Darkness Upon All

"Why?" I couldn't resist asking, my concern deepening. "What happened to Princess Hiyasmin?" I glanced at her frail figure, noticing the pallor of her complexion.

Alexa turned to face me, her eyes reflecting a mixture of sorrow and anger. "I wish it were just illness," she said with a heavy sigh. "But it's far worse. That woman wasn't satisfied with killing the King. She stole the throne from Ludwig, then cursed my cousin. Damn her."

Her words hung heavily in the air, echoing the weight of the situation. The gravity of Alexa's emotions was palpable, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of empathy for both her and Princess Hiyasmin.

The sight of Alexa's transformation startled me. I had witnessed her anger before, but this was something entirely different. Dark tendrils snaked beneath her fair skin, weaving an intricate dance that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy. White and green veins pulsed and writhed beneath the surface, like restless serpents seeking escape from their confinement.

I watched in awe and trepidation, unsure of what to make of the unsettling display unfolding before me. It was as if her very essence had been consumed by a malevolent force, twisting and contorting her once familiar form into something altogether more sinister.

The heavy sigh that escaped Alexa's lips seemed to carry the weight of the world, and I could feel the tension in the air slowly dissipating as the pulsating veins beneath her skin gradually receded. "Sorry about that," she said softly. Her apology hung in the air like a whispered confession, and I found myself at a loss for words in response.

We sat in silence for what felt like an eternity, the only sound the gentle rise and fall of Hiyasmin's sleeping breaths. I watched Alexa's gaze linger on Hiyasmin's figure, her expression a mixture of concern and simmering anger.

"Uhm…" I said, breaking the silence. "Who cursed her again?" I wasn't sure where I found the courage to ask Alexa such a direct question.

I knew I was overstepping, especially considering Alexa's evident anger toward the person responsible for the curse. I shouldn't have pried into such sensitive matters, but my curiosity got the better of me.

Alexa remained silent for a few moments, her expression unreadable. I immediately regretted asking, fearing I had upset her further.

"I'm sorry," I hurriedly apologized. "Really, don't bother answering that. It was out of line for me to ask."

But instead of dismissing my question, Alexa's demeanor softened, and she sighed deeply. "It's okay," she said, her voice tinged with sadness.

Alexa's smile, though strained, seemed genuine, and her eyes held a hint of relief. "For a human who suddenly found themselves in our world, you're surprisingly reserved," she remarked. "You only ask questions when you're genuinely confused. It's a good trait."

She gestured toward a nearby stool, silently inviting me to sit. I obliged, watching curiously as she retrieved a basket of fruits from a cabinet. "If you're hungry," she began, "I'm afraid I can't offer you any." She started peeling a banana. "There's barely enough for me as it is. Sorry about that."

My eyes widened at her words. While I loved to eat, especially considering how scarce food was back home, I couldn't fathom consuming an entire basket of fruits in one sitting. And yet, for Alexa, it wasn't even enough. She seemed to eat voraciously without gaining any weight. Was it just her metabolism, or was it somehow linked to her being a witch? The thought intrigued me.

Alexa chuckled at my astonished expression, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Why do you seem surprised?" she asked, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. "This is just normal for me. I am feeding two, anyway."

My eyes widened even further, feeling as if they might pop out of their sockets. "You're pregnant?" I exclaimed, unable to hide my shock. Despite her hair being white, she still looked youthful, without many wrinkles or signs of aging.

I smirked as Alexa laughed loudly, her laughter filling the room with infectious joy. Glancing at Hiyasmin, who remained undisturbed by the commotion, I couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie with Alexa.

"I'm not pregnant, Louise," Alexa said, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. "How could you say that?"

"Because you said you are feeding two," I replied patiently.

"Yes, we are two," Alexa clarified between bites of fruit, "but I am not pregnant. It is Sinister." Seeing my confusion, she elaborated, her expression serious despite her continued munching. "Sinister is my friend who resides within me. She feeds on my energy, so I need to rest and eat plenty to sustain her. If not, she could weaken and possibly perish."

I hesitated, torn between joining Alexa's laughter and fleeing from the room. Could this really be true? "This..." I began, struggling to grasp the concept. "This friend of yours. What does it look like? And how exactly does it reside inside your body?"

Alexa nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders, her expression serious. "I've never actually seen it," she confessed. "Not once. But according to my mother, a Seer predicted that she would bear a child cursed with a living monster inside. Sinister has been a part of me since birth. It's like having an invisible guardian, always there but never seen."

I thought I had already seen all the bizarre creatures since I got lost here, but it seemed the world of Quailsham still had plenty of surprises in store for a mortal like me. The revelation about Alexa's guardian only added to the strangeness of my experience.

"Then it's a good thing you're not pregnant," I said, trying to lighten the mood, though I couldn't shake off my astonishment. "You seem so young. How old are you anyway? Fifteen? Sixteen?"

Alexa's laughter filled the room once more, her amusement evident. "Just twenty-four," she replied with a grin.

I felt a jolt of shock. "Seriously?" I exclaimed, incredulous. Despite her age, she looked no older than fourteen.

She simply nodded, nonchalantly peeling an orange, as if her youthful appearance was no big deal. "I've always been mistaken for a kid, even though Liam and I are the same age," she explained. "Meanwhile, Hiyasmin is just eighteen, but she looks older than me. Perhaps it's because I have the blood of a witch running in my veins."

The fruit had already been half-eaten, even though Alexa had just started on it. I wanted to ask about Ludwig, but my tongue felt paralyzed with fear, so I remained silent.

Once again, silence enveloped us. I couldn't help but steal glances at Hiyasmin, who remained unmoving despite our presence and conversation.

"It was Amelia," Alexa said softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she gazed at Hiyasmin. "She's the one who betrayed us all."

Suddenly, the veins on Alexa's skin reappeared, but they disappeared just as quickly when she sighed heavily.

Her words hung heavily in the air, carrying the weight of betrayal and loss that I couldn't fully comprehend. I swallowed hard, feeling overwhelmed by the raw emotion that filled the room.

"I'm sorry," I murmured, my voice barely audible. "I didn't mean to bring up painful memories." I paused for a moment. "But I wonder, why did Amelia curse Hiyasmin?" I asked curiously. "What did she do wrong to her?"

I didn't know much about their powers, but I knew that being cursed usually implied committing a sin or wrongdoing against someone.

"Nothing," said Alexa through clenched teeth. "Hiyasmin has been good to everyone. She's never done anything wrong."

My brows furrowed in confusion. "Then why was she cursed?" I asked. "Did she offend Amelia in some way?"

"It was Amelia's insanity that brought darkness upon us all," Alexa replied bitterly.