And What I Found There - Book Two

7. I Ran Out Crying

For my lunchbreak, I reluctantly take it with the Royals in the Great Hall. The White Knight insists that I lead with my best foot forward or whatever and try to learn how to get along with the Kings and Queens of my Court. And while yes, I want to and yeah, that all sounds good and well, but I can hardly focus on being polite and friendly when my mind keeps playing these...cruel tricks on me.

I'm staring at their wine goblets in silent horror. Their cups are overflowing with crimson blood and gore. I'm struggling not to gag as I watch the blood splash onto the table and race around the cups and plates. It rolls over the edge and pours into their laps, but no one notices. My mouth drops open in disgust as a trickling stream of blood falls onto my skirt. I shakily tab at the blood with my fingertips.

"My Alice, have you spilled something?" The Queen of Clubs offers me a napkin. It's stained with blood too. "My Alice, are you quite alright, dear? You look like you've just seen a ghost!"

I nervously glance up at her. I startle with a yelp and lean farther back in my chair with alarm. Her eyes are blazing pits of fire. Just like a Vampire.

"Alice, whatever is the matter?" The King of Clubs asks without looking up from his plate.

I stagger to my feet, my heart throbbing with terror and disbelief. This isn't real! This is in my head! I'm hallucinating! "I-I'm fine!" I exclaim a little too loudly.

"Sit back down then, we're still talking about your party last night!" King Darious of Spades says as he reaches for more food. I feel faint as I watch his fingers transforming into long, boney claws. He digs into the roasted pig with his claws, snapping off ribs and ripping off flesh.

"No, no, no!" I cover my face with my hands, panting uncontrollably. "No!"

"My Alice? What's the matter?" Queen Lyna of Diamonds asks gently.

I shakily lower my hands, taking a deep breath before I force my eyes open again. Much to my relief, everything is back to normal. There isn't a bloody mess on the table, no one has Vampire eyes or scary claws, everyone is eating daintily and politely like royalty.

"I...I'm not hungry, sorry." I know that isn't any kind of an explanation, but I can't think of anything else to say to cover up for my behavior. I urgently rush off, once I'm out of sight I take off running, tears blinding my eyes as I run.

"Adara, hi!" I run right pass Quill without even really seeing him. "Adara, wait! What's wrong?" He calls after me. I keep running, racing outside.

My head is starting to spin, and I feel a little short on oxygen. It isn't because I'm running though. It's my curse regaining its stranglehold on me. 

I suddenly feel that "held underwater" feeling overwhelm me again. I trip with a shriek and fall, rolling down a slight embankment and land flat on my back. The sunlight overhead sears into my eyes. I scream with pain with seemingly ignites my throat and lunges on fire. I clutch my throat manically, squeezing and digging my nails into my flesh if is to suffocate the fire I feel burning inside.

Nothing is working!

I give a furious cry and suddenly rake my nails down my throat -

I yelp as blood rolls down my neck. What...? I groggily look my bloody hands over. The stifling thirst is gone, now I just feel this pain. What happened to me? 

Suddenly Quill is beside me. "Adara," his eyes are wide with alarm but he manages to sound calm. "You must let me help you." He gently takes my hands and wipes the blood off on a handkerchief and now helps me to my feet. "Are you...okay?"