The Lost Soul (English Version)

CHAPTER 06

The moon was setting above the starry sky when Dahlia left Dimitrescu Castle to go to Beneviento Manor. For the sake of her mind, all the gates of the four coats of arms were connected, and she wouldn't have to deal with the stares of any ridiculously nosy people — called villagers — that she received whenever she visited the village.

The reason was quite simple: these people insisted on knowing what went on inside the castle walls, and a maid working for one of Mother Miranda's most exorbitant lords was the perfect way to get an idea. Many inhabitants were terrified, especially when they heard the laughter of the Dimitrescu sisters emerging from the royal fortress. Others just swallowed their tears and preferred to worry about other people's lives.

A magnificent village, Miranda said once.

Now that she had managed to get Rayna out of the castle, Dalhia needed to keep his plan intact. Luckily, Madame Dimitrescu didn't notice her maid's manipulation and called her to her chambers as soon as the sun went down.

“You summoned me, madam?” asked Dahlia, emerging from behind the door. Alcina Dimitrescu was standing in front of her dressing table mirror, putting a pearl necklace around her neck.

“Dahlia, I want to be brief. I need you to pay a visit to Beneviento, right now, and for the nights that follow”

The girl tried not to let the confusion that this request had caused her show on her face.

“Is there a specific reason?”

In the reflection of the mirror, Alcina gave her a sharp look.

“No silly questions, girl. The mortal belongs to me. If she's with those insolents, I need to know if she's doing a good job”

And that's how Dahlia arrived in that situation. She imagined that Madame Dimitrescu would send her to the other gate soon, but not on the same day, even though she knew that the woman's patience wasn't the best. Nevertheless, it might be an opportunity to check that Rayna was still alive, and hadn't died while walking in those hills.

Once at the central altar, she went towards the gate of the Sun and the Moon and pushed it with both hands.

“Hello, little girl”

Dahlia jumped, but without looking back. She didn't need to. After all, she knew very well who this was.

“Awake at this hour, Duke? I think your sleeping pill has been baptized”

"A merchant is always ready for new customers, my little one," clarified the man, "I see you're going to pay a visit to our doll maker. I can sell you a nice treat for your night trip”

“Not today. I'm in a hurry”

The girl was still holding the wooden gate, looking at the man. The Duke was the main merchant in the village. He sold all sorts of things, which was very advantageous for Dimitrescu's maid. Even though he had lived there longer than her, he was different from the others. He wasn't afraid of Mother Miranda, so he didn't care about her rules.

That's why Dahlia enjoyed talking to him, especially when he told her curiosities about the outside world.

“It's never too late to make a good deal,” said the Duke “I heard about your friend. A bit eccentric, but very brave”

Dahlia smiled.

“Yes, she is”

In other words: suicidal, she thought. The maid had no idea of Rayna's motives for going to the village, but she thought it was stupid anyway. If she had been in her place, the girl would have put her foot down in a matter of seconds. That's if she hadn't been caught by the Lycans. She thought about how the outsider hadn't been noticed by them. Did she run too fast? Was it luck? Dahlia wanted to be that lucky.