It was almost dinner time when we returned home.
After Leo helped me down from the carriage, he departed at once, never sparing me a glance.
I felt unsettled.
Was I mistaken about him? Was he truly not a spy? Could I place my trust in him at all?
I made my way to my chamber and sat at my desk, trying to gather my thoughts.
For now, I pushed Leo from my mind. This was not the proper time to dwell on him.
Am I a witch, or merely marked by one? I believed myself to be a witch, for I had shattered the mirror with no touch at all. But the more pressing question troubled me—was I an Orlok?
The folk tales spoke of them as cruel and wicked people, yet Leo had said their greatest gift was healing magic, and such a power could not be evil.
Perhaps they were divided—some dark, others good.
I chose to believe that, if I belonged among them, then I came from the good.
An hour passed before I was summoned for dinner.
The duke and Henry were already seated.
"Good evening, Father. Good evening, brother," I said.
"Good evening, sweetheart," the duke replied warmly.
Henry only nodded. Everything had returned to how it had always been.
"Did you enjoy your visit to the library, Aria?" the duke asked.
"Yes, Father. Thank you for allowing me to go."
"And what did you borrow?"
My heart skipped. Foolish girl, I scolded myself. How could you forget to borrow a novel?
Thinking quickly, I lowered my eyes in feigned shyness.
"Only a romance novel," I replied.
He smiled, and to my great relief, he soon turned his attention to Henry, speaking of political matters. Yet for the first time, their discussion caught my ear.
"The Northern King will not attend the prince's ceremony," the duke said. "His chancellor shall come in his stead."
"The chancellor?" Henry asked. "That is unusual. Why not the foreign minister?"
"It troubles me as well," the duke replied. "It is rare for a chancellor to leave his country. We shall see what purpose they serve."
I felt a quiet disappointment. I had hoped to see the Northern King with my own eyes.
After dinner, I returned to my room and took up one of the books on the Northern Kingdom—one concerning its laws. I read until sleep claimed me.
---------------------------------------
"Come here, you little wretch," a voice snarled. "I shall teach you a lesson you will never forget.
Locking you away is no longer enough."
He seized my hair and dragged me from the small box in the basement where he kept me whenever I displeased him.
He only did this when June was absent; if she were home, he would tell her I had gone out with friends.
He threw me to the floor and began unbuckling his belt. My eyes widened in terror, and my body shook.
"Ten lashes today," he said coldly. "Turn around and bare your back."
"Please, Father," I begged through tears. "I will not do it again, I swear."
He struck me hard across the face. "Turn around!"
Frozen with fear, I could not move. He grabbed me roughly, forced me over, and tore my shirt open. My back was exposed.
No—wake up, Aria. You must wake up.
The first blow landed, and I screamed. The pain was unbearable.
"Please, stop," I cried. "I will never be late again."
"You will not learn until I beat it into you," he snarled, striking me again, harder.
I felt my skin tear.
I collapsed to my knees, curling into myself, sobbing and begging forgiveness, but he did not stop.
Blow after blow.
Wake up. Wake up. Wake up!
"No—stop! Please, stop!" I screamed, struggling against unseen hands.
"Aria, wake up!"
"Aria, you must wake up!"
A sharp sting struck my cheek.
I opened my eyes to find Henry before me. His face was pale with fear, his eyes wide with worry.
"Henry?" I gasped. "Oh, Henry…"
I flung myself into his arms, clinging to him as I wept uncontrollably.
"It was only a dream," he said softly, stroking my hair. "You are safe now. I am here."
Over his shoulder, I saw Maria standing by the door. She was frozen in place, her face drained of color. When her eyes met mine, they widened in sheer terror.
Once I had calmed, Henry gently set me down. Only then did I notice the room—the shattered mirrors, the scattered objects, the chaos I had wrought.
I lay back and winced.
"What is wrong?" Henry asked at once.
"My back aches," I wanted to say—but I did not.
"I am sorry to have frightened you," I whispered instead.
"What did you dream of, to scream so terribly?" he asked.
"Thank you for coming," I said, avoiding his question.
"Aria," he said gently, "you are my sister now. I will always stand by you."
He smiled faintly and stroked my head.
"Rest now. We shall speak tomorrow."
He left, instructing Maria to clean the room in the morning.
The moment the door closed, I rose and searched for an unbroken mirror.
My power had exacted a heavy price.
At last, I found one inside the wardrobe, still whole.
I loosened my nightdress and turned my back to it.
Five deep gashes marked my skin—vivid and painful, yet not a single drop of blood flowed.
They would have been ten, had I not awakened.
I sank to the floor, hugging myself as I trembled. I was afraid—no, terrified. This dream had been different. I had not lost consciousness. I had been there. That was why the wounds were worse.
Perhaps I can speak to Julia, I thought.
My gaze drifted to the ruin around me.
Why did Henry not find this strange?
I rose and called for Maria.
"My lady?" she answered at once, her voice unsteady.
"Come in, please," I said. "Tell me exactly what happened."
We sat together. Maria took a deep breath, her hands shaking.
"I heard you screaming," she began, her voice trembling. "I rushed in and saw—" She stopped, swallowing hard.
"I saw objects floating around you. I did not know what to do. You were shaking so violently, and you would not wake."
Tears filled her eyes. I took her hand to steady her.
"So I ran for help," she continued. "I met Young Master Henry in the corridor and begged him to come."
"What was his expression when he saw me?" I asked quietly.
"He was shocked," she said, "but he acted at once. He tried to wake you."
"Did he say anything afterward?" I asked eagerly.
"Yes, my lady. He told me not to speak of this to anyone."
I was deep in thought when Maria hesitated again.
"My lady… there is something more."
"What is it?"
"Your eyes," she whispered. "When you opened them, they changed."
"Changed?" I asked. "How?"
"They turned amber."
Amber… not red, I thought. Perhaps I am not an Orlok after all.
"Maria," I asked softly, "do you know what is happening to me?"
She gripped my hand tightly.
"My lady, changing eye color is feared. Many believe it is a bad omen."
"Why?"
"They say such people are abandoned by God," she said quickly.
"I do not believe it—but many do. You must tell no one."
"Thank you, Maria," I said. "And I am sorry to have frightened you."
"I only wish for your happiness, my lady," she replied. "Now rest. We shall speak again in the morning."
She had always been like an elder sister to me.
I returned to bed and lay on my side, for my back pained me greatly. I would ask Maria for ointment in the morning—though I knew she would lose her composure when she saw the wounds.
Does Henry know of my power? I wondered. Is he protecting me from the duke?
The duke's words echoed in my mind—she is not innocent.
Was that the reason?
Because I am a witch?
Abandoned by God?