Chapter 8 Uncanny revealations

"I always thought I was crazy. I never believed you were actually there but-but how?" Isabelle tried to mouth ignoring the other million questions she wanted to ask. She turned to Lucas when he still remained oddly quiet. Lucas messed with his fingers to cope with the awkward encounter. How was he going to explain everything to her? He couldn't do that, it would ruin all his plans on becoming human but he also knew Isabelle wasn't dumb enough to believe some cock and bull story he planned to make especially when he had already told her a little of his story.

Isabelle remembered when Lucas had revealed in the forest that he had met with a witch who ruined his life. Was this what he meant by 'ruin'?

"It began three years ago. I met Eleanor who usually worked in our estate. She was beautiful but she did seem a bit odd. I never took notice on those things before, I was just too blind to see behind the veil. Apparently she was a witch and I found out this when I had a fight with my father..."

Isabelle could tell she was in for a long story.

***

The Blackwood's residence (3 years ago)

Lucas raced to his room holding nothing but resentment for his father. He was tired of living in such a small kingdom where nothing adventurous never happened. His friends had moved to bigger towns and in through their letters, he could tell they were having the time of their lives. He also wanted that. He slept on his bed sulking on how he ended up with awful parents.

"Are you alright?"

The question pulled him out? from his train of thoughts. He forced out a smile as he turned to Eleanor, another reason he wanted to leave Astoria. He wouldn't be able to marry Eleanor because she was of lower class. Lucas held her chin, cupping it to his palms, "Let's run away, Elle."

Eleanor had always been the same girl who refused to anything too crazy and it came as a shock to him when she wanted to do what he just said.

"Ok, Lucas. When?" She replied.

"Today, at eleven." He replied affirmatively.

The two set to work at the exact time and quite soon they were in the forest.

"I can't believe I did that." Lucas exclaimed, pumped with adrenaline.

"Yes! Me to..." Eleanor slurred her words and turned around as if they were being watched.

"Oh no!" She blurted out of fear.

Lucas turned to the woods she kept staring at. Apart from the glow butted insects, there was nothing there.

"Is anything wrong, Elle?" He asked in concern.

"They're here." She whispered before pulling his arms and bleeding deeper into the forest.

"What is happening?" Lucas yelled to Eleanor who would still not stop running. She suddenly stopped and touched Lucas' face.

"I'm sorry, " she said."but this is the only way. They must never have it."

What? Who? Why? This three W's crossed Lucas as he tried to make up what his love was saying. Eleanor then leaned to his lips, kissing him. It was electric and he did not mean the kiss was electric. He could literally feel jolts surge through his body as they shared breath.

"Forgive me." Eleanor said once she was done with the kiss. Lucas blinked once or twice but Eleanor was gone. She had spontaneously disappeared.

"Eleanor." He tried to call but all that came out was grunts and neighs. Something strange then began to happen, he could feel his entire body begin to ache in manners he had never before felt.

***

"I'm so sorry." Isabelle said like she was the one who cursed him.

"It's alright." He sent her a pained grin as remembering that moment brought a feeling of deja-Vu.

"Thanks for telling me your story. Isabelle said, signalling Lucas that she planned to take her leave.

"Are you still going to Frederick?" Lucas asked.

Isabelle was. He was even the one that convinced her to return to him in the first place.

"Yes. I remember a certain someone convinced me to go back to him." She mocked.

"That was then. People make mistakes." Lucas answered, smiling sheepishly.

Isabelle sighed, "Thank you for saving me Lucas and I don't think you were cursed, you've been a blessing to me times too many." She leaned and kissed Lucas on the cheek, it was a chaste kiss. She said her good-bye and went back to the party. Lucas cleaned off the residue of the lipstick that Isabelle left on his cheeks. He pondered over the words Isabelle had said about him being a blessing. He knew he could not be for long.

Eleanor mysteriously appeared in front of Lucas, a scowl on her face which made her a bit ugly.

"I don't understand. You had her again Lucas but you refused to do it. Why?" She fumed.

"Because I'm not a heartless person like you." Lucas spat back.

Eleanor's expression changed, she looked sorrowful and her voice cracked when she spoke, "I did it to protect everyone Lucas. You wouldn't understand."

"Then make me!" Lucas yelled, unable to keep his calm.

"Soon. I will." Eleanor answered? and soon after faded away.

***

Eleanor walked into the party looking for Frederick. If Lucas would not make the first move then she had to use Isabelle. She found the fellow sitting on armchair and drinking alcohol to his fill. Looking at Isabelle's betrothed. She felt pity for the girl. At least, she will be doing her help giving her the power-house.

Frederick took his eyes off his glass and stared at the beautiful girl standing in front of him.

"What do you want?" He asked with lust in his eyes.

"I want to be Isabelle's personal maid." She replied.

Frederick laughed. It was a croaky hollow sound, the kind of laugh that could haunt dreams.

"I don't even know you." He said, still laughing.

He was lucky she needed him alive. She smiled back.

"You don't need to." She said and with glowing blue eyes began a chant.

"One of your maid is sick, she took a leave and you gave me the job."

It worked like magic. Frederick immediately fell for the spell and said in a trance like state, "The job is yours."

"Thank you." Eleanor said and took her leave.

***

The party was about to be put to a halt after the dinner. Everyone present sat on a huge dinning table but not Lucas, he could not imagine eating under the watchful eyes of hundreds. He took his food to his room to eat.

Lucas began to feel a burning sensation in his throat. It was like he had gin stuck in his throat. It was even worse than that. It felt the urge to spit whatever was stuck in his throat. He opened his mouth to spit the contents out. Bright liquid light flew out from his mouth followed by a lot cracking sound. The light hit his window glass. It immediately shattered to pieces.

What just happened? He wondered. He had just breathe lightning. Eleanor immediately rushed into his room like she had known what just transpired.

"What happened?" Lucas looked at her with the certainty that she knew what was happening.

"It's growing." She replied.