Dancing on the legs of a newborn pony,
Left-right, left-right - keep it up, son.
Go ahead and have her, go ahead and leave her,
You only ever had her when you were a fever.
I am a fever, I am a fever - I ain't born typical.
The days went by in a blur, the weather lighting up, the heat almost bearable in the summer breeze that swept through the winds of Greywood. Victoria had yet to wonder where all the time had gone really; she spent most of her days divided, when she wasn't at home in her studies she was at the West's. She found herself splitting time between the siblings, neither of them ever wanting to spend equal time with Victoria. She would spend her mornings with Jadelyn, and in secret she'd spend her nights with Beckett. On most occasions she'd have tea, a good read and gossip, often with Caterina too. She was in the company of friends so time sped through like nothing. Since her night-time surprise into the woods with Beckett she had a strange and unfamiliar feeling starting to surface each time she was with him. Her heart acted irrational, thumping against her chest rather too hard for her liking. His smile, it captivated her, she'd rush from her bed each time to be by his side quicker. And then, when she was with Jadelyn she'd pick up on things she wouldn't have before, like how the sun illuminated Jadelyn's blue eyes, making them shine even more beautifully in the daylight, her pale complexion glowing underneath the sun rays.
She loved both equally for different reasons, they both made her feel wonderful. They trusted her and she trusted them, if Victoria could she would spend her life by both of their sides and when she'd reach the proper age she'll take Beckett up on his offer to see the world and she'll bring Jadelyn with them so that she'd enjoy them both in her journey to see what the world has to offer.
Today was different; Victoria had woken up feeling ill and of course nanny Cordelia made her stay put, telling her that leaving her bed was absolutely not an option. She didn't bother to argue, she felt awful, like a bug caught in her throat. She couldn't speak and her head throbbed painfully. She did however call one of her many maids, Maria a Spanish cleaner. "Miss Victoria, is there something I can do for you?" Maria asked.
Victoria nodded as she looked over at Maria, "Yes, I need you to send a message for me."
(x)
Jadelyn had spent a great deal of her morning preparing for a visit from Victoria, she picked out some her favorite books to read and even ready paper and paint, if Victoria was in the mood to paint, she could. However she didn't expect news of Victoria being ill, it unsettled her to hear that, taking in the news Jadelyn whisked away to her kitchen.
Beckett wasn't far away when his ears picked up the news of Victoria's sudden sickness; he stepped into the kitchen after his little sister. He watched as Jadelyn scrambled around the kitchen, taking out pots and heating up water. "What are doing?" Beckett asked. Jadelyn didn't turn to face her brother; rather she continued to whip up the soup. "I'm cooking." Jadelyn muttered.
"I can see that, but why?" He asked.
"Victoria's sick, I'm going to take her some soup." Jadelyn hissed, annoyed, Beckett knew exactly what she was doing.
"I know she's ill, I heard…. But you do wish for her to get better don't you? Eating your poor cooking isn't exactly going to make her heal." Beckett teased. And just as fast as the words left his lips he ducked from the pot Jadelyn threw at his head. It missed obviously, and left a dent in the kitchen wall.
"Easy," He says, dashing over to his sister's side to peck her cheek, "I'm just teasing. See you at Victoria's." he whispered and then he was gone.
(x)
Victoria looked into her mirror and groaned, she looked like hell, complete and total hell. She sighed as she pulled her blanket up and over her head. She didn't wish for visitors, she didn't want to see Beckett or Jadelyn in this state.
(x)
She was too caught up in cooking she didn't pick up on anyone else being in the same room as her, so when Caterina threw her arms around Jadelyn's waist she was utterly surprised by her friend. Jadelyn smiled, "Caterina, what on earth are you doing here?" she asked, turning around to face her friend. Caterina shrugged as she smiled brightly at Jadelyn, "Don't you remember? Girl's reading was supposed to be today, right?" Caterina asked now confused, Jadelyn stared at her confused as well before snapping back, "Yes right, today." Jadelyn said nodding her head, Caterina laughed as she took a step back.
"But…Victoria's sick." Jadelyn spilled, her hands flying to her hips. Caterina pouted, her lips exaggerating a frown. "Pity, guess it will have to be just us today."
Jadelyn shook her head, "Actually, I was planning on going over to Victoria's to deliver her some soup,"
"Great, I'll go with you to cheer her up!"
"No Caterina, I rather you didn't accompany me to Victoria's."
Caterina's eyebrows popped and a sad smile plastered quick as Jadelyn's rejected sunk in, quickly Jadelyn reached out to take Caterina's hands. "Don't be sad, it's not at all what you think. I just wouldn't want you to catch anything from Victoria if her illness is contagious." Jadelyn lied; she really just wanted to visit Victoria alone.
"But you're going."
" Yes. You see, I don't ever really get sick. I'm immune," Jadelyn said.
Caterina rolled her eyes.
"Cat, of all the time we've spent together have you ever seen me ill?"
Caterina shook her head; in all of her time spent with Jadelyn it was true. She had never seen her sick.
"Okay," Caterina said as she stepped closer to Jadelyn and gave her cheek a peck, "Good luck then, send Victoria my love." She smiles one more time at Jadelyn before leaving.
(x)
When Jadelyn arrived at Victoria's house she was surprised to see Beckett waiting outside of Victoria's bedroom. She walked up to Beckett confused, "Why are you waiting outside?" she asked. "She refuses to open her door." Beckett says, clearly amused. Jadelyn rolls her eyes at her brother as she passes her bowl of hot soup towards him, he takes it. Jadelyn comes closer to Victoria's door, biting her lip before knocking softly on the wooden surface, "Victoria," she said her name, "Victoria, would you let me in?" Jadelyn asked.
Victoria leaned against her door on the other side and sighed, "No! Jadelyn, Beckett I'm sorry but I look and feel awful, please go away." She says.
"That's why I'm here, I brought you some soup… it's an old family recipe. I'm sure you'll enjoy it." Jadelyn insists.
"Leave it there; I'll have Cordelia bring it in for me." Victoria said and with those last words she walks over to her bed and climbs in.
Jadelyn and Beckett look at each other defeated. They can't do anything more then to obey her wishes.
(x)
"Cordelia, have you ever been in love?" Victoria asked as she lay in bed and stared at her fingers, her nanny grooming her room a little. Cordelia's eyes grew huge as she looked back at Victoria. The women shaking her head before fixating the room some more, "Why do you ask?" Cordelia says, placing Victoria's books together on her dresser.
"Because, sometimes I wonder what it would be like, you know, to fall in love." Victoria mused. Cordelia's eyes lingered over the sick girl in bed and decided to take a seat on the edge, distancing just a little from the ill-formed Victoria. "I had been in love once, back home, where I grew up there was a boy, his name was Christian, his family lived near mine. He worked in farming which didn't earn much money so every year for my birthday he would bring me a single rose, a different color each time. I loved him and when I was old enough to marry, he asked my parent's permission for my hand."
Victoria sat up in her bed, her eyes dreamy from what Cordeila had revealed to her. Victoria's eyes shimmered over Cordeila's empty ring finger.
"What happened to him?" Victoria asked.
"At first my parent's refused his offer, said he didn't earn enough money to gain my hand. So he worked different jobs until he saved enough to buy a home and move out of his parent's cottage, the second time he asked my parent's they didn't refuse. I was set to be married in the fall." Cordelia said, her eyes gleaming over the distant memory.
"And then?" Victoria asked.
Cordeila's eyes dropped as if she was reliving some nightmare just thinking about her past. Victoria almost regretted asking her the question.
"He was found dead in the forest a week before our wedding day, some say it was an animal attack, his body drained of blood and mulled."
Victoria's eyes flashed in sorrow towards Cordelia sadden face.
"Hmp animal attack, but I know better." Cordelia said.
"What do you mean?" Victoria said. Cordelia stayed silent for a while as if concentrating on something hard. And then her eyes met Victoria's dangerously, as if there laid a secret behind her brown orals.
"Miss Victoria, there are some monsters scarier than illness, some even more frightening than death. You're so lucky to have Greywood's land for protection. So lucky." And with that, Cordelia left, leaving behind a confused Victoria.
(x)
Beckett didn't leave Victoria's house, rather he just lingered around a bit, waiting till the sun had finally set to go see her. He had taken Jadelyn's soup and heated it up before trying to get into Victoria's room once again. He had convinced Jadelyn to go on a hunt, she hadn't had a feed in days and she needed to keep herself well, she surprisingly agreed. Before entering he took a good bite into his wrist and allowed his blood to leak into the soup, it dissolved in the hot water quickly and his wrist healed almost instantly. He knew Jadelyn wouldn't have tampered with Victoria's soup but Beckett couldn't wait for Victoria to slowly heal, he wanted her healthy now. So he was putting his blood to do the dirty biding. This time he didn't bother to knock on her door, in fear of her rushing to lock it, he just walked in.
Victoria's eyes flashed to her bedroom door as Beckett strode in; she yelped at the sight of him and ducked under her covers. "Beckett, go away!" she hissed underneath her bed sheets. He closed the door behind him.
"What's that?" He said, "I can't hear you. You're going have to come out of hiding and force me out." He told her as he whisked a chair from the corner of her room and moved it in front of her bed. He sat down steadying the soup in his hands. She stayed covered; he rolled his eyes at her stubbornness. "Victoria, come out please, I've seen my sister ill once a long time ago, you can't possibly be any worse," he chuckled, "Ill or not, you're still beautiful."
She rolled her eyes this time, having the bravery to shove her blanket aside and have him face her. He smiled as he looked at her; she sat up quickly in bed. "See, beautiful." He caressed her face; she instantly leaned into his touch. He was always so flattering. "Are you hungry?" he asked. She nodded her head as he passed her the bowl of soup.
"Thank you!" she said as she unveiled the bowl, grabbing the spoon already set in she took a scoop and swallowed the contents. A few more scoops later, Victoria felt her body relax, her head ache gone and her body heating up from the chilling feeling she had earlier. She shoved the soup aside on her bed stool and stood from her bed, passing Beckett on the way she walked over to her mirror and looked at herself shocked. She looked healthy once more, her face coming to life from the pale complexion she had only a few minutes before. She touched her face in surprise. Her eyes catching Beckett's face in the mirror, "How?" she said bewildered.
"Family recipe, it's a secret." He smiled at her. She turned quickly and walked over to him as he rose from his seat. She touched his face, caressing his cheek as he did the same.
"Thank you." She said again.
"I'm happy you're better." He whispers. "I hate the idea of you ill."
"Oh? Is that so?" she asked.
"It is, very much so."
She nodded and then catching them both by surprise she kissed him. His lips were sweet and smooth and felt wonderful underneath hers. His hands tussled in her hair, gripping her waist with one hand he held her tightly against him. Her head felt dizzy but a nice type of dizziness, a comforting feeling spreading over her body. This kiss was a friendship kiss, a simple thank you for caring, but it was also much more than that, Victoria couldn't place her finger on it but she felt it well in her heart. It was much more than a thank you; it was a revelation of her feelings for him. This was nothing like Jadelyn's kiss; Jadelyn's kiss was sweet and dominating unlike this one, this was kind and passionate. Both of them were two very different kisses, but thrilling kisses nonetheless.
(x)
Cecilia Evermore was having a rough day, and to say it can't get any worse was lie. Pigs they all were, men you can't trust none of them. They think since you're polite and bring them tea that they can grab your ass when they please, disgusting pigs all of them. She was cleaning herself off in the back of the tea bank, it was closing for the day and she was best to walk home now if she was ever going to make it before the sun turned midnight black. She said goodbye to the others who were still closing up and was on her way. She walked through the empty night with her head held up, slipping on her gloves as she minded her own. Her thoughts clearing of earlier events. As she walked the moon finally showed its night-time glimmer and the streets lit up. She continued to walk in silence.
She was passing along the dark forest now and she knew her home was coming up, and then she heard as whistle in the distance and stopped. Her eyes scanned the area but nothing or no one was around she shook her head as she continued her walk. And then she heard it, her name being called in the distance, "Cecilia, Cecilia." The familiar voice rang.
"Hello?" she called out into the dark night, nothing.
She shook her head as she continued.
"Cecilia!" she heard again, this time closer.
"HELLO? Is anyone there?" she yelled into the dark night, still nothing.
She quickened her pace as she speed closer to her home, almost there.
"Cecilia." She heard her name from behind, her heart dropped as she turned around only to be comforted by a familiar face. Relief overwhelmed her, "Oh hello-"her sentence was cut off fast as she felt something sharp ring into her neck.
"Wh-why?" Cecilia cried as she slumped to the floor and then everything went black for her.