The Eyes Of 'Rah

Embarking On A Journey

There are two periods of the day Aliona enjoy the most; when the  sun rises gradually with its its warm rays painting the sky red, beckoning creatures of the day with a soft promise of hope and a new dawn. And when the sun is below the horizon, its dark golden yellowish tail, bidding farewell with the pact to be back the next day.

Aliona sat on one of the benches in the garden, enjoying the crisp cool evening air playing on her face and the sweet scent of her magnolia flowers as they teased her nose. Waiting for Josephine to come as they had agreed to meet there, away from the curious ears and eyes of the servants, except for Vivian who had accompanied her.

"I hope I have not been keeping you waiting for too long, darling" Josephine tendered an insincere apology, she had deliberately taken her time, relishing on the idea of being waited on by the soon to be evicted Lady of the Manor.

She rubbed her large stomach as her maid helped her on her seat. She signaled to the maid to give them privacy and Ali did the same to hers. Vivian had garnered from Jane who had heard from her beau that he had seen a suspicious man going towards the path that led to the Argonark wood, the description had fitted Lord Richard's coachman going to the infamous woods being known to be  the habitat of tainted witches, this had made Vivian more concern.

She had been looking after Lady Aliona ever since she was a lass and had respected her, her kind behaviour and fair treatments of lesser vampires and other creatures had sprouted an unwavering loyalty within her. She couldn't help herself than look for a way to warn her mistress not to fall into lady Josephine's trick. Knowing that whatever discussion they want to have would be about having a baby, she subtly read Lady Josephine's lips to pick up some of the things she was saying.

''Mimulke has reached out to me, I know where she is but I'm afraid you might not be comfortable going there?"

Curious to know where the old woman is, "where?"

"she has settled in the Argonark woods" she watched Aliona's face as it widened.

"That is a dangerous place to settle. Is she a tainted witch?"

"Actually, she is but not by choice" she lied, knowing the only way to convince her is to lie or else Aliona might be discouraged. She knew how easy Ali pity people, especially one that is unfairly treated, she cooked up a story.

"She trusted a fellow witch who tricked her into using a portion, unknown to her that it was dark magic. That was how she got corrupted, fortunately, it didn't ruin her too much but her coven ostracized her."

She smiled inwardly as she watched the empathetic look on Ali.

"ever since, she has stayed away from her people and didn't associate with the tainted. I understand if you don't want to have anything to do with her." Adding quickly to sound genuine after seeing a doubtful look surfaced.

Josephine glanced towards where their maids stood, seeing the quick jerk of movement of Ali's maid, she suspected her to had glanced their way, with a quick rush of fury, she appeared in front of her and a resounding slap was delivered on her face, "how dare you?"

Ali rushed towards them, "what happened?" she demanded

"I don't understand how you maintain discipline among your servants, imagine this lowly servants, reading our lips after being instructed to allow us privacy! Do you know that you could lose your life for this!" Josephine shouted.

"Please my lady, I'm sorry" Vivian dropped to her knees, "I'm so sorry my lady, I only raised it just once, I didn't mean to." She shivered out of fear.

Aliona looked at her maid who was kneeling and begging Josephine frantically. She knew if she didn't do anything at that moment, Josephine will dish a harsher punishment which might involve losing her maid.