The nightmare I had recurring before passed by, but it wasn't as troubling as before. I was still trembling badly, but not in hysteria or like I was breaking from tossing and turning madly on the mattress. The dream was just reminding me of the turn of events that seemed to begin speaking to me about something I couldn't comprehend. And perhaps for the latter, I'll deal with it in due time. For now, I felt a gentle hand caressing my hair dearly, as if I were a precious gem at hand. I forced myself to wake up, hoping to meet my savior again, but sadly, it wasn't her. I met a pair of worried eyes with a gentle smile from Lady Alysia Cain.
"Oh." I didn't mean to sound upset, but I can't take it back. She heard it and made her grin wide as if she knew who I was expecting, and I blushed. I decided to dodge her knowing look and asked her instead, "What happened?"
"She, your fiancée, said you fainted at the old greenhouse, which had been closed off for everyone." Lady Alysia answered, but her eyes were like studying me as if I were an open book. I could not look straight at her, but her next words caught my attention. "No one could even step close to its perimeter."
I frowned. Confused. "I saw no warning sign or felt any restriction stopping me from getting there. It was not even close." I said sharing my side despite the confusion in my tone before adding briefly, "It opened before I could touch the door, Mama. It's dusty and filled with dried rose petals, but as soon as I stepped inside, the candles, the lanterns, and even the chandelier lit up like it was welcoming me. I see no harm done there and played the piano."
Lady Alysia listened to me attentively, but I felt her disbelief. "Impossible."
"I know since you'd been here than I am." I understood her disbelief, but I couldn't lie about what happened there. "But it happened, Mama." She was quiet, assessing the information I had carefully as if it were new news to her. As she took her time assessing it, I recalled the painting and caught her attention with it. "Mama, there was a beautiful painting stored silently there."
She frowned curiously, "Painting? What painting?"
I nodded. "The painting is a midnight blue Fenrir. It was stunning, magical. It captured every detail that a majestic Fenrir had. It was striking, mesmerizing, beautiful." I answered, fascinated by the painting's life, and I adore it. "Do you know who painted it?"
Lady Alysia's stern expression softened, and she answered with a sensitive tone as if I touched something delicate in her memory. "Mirxalyn, your fiancée." I was surprised that my soon-to-be wife was an artist before, and it made me think that maybe we could get along when it comes to the arts. "She used to paint and play piano, but that was a long time ago."
"Can I know what happened?" I asked curiously, but with a careful tone. I don't want Lady Alysia to be forced to share something she wasn't allowed to.
She studied me for a few seconds before sighing. "I could only share what I can because the rest must come from her. Do you understand?" She said gently, but with sternness, which I nodded at before she proceeded to share what she could. "Okay, that painting was the only Fenrir she was close to. They acted like cats and dogs in some little ways, but their tandem worked splendidly, but something came and got lost."
It was brief, but surely, she chose words carefully, leaving serious matters unsaid, and I understood that. Although it was brief and some words were missing, my heart twisted. It twisted into something I wasn't sure if I was right to feel when I hadn't met the person personally, but I can't deny it was there.
My lips went thin. I was quiet. Afraid to react, but when my mind flicked the image of the painting, I was certain about one thing. "She's happy," I muttered softly. Lady Alysia almost missed that if she wasn't a vampire, and gave me a curious look. I smiled, saying gently, almost shyly, "Ever since my wolf died, I'm sensitive to almost everything, and touching the painting, I felt her happiness. The way she painted the Fenrir, from every stroke, the colors used were all chosen delicately as if she was taking care of her world with passion and protectiveness." I expressed, making Lady Alysia's eyes glint with tears, before I added an idea, "I hope she'll hang them again and let it warm that area."
"Why do you think she had to do that?" She asked carefully.
"Because I love it." I instantly regretted what I suddenly admitted. She grinned teasingly, and I blushed badly before correcting myself. "I mean, I love the area. It's peaceful, and it reminded me of what I had before I had nightmares." I masked my embarrassment with excitement, but quickly calmed when I thought of my fiancée. I sheepishly hoped, "I hope to be able to use that area one day, if you and your family allow me."
Lady Alysia smiled warmly, understanding my reason before teasing, "And how are you going to use it?"
"Do again what I did before I was diagnosed with PTSD and all," I answered quickly - too quickly because that painting reminded me of my old passion for arts and music. "I used to do arts, crafts, and music. That area was filled with serenity that I needed for my health, aside from books."
"Then you'd better talk to your fiancée." She chuckled, and I frowned.
"How can I, when I haven't met her?" I sounded like a whining kid.
"Sometimes you don't need to see her; feel her because she's always around your shadow, listening, waiting for you to call for her help." She chuckled, but gave some advice. "Try doing that."
I carefully considered it, and my heart betrayed me. I suddenly shivered, agitated when I thought of meeting my fiancée in person. Then I sighed heavily, "Maybe I'll try."
"Then I'll leave you to it." Lady Alysia said and left me alone in my room, sighing again.
As I was alone in my room, I grabbed my pillow and covered my face, easing the heat over my cheeks. "Breathe. Don't get nervous." I chanted quietly, doing breathing exercises. When I was calm, I got up from my bed when a sting hit my head again. It was bearable, but it was a nuisance. "Argh, annoying headache."
I ignored it and went to the balcony to breathe fresh air. The cold breeze in December was cool and calming, as if I was cradled with such security before I looked over the horizon. It was dusk. Subconsciously, I smiled before stretching my body a little and heading back inside, feeling awakened.
I went to the bathroom to change clothes. I was rummaging through my closet when I saw the wooden box I had received. I opened it, trying remember what it was. It was a necklace with a heart-shaped rose petal garnet and a small light violet kunzite gem. It was a beautiful necklace that I hadn't tried on because it looked expensive against my thin figure. I was about to tuck it away when I heard a ruffling sound from my bedroom. I ran and saw Reaper, sitting weirdly on my bed.
I chuckled. "What are you doing?" I asked, approaching him, and saw something beneath his feet. "What are you hiding from me, hm?" Reaper didn't need to be told twice and just flew back to his nest. I shook my head and checked it. "Wait, this is the same box..."
I looked twice at the boxes from the one I was holding and the one on my bed, trying to remember how did I got the first one in my hand. I carefully thought about the moment when I was back at the pack during Christmas Eve, and gasped. It was the same. But this time it had a letter than a rose flower with a ribbon caught my attention. I picked it, and it has neat handwriting.
'I may not show myself as you expect me to be, but I assure you that I'm always at your side. A kind of phantom that shadows you, protecting you in silence. I may get angry, but I wouldn't hurt you. I can't hurt you when you hold my heart in your hands before you even know it.'
I frowned. Speechless. This letter had a mysterious vibe, but somehow my heart softened as if I knew who had sent it. Then I continued reading.
'I've given you a necklace as a sign of remembrance that I had been adoring you in secret. Now, I am giving you this box. I've kept it until you've aged, and now we're here, I hope you'll wear this. As promised.'
I don't understand what this letter means. It's confusing, but again, my heart seems heard it before, somewhere, with someone, and I couldn't remember it. I reread the same line one more time, but I can't - it hurts my head. I sighed, giving up on recalling what my mind doesn't want to remind me just yet, and continued reading the letter.
'I know this is not the right way to do it, but different is unique.'
I frowned at that. Annoyed, but more on, I tried to get annoyed, but instead, I'm interested. Curious.
I, Mirxalyn Knightrose, take Bernila Daquila as my mate, my lover, and soon-to-be wife, whom I'm going to share every fiber of my being once we're ready to do so. For now, let this ring be the sign of an everlasting vow...'
I was taken aback. My mind suddenly short-circuited, loading information because Mirxalyn, my arranged partner, suddenly proposed to me without kneeling, like any typical proposal. She just proposed, pouring her raw feelings through this letter. I should be upset, unsettled, thinking she didn't want to marry me. But the handwritten letter had secret emotions that couldn't be easily hidden, not with me, a person with high sensitivity.
'So, Bernila, will you do the honor of marrying me regardless of missing pieces that we're not ready to share, and hope that we do one day? Wear them.'
My heart has been skipping badly, overwhelmed, crying without control. "She's mysteriously sweet for the so-called conqueror bloody queen," I muttered, chuckling a little, but feeling the rawness of her emotions and sincerity, I don't know what to say. "You made me speechless but..." I closed my eyes, weighing the feelings washing over me. I don't want to hurt her, out of fear of my yesterday, but I also don't want to leave her hanging with an uncertain answer either. I sighed heavily, but my smile felt relief. Without hesitation, I found the words that sounded right – feel right. "Yes."
Then Christmas Eve took place. It was fun and bright, but I wore her ring, making our engagement real. Although she proposed through a letter before Christmas Eve.
Seriously, who does that? Well, her. My arranged marriage partner, Mirxalyn Knightrose.