The Shadows of Blood

Chapter Four: The Sorceress

'There is so many worse things than death, not being loved or not to be able to love: that is worse.'

-- Will Herondale (The Clockwork Princess)

Whispers followed Alina everywhere the next day.

The story of the Marchioness's murder seemed to have grown wings and had spread to every corner of the castle.

Alina herself would have felt fine about the rumours and tales if they hadn't been directed at her. She couldn't pretend that she didn't see the glares and nervous glances that the castle inhebitants were shooting her when she walked past. Sometimes, whispered conversations would break out when they thought she wasn't looking.

Alina couldn't help scowling at them, (she was in a towering mood: Why did everyone blame her on so little ground of evidence?!), nor could she repress the urge to listen in on a few words.

'I would never have thought!' One of them exclaimed.

'She's the murderer, that's for sure. He said he heard them whispering about it in her room.' Another said in a hushed voice.

Even Saffi wouldn't meet her eyes. There was something like burning regret hidden in the corners of his eyes which seemed even darker than usual. She must've done something terrible, but what was it? Was he ever going to tell her? She thought with a pang of guilt and anger.

Alina was in fuming rage that afternoon as she stalked down the hallway leading back to her room. She was just thinking what she would give to have just another ordinary day, when the door to her right swung open, and the person whom she least wanted to see stepped out of his room.

'I want a word with you.' The Marquess said, glowering at her, then after a hesitation, he added, 'Privately.' Then after yet another silence in which they glared at each other, his lips moved reluctantly to form the words, 'Your majesty.'

Alina tried (without much luck) to arrange her face into a guilty grimace. 

Without waiting for a reply, the Marquess swept her in and slammed the door behind.

'Explain.' Was the first word that came out of his mouth.

'I'm not a murderer!' Alina burst out. 'I don't know why or how your wife died and I'm greatly sorry for it, but...'

'But you were the first one to know that she...' His voice shook slightly. 'Was dead.' His face had gotten back its cold sneer.

'Well yes,' Alina felt exasperated now, why would no one believe her? 'I saw it, in my dreams, I swear I wasn't even near her room when it all hapened!' She was shouting now.

'Keep your voice down!' The Marquess hissed, leaning across the table and glaring viciously at her. 'Then how did you know?'

Alina was at a lost for word. 'I see the future,' She spluttered before she had realized that the horribl truth was out of her mouth. She swallowed. What had she done? She bit back a curse with difficulty. So even she herself  admitted that there was something wrong with the pendant.

'See the future, not make it.' He seemed to ponder this for a minute. 'I see.'

Alina did not respond to this.

'Sorceress.' He spat.

Alina flinched.