AUTHOR'S POV
"Dr. Diana! It's so nice to see you finally bac.. WHAT IS THIS? What happened to your beautiful face??", Hendrick, the Woodsworth's white haired and wrinkly butler, greeted Diana with a roller coaster of emotions seeing her coming home with bruises and wounds.
"I am fine, Hendrick. Is mother home?", Diana asked as she clasped Hendrick's hands. She tried to be all smiles, matching the twinkles in her eyes to give the old butler an assurance.
"S-She's still in bed. She went home very late last night. But, you may go to her. She's been worried about you, my dear", Hendrick replied as took Diana's belongings, and welcome Diana in.
The Woodsworth home is a two storey, 8-bedroom modern Victorian style home in the shades of French gray and ivory. There were floral designs and gold linings enhancing the opulence of their home. From velvet curtains, rare classic paintings and crystal chandeliers, to intricate wood carvings on the doors, a herringbone patterned fireplace and oriental rugs, the Woodsworth home is a masterpiece screaming with exquisiteness and style. However, in this home there is one rule in terms of putting furniture. No mirrors are allowed inside. Only Diana's room has mirrors.
By her mother's room, Diana turned the knob and gently opened the heavy oak fire door. Despite the sun has been brightly shining outside, her mom's room is still on night mode with all the thick curtains hanging on the windows pulled into a close. Diana crept in, drew the curtains a little bit to let the natural light come in. Just about right to illuminate the room, not hurting to the eyes. She approached the four-poster bed, and saw her mother sound asleep under the thick covers, in her usual long sleeves and pyjamas. She noticed visible droplets of sweat on her mother's forehead. "Mother..", she sat on the bed and laid her palm on her mother's arm as she wake her.
Being a light sleeper, her mother immediately opened her black eyes and took a good look at her daughter. "You look like you just rose from the dead".
"Nice to see you too, Mother", Diana said with a smile. "Bad dream?", she wiped the tiny droplets of sweat on her mother's forehead with her hands.
"They never go away.", Alva said as she sat upright and stared at Diana's face, now catching a sight of all Diana's visible bruises and wounds. "Your trip, was it worth it?, she asked. She never got used to her daughter being distant from her for too long. In fact, there's not a chance that Diana is not by her side at any circumstance.
"I can't tell. But it's sure was a strong admonition", Diana answered as she touch the bandage on her forehead.
Alva get off the bed, and wore her black bedroom slippers. She went to her bar cart by her boudoir adjacent to her bed. Searched for a snifter, popped in some ice and poured a slosh of brandy. Ever since Daniel died, Alva stopped drinking the usual tea with honey that she enjoyed for a long time. Thereafter, she shifted into hard liquors even in the earliest times of the day.
"Brandy in the morning?", Diana asked as she positioned herself properly on the fluffy bed.
"Brandy is stronger than coffee, better than tea", Alva said as she gulped on her favorite drink. She didn't even flinched on how strong it was. "What about the ones who did that?", she tilted her head, directing to Diana's injuries.
"They were caught. I was saved just in time by…s..someone", Diana said as she refuse to tell her mother that she was rescued by a wolf. It would sound ridiculous anyway, she thought,
"What a shame.. We don't play damsels in distress Dee.", her mother said as she sat on a red settee. "Make yourself stronger then, you cannot be expecting someone to save you every time", Alva said, drinking all of the remaining brandy down to its very last drop.
"Mother, do you believe in fortune telling?", Diana asked as she feel the warmth of the bed with her hand.
"Never", Alva said firmly. Alva believes in reality. She paints her own stars, and writes the lines on her palm, Diana figured.
"There's this lady named Emilia in the place I've been and she told me a lot of things.. like I'm going to be betrayed by someone who's a wolf in sheep's clothing? And that a big bad wolf is coming for me.. and.." Diana was still talking when she noticed her mother was staring blankly at her. "Mother?", she called, as if she lost her somewhere in her story.
"Diana, those things are nonsense. It just feeds you fear and sometimes, false hopes. Deal with reality, and trust your instincts", Alva scolded her daughter, as she reel Diana to her beliefs.
"Of course", again, Diana thought that her mother is right. It gave her fear right after the session with Emilia. Nevertheless, she just wanted to let her mother know a part of what took place in the island. "Well, you told me before that I was attacked by a big bad wolf. And that Dad was killed by one", Diana said looking intently at her mother.
"It's just something I said. No big deal.", Alva replied as she rolled her eyes, with her hand with the snifter waving in the air.
"I see, mother. Sorry", Diana said as she lowered down her head. But deep inside, she craved for answers... Who attacked them and what killed her dad?
"About the wedding..", Alva continued..
"I don't think I want to talk about that", Diana said, as she lay down on the soft bed.
Alva stood up and draw near on one of the posters of her bed. Close enough to see Diana's face. "But you have to hear it. There will be no marriage anytime soon. Do you know why exactly did I agreed to have you get married off to them, my precious daughter?" Alva asked, looking intently at Diana.
"Hmm?", Diana leaned with her elbow, facing Alva.
"All because of a deal, and a good one. Our families were desperate about the continuity of exchange of one's special needs. I needed them as much as they needed me. Apart from the partnership, of course it has to be sealed with a more valuable agreement - a marriage. Sending you off comes with Alva Woodsworth's loyalty and integrity, same goes to them." Alva walked over her car cart once again, and pour herself another drink. "But, the fact that they just let a rare opportunity go, it means we are nothing to them.", Alva continued as she clenched her teeth.
"Then, what about the deal? I thought you need them too", Diana asked curiously. Her mother has never been the type of not being able to get what she wants. In a duel, Alva always gets to win.
"I'll sort things out like I always do. It's just, I don't like being not on the top of the game.", Alva walked towards Diana and let her sit straight up. "We should know our value, Dee. We only give one chance. No matter how much I needed them, they cannot just do what they want.", Alva bent over to meet Diana's eyes, touching her chin with thumb and index finger. "They've been keeping in touch to pursue the marriage again. Yet, my decision is final. The deal is off", Alva then left Diana seated on the bed, and went towards the bathroom. Halfway there, she paused and turned her head towards Diana's direction. "For now, go to work. You need a distraction. Use the healing balm I made to cure your wounds and bruises. I don't want you looking weak", Alva then headed out leaving Diana staring in the wind.