** This story is base on Camille Rapay’s work “Dreams and Nightmares” **
TALE OF THE NIGHTSHADE TWINS
by: KissMint
The dried petals floated
Away from where it was originated
The hero died as it fell down
Sadly, as he fell down, he was himself the clown
The hero took the danger;
As if he was an immortal ranger
Days will turn into months, months turn into years
And years is equivalent to tears
“His---,” Noelani stopped singing as I played a note wrong. “Lia!” she roared angrily at me. Why Noel chose me to play her piece? I can’t even get that note right then she would complain again and again. It would be nice if I can play the violin not just by hearing. I sighed and place the bow again against the violin. “Play it properly, Cordelia.” She grumbled. I heard that she was chosen to sing this piece before Queen Victoria herself.
Afterwards, she finally got tired from singing probably her vocal cords reached its limit and she ordered me to stop playing the violin. “I can’t play it right,” I mumbled but Noel just hugged me tightly. Wish I’d know how her face looks like. She placed her arms at my lap and giggled. I reached and traced her face. It was undeniably smooth. “Noelani, father and mother wishes to see you at the garden this instant.” I heard a knock, distracting me from tracing her face again. I’m trying to read her emotions as she usually teases me by just playing with her voice to sound angry at me. I felt her lacy hem turned away from my foot, it left me sighing already. “It’s you Edmund, right?” I asked, turning around. I heard footsteps approaching me and I felt him patting my head. “When will I hear you call me Big Brother?” he asked me curiously. “No.” I replied.
“Do you want me to call Elizabeth again to assist you to your room?” Edmund quickly changes the topic. I stood up, felt my way to where I placed the violin case, and felt my way out of the room again. Apparently, I memorized everything in this floor because I don’t want falling down the stairs again for the nth time. “Don’t treat like I’m useless, Ed.” I ordered. I went to my room and lie down, waiting for dinner like every night. I grew up seeing only nothing but darkness. I can only hear their voice expressing different emotions.
“Are you sleeping?” I stood up once I heard Noel’s gentle voice calling me. “I’m wide awake, Noel. What is it?”
“Are you aware of the recent crime around England, Lia?” she asked me, tucking a few strand of my hair behind my ear. I nodded quietly. “Father decided that you should go to Wales and return here when this issue is over.”
“Wait---what?” I was astounded obviously. “Going to Wales? Are you serious?” Maybe I heard it wrong. She held both of my hands tightly and my head lowered down as if I can see her holding it. “The Queen worries about you and so the Queen took the expenses for you to live in Wales comfortably until the culprit is caught by the Scotland Yard.” She explained calmly before me and suddenly hugged me. “There will be a carriage waiting---,” I pushed her away from me, “Lia, are you possibly angry at me?”
“Why is it only me?” I demanded. “Is it because I’m blind? I can help myself if that is what father worries. I didn’t ask for everyone to treat me as a burden, didn’t I?” I can feel myself crying but I can’t. Somehow, I can’t help myself to cry. “We didn’t say that you’re a burden. It’s for your own good, dear Cordelia. It is also the Queen’s order. The Queen adores you, remember?” I reached for her face, tracing carefully and stopped. “Why are you crying? I should be the one doing it…”
