a malicious look. Just then, as if she had summoned by some secret method, Alec appeared. "Alec!" Dionne said, acting surprised but I knew she really wasn't.
"Yes?" He asked.
"Look what this wench did!" Dionne cried; once again back to playing the victim. "It was my favorite dress and she ruined it! I want her gone! I told Mrs. Rose that she should dismiss her for her clumsiness but Mrs. Rose won't do it!"
"Master Alec," Mrs. Rose said. "Amy is a good girl; she doesn't deserve to be dismissed over a mistake."
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Rose, but I'll have to override your judgment," Alec said formally, sounding not at all like himself. He turned briefly to look at me "You're fired. Do leave the premises within the hour."
"ALEC!" Cherith voice yelled outraged. "You can't do that!"
"I just did." Alec said. "And it would certainly look bad if you contradicted me, little sister, and rehired the maid, I won't allow it."
"You have no authority to allow me or not allow me to do anything!" Cherith cried.
"Just hire another maid, Cherith."
"I didn't say I want Amy to remain as a maid." Cherith answered, her temper was close to snapping. "In fact, I insist Amy doesn't remain here as a maid."
"Good, you see it my way." Alec said.
"Not at all, your highness," Cherith said mockingly and I saw Alec's eyes narrow. Funny how, though they were talking about me I felt sort of detached. "I want Amy to remain here, as my companion."
"Your companion?"
"Yes, there is no one else near by around my age, except for Callie, and I'm often lonely and I want Amy to remain here to keep me company."
Dionne's expression told me that she was surprised I was being so thoroughly defended. She thought no one would dare to contradict Alec – she clearly didn't know Cherith at all- Dionne thought she would be rid of me quite easily but Cherith and Mrs. Rose were putting up quite a struggle to prevent that from happening.
"I think," Lady Kaze interrupted the silent stand off in which Cherith and Alec had engaged themselves. "That it's a wonderful idea, Cherith," She said all cool and collected. "Since Callie joined the guard you have been a little lonely, and your father and I were beginning to worry that you were lonely, love. If you want Amy to be your companion, and if Amy doesn't object, I think it's a wonderful idea that she remained here, not as an employee but as our guest."
"Really, Mom? That would make me very happy. Please say yes, Amy!"
"I-I… well, yes." I said with a small nod, not risking a glance at Dionne and not daring to think what she was planning to do to get back at me for this.
"Wonderful. Now, about your dress Dionne." Lady Kaze said regally. "It's tacky, the neckline is too low and I don't want anyone believing that it's of fashion. So please, do attire demurely and appropriately. Since Alec insists on your remaining here, and I don't really have the heart to refuse either of my children, I do ask you to behave with decorum and dignity."
Dionne was boiling with anger, I could tell, I was very familiar with the signs of her anger not to know but all she could say was "Of course, my lady."
"Well, since we are all on perfect accord, I think it's time for everyone to return to what they were doing." Lady Kaze said calmly. "Mrs. Rose, please put another seat at the table for Amy tonight at dinner, Cherith, do go and help her to choose a nice room up here, I'm sure that between you and Mrs. Rose you will see that Amy is provided with whatever she needs for her new place in my household."
And with that, Lady Kaze swept from the place, giving cue to everyone that the show was over and everyone should go back to their chores or duties or whatever they were doing.
"Come, Amy." Cherith said. "I think I know just what room to give you! You will love it, it used to belong to my aunt Carla when she lived here, before she married Uncle Marco, it has a lovely view and it's just right across the hall from mine!" Cherith said, linking her arm through mine and beginning to pull me away from Dionne.
As we left, I finally noticed that Frog had been there all along, and currently he was snarling at Dionne.
Cherith noticed too, especially after Alec said in a very stern voice. Enough, Frog!" Well, as sternly as one can say that. Frog stopped snarling, but clearly looked taken a back by Alec's tone of voice. "That's better. Come now." He said. "Dionne, come," He said more gently and the pain in my heart increased a tenfold when I saw him taking Dionne's hand and leading her away. "I'm sorry about all of this," he was saying. "But Cherith is and has always been a spoiled brat, think nothing of this."
"If you say so." Dionne answered sweetly, almost meekly and I was left to wonder what her next move would be.
What she would do to hurt me next.
"I don't think Frog likes her," Cherith said even when Alec and Dionne weren't quite yet out of earshot, in fact, I'm fairly certain they heard Cherith. "Frog likes you SO much better."
Later, when Dionne made her next move, I was left wishing Cherith had never said that.
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End of Chapter Eight
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Notes:
die-living-a-lie: Thanks so much! I can't really say much about Amy and her brother, just that, well, blood calls.
Cutie4ever: Thanks, I rather enjoy witting it myself.
Pink-Raven: Thanks! Again, I can't say much, but there will be confrontation on the future, especially after something that happens on the next chappie ˆ-ˆ
Bluchickngods Thanks! It was a lovely review. I'll explain some things, it will be explained later on the story but oh well: Though Alec's magic is very strong, he fell under Dionne's spell because he was caught unaware, that is or was Alec's biggest flaw and a virtue at the same time, he is very trusting, he never thought something bad would happen to him and when Dionne attacked him he didn't had time to put up a magic defense, simply because he wasn't expecting it. And I'll explain something about Dionne's magic… there are two ways in which you can get someone else to do your will when you're using magic, you can a) shatter their minds completely – break them – and make them do your will, it's like an ubber brainwash, if you're looking for total domination, this is what you want, the problem is that the subject is left without any kind of will or sense of being, and whoever is in control has to order him or her to do everything, even the most basic things like eating or sleeping. Dionne didn't want this, so she went for b) The kind of magic Dionne used on both Alec and Erik didn't destroy their minds, she merely wrapped her powers around their will, so they do have a sense of being, of their likes and dislikes and they still have, more or less, the same character they had before the spell. Alec ignores Amy – and in this chapter contradicts Cherith – because Dionne is profusely ordering him to, but Alec would never, say, go out of his way to hurt Amy because it has never been in his character to find pleasure in hurting people who have never done anything to him… as for revenge, well that's another thing. If Dionne wants Alec to hurt Amy on purpose, she would have to break his mind completely, because otherwise Alec would never do it. Anyway, I hope I didn't make this too long, boring and confusing. Thanks so much again.
iloveme2815 Thanks, there will be more information on Dionne and what she was up to in this couple of years in future chapters… but I want to keep the suspense a little bit longer.
WildPixieChild Heheh, thanks! But This Author can confirm nor deny your suggestions about the possible death of Dionne… though I will say that Jadzia isn't happy, and Jadzia can be very vindictive when she wants to be… which is funny, since Unicorns aren't supposed to know such feelings as hate or rage or vengeance…. Maybe it is because Jadzia got her heart broken once…
Masked Dragonfly 0926 Yes she is back and she's just starting! I like Alec's name too, and it's the closer I would ever get to naming a character with a name like my own (My name is Alejandra :P) I find it just too freaky.
Katty::hugs: No, it can't::clings:
hoolihoopgrl131: That happens to me all the time ˆ-ˆ Thanks for reading!
SerayaNeko: Thanks! I'm terrible at doing homework… but I'm very good at pulling all nighters! But I don't advice it as a regular course of action :P never mind, I'm just being silly, thanks again for the review and I hope you like this chapter.
I hope you keep liking this!
I'll work hard to get the next chapter done quickly (:cough:reviews guilt trip me into writing faster:cough:). Do enjoy and review!
Love always,
Psycho Clavie.