"And before I forget," Martha's voice, a hesitant echo in the doorway, snagged Elizabeth's attention. She pivoted, half-expecting revelation. "You are Miss Elizabeth," Martha declared, as if bestowing a title.
A breath hitched, a silent question hung in the air. What a coincidence.
The door slammed shut, severing the fragile thread of connection.
Elizabeth sank onto the bed, the silence a suffocating blanket. The metallic click of the lock resonated deep within her.
'Lady Hira is caged, not me,' she mentally chanted. The words, hollow as they were, offered a sliver of solace.
She closed her eyes, surrendering to the embrace of oblivion. Sleep, a merciful balm, washed away the day's accumulated stress.
___________
"FOUND HER! SHES SAFE THANK GOODNESS!"
The noise reverberated through the house, shaking its very foundations. Elizabeth's eyes fluttered open, heavy with the weight of a sleepless night. Two hours of slumber had done little to restore her weary spirit.
The door was thrust inward, revealing a throng of faces etched with concern, their expressions a mixture of relief and apprehension.
Elizabeth, her mind still shrouded in the fog of sleep, frowned in confusion and displeasure. She had completely forgotten about the plan.
"Is there a problem?" she asked, her tone laced with a hint of annoyance.
"Poor child, being mentally disabled at such a young age!" A middle-aged woman wailed, her voice thick with pity.
Elizabeth's confusion deepened. Her gaze darted from face to face, finally settling on the familiar faces of Martha and Mary.
Ohmygoodness-
Her hands flew to her body, a frantic search for confirmation. She hadn't switched.
H-how?
"She's fine, Auntie Susan, she just needs rest and proper care," Martha said, her voice soothing, reassuring.
But Auntie Susan remained unconvinced. "She sleepwalked here and she's been here for two days with food nor water, a normal person wouldn't go through that experience." She approached Elizabeth, cupping her cheek with a gentle hand, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Your aunt Susie will never let this happen to you again ever,"
Elizabeth, seizing the moment, slipped into character, her fingers lightly caressing Aunt Susan's palm. "I'm fine, Auntie, I was just missing grandmama," she said, her voice imbued with a childlike innocence.
Aunt Susan's emotions surged, her face crumpling with renewed grief.
"You poor child! So that's why you came to her house,"
A figure emerged from the doorway, his presence radiating an almost palpable aura of power, casting a pall of caution over the room.
Aunt Susan turned towards him. "Tansi," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. "She's safe, thank Goodness."
Tansi approached, his movements fluid and graceful, and gently caressed Elizabeth's hair. "I got really scared." He said. She could taste the lie beneath those words.
"I know you'd be, you never allow her out of your sight. I wonder how you went two days without seeing her." Aunt Susan turned to Tansi, her voice tinged with accusation. "I think one of the reasons she came here was because of the warmth and colour since you chose to let your house become a dark graveyard."
Elizabeth's suspicions were confirmed. He seemed a creature of shadows, devoid of any interest in warmth or coziness.
One of his men entered the room, his face a mask of grim news. He leaned in and whispered to Tansi, the words draining the remaining colour from his face, leaving the room in a state of anxious anticipation.
After delivering the message, he retreated.
All eyes were on Tansi, who seemed lost in a private struggle. After a long moment, he exhaled, his eyes filled with a profound sadness.
"Amos was found dead."
Elizabeth felt a jolt of shock ripple through Aunt Susan. She staggered, her face pale, and Martha and Mary rushed to her side, offering support. "No, he-he was fine when I visited him and his wife." Aunt Susan stuttered.
"It was his wife who killed him, apparently she was possessed by a Nightshade."
Aunt Susan's mouth gaped open, her mind struggling to comprehend the enormity of the revelation. "That's not possible, they use the concoction I gave them round the mansion. That's a generational concoction."
A wave of shock swept through the room, the news of the Mayor's death sending tremors through their collective composure.
Martha's throat constricted, tears welling in her eyes. "Lady Hira needs to face justice…" she choked, her voice thick with grief.
"She will," he paused, his gaze on her hardening.
Elizabeth sensed a deeper meaning in his words.
"She's on the run, I have my men on the case. She'll be found in no time." He assured, his voice firm, resolute.
"I believe you," Aunt Susan said, her eyes softening with fondness as she gazed at him. "But for now let's get Beth home, she needs rest. Hira is still out there now let's get to a safe space, I have no idea why mama builds her house in the middle of the forest."
Elizabeth silently applauded her performance, her flawless portrayal of Beth's persona. But she was consumed by a burning question: why was her soul still tethered to this place? She would need to discuss it with Tansi.
She rode with Aunt Susan, listening to her endless stream of stories and gossip, tales of events that had transpired during her absence. It seemed Beth and Aunt Susan were more than just relatives.
Elizabeth felt a growing sense of unease. One wrong move, one careless slip, and her charade would crumble, exposing her to untold dangers.
They arrived at Tansi's mansion without incident. A servant opened the door, allowing them to step out of the vehicle.
The mansion's exterior mirrored the Mayor's in its imposing grandeur. But as Elizabeth stepped inside, hand in hand with Aunt Susan, she gasped. The interior was a stark contrast, a place where nightmares dwelled.
"Go to your room and get some rest dear," Aunt Susan said, her voice tinged with dismissal. "I need to discuss with Tansi about his late brother. He must be grieving."
Elizabeth, guided by Martha, made her way to her room.
Fourth floor.
'He watched his brother die, he's more dangerous than I imagined,' Elizabeth thought, stripping off her gown and changing into something more comfortable.
The room was a mirror image of the one in her grandmother's house. She wouldn't be surprised if he had stolen the design, a rare splash of colour in his otherwise monochrome world.
There wasn't much to explore, the familiarity of the space stifling any sense of curiosity. A yawn escaped her lips, her body still yearning for sleep. The inviting colours of the mattress beckoned, promising solace. She sank onto the bed, the silky sheets caressing her skin, transporting her to a realm of pure bliss. She couldn't help but wiggle her legs on it-
The door burst open, shattering the tranquility, sending her heart racing.
Martha stood in the doorway, her expression a mixture of surprise and urgency. She locked the door behind her. "Sir Tansi wants you to get dressed, we're visiting the Mayor's household. And mind you they'll be several officials there," she said, striding towards the wardrobe and throwing it open. She turned to Elizabeth. "Can you act?"
Elizabeth shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. "No."
Martha sighed, her shoulders slumping with resignation. "You'll have to, your life's on the line child," she said, selecting two knee-length flare gowns, one rich black and the other a dark maroon. She held them up, assessing which one best complemented Elizabeth's complexion. "Maroon." She dropped the black gown inside the wardrobe.
She placed the maroon gown on the chair, then walked to the shelf and picked out a pair of loafers.
"Isn't it too early to be visiting?" Elizabeth asked, her eyes following Martha's movements.
"Not to Sir Tansi," she muttered. "He happens to be helping his brother who's the leader of the nightshade case." She picked up a pair of high boots, weighing her options. "Which is better?" She turned to Elizabeth.
"Loafers," she said, pointing to the flat shoes. "I wasn't aware the Mayor had many siblings."
"He does, although they are only related to Sir Tansi's paternal side. Surprisingly no girl, I think that is one of the reasons Sir Tansi took Beth in."
"I thought his wife had a baby,"
"The story around her birth is still a mystery. Sir Tansi went missing for two years and brought a nine years old baby with him. You can imagine our surprise. He's not one to be seen around children." She picked up hairclips and a black hat, trying to decide which to choose. She picked the hat and dropped it with the others she had chosen.
"Now get dressed, you can take a shower if you want. I'll be outside waiting." She walked towards the door and exited.
Elizabeth didn't like the fact she's getting involved in all this.
After some time she was dressed, she walked out of her door to meet Martha waiting.
"They are waiting for you in the car, and grandmama sends her goodbye kisses. She has something urgent to attend to." Martha told her as they walked down the stairs. "You should stay closer to Sir Tansi, those officials have keen eyes than predators."
Elizabeth exited the mansion, disappearing into the waiting car, which promptly sped away.
Inside, the same men from before, along with Sir Tansi, occupied the vehicle. Despite their obvious fatigue, they possessed a refreshed demeanor.
They soon arrived at the Mayor's Mansion, where the gateman had been replaced. As they alighted from the car, Elizabeth immediately noticed Sir Tansi's attire: a well-tailored black suit, finely polished shoes, and hair that shone as if dyed.
'He's a fine man, if only he was fine inside too.'
Before they could enter, another car drove into the compound, drawing everyone's attention, including Sir Tansi's.
The sleek car halted before them, and a uniformed man emerged.
"Officer Aaron."
What the—
"I was half expecting you wouldn't show, since you can't spend a day away from your daughter," Officer Aaron stated, chuckling as he approached. His gaze settled on Elizabeth. "And you brought her along to see a corpse?"
Sir Tansi wore the same expression of boredom and weariness. "Wouldn't want her getting lost again."
Aaron laughed in response, his eyes sweeping over Elizabeth.
They entered the Mansion, where several men and a large security detail were already present.
Elizabeth was not permitted to enter the Mayor's room to view the body, so she remained with the others who were held back.
"Mayor Adams was forty-two years old at the time of his death and had no children but his nineteen years old wife." A man, seemingly the Mayor's personal assistant, was dictating information about the Mayor to the press for publication. "Do not include any information about her committing murder or killing the Mayor, that is strictly confidential. Besides, we want her alive, she's weeks pregnant with the Mayor's child."
Elizabeth suddenly felt a strange wave of dizziness upon hearing this information. Was she cursed in her past life to suffer? A cursed person wasn't even experiencing such a fate anymore.