Secret Existence

Myra

Days have passed and I have gotten accustomed to all the ins and outs, as well as roles and duties of the palace and the court. Throughout these days, I was visited by several officials around ancient Italy. Some came as surprises while some were people, who in my other life would be older... Let's just say that I am pretty much older than them. It's quite weird, all the same, I have gotten used to it, and it is rather enjoyable, to experience first-hand, how my once older relatives are wilding in their teen years.

         Contrarily, they were um...days when Kings and queens would come in and literally give me their sons' hand in marriage. It was indeed quite hectic if I do say so myself. Apparently, it is normal for women to marry very young in this century. Gladly, Heinemann warned, "Ilitia must never be made impure. It is divine law." Afterward, they would agree and change the subject; with a slight glimpse of fear in their eyes.

         Honestly, I don't know why or what that means for me, much less them. Nevertheless, I'm learning quite a lot about 'myself' from journal entries and books in the archive library.

         Slowly but surely, I feel myself stripping away and my alter taking over. I must admit she is quite kind to me; she's not trying to forcefully possess my body, rather she wants us to, as she'd say "meet the merger of our souls." She herself talks to me at night when the city closes its blinking eyes.

       However, there are some things she says she cannot tell me... at least, not yet. Notwithstanding being left in the dark about them, I do realize the pain and struggle in her voices when they do arise. Somehow I feel like I lived through the same thing she did. I mean, of course, she is a version of myself after all.

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[Sylvester’s Manor]

 Within the depths of the manor, containing the deepest and darkest room, stood a medium-built figure with jet black hair. She paced about the circular ring centering the building, and which held a never-ending well with water. Sometime after she stopped in her tracks; face in awe of the makeshift, stone-built examination tables. The building itself was a big space of nothingness with the interior devoid and drained of colour or natural lighting. Rather, there were only torches that lit the pathways for walking and the bridge over the well.

               Surrounding the well were infinite numbers of skulls of lifeless animals…maybe even people splayed about the brick flooring. Likewise, the window panes displayed a charred, blackish look that only gave little view of the outside world. One would think that the manor of a high-ranking council member would boast rich and exotic designs that are sparkling and varnished to perfection. Contrary to the citizen’s beliefs, the interior of its walls was very much the same as the underground room. Sadly, deception is a key strength of the figure which held it. Hence, the outskirts of the manor was an intentionally distracting façade for the onlookers.

 “See, I told you, father! I knew it was her. Her irritatingly pretty features and that eye colour was way too uncanny for it not to be her. The anniversary of such a momentous occasion is upon us and I’d be damned if I don’t put her down for good this time. Soooo…. as I’ve forged in your stead, to gather thousands of our fickle-minded people to join me in pursuit of that goal. Ahhh….I could just smell the victory.”

 “Nevermind my dearly beloved father, our time will soon once more be. It’s just…just that my love has betrayed me and his love for her is stronger. Not for long! Soon enough he will have no choice but to drop on both knees, toiling, begging… *laughs insanely* YES, soon and very soon.

Who would have thought that the beastly pride-filled King’s son and heir to the throne would have such a pathetic weakness, so much so that I Myra Sylvester, the daughter of a lowly civil servant could bend his power to my will? 

*smiles devilishly* Of course, father you WILL be proud of your daughter. You always thought I was a nuisance to your family; a born disgrace. That is what you always have to say about me, mhmmm father?  

Well, here I am proving wrong. This time I am sure of my plan. Sweet and suspenseful demise awaits everyone’s precious gem. How fortunate it will be when I stand on the very pinnacle of the castle and rule the kingdom with my beloved.

Father?! *long pause* Same distasteful attitude as always. Okay, drown in your ignorance. It’s that same attitude that always infuriated me. It was you and your heartlessness towards me that made mother and sister have hatred towards me. You have nothing to blame but yourself for their inevitable ending; notwithstanding they were to be blamed too.

      I always wondered why my life was so miserable and grey but now I realize it was people like you, mother, sister….that stupid… who always got in the way. How can it be that your creators had come to treat you as if you were like dead leaves blowing in the wind? Not to worry though, I’ve sacrificed for my own self-actualization and here I stand. Now, the ides of that very auspicious day will roll in and I’ll get all that has been stolen from me.”

     Myra bellowed out a burst of powerful and siren-like laughter which could be heard for miles around in the still of the night time. Many living things have twisted and turned; quaking beneath their sheets because of this constant horrific sound. It was always that sound which haunted children and even grown folks. It even caused the dead to turn in their graves.

        Stood erect one of those adjustable examination tables is the shadow of a discoloured figure which held fright in its eyes. The body was marked with deep lashes and held old, rusty, and dust-filled tubes with dried up substances within and on them. The skin was a pale blue and white and there were protruding bones where healthy flesh should be.