บท 11: Doll

Watching Dorothy sit on the barrel chair was like watching a sagging sack of wet cement. She flopped her head on top of her hands on the table, not minding the fishy smell as she went to sleep.

I watched her shoulder rose and fall and recalled what happened to her in the past. She never woke up one morning, and that was it. There was no funeral nor burial, not even a priest. Madam Bertud had her remains sunk in the bottom of the ocean one night in fear of being investigated about her death.

Come to think of it. It was also the same time I realized that the old hag had no feelings for us whatsoever. Not even a tiny bit. I decided to run that night, and that was the beginning of it all. It was the death of Dorothy that I met Rhazien when I ran from town to town.

This time, I wondered if I interfered with her death, would it cause a huge ripple in the flow of time. I shook my head and concentrated on the task at hand.

That's too much of a gamble. Let's try my theory first on a harmless Love Philtre.

I went back to the town square and had my fish reheated. It was a good thing that the kid didn't eat it nor sell it, or I'd turn him into a frog and roast him on the grills.

My eyes watered when the fish melted in my mouth. I was a fool to choose the boring life of a vampire and pick an agonizing love when I could have all the food in the world. It's delicious, it gave me happiness, and it doesn't betray you.

What more could you ask?

Feeling full, I checked the time. I couldn't do much in town since I lacked the money. I'd get the pot of gil later this evening before I'd buy the ingredients and materials for Dorothy's Love Philtre and for Lady Catherin's Blood Potion.

Maybe along the way, I could make some dud as a form to defend myself, and Enhancement Ointment for escaping and a complex spell of Anifornum Poultice to get inside the Hamill's manor without anyone detecting me.

Walking over the stalls, I checked their wires and stumbled upon a funny-looking toy from the crafter's kiosks. It was a weird-looking doll with silver hair that had blue button eyes. The red stitches as its mouth stretched in a smile. I was hypnotized by the memories that came along with it.

On one cold winter night near the fireplace, someone gifted me a doll, but I couldn't remember the face. Its eyes, however, glowed like the silver moon.

I reached for the doll only to catch the hand of a stranger. Surprised, I looked over and saw a tall, lean built beneath a long sleeve shirt and trousers. A hood covered his head, and his face was hidden beneath a cloth mask.

I was stunned more than I was startled at the sight of his two silver poles under sharp brows, and I was reminded of those eyes who gave me the doll.

The shock traveled from every pore of my skin ignited my body, and I caught my breath.

The wide stretch of his eyes indicated that he was surprised, too, before it shook and melted like ice. The faint glimmer of the afternoon sun ghosted over his pale skin while his eyes twinkled like the moon.

I had a premonition that those eyes would linger in my mind for days to come.

Locking gazes, there was something hidden beneath his poles, something like he wanted me to remember. It seemed like he knew who I was behind my disguise, and I was overcome with the need to unravel his mask. I reached a hand to uncover his face, but he caught my fingers and immediately let it go like he was burned.

He fixed his hood and held his mask tight before he took a step and walked into the crowds, leaving me speechless of what just happened.

I blinked in rapid succession and attempted to follow him, but before I knew it, he was gone like he was just a product of my imagination.

I shook my head. "Who was he?" I thought and took a twice over before I stared at the doll and left.

I was right. The stranger did occupy my mind until I reached Hamill's estate. In my past life, I never once met him. Besides those familiar eyes, I couldn't remember him no matter how much I searched my memories. I massaged my temple and forced those striking silver poles out of my mind.

I put my game face on and swept the large estate. The gate was locked as the security was tight. The only possible way in and out over its piles of stone walls as if I knew how to fly to the other side. It wouldn't be a problem with the Anifornum Poultice, where I could just turn myself into a bird for a maximum of five minutes.

"Hey, you!"

My attention was caught by a guard who came rushing over in my direction.

"Who are you? What are you doing loitering around in the Hamill's estate?"

I put on a humble expression and curtsied. "Good day, good sir. I was just wondering if the kind Duke is still in need of a maid."

The guard frowned and opened its mouth. Then he abruptly closed them tight like he remembered something. "The estate is already full of maids but come back a week later and see if there is a vacant job for you."

"Thank you very much." I gave my sweetest beam, but the guard only wanted to gag based on his sour expression.

As I walked away from the estate, I realized how bad the situation was. Usually, maids from a Duke estate came from a commoner's family who were trained since young to serve the nobles. They were usually families just below a Baron.

If they were recruiting even maids of unknown descent, then the chances that they were feeding them to Lady Catherin was high.

Oftentimes, feeding newly formed Vampires too much blood caused them to become a rogue much faster. There was also a possibility that her master, the one who turned her, would appear and snatch her away.

I skidded to a stop. Come to think of it . . . How did Lady Catherin become a Vampire?

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