Chapter Two
1117 Words
Whispers Beneath the Pines🎍
"Careful," Eudoria warned softly. "If you step on the young one, the mother will come hunting."
She gently pulled me back before my boot could crush the tiny scorpion crawling across the forest floor.
I stared at the creature, my curiosity overcoming my fear.
"Is it a Black Titan?" I asked.
Father had often told me stories about the deadly beasts of Ravethorne Forest. Among them, none were more feared than the Black Titans—the largest and most venomous scorpions known to exist.
"Yes," Eudoria replied with a sigh. "And whenever you find one of the young... the mother is never far away."
I immediately stepped farther back.
Once we were safely away from the little creature, we settled beneath the shade of an ancient pine, silently watching the forest sway with the evening breeze.
"I wish I could attend the Bloom Hunt," Eudoria murmured after a while, a wistful smile touching her lips. "I'd love to see all those finely dressed nobles. Perhaps I'd even catch a glimpse of the young master of House Ravenor."
I smiled sadly.
We both knew why she could never leave the forest.
Earlier that morning, the thorn embroidery on my ceremonial gown had torn just as I was preparing to leave for the Ceremony of Roses. Father knew nothing about sewing, I was hopeless with a needle, and Gwendolyn would sooner ruin the dress than mend it.
So I had hidden the gown inside my basket and hurried through Ravethorne Forest to find Eudoria.
As always, her clever hands had repaired it flawlessly.
Then I had rushed all the way home, changed into the gown, and made it to Veryrfall—only barely in time.
"I don't suppose you know some kind of magic that can change your face?" I teased. "You could attend the Bloom Hunt with my cousins while I wait here."
Eudoria laughed, though there was little joy behind it.
"You think we Forsaken know black magic?"
She shook her head.
"If we truly possessed such power, do you think we'd still be living here as outcasts? We would have reclaimed the throne long ago."
She gently patted my hand.
"My naïve Adel."
I frowned.
"Then why were your people banished?"
The question had lived inside me for years.
Everyone spoke of the Forsaken as witches, servants of dark magic, or descendants of cursed bloodlines.
Yet Eudoria was kinder than most noble ladies in Yorkhaven.
She deserved so much better than this lonely life.
Her expression softened.
"Run along now, dear Adel. It's getting late, and Ravethorne is far more dangerous after sunset."
I stood reluctantly.
"I'll miss you."
She laughed and gently pushed me away as I tried to hug her.
"You silly girl. You come here almost every day."
"Not tomorrow... or the day after," I admitted. "I'll be staying at Aunt Sibylla's. My cousins and I are attending the Bloom Hunt together."
Every season, our families gathered for the Ceremony of Roses and the Bloom Hunt.
It had become something of a tradition.
"Then go," she said with a warm smile. "I'll still be here when you return. You can tell me everything."
"I certainly will."
I waved goodbye before making my way through the forest.
As I walked, my eyes searched every shadow for signs of another Black Titan.
The old folk often sang:
"If you hear the whispers, seek not the wind... search instead for the tail."
The haunting words echoed in my mind until I reached the edge of the forest.
Not far ahead, I spotted Gwendolyn speaking with Emeric, the fishmonger's son from Veryrfall.
Is he her suitor?
I couldn't help wondering.
Perhaps this one would finally succeed where the others had failed.
If nothing else, maybe Miss Grumpy would eventually leave our house.
By the time I reached home, Vesper was already there, chatting cheerfully with Father.
"There you are," Father said the moment he noticed me. "Where have you been this time, little miss?"
"The library in Veryrfall."
I lifted my basket for him to see.
It always contained a few books whenever I returned home.
Father sighed.
"Didn't I ask you to stop making so many trips? The province grows more dangerous every day."
"Uncle is right," Vesper agreed. "My father hardly lets Annora leave the house anymore."
I shot him an unimpressed look.
"I'll be careful, Father. I promise."
Before either of them could continue, I escaped to my room.
A knock sounded moments later.
Vesper leaned against the doorway.
"Are you attending the Bloom Hunt tomorrow?"
"Of course."
He smiled.
"Are you finally participating this season?"
The Bloom Hunt was more than a competition.
It was a sacred tradition where noble sons and respected gentlemen proved their strength before the King, earning titles, honor, and recognition.
"Yes," he answered proudly. "Father finally agreed."
I smiled.
"Our dear Gwen may have found herself a match."
"I noticed."
We both laughed.
Emeric had courted Gwendolyn once before, during her first Ceremony of Roses.
She had rejected him by declaring he smelled like rotten fish.
"Looks like the fish has become fresher," Vesper joked.
I burst into laughter.
Then his expression grew serious.
"You don't need to keep traveling to the library anymore. I'll arrange to have the books delivered here."
"That's sweet," I said. "You really don't have to."
"I want to."
Oh, wonderful.
That would make visiting Eudoria nearly impossible.
"My mother wants you at our house tomorrow," he added. "She and Annora are going dress shopping."
"I'll be there."
I smiled.
"But for now, I need some rest."
"Very well."
He lingered for a few moments, pacing around my room before finally taking his leave.
I adored the Eyre siblings.
Even so, they had a remarkable talent for becoming unbearable.
Sometimes I wondered whether Gwendolyn might have been happier had Aunt Sibylla had birthed her after marriage like Vesper and Annora.
Perhaps she would have grown close to Vesper and Annora.
Perhaps...
She might even have become close to me.
But life rarely unfolds according to our wishes.
Eventually, sleep claimed me.
I found myself standing beside Mother in the crystal waters beneath the waterfalls of Veryrfall.
We laughed as we splashed one another like children.
For a fleeting moment, everything felt whole again.
Then I saw her.
Eudoria.
She stood upon the riverbank.
Blood soaked her clothes.
Dark circles hollowed her eyes as though she had wept for days.
Slowly, she reached out toward me.
I tried to swim to her.
But my legs refused to move.
The water held me captive.
"Eudoria!"
I screamed.
Then she opened her mouth.
A bloodcurdling scream tore through the valley—
"AAAAAAAAARRRGGGHHHH!"
- Writer
