The Dark Maiden

SERENDIPITY

Serendipity dropped to her hands and knees, panting and trembling. Sweat rolled down the back of her neck and down the side of her face, her head hanging low as she fought to get some air inside her lungs. Blood trickled down her nose. She choked on a sob. “No more.” she begged.

     There came the soft thudding of a boot against wooden floorboards, then the screech of a chair rocking back and forth.

     “Well?” a man asked her, as he loomed over the girl’s frail and trembling body. He was a monster in size compared to Serendipity.

     She wiped her nose with her knuckles; they came back covered in blood. “Axel, please.” she hissed. Despite being at his mercy, she refused to allow the captain the pleasure of making her cry.

     Axel Rossum was second in command to the emperor’s army in Aarengoth, with Dedric Vale being the Chief of Staff. Dedric already had numerous responsibilities, all far greater than his, yet Axel still liked to pretend he was as important and competent – if not better, in his own special way.

     “What did you see?” he asked. His tone was soft and warm, but that was only the calm before the storm.

     Serendipity wiped her face of any sweat and pulled her curls over one shoulder. She said nothing.

     Axel crouched down before her and took hold of her chin, forcing her to look at him; to meet his gaze, whether she wanted to or not. “What did you see?” he enunciated. He tightened his grip on her face, causing Serendipity to grab hold of his wrist. A silent plea to let go.

     She licked her lips to apply moisture back into them. She tasted blood. “I saw,” she began, squeezing her eyes shut. “Dedric – Dedric Vale.”

     Axel let Serendipity go and rose to his full height. His ash blonde hair covered a thick scar running down the side of his face; he tucked some strands away to reveal it, as he knew she hated looking at it. “What else?” he pressed on. The captain made his way towards an alcohol cabinet in the far corner of his lavish living room.

     The entire house was stupidly expensive, resembling nothing of the basic exterior. Thick woollen rugs were strewn across the floor, deep enough for Serendipity’s fingers to sink into.

     She tried to rise to her feet, but she stumbled and fell face first back onto the rug. She was exhausted.

     “What about Dedric Vale?” Axel was growing impatient now. He dropped to one knee again and ran his hand through Serendipity’s hair, tangling his fingers in her curls so it hurt when he tightened his grip. He shook her roughly. “What about-”

     “He,” Serendipity cut in. Her voice was hoarse, and her throat burned too much to raise it any louder. When Axel leaned in close enough, she whispered what she had seen.

     His eyes widened as he drew away, and the glass of wine he held began to shake in his grasp.

     Serendipity felt his fingers relax and finally slip out of her hair. She didn’t follow him as he left the room for a moment. She was too busy regaining herself and massaging her stinging scalp. Why am I doing this to myself? It was a question she was too afraid to ask aloud. Axel returned with a small pouch in his hands. Even from the doorway, she could hear the coins inside jingling as he walked.

      Because I need the money, she reminded herself. It was a pathetic excuse; she knew that, but to let her and her parents starve because she didn’t want to put her curse to use…

       She was cursed. Her tutor had told her so, despite Axel still using her ability for his own personal gain. He sought information from her, and she had given it to him so easily. She was pathetic, with little to no self-respect. She was a fool, or so she thought herself.

     It hurt her every time; calling on her visions and then trying to make out what they meant. They were dreadful, too. They revealed things to her – both past and future – which she either didn’t understand or didn’t want to.

     Serendipity jumped at the sound of the pouch dropping from Axel’s hand and onto the floor before her. She stared at it a moment, not wanting to touch it, knowing how much pleasure it would give Axel to watch her scoop it up in a frenzy and clutch it against her tiny chest like it was a lifeline. It was, after all.

     “You did well today.” Axel said to her. His voice went soft again, like it had been before, and he didn’t lay a hand on her like he usually did. She had done well, like he had just said, so there had been no reason to beat her. Not tonight, at least. “You’ve made me very happy. I wasn’t expecting you to see such a thing, now I know my fate.” he paused to down the rest of his drink. “Good girl, you’ve done well.” he repeated. “Now get out. I’ll find you when I need you again, and not a word about this to anyone, you hear me?”

     With all her dignity robbed from her, Serendipity wiped her eyes of tears, picked up her meagre pouch of coins, and let herself out as though she had never been there.