Lydia
"You can talk?" I voiced, and Lolly smiled, her fangs showing, which made my heart race in fear. Why do I feel she wants to act cute, but her appearance is not helping?
"Yes, I can. I only talk to the people I take a liking to," she said and I bit my lower lip.
"You like me?" I asked and her eyes dimmed.
"You can say so, but that's not why I am here," she said and backed me.
"Then....?"
"I'm here to help you. You are being trapped to keep moving in circles with illusion magic," she said and I looked around. No wonder everything felt strange.
"Okay... So how do I free myself?" I asked.
"Don't worry, just follow me. I'll lead you to where you wanted to go," she said.
"How do I know if you're telling the truth?" I questioned, looking at her suspiciously, finding everything absurd. How can I follow a talking cat out of the blue?
What if she wants to eat me? Besides, her fangs looked like she eats people.
"If you don't believe me, then stay back," she said, walking ahead, and I ran faster, catching up with her.
"What now? I thought you'd let your trust issues cloud your mind and you'd be stuck here as long as the person who cast the magic wants."
"Oh no, no, I have to go back. I don't want to cause any trouble," I spoke and heard her chuckle.
Following her gently, we finally walked past the road, and I could see the clinic from afar, with three people standing ahead.
"Thank you so much," I thanked her when the cat stopped. She looked at me and grinned, her fangs displaying, which made me smile awkwardly.
"My pleasure," she replied and turned back, about to walk away.
"Why are you helping me?" I asked and heard her scoff.
She turned back and looked at me, her eyes dimming.
"Go now before you run late," she said and disappeared into thin air.
Did she just ignore my question? I rolled my eyes at the thought and hurriedly walked towards the people waiting for me.
"Sorry, I was caught up i—"
"Follow me," the eldest among them cut in coldly, and I followed her with the other girls. She took me into a building where other servants stayed, and to be honest, it looked far better than the obryn camp.
"You'll be staying here from now on," she said, pointing to the last room in the compound.
I nodded and began to walk to the room, but I was stopped by a voice.
"It seems we have a newbie here!"
Looking up, I saw a lady looking at me with a smirk, her face marred with three deep lined scars.
"Hi," I spoke awkwardly and she laughed.
"Come on! Don't be shy. This is your new home, and you are now part of the family," she said and I smiled.
"Hey! Keep it low, Lexy," I heard another voice coming from the room I was just assigned to.
I scanned the environment. It was neat, and the building was intact. It was a one story building in an ancient style.
Walking to my assigned room, I opened the door and a mocking laugh echoed from inside. Ignoring it, I entered and immediately felt suffocated. Looking around, I saw two ladies. As soon as they set their eyes on me, they burst into laughter.
"Isn't she the obryn girl Fiona told us about?" the first one asked. She was the same person who told the girl outside to keep it low.
"Yes, she is. Hmm, she sure has a pretty face," the second girl chimed in.
I just looked at them, disgust rising in me.
"Who are you giving that look?" the first lady questioned.
"These girls are troublesome," Delia growled.
I wanted to speak but was interrupted by the arrival of the woman who looked identical to my sister's babysitter.
"Welcome, ma'am," the two ladies greeted, their expressions turning calm as if they were saints.
She nodded and smiled at me. "This is Lydia, your new roommate. Treat her with care, and no bullying. Anyone who bullies her will face me," she instructed and they both nodded their heads obediently.
Then she tapped my shoulder and smiled again. I smiled back and watched her leave.
Did she come all the way here just to tell them that? Ah! I'm so lucky!.
"Here's your bed," one of them said, pointing at an empty bed close to the window, and I went over and sat on it.
It wasn't cozy, but it was better than the bed in the obryn camp.
"Because she said we should treat you well doesn't mean you should misbehave," the first lady said, and I ignored her.
"Who knows? Maybe she seduced Mrs. Garvin's son, and he begged his mother to take care of her," the other lady said lowly, but it was enough for me to hear.
"If you keep spewing nonsense, I won't hold back," I spoke coldly. They both looked at me, their faces filled with shock.
"Are you threatening us?" they both questioned in unison.
"Whatever you think, I don't care," I replied and lay on the bed.
"She got some nerve. I wonder if it'll last," the first one said with a smirk, looking in my direction.
"I know, right? She thinks because Mrs. Garvin favours her, she has succeeded in life."
"Mrs. Garvin is just in charge of all the servants and nothing more," the other chimed in.
"I can't stand these people, they're so annoying. I feel like ripping their mouths off," Delia spat in anger, and I smiled.
It seems Delia is more angry than I am. I closed my eyes and wished for one thing.
"Peace..." I murmured. That was what I wished for. I don't want to face further hardship in the Royal House. The obryn camp has been hell for me, and I hoped here would be better.
"L-Lydia, can you hear me?" I heard a familiar voice inside my head, causing my brow to furrow.
"Come on! It's Mia."
"Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry, I'm not really used to these kinds of things."
"I understand. Don't worry, when you shift, it'll be easy for you," she said, and I smiled.
"How is the place?" she asked, but before I could answer her, I heard a loud bell, which made me jump up from the bed.
"Leisure time is over! Time to get back to work!" I heard a loud voice from outside, and my roommates run outside in haste. I followed them out, not wanting to be left behind.
"You... Follow me," a woman who emerged from the back of the building called me, and I hesitated before quietly following her.
It all felt strange, but since I'm new here, I have to act well and not attract unnecessary attention.
She led me to a quiet place far from the servant quarters, and she gently removed a red crystal like ball from her pocket and threw it in the air. It floated.
"I don't think this is good," Delia spoke, her tone filled with fear. Soon, goosebumps spread across my body, and I moved back, sensing danger around me.
"Why that look?" the woman questioned, but I gave her no answer, which made her smirk.
"Let's do it the easy or hard way?" she asked, and I stared at her in confusion.
"Do what?" I asked back, and she drew a sign in the air. Through the crystal like red ball, a portal formed.
"Let's go to where you belong," she replied and began to approach me.
I moved back in fear, and immediately I turned on my heels and began to run for my dear life. It seems they will stop at nothing until they take me to the red realm.
I didn't run that far when I felt a strong invincible force stopped me, bind my arms and legs, taking me back to where the portal was created.
"You think you can run?" she spoke and laughed like a maniac.
"Let me go!" I protested, struggling to break free.
"Help me, Delia," I murmured under my breath, but I couldn't hear Delia. I felt strange, as if I'm losing myself. My body became weak as the force pulled me very close to the portal.
When I was an inch away, I heard a guy's voice.
"Stop right there!"
Raising my head, I saw who it was. I could barely recognize him, but one thing was sure: he looked familiar.