Medusa’s Tale

Chapter 7

"You should at least rest in your room and wait until I wake you up." He said in a firm and unconversational tone.

The field of summer green grass is being submerged by our heavy foot as we follow both kids who kept on running along with the wind, delighted by the laconic momentum of life. Children that still are oblivion of the truth and cruelty of life must cherish every inch of a second that passes and it is favorable for both Noah and Jacob. Darkness who invades a person's life may be inevitable to children when they grow up as no one lives without rough journeys in life.

Nonetheless, I cannot believe someone would feel so dreary and bitter about life. The chances of being blessed by joy would be none in his case.

I glance at the man I was walking with. Does he even know I am referring to him?

Vlad is a type of person who despises everything but children— these children rather. As time fleets pass through us and children would glance in our direction, his dark menacing aura would change as if the children were the only ones worthy of his smile. Yet a piece of astonishment has disturbed my mind due to his uncommon smile. Even if it does not reaches his eyes, the belief of substantial truth in his smile feels essential to him. I assume he wishes to smile but he cannot due to my unbearable presence that he can sense rotten because of his hatred towards me.

Indeed he is nothing but a freezing water to everyone, he is rude and does not talk that much, yet comparing myself to everyone he encounters, he despises my existence excessively. He is imprudent to his own actions and I believe his hatred will no more be benevolent.

"Rest, Eleanor." He demanded calmly but his gaze is fixed on the boys. It was undesirable for him to look in my direction.

Why does he badly want to let me rest? Does he not wish to see my presence today also as he keeps his temper down? Furthermore, is he deranged because I walk too close along with him but he cannot cause such scandalous actions in front of the boys?

As I get the idea of his compulsive temper today, I carefully distance myself far from his form and make it certain that we do not breathe too much of the same air anymore to prevent annoying him as we walk, guarding the children.

"What are you doing?" He asks.

I have to look at him to see his reaction yet he was busy focusing on both boys. "I-I thought you dislike too much closure..."

He let out a heavy sigh with a hint of exhaustion. "Just...get some rest. You will need it for the whole remaining day."

I paused walking and so did he. Looking at him confusingly, I asked, "Whole remaining day? What will we do, Vlad? And where did you bring me into? What kind of place is this? I have plenty of questions—"

I was cut off when he hurriedly went towards me and grab me by my wrist offering an excruciating pain on my skin. Panic began attacking my system again as he reveals his roguish aura, looking at me as if he was about to kill.

"GO.TO.YOUR.ROOM.ELEANOR." He emphasizes in a low tone as every single word he uttered was filled with anger.

I was on the verge of crying as he raises the intensity of assorted emotions coming from our eyes. But I was the one who cut it off as I dislike the thought of being seen crying, especially the children might see us and may thought we were fighting. It might ruin their moods.

Why can't you just listen to him, Eleanor? Why can't you just be a good dog just for a while?

I bowed down my head and back away, returning to the mansion. Joy was no longer inviting at the present moment that has occurred. The twins had stopped playing with each other as I passed by the both of them. The smiles on their faces soon had vanished and were replaced with confusion.

I gave them a smile as I return back towards the mansion but they did not utter any word. Still, confusion lingers their mind as both of their expression was the same.

Once I reached the entryway, the maid I have encountered earlier ago was standing by the door as if she was watching us four from afar. She smiled at me and I returned the smile she gave.

"So you already talked to Simon... " She opens a topic as she followed me from entering the mansion.

Aside from her, I saw the other three maids scrubbing the floor as sweat-soaked their bodies. We both approached the staircase climbing upstairs and she knew I was going to return to my room. Perhaps, she wishes to guide my way so that I wouldn't be opening a lot of doors until I get to my room.

"Yes, I talked to Vlad." I corrected, emphasizing the last word for her to realize she misunderstood her as another person.

She daintily glances in my own direction with a perfect expression of confusion written on her face. "Vlad? Was that his mortal name?"

Mortal name? I thought to myself. Why must she be so formal especially if a mortal name is just a name. Without asking for more, I have just said nothing but to agree with what she said.

"Yes, it is his mortal name."

"Hmm, I wonder why he would pick Simon as his name, he never told me since then." She launches a complaint.

I was bewildered by the things she renders. Everything was bewildering since I got here after all. I know Vlad is his name, it is his birth name and no one said he changed his name by law.

"How about you? What's your name? " She asked out of the blue once we have reached one of the similar doors in the hallway.

I scratched the back of my head as I introduce my name to the maid. "Eleanor. How about yours?"

She expresses her hand between us as her pearly smile showed off, "I'm Desiree, I assist and clean the mansion for three years now." She introduced and opened the room that was in front of us. "You have to rest, Eleanor. Later, we will be preparing you for the upcoming event inside the school."

I entered my room as she bows her head in front of me. Before I can even ask her a raising question inside my mind, she immediately excuses herself as she said she will find good dresses for me to wear on the later event.

As frustrated as I was today, I just nodded my head to release her from our discussion and I closed my door. I balled a fist on top of my head to discharge all the accumulating frustration lingering inside.

My head is bombarding with so many unknown questions that have yet to be answered. Although no one would like to volunteer upon answering my following questions.

As time fleets along with the excitement I had earlier ago with the twins, I was getting drowsy and drowsy. I was still sitting on the window, looking for a chance to find Vlad and the kids but to my expectations, I waited for nothing to my disappointment. I can only watch the wide green field from up here and I was watching for about thirty minutes. Beyond the big silver gate was nothing but the nullity of the forest. There is nothing to be seen but the green bushy leaves of the trees that cover the nakedness of the Earth's surface.

But what about beyond those big trees? What lies beyond them? Is it an ocean?

Before I can even imagine the events and places found beyond those trees, a sudden knock on the door shut my thoughts down. I turned around, expecting for someone to open the door yet it was first followed by a voice.

"Lady Eleanor, we are here with the dresses." Desiree's voice peeked through the door.

"Come in!" I said, assuming they might want permission from me. The door creaked open and three maidens arrived in my room with glamorous dresses in their hands. Desiree was following from behind the maidens and she was holding a small box made in gold. Once they all have entered the room, they gathered themselves together, assembling a straight line for me to see their faces and the dresses they hold. I notice the sweat and the heavy breaths they releases and perhaps the dresses were heavy and they were struggling to hold them much longer.

"Uhh, please... place them on my bed." I proposed timidly and scratches the back of my neck.

I am no princess to be treated like this yet it seems like they treat me as one. They need to grant permission from me and Desiree bowed down to me earlier ago after the ended discussion. I was once told by my mother that I was destined to be a princess with high honor yet in her eyes only. Fairy tales do not exist but in children's eyes, they do.

"We will be preparing the tub for you now, Lady Eleanor." I was struck by confusion when the maids went to the bathroom and soon was followed by heavy water drops from the inside.

"Why would I have to take a bath?" I asked in confusion and quickly look at the two maids gently standing me up from the rough window I was sitting at. "No, wait. I already took a bath before arriving here."

Desiree and the maids look at each other, audible expressions were seen. "But that was three days ago, Lady Eleanor. You've slept for three days."