As they reached the outskirt of town, the cold air was sobering Richard up. Alex was relieved when he took his arm off her and stumbled around the streets on his own. They made their way to his house, and occasionally she had to pull him out of the way of an oncoming carriage or a person walking by. Leaning against a fence to catch his breath Richard looked up at Alex with his gentle eyes.
“You're good with kids, you know that?”
“If you say so.”
“You want any?” Richard gave Alex a serious look “Kids that is.”
Alexandra looked at him baffled, it's not something she had ever considered. It was expected of her to marry a pure-blood and produce children, but whether she wanted any was not something she thought about. But now that Richard mentioned it, Alex thought she would not mind children of her own, as long as they didn’t have to come from the loins of Sir Philip.
“I don't know. I never gave it any serious thought. I guess I wouldn’t mind if they were with the right person.”
“I think you and Jay would have cute children, and he may be the right person.”
Did Richard say what she thought he said, Alexandra wondered to herself, dumbfounded. That whiskey drink must be more poisonous than she had thought. Why else would Richard insert Jay into their conversation? But what he said made her feel happy, and perhaps he was right, Jay could well have been the one she’d been looking for. Hiding her smile from him, Alex gave Richard a stern look.
“You're so drunk you have no idea what you are saying.”
Richard laughed at her as he stumbled over a crate and fell to the ground. The people walking by looked over and shook their heads. From his spot on Alexandra’s shoulder, Cosmo grumbled at Alex for even bothering with such a bumbling idiot in the first place. Rolling her eyes, Alex ignored her pigries complaints and helped Richard back to his feet before prodding him in the right direction.
“Come on, let's get you back home.”
Slowly they made their way to Richard’s humble cottage in the center of the village as he stumbled over several more times. Richard was rambling on about something, but Alex paid him no attention, her thoughts were on Jay. The barkeep was rude, cold, and unforgiving, but still, her heart ached for him, longing to be close. Thinking of Jay alone in his cottage Alex felt sad, she didn't have to wonder how he felt, as she had felt the same way her entire life.
As they continued shuffling on the cobblestone, Alex’s trail of thought was interrupted when Richard bent down in front of her and threw up, sending bile flying all over her shoes. By this point, poor Cosmo had had enough of this embarrassment and attempted to nip at the man. Sensing her tiny friend’s annoyance, Alex cupped her hands around the pigrie, scolding him in a whisper before letting him back on to her shoulder. Shamed by his actions, Richard looked up to regard Alex with an apologetic stare.
“Sorry love” He smiled at her before leaning over to upchuck the contents of his stomach again.
“It's all right.” Alexandra sighed “Let's just get you back home to Izzie.”
“On second thought...” Richard looked pale “.... can we go somewhere else for now?”
“No.” Alex gave him an angry look “You can't avoid your sister just because you're drunk.”
“But Alex...” he protested “.... you know Isabel. You know how angry she can get.”
“Well, I guess you will just have to face her like the big boy you are, now won't you.”
“And I thought we were friends.”
“We are. Which is why I'm taking you home.” Alexandra grabbed hold of Richard's arm and dragged him along. “Now come on.”
They did not have to walk long before coming to a stop outside a small thatched cottage in the center of town. Light was pouring out of the living room window, and a stream of smoke was making its way out of the chimney. Alex knocked on the door, and a woman with graying hair and brown eyes answered. She looked at Alex and over at Richard. Her expression grew stern and her lips pursed as she put her hands on her hips.
“Has he been drinking again?”
“I'm afraid so.”
“Why you good-for-nothing nitwit.” the woman yanked Richard in through the door “How many times does this make it?” she hit Richard repeatedly with a towel as he tried to cover his head.
“Izzie, just let me explain.”
“Oh, you'll explain this all right. I can't wait to see what your excuse is this time.” Turning to Alex, Isabel smiled softly, and her expression grew gentle “Come on in dear, I got tea brewing, I’ll have a cup with you once I get done dealing with this wanker.”
Nodding, Alexandra walked into the small house and went to sit at the kitchen table while Isabel dragged Richard away upstairs. Isabel's angry voice was trailing downstairs as she lectured her brother about his drinking problem. Apparently, this was not the first time Richard came home drunk, and from what Alex could make out it seemed to be a common occurrence.
Finally, the voices upstairs grew silent, and Isabel came back down the stairs. Giving Alex a soft look she came over and placed two teacups on the table. Pulling out a chair next to Alex, Isabel plopped down with a heavy sigh and looked out the window exasperated.
“So, dear, tell me what happened with that fool tonight.” Isabel poured them each a cup of tea.
Alex looked at her reflection in the steaming mint tea in her cup. Playing with its worn, porcelain surface, she contemplated what to tell Isabel, not wanting to get Richard in any more trouble. Deciding it was best to be honest, Alex recalled the whole story of how they went to the tavern, and how Richard got plastered in the short time she spent with Andy. Isabel looked on as she sipped her tea and shook her head.
“So that pillock actually brought you to Jay's place?”
Not knowing how to answer her, Alex gave Isabel a gentle shrug of her shoulders as she took a sip of tea.
“And you seriously told Jay you refused to leave until he served you?”
“Yes,” Alex looked down embraced by her boldness from a few hours ago.
“Well I’ll be.” Izzie laughed “Not only did you enter Jay's place and lived to tell about it, but you stood up to him. He must have got a soft spot for you dear.”
“I don't think so. It seems like he hates me for what I am.”
“He doesn’t hate you, believe me.” Isabel reached out and touched Alexandra's hand “That man has a hatred for pure-bloods unlike any gray I know, but for him to allow you to have a drink and to take care of his boy, that says something.”
“Really?”
Alex could not contain her excitement at the idea that Jay did not hate her as much as she thought. Thinking she had a chance, Alex smiled from ear to ear until remembering she was sitting with Richard's sister, and tried to regain her composure. Isabel, however, did not appear angry or disappointed with Alex. She shook her head with a kind look in her eyes, before reaching out to hold the girls hand.
“It's all right Alex. You need not hide it.” she said squeezing Alexandra's hand “I know Richard is not right for you, he never was. I knew since the day he brought you here that the two of you were only meant to remain friends. And, I’ve always thought of you as a sister, so there is no need to hide how you feel around me.”
“I'm sorry.”
“Don't be. Never apologize for following your heart, that’s what makes you so damn special.”
Sipping her tea, Alexandra tried to process what Isabel was saying to her. Was her heart trying to tell her something? There was no way she could care for Jay, and yet, every time she thought of him her chest tightened. There was something about that boorish man that made Alex feel as if he belonged with her, almost like they knew each other already. Perhaps there was more to him than she thought. She needed to think over this carefully, and for that, she needed to be alone for a while.
“Thank you for the tea.” Alex put her cup down and looked up at Isabel “I better go though, before someone notice
s me gone. Sorry about Richard again, it's partially my fault, so don't be too harsh on him.”
“Don't apologize for him, it’s not your fault at all. I say it’s better you bring him home than the guards.”
Thanking Isabel again for the tea, Alex left the small cottage and ducked into the alleyway behind it. Out of the sight of prying eyes, she changed back into a dove and flew away from her second home. Flying back towards the castle, Alex landed outside the castle walls, on a sandy beach. Changing back, she laid down on the cold, wet sand, spreading out her arms. Looking up at the waning moon as the waves caressed her feet, Alex let her thoughts roam.
Almost instantly, Jay came creeping into her mind. Something about him had captivated every fiber of her being. His brilliant, blue eyes came into focus in her head, and Alexandra shivered with delight. What did those eyes of his hide, what secrets did he have to reveal? She longed to share her world with him, slitting her old wounds, so he could see her soul laid bare in front of him.
Just as Alex was thinking about Jay and their mutual suffering, a sharp sound pierced the surrounding silence. She could hear a wolf howling in the distance, its melancholy cry was echoing through the surrounding shadows.
Unable to control herself, Alexandra changed into a white wolf and howled back in reply. Her song matched his perfectly, you could hear the pain of heartache in their lonesome cries. But although she waited, the other wolf did not answer back. Turning back to normal, Alex sat down on the sand and wondered what had come over her.
Wiping the paw prints off the beach, Alex scolded herself since she should have known better than to let her internal longing come out, transforming her into her true totem. Most pure-bloods thought wolves to have been extinct for many years now. Wiped out to prevent her from coming into being. Something to do with a legend about a pair of fated wolves, undoing their world and causing the collapse of magic as they know it. Still, that howl, could it have possibly been? No, it was crazy, a dream was all it was.
Losing hope once more, Alex let a tear roll down her face before something at the castle caught her attention. In the distance, a light came on at the estate, and Alex cursed herself for giving in to her primal instincts. If she stayed here like this, she would be discovered and executed. With more lights coming on at the palace, Alex had no choice but to change back into a dove and fly away, back to the confines of her room.
Flying over the garden, she could see Quinton making his way through the sculpted plants, bounding towards the gate leading to the beach. Alexandra's heart raced at the sight of him. Quickly, she ducked through her open window and transformed back to normal before he noticed. Shutting the pane closed, Alex changed into her nightgown and crawled into bed.
Shivering from the cold, all Alexandra could think about was Andy. Thinking of the poor child laying there under a moth-eaten blanket, freezing at night, made her heart sink. Wishing there was something she could do for them, Alexandra remembered the attic was full of her old things, things she could give the boy. In the morning, she would just have to find a way to get them.
Wondering what Jay would do if he saw her again, Alex heard the door downstairs slam shut. Laying still she listened for the sound of Quinton's footsteps hurry down the hallway and stop at her door. He was panting as he stood on the other side, and Alexandra pretended to sleep while waiting for him to swing the door open. But, Quin did no such thing. After what seemed to be an eternity, Alex heard her brother walk back to his room and shut the door behind him.
Turning over on her back Alex looked at the ceiling, heart still racing. That was a close call, far too close for her liking, and it was all because she lost control upon hearing the howl of another wolf. Alex wondered who it belonged to. Surely it couldn't be Jay, or could it? Though she knew it was impossible, she still entertained the idea it was him, calling out to her. Lying in bed, Alex recalled memories of how she first ended up on the beach outside the castle walls all those years ago, until sleep took hold of her, dragging her to the land of dreams.
Chapter 7
Secrets
As Alex lay sleeping in her bed, the air around the room shimmied and distort until a tall man with long, graying black hair walked out from the anomaly into the room. With a deep sigh, Rupert walked over to his young mistress and covered her up with a blanket. Upon seeing the butler, Cosmos flew up from his spot on Alexandra’s pillow to greet his old friend. Smiling, Rupert extended his index finger, giving the tiny pigrie a place to land.
“So, Cosmo, I take it they finally met?”
“Reee.” Cosmo continued to squeal and grunt as he recalled the encounter between Alex and Jay.
“I see.” Rupert shook his head. “Well, I suppose it can’t be helped, 29 years is a long time for anyone to be apart, and that boy didn’t have it easy in this life of his.”
“Weee.”
“Don’t worry my little friend. Back then she had the power to make him what he is, she can figure out a way to melt the ice around his heart as well.”
“Ruh, oink.”
“Mmmm, I understand your concerns about the limitations of this mortal body of hers my dear pigrie. But, we also have to remember it was she who bound their destinies to begin with. Not to mention master’s confidence in the powers the girl holds. He was confident enough to send her here at least.”
“Hoink.” Cosmo hung his head in despair.
“She is what she is Cosmo, believe in our young mistress. I’m sure she can handle whatever the Worm has in store for her here.”
“Oink, oink.”
“Worry not, the Worm does not understand what she’s capable of, but, he will soon. And, until that day comes, allow the girl to enjoy what little freedom she has.”
“Rhwee?”
“I’m sure our dear girl is recalling a simpler time. Probably around the time she first met young Richard and started down this road she created for herself long ago. Now,” Rupert looked down on Alex sleeping in her bed, “why don’t you join her, things are bound to get stickier from here on out.”
With a honk and a squeal, Cosmo flew down and settled back in his spot on Alexandra’s pillow. Satisfied all was still going as planned, Rupert waved his hand, creating another anomaly and walked out of the room. Lost in the land of dreams, Alex did as the old man had predicted. She was dreaming of the time she first meet Richard and put herself on the path she was meant to walk.
Chapter 8
Childhood Memories
As Alexandra slept, she recalled a time when she was six years old. It was around this time she was questioning the world around her. Until that point, her parents told her how she was special, and as a pure-blood woman, she had a sacred duty to fulfill. Funny enough though, Alex did not feel special, she did not even feel normal when she compared herself to the rest of her family. Unlike them, all she ever wanted to do was be just like everyone else, everyone who did not live inside the castle walls.
Sitting at the same old window bench, she was looking over the same courtyard that had not changed in years. Below she could see a young boy around her age, in black slacks and a white shirt working on the flower beds. He looked up to wipe the sweat from his brow, and she gave him an eager wave. To her dismay the boy did not wave back. Instead, he ducked his head down and continued to work. Enthralled in watching the boy work, Alex did not hear the door to her room squeaked open, or her mother enter the room.
“Alexandra.” Rosemary spoke in her usual, cold tone “Why are you staring out the window instead of working like you are supposed to be?”
“Sorry, mother.” Alex averted her eyes. “I was just wondering... why can't I go play outside like the boy in the garden?”
The color drained from her mother's face, and her steel cold, gray eyes grew even colder. Alex regretted even mentioning this to her mother, she should have known a woman like Rosemary would never understand how Alex felt. Looking over her child, Rosemary pursed her lips as she inhaled to not snap
at the insolent girl.
“You stop this nonsense right now young lady. How dare you imply you should be outside like some filthy little gray child? You are a lady, and your duty is to learn how to be a good wife and mother so you can support your future husband when the day comes. Is that understood?”
“But mother...” Alex protested, “why can't we be like the grays?”
“Why would you want to be anything like them?” Rosemary took a step back, almost falling over from fright. “Their life comprises work and poverty, and they have little rights in our society, unlike you. You were lucky enough to be born of pure-blood. You get to tell the filth what to do.”
Alexandra didn't think it was fair for her to tell other people what to do, nor did she feel it was right for them to oppress the grays for their lack of magic. Not to mention, working in the fields sounded a lot better than being locked indoors while you learn how to please someone you did not agree to marry.
“But why? Why should we tell them what to do?”
“Because that is the way of our people.” Rosemary sounded exasperated “Who are you to demand change to years of history? Our ancestors have worked hard to build up our society and preserve magic, without the pure-bloods to keep control, our world will fall to chaos.”
Alexandra knew there was no point in arguing with her mother, there never was. Even if she could come up with a valid reason, it would not matter to Rosemary in the least. No one in her family understood her, because none of them saw anything wrong with what they did to the grays. It was clear to Alex she was far too different from them, and that made her feel lost and alone in the world. Thinking it was best to pretend to fit in, she glanced up at her mother’s stern face and gave her the best smile she could muster.
Dark World Genesis Page 5
