Candela

From the grand palace of Crimson, one of the maids hurriedly came upstairs. Directly heading through Lord’s Magnus room. The maid supposed to knock but for no time, she hurriedly came in. Shocking the Lord and his lady. The maid is sweating bullets as she lifted her head. The questioning eyes of Lord Magnus ripped through her. Her hands were trembling as she’s trying her best to speak up. To announced what’s she saw in the stable this early morning.

“What’s with that discourtesy, Dione?” It was Lord’s wife who spoke first.

“I’m very sorry for entering your room, your highness. But, I would like you to know that there’s someone waiting for you in the stable. For me, as a maid who’s serving you for a long time, your unexpected guest is beyond unexpected. Maybe, like me, you two will be shock also.”

“And who’s this guest you’re saying?” Lord Magnus asked as he started to fixed his tuxedo. “Why don’t you bring the guest here?”

Dione, the maid, instantly shook her head. “I think, it isn’t possible to bring her here.”

“You mean she’s a woman? What was her name then?”

“My Lord, it’s better for you to see her personally. She’s waiting there, hurry.” The three didn’t waste any seconds. For a short minutes, both Lord Magnus and his wife together with Dione is now in a stable.

“Here, she’s inside.” Dione assisted her Lord and Lady inside the stable. A white horse, welcome them but what caught their attention is the persons riding the back of the horse.

“Caroline?” Lady Lorraine uttered because of shock. Shock because for all person, she’s not expecting Coraline, her sister to be here. To the palace where she’s a neglected princess.

“Lorraine, my sister.” Coraline almost mumbled out. Her voice is weak and almost unaudible.

“What are you doing here? They might see you, Cora-”

“Sshh!” Coraline cut her. “I’m not staying for any longer, it’s just, I need your help. I badly need your help for the last time… at least for this last moment of my life.”

“What are you saying? I can’t understand-”

“They’re hunting me.” Coraline dropped the bomb. “They’re hunting me for having a baby… for having a male child.”

“W–what do you mean?” It was Lord Magnus who asked this time. “Who’s hunting you? Who are you talking to?”

“The Crimson Lady. The Crimson Lady of the woods. Please, I’m begging you… please help me. Please take my son, take care of him like you’re taking care of your own child. Please… if I need to bend my knees, I’m willing to do that. Just please, save and protect my Primo.” Coraline jumped out from the horse before bending her knees down. With the baby basket in front of her, she kneeled down.

“Coraline… you don’t need to do that-”

“I know, Lorraine… I know it wasn’t appropriate for a princess like me to kneel down my knees. But if it’s about my son… my beloved son, I gladly will. Please, have mercy on me sister… Magnus.” Coraline lifted her head to see Lord Magnus who’s staring at her with pity on his eyes. Coraline was crying hard, as well as Lady Lorraine.

“We’ll take care of him, just please… be back, Coraline.” And with that Coraline smiled.

As soon as Coraline smiled, the images slowly faded. As if it was a paper slowly burning and instantly turns into ashes. Candela, from the deep sleep suddenly awakened. She found herself inside the library with her head rested on the pile of old books.

She fall asleep… fall asleep as she tried to find that book but to no avail, she couldn’t find it anymore. She almost search it in every part of the library but still, no book like that book shown up. Did someone keep it?

“Did I wake you up, Miss Candela?” It was late for her to realized who is she with. She looks like facing into downright gorgeous lady in the whole vampire world. And yet, her features… her features reminded her of someone that she saw in her dreams… dreams that every time she woke up, she couldn’t remember it again.

“L–lady Lorraine…” she mumbled. The fine lady just smiled at her, showing her perfect set of white teeth. Her lips, her cheeks and eyes… it’s so familiar.

“Why are you here? Are you looking for something?”

She shook her head. “I’m here for a hobby… I love reading books.” Well, that’s a lie and definitely, she needs to lie.

“Me as well loves reading books but I know someone who has the same manner as you. She loves reading books when we’re still together. In fact, she usually stayed in this library for a days and few. Reading books ’til she fall asleep.”

“Is she your sister? Your mother or your-”

“She’s my sister… my beloved sister who taken away from me, from this palace and from this library. If only I know that it would be our last moment to see each other, then, I didn’t allowed her to go away from me…” There’s a tears fell down on Lady Lorraine’s eyes. And she didn’t wiped it…

“Do you need a cloth or a tissue to wipe your tears, My Lady?” Candela asked but Lady Lorraine shook her head.

“Have you ever missed someone, Candela?” That question throw Candela off guard. Did she missed someone? Of course, she is… she damn missed her parents.

“I don’t have my parents anymore, so to answer your question, yes… I missed someone right there and now.”

“That’s how I felt… the way you missed your parents is the same way how I missed my sister. I badly missed her. And if ever that she’s ever here, I wouldn’t let her to walk away again. I’ll hug her as tight as I can so she won’t leave me again… almost empty.” Lady Lorraine is truly crying her heart out in front of her.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

Candela didn’t know how to react. Is she going to keep the distance between her and Lady Lorraine and then hugged her or is she going to stay put in her chair. But the latter win. She just watch Lady Lorraine while crying.

“S–sorry to hear your pain, milady…” Is the only words she says.

“No, it’s okay.” Lady Lorraine replied before locking her gaze on Candela. She’s now looking at her deep into her eyes. “I really missed my sister and then you came. You came Candela… you help me to ease my burden.”

Candela’s brows knotted as her forehead creased. “Sorry?” she curiously asked. “I didn’t get your point. In what way did I helped you, milady?” She’s eager to know what’s Lady Lorraine’s reason for her to say that words to her.

‘I’m just a maid here for fucking out loud! A wolf pretending to be a sheep, tho.’

“Your eyes. Your lips. Your hair. Everything about you remind me of someone. Your features, the aura that you have. The bravery that you have inside… it all reminds me of someone. And that was her…”

“That was her… my sister. You remind me of my sister, Candela.”