Conspiracy

Let's Play a Game

"She's not staying the month." Merlin declared.
"What?"
"She's going to stay for one week more, then she is going home. She hates it here, Cora."
"I know. And I feel awful. I'm sorry, Andre. I know how excited she was to see you."
"It's okay. I knew she wasn't going to last. It's too... supernatural for her liking."
"I'm trying."
"I know."
"We should just tell her. I'm sure it'll all work out okay." Azula suggested.
"I agree." Drax piped up, lacing his fingers with hers.
"Of course you'd agree, Drax." Garrick griped.
"She's right, though." Celestia agreed. "If we tell her, then perhaps she'll be less inclined to mention anything when she goes home."
"But we can't just blurt it out." Andre reasoned. "I don't think we should say anything at all."
"I know, Andre. But I think we're being backed into a corner here, so it's probably best we get out before we find ourselves in a situation we don't want to be. But I also think that telling her outright is a bad idea. We should show her instead."
"And how to you propose we do that?"
"Household Hunt." Azula chuckled, reading Celestia's mind.
"No. Absolutely not."
"And why not?"
"Well, for starters, it's too early in the year. It's a summer game, and we're in the middle of January! She'd die of frostbite before she would of an actual bite."
"We're not going to kill her, and I'm sure Arya, Garrick, and Cora can come up with a suitable climate change that would go unnoticed."
"I'm down." Arya and Roman chorused.
"No."
"Let's take a vote." Cora suggested. "Who wants to ask Regina for a game of Household Hunt?"
Eleven hands rose to the sky, hovering above eleven excited grins. Andre could feel his heart breaking for his sister as his hand stretched up with a mind of its own.
"Then it's settled. Andre, why don't you go get your sister, and we'll ask?"

∞

Regina was nestled comfortably in the seat beneath the window, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, and a copy of R.L. Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde propped against her legs. Her eyes zipped over page after page, her mind totally immersed in the story. So immersed was she, that she did not notice her brother enter her room, as quiet as a mouse. Only when his hand brushed against hers did she jump out of her reverie with a gasp.
"Oh, Andre. You frightened me."
"I'm sorry. I hate to disturb you, especially when you seemed to be enjoying the book."
"It's alright. Is something the matter?" she asked, her eyes falling on the pain he was trying to hide behind his eyes. He had never been very good at hiding his emotions.
"No, no. Everything's fine. Cora just wants you to come to the library to talk."
"Very well." She complied, slipped her tiny hand into the icicles that served as his fingers. The two strolled down the freezing hallway and emerged into a warm and cosy library.
"Regina, darling. How are you? I heard about your ordeal in town this afternoon." Cora said, taking Regina in an embrace that caught her off guard.
"Oh, um. Yes. I'm alright. Thank you."
"Come, sit. We have an idea we want to broach with you."
"Oh?"
"Yes. You see, we have a tradition in this house. A game if you will." Cora began, leading Regina to the seats that surrounded the fire.
"A game?"
"Yes. We call it Household Hunt. Now, I know it sounds scary, but it really isn't. All it is, is us running around the grounds trying to catch someone. Would you like to join us?" Azula concluded. Regina was at a loss for words. After everything she'd been through lately, and her suspicions about these people cramming in with the doubts of her own sanity, she didn't think she could be up for something like this. But, for one reason or another, she still felt strangely at ease among them. The idea was intriguing, maybe even good for her, and she didn't want to seem as though she had not a streak of fun in her body, so before she knew what she was doing, she agreed to play. But the moment she said yes, an exasperated sigh flew from her brother's lips and down her neck, sending chills racing through her body, and leaving her wondering if this was a good idea.
"Excellent." Azula smiled. "Now the rules are simple. But first, how competitive are you?"
"Extremely."
"Perfect. Now. The rules are that you can only stay in the house and on the estate grounds; you may go no further. No bargaining with the hunters, and no staying in the same position for more than an hour. And no locking of doors, and no picking pre-locked doors."
"What are hunters?"
"Us. You're the prey, and we're "hunting" you. Now, I do believe that is all. The longest someone has lasted was a week. So my challenge for you is to beat that."
"Challenge accepted."
"Wonderful. We'll give you the rest of the day to prepare, then we begin at sundown."
"Good. I will see you then." Regina bode them farewell and strode out of the room with her head held high. She wasn't about to let them see the fear that was creeping through her body like a disease. She would partake in this game, and then she would be able to assure herself once and for all that whatever fears her mind had conjured were exactly that: fears.

∞

Cora stood on the balcony, overlooking the estate grounds and the activities that were unfolding below. The tip of the sun poked up over the mountains, resisting in vain the push of the moon as it rose on the other end of the planet's roof. Cora sighed as the breath of winter blew through the valley, filling her lungs with air so fresh it hurt. Even though she, along with Arya and Garrick, had brought about an atmosphere that would be comfortable for their guest, the chill of winter was still as sharp as a blade. She just hoped Regina would be alright with it.
"Ready. Set. Run!" Azula's voice echoed over the hedges and trees as the sound of a lone gunshot rang even further. The game had begun, and Regina was on the run. She smiled as she watched the figure, clad in white, raced across the field like an angel in flight, followed by the demons that hunted her. Eventually, the group disappeared behind hedges, and were gone. Silently, she prayed that Regina would be alright, and with a slight smile, retreated into the confines of the library, still searching to the questions her mind refused to let rest.