The Second Plague

Writer's POV:

'Knock, Knock.' A soft knock reverberated through the room.

"Come in Rebekah."

"Good morning Milady, how was your night?"

"Splendid, yours?"

"Tedious, but great."

"Sorry about that, so what's for breakfast?"

"Well you requested for a simple breakfast to be served today, so it's omelet and bacon. And for desert, rice pudding."

"Sounds delicious."

"You seem happy today." Rebekah asks while serving the food.

"Aren't I always ecstatic?" Herdis said as she made her way to the table.

"Not this much, Milady, perhaps you are this happy because you would be seeing your family after such a long time."

"Along the lines, yes but not exactly. Oh, are preparations done for the journey?"

"Almost Milady. Nicholas has been outside all morning, making arrangements for the horses, carriages and snacks, he will be done any time soon."

"It's just a few hours journey, I don't think snacks are necessary."

"Well you might feel famished along the way. And yes, the Crown Prince is also making arrangements for the soldiers and royal guards that will accompany you both."

"That is even more unnecessary, there is no need for such an arrangement. And the omelets taste great."

"Well there is, Milady. I don't know how it's done in the Witchers Clan, but over here the members of the Royal household don't travel without being accompanied by a few royal guards. But I guess the soldiers are coming along this time to protect you both from those demons, from what I heard there are few caves along the way from the Werewolf Clan to the Witchers Clan, and those vampires reside in caves during the day, they might cause trouble. And I will inform the Chef of your feedback."

"Umm, it seems a whole lot of things have been affected by these demons."

"Exactly my point, Milady. Even your schedule as the Crown Princess and soon to be Queen of the Werewolf Clan has been left empty due to these plagues."

"What special duties do I have to carry out as the Crown Princess and soon to be Queen of the Werewolf Clan."

"Well you have quite a whole lot, like overseeing the expenses of the household, hosting tea parties, supervising every first Ball of Every season, overseeing the affairs of the women, and selecting your ladies in waiting."

"Okay that's a lot."

"It is Milady, and from what I heard you will be taking up the responsibilities of this sooner than expected. The members of this household will be returning soon."

"That's truly a whole lot, and you seem to know more about this than I do." Herdis commented.

"Well since the Queen Mother hasn't been around of late I was told to enlighten you on the ways of the household, that is until she gets back and assists you in hosting your first tea party, where you will select your ladies in waiting, they will then assist you in your other preparations."

"Till then, for now we need to focus on something to wear, have you found any dress to wear?"

"Well I am currently putting it on, Milady."

"Oh, forgive my manners but I don't think I want you to wear that dress. You see I have some clothes I would give to you, you should wear them each time we have an outing, you can wear your simple ones while we are at home."

"I am sorry Milady, but I don't think it's right it might be frowned upon."

"By who?"

"By the other members of the household."

"No one tells me how I treat my personal maid. I have decided to give you the clothes and that's final, besides you might meet a suitor one of these days. Or do you wish not to leave this dungeon?" Herdis questioned.

Rebekah's eyes tingle with compassion as she replies. "I do wish more than anything to wed, but I don't wish to leave this place, Milady. This place has provided me with more warmth than anyone or anything ever did."

"Forgive my words, I didn't mean to call it a dungeon." Herdis apologized.

"You are too polite, Milady. You have no reason to apologize, we have the right to express ourselves and view things in whatever different way as we please, I saw my home as a dungeon but I see here as a home." Rebekah explained.

'I don't remember the last time I felt at home, how long has it been, maybe eight years.' Herdis thought to herself.

"I will go draw your bath then I will pack your bags after that." Rebekah announced.

"Umm." Herdis replied curtly.

<< 

In the third month of the year 1747, the Second Plague attacked Samara, a town in Europe.

Cyclopes:

The one eyed demon is an offspring of Gaia, the primordial earth deity. In Greek mythology and later Roman mythology, the Cyclopes are giant one-eyed creatures. Three groups of Cyclopes can be distinguished. In Hesiod's Theogony, the Cyclopes are the three brothers Brontes, Steropes, and Arges, who made for Zeus his weapon the thunderbolt. In Homer's Odyssey, they are an uncivilized group of shepherds, the brethren of Polyphemus encountered by Odysseus. Cyclopes were also famous as the builders of the Cyclopean walls of Mycenae and Tiryns.

Cyclopes are said to have an enchanting eye, the eye in the middle of their head could put someone in a trance in another dimension.

According to Elliott, the only survivor of this enchantment, this dimension is said to be some kind of division, a place between life and death. Some kind of Euphoric world, (Cyclopes), place people in a place where their utmost desires are fulfilled, those who chose to embrace those desires are put to eternal sleep, while those who fail to do so, are killed by a sound as loud as a Siren scream, they bleed from their ears and nose till they die from the loss of blood.

According to Elliott he was born deaf, which was how he survived the scream.