Sweetly Insane

Chapter 21: A Visit From An Old... Friend?

Finally, Alexa was about to learn more about herself and her capabilities. But, she could hardly contain her anxiety, the heavy cloud of panic threatened to burst. She was so focused on the heavy bound book lying on her lap, that she did not notice the flock of crows gathering outside. And yet, far in the back of her mind, the thought of her lover and captor kept up residence, she was afraid to see what Miranda had written in this book. The others waited patiently as Alexa opened the book with a trembling hand. 

"Subject Name: Alexa Lenoir.

Cadou Affinity: Extraordinarily high.

Brain Functions: The subject has no issues regarding her brain functions, however, she had significant memory loss (See Duke for further explanation).

The cadou has changed little on the exterior of the subject's body, yet internally, if looking through an x-ray, her body lit up like a Christmas tree, every single organ, blood vessel, muscle, and even cells are infected - it's incredibly interesting, she looks normal, yet has the same biology as a cadou monster (see page 13 of book 32, Baker Family incident, Louisiana).

The subject has irregular cell division, but not to herself... there are two separate entities in her consciousness, that can detach themselves from the subject's body. I am unsure if these creatures have been there from the start, I keep finding trace amounts of some sort of flower...

The subject is the perfect vessel for Eva.

Caution: The subject is incredibly strong and the entities would protect her with their lives."

Alexa was not sure what she was supposed to be feeling, should she be grateful to Miranda for giving her these gifts? Or was she supposed to be angry at the loss of her memories? Where was her family? Did she have a family? Friends? 

"Alexa, talk to me, please." Alcina hovered close to the witch.

"I need to see this Duke person. Who is that?" Alexa closed the book and slid it back into its place on the ornate bookshelf along with the other books. An amused, albeit serious look was shared between Cassandra and Alcina before both women looked over to Alexa.

"He's the village merchant, magically always selling what the people want to buy. Fair prices though." Cassandra smirked, reaching for the cloak, draped over the armchair. 

"What makes him so special to have information about myself, that I don't even know about myself? Why does he have it in the first place?" Alexa was annoyed, how could a stranger she has never met know more about her than she does?

** Miranda... liar... deceived... close by...**

**Close...***

The entities hummed in a monotonous tone inside her mind.

"What do you mean close by?" Alexa asked them, but as they were about to answer, Karl burst through the door. Alcina shot him an annoyed look.

"Do you ever knock, dear god," Alcina turned to Alexa, ignoring the crude hand gesture thrown her way, "My dear, I shall take you to see the Duke, as it stands, we need to find out more about you and your past. I wonder where he is..." the last part Alcina said more to herself than the others, recalling that the last time she saw The Duke, it was when He was here. 

"I do have some crucial information you might like," Karl grumbled, lighting his burned-out cigar, "Miranda is coming. Her little spies are everywhere. We should head to the Duke and then while we are there, we might as well capture some villagers." 

"What do you mean her little spies?" Alexa asked.

"Her crows, they spy for her. Look, there's a few now." Karl pointed to five crows sitting on the windowsill, pecking at their reflections in the glass - except one. This crow looked different from the others, and the rest of the denizens didn't seem to notice this. This crow had faint silver streaks in some of its feathers, and one white eye.