Inferno's legacy

Chapter 20

"She has healing abilities? That's more enhanced that I thought. She definitely didn't have a mage master or any kind of mentor." Rio said, leaning against Damion's desk.

Damion downed the contents of the bottle in his hand. His face twisted at the taste.

"Maybe you can get over this after all. I have to admit, I lost hope." Rio said.

"Why do you believe you've found it?" Damion asked, putting the empty bottle away.

"Haven't you?"

"I don't know what you're definition of hope is, but I doubt I've found it."

Whatever Rio had to say was never voiced as the door bursted open. Eva didn't step in, she held the doorknob.

"You should see this."

The closer they got to her room, the stronger the smell became. To think he had forced himself to her room last night to stop her. Why did she end up making the same mess.

Eretria was pale stricken, soaked in sweat, still wearing the night dress from last night. It was a little big against her frame. She was visibly shaking where she squatted, her head to her knees.

"What happened?" Damion asked, placing a hand on her shoulder which she shrank away from.

"I...I don't know. My nightmares got stronger...and I did that." She pointed at the burning room, face still buried. "It has never been so vivid."

"Nightmares?" Eva asked. She gave Damion a look. She looked genuinely surprised. "You have nightmares?"

Eretria raised a tear stained face to her. Her eyes were red and puffy, her nose pink. "Tell me that's something you don't know." She said, wiping and escaping tear with the long sleeve of her nightgown.

The corner of Eva's lips twitched but she said nothing.

"Come on." Rio said, extending a hand to Eretria which she gladly took. Out of everyone here, he was the most friendly one and she quite liked him.

"I'm sorry about the room." She said in a low voice.

Damion wasn't looking at her. He was staring - glaring - at the room. She supposed, no matter the wealth, he'd be angry for losing a room. It was a good one too. And will cost a lot to renovate. Without a word, he walked away.

Eva glanced at Rio before following behind him, intending to grill him for answers.

"Is his silence his anger?" Eretria asked as Rio led her away. Servants had been instructed before Damion came to extinguisher the room but the smell still filled the air.

"Probably. But I'm guessing his more angry about the room than at you." Rio replied.

"That means his mad at me, because I caused the mess, not that I expected any less. I guess it's better to show anger than silence. It's what my father did whenever I did something.... similar. But I always knew his displeasure through the servants that came to take care of the mess." She said and shook her head. She was saying too much. She didn't intend on sharing too much with this people. But they was something about them that made her feel they'd understand, in a way no one did, even Roman.

The thought of him suddenly made her sad. Surely, taking off like that will make him worried. She could only imagine the thoughts going on in his head. But sometimes, one had to be selfish to get what they want. But she's always been selfish. And Roman was always so understanding and supportive. She hated doing this to him, but she just couldn't bear it anymore.

"I doubt he's that mad at you. Like I said, his mad about the room. Let's say, it had some memories." Rio said and grimaced. Even he hated those memories.

"Like an ex lover?"

"What?" Rio's eyes widened in surprise.

"What? I saw the clothes. I'm even wearing one of it. They couldn't have belonged to Eva. It wouldn't fit properly and there's no other female in the house except Eva. I doubt it belongs to the servants. But I'm just guessing." She said the last part with a smile.

Rio tilted his head, matching her smile. "Well, your guess hit a little close to home. Just don't let him hear you." He said in a low voice.

"Really?" Eretria chuckled. "I highly doubted the possibility. He doesn't seem like the... loving type." She hadn't known him long, but the cold face was fresh in her mind. She doubted he laughed or smiled. "I wouldn't know, since I haven't known him long." She added.

Rio chuckled and opened the door to another room. It wasn't quite far from her other room. Changing rooms wasn't a new thing to her. But she always hated she couldn't control it.

"You'd be suprise." Rio said, stepping in. He motioned for Eretria to walk inside.

There had to be something with these people and dark rooms. But they definitely flaunted their wealth in each piece of the room.

"But why was I put there? If he wanted to preserve memories, he'd keep me away from that room. I have a feeling he already knew I'd be causing some damage." She said, running her fingers across the smooth edges of the table.

"I didn't think much about it. And technically, Eva put you there." He paused and seemed to think for a moment. Damion had certainly taken her back there after she fell down the stairs, but he didn't mention it. "Why don't you take a bath. I'll have your meal delivered." He said, grabbing the doorknob.

"Hold in." Eretria called before he could leave. "I don't have any clothes." She said. 

"I'll send some." Rio said and left before Eretria could say anything.

She settled on the bed, fiddling with the sleeves of her nightgown. It had been days and she missed home. Maybe not entirely but she missed Roman. He was always with her during times like these. Her eyes strayed to the fireplace.

Last night, she had just been about to lit a fire when Damion arrived. He had known. But she didn't have any intention of causing a disaster. She just wanted to test her abilities. Eva had said she conjured the fire while they were in the forest. She had never conjured anything small and harmless. In the forest with Roman, she had burnt down the trees and the bandits, she had set her rooms on fire a couple of times and had burnt a maid. She always believed her powers were just for destruction. She wanted to test the truth in Eva's statement.

But when she woke up from the dreadful nightmare, it had seemed the right thing to do. And in that short moment, she had felt so powerful, it was terrifying.

She closed her eyes against the memory but it only became vivid.

The fire, the screams, the deaths, the eyes. Those eyes. Her eyes.

She stood up and went to the looking glass, staring at her eyes.

These had definitely been the eyes from her dream. But it hadn't been her. She had never done that. She'd never do that. She could almost taste the rage just from looking into those eyes, the anger, the raw power. But none of those belonged to her. Those were emotions she wasn't acquainted with.

She stared intently at her eyes and for a moment, she could see them glow. What was the secret being these orbs?

When she raised her head, the reflection on the looking glass made her freeze. Same eyes, same hair, same pendant hanging out. But everything else was different.

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It took me forever to get writing and I finally finished this chapter. As always, lemme know what you think and remember to vote too.

Have a blessed day, Loor you 😘