Warden's Dominion.

Cadence Kanora.

𝖶𝖺𝗋𝖽𝖾𝗇'𝗌 𝖣𝗈𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗂𝗈𝗇.

Act 1.

𝖢𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝖪𝖺𝗇𝗈𝗋𝖺

𖦷

1.1; 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜.

𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬.

The daily checks of our health were often. Shortage of food made it difficult to stay healthy. Right before I came into the orphanage, I stuffed my pockets with rocks. It's better to lie when trying to save yourself, the hassle of

being scolded into being fed food that looked like it was almost older than me, was something I didn't find bothering anymore.

Cordelia Warden.
She was the headmistress of this orphanage.

"You, little girl." She had pointed at me.
"Cadence, Correct?" I gulped and nodded as I took a singular step forward.

"Cordelia. Cordelia Warden, you are the new muse for this establishment. Such a big role, may your bones not break and may your soul still be intact. Because by the time you leave..
You will either be dead

Or

Be something you swore you would've never wanted to become."

Cordelia was a powerful woman, a real scary woman. She had long black hair, with greys sticking out. Her complexion made her look like she really lived through this decade.

Piercing green eyes, sharp lips, stained teeth, and wrinkles had been crawling up her face. They speak about her having a cellar somewhere where the bad kids went.

If you misbehaved, she would correct you. Her sharp lips also accompanied by her sharp tongue and eye, you could never escape her.

She didn't protect us. She wasn't even a nurturer either, her diminishing ability to see was what gave us some sort of faith that we would escape her gaze.

When she did catch you, she would rob you of yourself.

So, there was no real you. Nothing of sustenance to ever claim was you. You will never be able to answer the question, "Who are you?".
Because there is no you.

In fact, I don't even know me.

❂

"In the name of the father, son, holy spirit. Amen." I held my hands together as I knelt on the ground, my elbows rested against the springy mattress and my forehead pressed against my thumbs forcing me to perpetually look down.

I closed my eyes. Praying, today I wouldn't be given any surprises. Because surprises were credible to disasters, catastrophes and even massacres.

I did not appreciate any surprises today.
Cordelia's hand held standing aid clicking on the floor as she looked around the kids who occupied her space.

"Dismissed." She muttered sharply. I stood just as sharply as her words and I headed out to dining hall.

Inhaling softly to smell what would be cooking. Some days, we wouldn't even eat anything.
I guess today Cordelia Warden was lucky and had retrieved some sack of potatoes.

I walked past a kid who had ruffled brown hair. He had been carrying something strange. A rusty nail. 𖦷

I pulled the chair out from under the table and I sat on it. The occasional splinter or 2 weren't too troublesome. These chairs were old, so... I can't speak much about it.

I had only really arrived a month or 2 ago. And I already learned how to survive on my own. I vividly remember the rules of this graveyard.

Never misplace a book, nor shall you place it on the ground, and outside of the library grounds. The library appreciates us putting what belongs to the shelves back to its original place.

Though, clean water supply was scarce, we always watered flowers. They made the Orphanage a little more homey.

Always clean up after yourself, you are not an animal.

Never leave the kitchen without thanking his grace. You did not choose to be here, he did.

Never acknowledge the crucification of christ. His death hurts Cordelia.

Never acknowledge the prints on the mirrors, the hands are probably a kid other than you.

Always set your alarm clocks, never at 3 o'clock in the morning.

Don't touch Cordelia's fine china in the display cases. The oil on our hands stains the shine.

If you hear a phone ringing in the middle of the night, stay silent and ignore it.

If a crow lands directly at your windowsill you will notify Cordelia Warden. If the letter is dirty or has any blemishes throw it into the fire place.

༒

These rules sounded odd to me, but she end the conversation by saying. "We will all meet in the library at night before bed. Not before or after, at." Her standing aide clicked on the floor as she left.

The day progressed as normal, until she rang the bell to all meet in the library.

If you are up past midnight, and if you see or hear things. They do not exist. As you feel too frightened, turn on your gramophone and you will not be bothered.

If you get up to leave and use the bathroom, never turn on the hallway lights. Use the gas lamps Cordelia has provided for you in your bedroom.

Never roam the hallways any longer from 30 minutes to an hour. People seem to.. disappear after a certain amount of time and you will find yourself somewhere else.

If you walk past a man with a sharp beak mask and robes, he is wandering. Don't look at him or you might wander too far.

If somebody seems to have touched your ankle or anywhere on your body, disregard what you were trying to find and navigate to the nearest room and lock it. If you seem to find a shadowy hand on any part of you, you are too late.

If you look up in the mirror and notice the face of a woman appear behind you, recite your prayers and she will disappear. If she starts to scream keep reciting.

"Goodnight. You are all dismissed." I let out a deep breath I didn't even know I was holding in.

So many rules, and maybe these rules might just save me.