Engaged to The Duke of Death

Her World Part 2

"Lady Annette-??" Came a woman's concerned voice from behind the closed doors of the bedroom.

They soon opened up, and I heard an eerie creaking from the hinges that needed to oiled. I remained where I was standing, in the same position, still looking at the refection that was copying my every move. It didn't make sense, though, since this person – the one that wasn't me, was clearly staring back.

My hand was still frozen as it was held up to my face. I stared at the image in horror, wondering what strange dream I had concocted up as a result of all the piled up stress from my thankless job. The dream felt so real – I never had a dream that was this vivid and realistic –

No...

They had all been nightmares.

"My...my lady...?" The voice asked, cautiously.

I could see from out of the corner of my eyes, that a woman was wearing a black dress with a white apron over it. Her red hair had been tied behind her in a low pony trail with it trailing down her back. She inched closer to me, and I snapped my head to look at her with wide eyes. I had finally snapped out of my stupor and came to the realization that a stranger was in front of me.

I took a shaky step back, quickly looking around the room for a weapon that I could use to defend myself with.

"Who-??" I asked, looking at the unknown red haired woman for answers.

She stopped approaching me and suddenly stiffened up as she flinched at my harsh, accusing tone. I watched her carefully, and she was about to take another step toward me but quickly decided against it. The woman seemed conflicted, not knowing what to do but...that made two of us.

"How did I get h-here – and who are you?"

I needed my questions answered.

The woman placed a hand up to her chest – "My lady, I am your personal maid, Mary. You..." She spoke gently. She opened her mouth and then closed it. Her silver colored eyes looked downward, eyeing the ground instead of me. It was unnatural – the color of her eyes. "You fell into the St. Johns river..." She added after some silence had passed, my heart not calming down in the least. She was explaining, but the explanation wasn't giving me anything on how I got here: "You have been in a coma ever since – about a few days ago."

"No..." I gravely replied albeit breathlessly. "I'm not-! I'm not this..." I whispered out, looking down at the carpeted ground, much like the maid had done. I could see the carpet that took up most of the room. It had felt soft and plush underneath my bare feet. "I-I don't belong here. I...!"

"Lady Annette," she said a name that was unfamiliar.

I didn't look up at her.

Instead, I bit my bottom lip to prevent myself from saying anything more. I didn't know how I got here, and it was clear that she didn't know either. Even with this conclusion in my mind, it didn't stop my heart from beating rapidly inside of my chest – my throat beginning to close up in a sudden panic that I couldn't control.

"Please," she added unsurely. I slowly began to trail my eyes over to her, seeing how she clenched her hands tightly at her sides. I was making her just as nervous as she was making me. "Allow me to take you back to bed?" She suggested, as if that might be the first step to calming me down.

I watched as she took my left elbow in her right hand, her grip was lax and she made sure to only brush the tips of her fingers against me. The woman began to lead me back to the bed that I had gloriously tumbled out of earlier. She had brought the multiple blankets and coverings back on top of me as I laid back down. "I am glad that you have awoken. I..." She whispered with a thin smile on her face. "I...sincerely hope you feel better in the morning."