Clarrissa The Magnificent

Untitled Part 2

Author's note:

Here's chapter two, couldn't wait any longer to write it! too many ideas. The picture is of queen Evangeline.

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My ears were ringing so loud I thought my head was going to explode with pain, I screamed my brother's name at the top of my lungs as I started sprinting towards the dock, I felt arms around me instantly- it was Lilliana, she held me tight so I could not go to the scene.

I heard screaming which was not my own...it was my mother, I saw her and father sprinting down the hill from the castle, they came as soon as they heard Lilliana's cries. My father did not hesitate before jumping into the 15 foot deep pond, desperately searching for his son's body. Again and again he came up for a 5 second breather then dived straight back in and continued the search.

my father came back up for the last time...he dragged his worn-out body onto the grass verge, my mother raised her hand to her mouth and collapsed on the ground, falling to her knees she was deadly silent, my father's soaked clothes wrapped around her.

"Lilliana, take Clarrissa back to the castle now!" My father demanded.

"yes sir" Lilliana sobbed.

She lifted me into her arms and hid my face in her neck, the smell of her sweet perfume soothed me for only a second before hearing my mother's loud cry of agony, my father did the same, only his cry of pain...I swear it shook the whole of the kingdom. This made Lilliana walk quicker while carrying me.

I looked up for only a second to see my mother and father surrounded by the knights, some helping them to their feet and the others diving in the pond and starting the search again.

Lilliana took me into the living room where the fire roared and the candles glowed, she sat down while still holding me, we stayed silent for quite some time...there was nothing to say, all we could do is try and get those awful images out our heads and...mourn.

Well I guessed he was dead...no little boy could survive underwater that long...I couldn't believe my brother just died in front of me. I wanted to hide away, be alone...Lilliana's sobbing was so sad to hear, she really did care for Finnian.

I was too young to understand...I had so many questions and was so confused about it all, I managed to slip out of Lilliana's arms and head for my room.

"Clarrissa" she yelled after me.

I turned back, "yes?"

"I don't want you to be alone at the moment" she said in a concerned tone.

I didn't know what to say back, I didn't want to speak at all, there was nothing that could be done and nothing to be said, so I just shook my head with no reply and carried on to my room.

sitting in the corner of my bedroom with my knees to my chest, I cried. The images running through my mind of Finnian falling and never coming back up, I actually felt pain for the boy that never spoke.

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My mind seemed to darken with every day that passed, my parents hadn't spoke to me since, I hadn't even seen my father...

The mourning felt as if it would never end, forever feeling sorrow for the loss of a loved one. I couldn't even remember the last time I had bothered to get dressed, 2 days? Maybe three?

I would of stayed in my room if I could, even though I couldn't eat much due to stress. I still managed a few bites everyday but stayed mostly on fluids to keep me alive. It looked like my mother was doing the same....only much more extreme than I, as I crept into the kitchen (hoping not to bump into anyone, I wasn't quite in the mood for conversation) I hid round the corner of the table to see my mother stood at the sink.

Her feet were bear, dress wrinkled like it had been worn to bed, hands grey and thin, I looked away not wanting to see anymore but something kept me staring. My eyes kept going up until I reached the back of her head, her hair was loose and a mess, then she turned... I covered my mouth to stop a gasp escaping my lips.

It was like seeing a corpse...

A skeleton silhouette in the moonlight.

her skin grey and dull, lips cracked and dry, her cheeks had gone hollow so you could see every single curve of her cheek bones. Eyes that used to shine so bright...had gone black as night.  I couldn't believe what I was seeing, I tore my eyes away unable to stop the tears flooding.

My family was dying...from the inside out.

I was walking away from the horrid sight but got caught almost straight away..."Clarrissa?"

I turned slowly and looked up.

"Yes mother, it's me" i said as I approached her.

"There is no need to be afraid of me my child, I'm just feeling a bit under the weather."

"Are you sick?"  I asked.

"I think so" she replied with a cough. "You go on to bed my love, it's late"

"Yes mother" I said.

If I had only known that was the last time I was going to see mother, I would of said something better or at least "I love you."