Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Anastasia staggered backward and found herself in the castle. She blinked, looking confused. She caught sight of Isabella running towards her.

"Isabella?" Anastasia called out, staggering backward, and she fell to the ground. "What has happened to you?"

"Just stay calm, and I will call the physician to help you." It felt as if her words affected Isabella, because the next second, she was back to normal.

"Ms. Ana," Isabella burst into tears, her eyes widened as she saw the blood in her hands. "I... I don't know what happened...."

"It's alright," Anastasia breathed out, getting up on her feet. "I will help you."

Isabella fell to the ground, shaking her head. "I... I killed her.... I didn't mean to do it. I didn't know what came over me."

"Shhh," Anastasia walked closer, pulling her into a hug. "It's not your fault."

"You are right. It's not my fault," Isabella pulled back, her eyes turned black. "It's your fault for not returning at the right time."

 "What are you talking about?" Isabella grabbed her neck.

 "Let me give you a little reminder. If you don't return to the ocean to serve her, you will face the consequences of your actions with your life."

"AHH!" Anastasia felt Isabella's sharp nails digging into her skin, and she choked. All of a sudden, the metal weapon appeared in Anastasia's hand, and she stabbed Isabella. "I'm sorry," Ana cried out, watching as she fell into her arms.

"Ana," She turned around to see Cassius standing there. "Are you alright?" He asked, pushing the dead maid out of Anastasia's arms.

Anastasia could not say anything, her mind dwelling on the words Isabella spoke to her before she died. She tried to understand, but she was confused. Serve her? Who was she talking about? Her neck began to hurt her, and she hissed.

"What happened?" Anastasia asked.

"We managed to kill five infected maids, but the others escaped," he said.

"Does this mean the curse has returned?" Anastasia asked.

He nodded. "Someone must have tampered with the magic, but the question is who."

"Let's go upstairs," he lifted her from the ground, his eyes landing on the wound on her neck. "What happened to your neck?"

"It was the maid. She left her fingernail in my skin," Anastasia groaned.

"I think we might have a problem," he said. "It looks like you are infected."

Anastasia's eyes widened. "I don't want to turn rabid like her. I don't want to die."

"You are not a Vampire, so it shouldn't be much of a big deal," he said. "I know of someone who can help."

"Who?" She asked.

"My cousin sister," he replied. "Her husband is a witch."

"But first, you need some rest," he said.

"But who could have tampered with the magic?" She asked as he carried her upstairs.

"I don't have any clue," he replied.

He laid her on her bed, and Anastasia groaned.

"Once she arrives from her visit, she'll come to see you," he said.

 Hannah walked inside the room, offering herbs tea to ease the pain. Anastasia drank some of the liquid before resting her head on the pillow. He brushed his hand across her hair, and she closed her eyes. When he stood up, she reached out for his arm. "Don't go," she said. "It's warm around you."

"I'm not going anywhere," he leaned closer to kiss her lips. "But I need to check on some things. You know tonight is the coronation." 

She nodded her head.

When he left the room, Anastasia groaned, feeling the pain spread throughout her entire body. Hannah was pressing a wet cloth to ease the pain around her neck. Just then, a knock sounded on the door, and she turned around. "I think she's here," Hannah stood up and left to open the door.

Anastasia raised her head to see a vampire lady and her daughter walk inside the room. Unlike the mother, her daughter had red eyes, telling that she was not from this Kingdom. She might have taken her father's features.

 The woman was beautiful, with long black hair and black eyes. Both mother and daughter were dressed in fine clothing. "You are the woman my cousin brother has been speaking about," she said, eyeing Anastasia from head to toe.

 "I am Naomi from Ravele Kingdom. And this is my daughter, Drusilla."

"I am Anastasia," she introduced.

"My cousin brother told me about what happened to you," Naomi approached. "May I have a look at the wound?"

"Yes, please." Naomi sat down next to Anastasia, observing the wound carefully. She brought out a small scissors tool from her bag and tried to remove the nail. Once the nail was out, she rubbed some liquid on the infected skin. Anastasia winced in pain. After Naomi was done, they wrapped a bandage on the wound.

"You'll be fine," Naomi said. "You are not a Vampire, so it wouldn't have much effect on you."

Anastasia stared at the daughter, who had a frown on her face. She continued staring at the girl, wondering if she was a witch or vampire. As if reading her thoughts, Naomi answered. "She is a vampire, not a witch."

"Isn't she supposed to carry both features and be like an hybrid? Vampire witch?" Anastasia asked.

"Hybrid is just fiction name that isn't real. People have tried to create an hybrid but it only ends with the child exhibiting one of the parent's trait. My daughter is a pure vampire. It is either a vampire or a witch. One cannot be both."

"Ohh," that was all Anastasia could say.

Naomi stood up. "I will be taking my leave now."

"Thank you," Anastasia said, watching the woman leave.

After that, she closed her eyes to sleep.