Mirren Academy of Spells

Chapter 26: Poisoned

Chapter 26: Poisoned

I was taken to the sentinel building. I expected to be put in a cell for women prisoners just like Lira, but instead, I was dragged to the highest floor of the building where the cells were decent rooms, just like in the dormitory.

Father's secretary was waiting for me in front of my designated room.

"Does father know?" I asked her.

"Yes," she answered, sounding professional, still. "It's better for you to stay here for the meantime, Ms. Olivia. You don't have to worry. They know who you are and would never cause you harm while you're in here."

I'd rather have the punishment.

The secretary made sure my room was comfortable enough and all the things I needed were provided before she left. The room was actually decent. There was a bed, a drawer and desk, and I had my own bathroom and sink. Food came and went through the lady serving the meal for me. A gatekeeper would roam the corridor every now and then while I remained in my room bolted with locks. One could never use magic inside the building and everything had to be dealt with in the traditional way

For the entire day, I sat on my bed, refusing to touch my food. I was aching to move, to do something, to tell my father I only did the right thing. But for the meantime, I had to rely my hope on the people around me like Santi.

The next day, there was a knock on my door. I saw Claudia from the small glass window.

"Alice told me you're here," she told me from behind the door. "She's been crying nonstop since she arrived in the dorm yesterday. She was also restricted by the assembly to visit. Actually, no one is allowed to visit you."

"But you're here."

"My stupid stepbrother works here, remember? I had to bribe him to let me in," she whispered. "Look, alam na ni Santi na nandito ka and he's going to get you out of here."

"No," I said almost immediately. I inched closer to the locked door for Claudia to hear me better. "Listen to me, Claudia. Don't let him waste his time saving me."

"What are you saying?"

"They've completed the spell, Claudia," I told her. "Three days from now, they would cast the spell for the first time in front of the officials and people involved and invested in the project."

"Three days? That would be on the town's foundation day. People from different towns would be here to celebrate. What are they even thinking?"

"They don't know the scope of the spell they've created. That's why Santi has to hurry with his plan. There's no time for him to deal with anything else."

"I will tell him everything you just said." There was a pause before she asked, "Are you sure you're okay here?"

"You don't have to worry about me," I assured her. "I'm a Valencourt. No one can hurt me."

On the third day of my stay in the sentinel building, I started to feel unwell. I had cold sweat all over my body and I couldn't breathe properly. I tried to stand up from the bed and look for cold water or anything to replenish the thirst I was feeling, but there was nothing in the room.

Pumunta ako sa pintuan para kunin ang atensyon ng rumurondang gatekeeper. It took me twenty minutes of waiting near the door before someone showed up. I asked for a cold drink, panting, and he left me to call the lady who served my food.

A few minutes later, the lady came. She had her tray with a pitcher of cold water and a clear glass. Nagsalin siya ng tubig para sa 'kin at pinanood kung paano ko ito ubusin. "Are you okay?"

I heard her question, but I was too out of it to reply. What was this feeling? It was like I had a fever, but my heart was beating too fast to let me breathe properly.

"Was it good?"

Good? Was she referring to the water? I turned my blurry sight on her and notice the wicked smile on her lips. She said something to me, but I couldn't fully understand.

"My son, my beloved only son, used to work in the assembly...but a project killed him."

Umiikot ang paningin ko. After putting the glass back to the tray, inalalayan niya akong humiga sa kama dahil wala na akong natitirang lakas.

"You must be tired, Ms. Valencourt. Mabuti pang magpahinga ka na."

That night, I was couching nonstop. It was past midnight nang pinilit kong bumangon sa kama para pumunta sa sink. I was clasping my mouth all the way through. When I reached the sink, I let go of my mouth and saw blood on my palm.

I gripped the sink and stared at myself in the mirror. My vision lacked focus. I couldn't even recognized the face I was staring at. Muli akong napahawak sa sink nang makaramdam ng pagsusuka...all over the white tiles, I vomited blood. Biglang bumalot ang takot sa 'kin nang maalala ang isang bagay.

Olivia's mother...died of poison.

I lost grip of the sink, my eyes rolling backwards. Pinilit kong makapunta sa pintuan para humingi ng tulong. But no one was around. The entire corridor was silent when I slowly fell onto the floor with a thud.

***

Mirren Academy of Spells