Burning Embers of Desire

chapter three

It was a frigid night that was also incredibly quiet. Only one sound can be heard across the entire castle. The sound of smashing glass and shouts resonated through the hallways, rousing everyone up. This evening should have been tranquil, but fate had other plans.

Alcina ran as quickly as she could along the hallways, disregarding the obstacles she pushed aside. She could hear her heart fluttering within her chest through her ears. It sounded like a bomb that was about to detonate at any moment. As soon as she reached the steps, both of her feet stopped moving, and she became immobile as she observed a woman drowning in her own blood.

"No..." As her lips quivered, Alcina placed a palm on her chest. "NO!" The countess shouted with denial. Both of her feet are immobile in her posture, and she remained there, paralyzed and terrified. This was an awful sight.

"DON'T!" Alcina shouted as she sat up in bed, her chest swiftly rising and falling. The countess looked in the nearby vanity mirror and saw herself weeping from a nightmare that her mind cannot seem to forget.

Alcina gulped and wiped her eyes to remove the tears. This wasn't something new; she experiences this virtually every night when she sleeps and she'd found herself awake at midnight. Alcina massaged her eyes while removing the duvet from her body. She had no chance of falling asleep again after her dream, so she might as well get some milk from the kitchen. She donned her robe before leaving her room and made her way through the halls.

As she went, the countess wrapped her arms around herself and gazed at the artworks hung on the walls on both sides of her. Some were Cassandra's works, some were hers, others were gifts from family, friends, and colleagues, but the majority were her creations. She exhaled a very long sigh after viewing an artwork depicting a white rose floating in a dark abyss with red petals falling from it. Alcina moved away from the painting because she sought to recall something else and forget about it.

She had finally entered the kitchen, and as soon as she saw that the lights were on, her brow immediately furrowed. Through the open door, she observed her eldest digging through the refrigerator with a laptop on the counter.

"I can't find any almond milk," Bela grumbled as she looked at her laptop, which displays a tanned, brunette woman with a sweet smile.

"Have you yet looked at the pantry?"

"We do not stock any of our pantries with milk. Mother constantly insists that it be refrigerated. Most likely because she prefers cold milk."

Alcina grinned and shook her head as she discreetly opened the door and leaned against the threshold. "Have you checked the newly installed refrigerator in the pantry, dear?"

"Ah!" Bela jumped and yelled at hearing her mother's voice unexpectedly. "Mother! You should not have approached me in such a manner!"

Alcina chuckles as Bela pouts at her and explains, "I thought I'd offer you a little surprise."

"Hello, Mother!" The brunette woman on the screen greeted with a hand wave and a broad smile.

Alcina stepped over to the computer as her smile widened. "Hello, Clara. You are as lovely as ever."

"And you never miss an opportunity to compliment me whenever you see me." Clara giggled.

"Why are you still awake so late, Bela? You have classes in the morning."

Bela exhaled. "I know Mother, I didn't forget. But I wished to merely greet Clara. Today is our anniversary, but I cannot greet her tomorrow because she'll be sleeping once I'm awake. You are aware that our time zones vary."

Alcina stares at her daughter with a trace of jealousy. "I'm not forgetting darling, but I had no idea it was your anniversary." When will this happen to her? Well, at least her daughter has a love life. "Are you both already in your fifth year?"