Once upon a deception

The Phoenix from the ashes

Arriving at the doors of the healer, Clarisse's ears pricked as she wondered what sight and revelations might be unveiled once she saw Lina. A tiny part of her wanted to flee, to be spared of the hate she would receive once her people found what the treacherous thing she had done. But Clarisse didn't go with it. She wasn't strong enough to follow and her wobbly legs were too weak to even maneuver. Like a guided elder, she entered the particularly long way to where an ailing Lina was kept. It was silent. So silent that the only sound that could be heard was their footstep creeping upon the floorboards.

Clarisse took one look at Lord Vincent and pondered on what he would do if he knew her involvement in Lina's predicament. The man had known her since she was a child. He knew what she was capable of...Or what he thought she was capable of. Would he be disappointed? Would that love still be in his eyes? But why did she care? She shifted her direction away from the Lord. He was merely a guardian. He was not her father. How hard he tried to make himself that figure somehow strengthened Clarisse's resolve. The Lord was a good man but he could never take that place in her heart. If the Lord ever truly wanted to reside in that place where all the darkness went, He would have to be dead. That was the only thing she could feel.

They stopped at a set of rickety old wooden doors. Clarisse could already make out a familiar groan of pain which made her push away the failing doors to reveal the true suffering of Lina. Lina was on the ground, rolling and tumbling as the healer's maidens tried to hold her still while also trying to force down some green liquid down her throat. Her skin was pale and clammy and her bright red hair had turned dark. Every passing second, She would scream and push the maidens off her then the next, She would go silent and hold on to her tummy while weeping madly. Tears escaped Clarisse's eyes as she felt first hand the effect of guilt. As the hot salty liquid traced its way down Clarisse's cheeks, She was not sure she could bear any of the pain any longer. She had done something horrible to someone who could have been a friend. She had been manipulative and pure evil when she did it. It was like the part of her that reasoned had been cut off at that time but she could see it now. What a monster she truly was. A figure by Lina's side lifted its head in her direction. In its eyes were darkness. One that could see through the blackest of hearts and its fingers were so sharp, They dared accused a priest and it would be so they spoke the truth. The distorted figure pointed a finger at Clarisse and mocked.

"The apple does not fall far from the tree Barre."

Clarisse blinked. She blinked again. When she looked back. The hallucination was gone. It did not grant her the opportunity to react. Nor did it give her peace. Truth be told, It heightened her fears even more. Clarisse had to ask herself the question, Was she ready to do this?

"Clarisse?" Lina coughed, digging her fingers into her stomach to calm herself.

"You called me..." Clarisse swallowed thickly, avoiding her gaze.

"I would like to have a word with Clarisse." Lina made known, the only word she had managed to put forth without writhing in the pain that coursed through her body and tore through her soul. "..Alone." She added with emphasis.

The healer, her girls, and Lord Vincent understood Lina's humble request and took their leave abandoning Clarisse to deal with the magnum of her own creation.

"What do you want to speak about?" Clarisse dared to ask, immediately feeling lightheaded as soon as the words left her mouth.

"They say I am sick." She began, tears escaping her pearly eyes. "That means once again, I am going to fail my promise."

"I am sorry."

"You don't have to. Where I come from, We believe if you want something a little too much, the universe works in ways to make your desire a reality. I guess-" Lina broke into another sob as she blamed herself for not wanting to save her sister enough. Pangs of unimaginable pain shot through Clarisse's body each time the girl burned out. The figure was always there at the distance, painting her evil. Maybe She was.

"Do not blame yourself, Lina. Somethings, they just happen."

"No, " Lina shot back. " Celia does not want me in her life anymore. It's why I have failed her. It has to be why I cannot go for her-"

"Nonsense Lina-"

Lina banged on her stomach, stunning Clarisse. "No, It isn't Clarisse. How else would you explain what happened?"

As much as Clarisse wanted to disarm Lina of those dangerous fairytales, There was a job that needed to be done. So she took a slow breath in and let Lina continue.

"But you can Clarisse. I told you everything about her yesterday. Maybe because this was supposed to happen. Just like the universe has preordained."

Clarisse's eyes drifted back to the figure that stood behind Lina's limp body. Its fingers curled on the poor girl's stomach and tightened. It sent Lina screaming. As if it's torture was not enough, It's black eyes faced Clarisse and bore a hole right through her with its remark, "Who is the universe, Clarisse?" Another pang rushed through her just as the distorted figure faded into the darkness. Her feet dragged on the earth like they were made of the heaviest metals as she walked towards Lina.

"It is not over yet Lina. Maybe I should wait... I could tell the Lord."

To such a request, Lina's bulging red eyes widened in absolute terror. "No! Don't you see? Like you said, It is not over yet. If you are accepted Clarisse, You can find and save my sister. You can save my Celia."

Clarisse knew better than to make an oath. She was bad at keeping promises. Even the simple ones. She had failed her mothers when they told her to run and never look back and she was not the best person to entrust life to. Clarisse would not have the truth. She did not need the lingering demon to point the finger before she knew what she was. Clarisse was a harbinger of death. But the thing about death is, It needed victims. Clarisse made up her heart to reject Lina. It would break the girl's soul and spirit but it would probably be for the best. As she looked at the clarity of those brown eyes, She said the words.

"I promise."

***

WOHAR

"It worked. The stupid old man will have no choice but to keep his mouth shut if he wants his secret to remain a secret." Malachi said, relishing his victory as he pushed the massive oak doors leading to his wife quarters open.

Three questioning eyes darted in his direction. His wife, Duchess Grace, His only daughter, Mabel, and a female servant.

"Who is the grandmaster?" His impulsive daughter was quick to ask, so far neglecting her courtesy.

"Leave us." Grace's low voice ordered.

The slave who was head down spinning wool looked up for a minute before bowing in respect and trudging outside with Mabel tagging closely but rather reluctantly. The Duke and his wife remained silent until the doors behind them shut.

"I don't know how you do it Grace, but the old man was more than petrified when I threatened to expose his secret. He will be staying out of my way from now on."

"Not quite, My Lord. The Reverend will still be a roadblock. His whole life might be standing on that secret but he fears greater things than losing his hold over the Church of God and the Church of Corbeau. He fears what will become of Wohar if you step into power."

"You went to the witch again, Did you not?" The Duke returned, His steel eyes accessing his wife's calm demeanor. Without waiting for a valid answer, Malachi continued. "You need to remember something Grace, Wohar might not be as interested in burning witches like they used to in time last but that does not mean they condone the craft. I do not want you seeking the future from vile creatures!"

The Duchess rose to her feet and stalked her husband. "How else would I have known that despite all our attempt to shut up your Grandmaster, He will still expose you and if he isn't stopped. The entire house of Barre will be hanged by the gallows."

"The witch told you this?" Malachi questioned.

"That's not all she told me, my dear husband She also said, The ashes of the fire you made from your past have found embers. She told me that the ashes shall burn anew and it shall raze down everything you have built."