The Serpent and The Maiden Fair Chapter 7

I just realized that I posted the wrong chapter earlier! I'm very sorry! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this new chapter, sorry if the update's a bit late!

The night was dark and there were no stars visible on the sky, not even the moon. It was very cold and you can hear a lot of wolves howling from the forests of West Nubar. It looks like a bad omen. Like something bad was coming.

The rustle of the silk taffeta from Avery's gown can be heard, she was running around the castle as she heard the loud scream of the Queen. It was time. Any moment now, the Queen will give birth and Phobos will attack.

'Cedric, where are you?' She thought. His last message said that he was in Northern Meridian, assigned as a commander. He was safe there from Phobos but then they weren't. Phobos and his army can pop up any minute to kill the Queen.

She walked in circles while taking deep breaths. Is this her end? No, Phobos will not harm her like what the others said but she'd rather die than marry him.

Cedric told him few months ago that she'll need to go when the time comes along with the Queen's daughter. They will go to another world where they can safely live. But she can't bear to leave her family here to die.

She can't bear to leave Cedric here but she has no choice.

She returned to her room and instead pack some important things, her mother's heirloom jewels that were centuries old and was passed to her, clothes, and Cedric's letters to her. She tried to bring fewer things as possible.

A few minutes passed and the screams went down, a loud tap on her door can then be heard. She rushed to open it and it revealed her mother and the baby. Her mother quickly went inside her room.

"It's time Avery." She said. It's time. It's time to go without even saying goodbye to the man she loves. Her eyes were filled with tears. It will be the last time that she sees her parents.

"I don't want to go Mother." Avery said as she looked at her mother' eyes. They were both in tears.

"Honey. You have too. Remember what Cedric said." Her mother said as she hugged her. The baby on her arms squirmed.

"Oh! She is so cute! What's her name?" For a moment Avery forgot that they were at war.

"She still has no name Avery." Her mother replied as she held the baby. Oh! She had an idea.

"Oh! Can I name her?" She asked her mother, her eyes sparkled to plead her case.

"Of course, I think the Queen won't really mind."

"Elyon. Her name is Elyon." Avery said. Elyon was some kind of religious name that means God the highest. She learned it from her history lessons.

"That's a good name. Princess Elyon." Her mother said as she cooed the small baby on her arms. Avery watched in awe. She always wanted to have a brother or a sister. "She'll be your sister Avery."

Her forehead cringed.

"You two will be sent to Earth with Alborn and Miriadel, they will pose as your parents and the Princess will be your sister." Her mother explained. Oh.

"Why can't you and Father come with us? I don't want to be a daughter of another people! I only want you as parents!"

"Avery. We already talked about this. We can't leave our responsibilities here."

"B-but…" She broke down in tears. She can't do it. She can't leave them here. Agatha placed Elyon on her bed and started brushing her tears away.

"We will always be with you in your dreams honey." Her mother said and kissed her forehead. Another knock on the door can be heard. It opened and revealed a man and a woman, Alborn and Miriadel, the captains of the Queensguard.

"It's time milady!" Alborn said, Miriadel came in to get the baby. Her mother handed it to her and the baby started squirming.

"Be careful. You need to get as far away here before opening a fold to Earth." Agatha instructed the captain. Miriadel nodded to her as she took the baby. "Her name is Elyon."

"What a beautiful name." Miriadel said as she looked at the baby. It was now sleeping soundly in her arms. Her mother turned to her.

"It's time Avery." Her mother said as she put over a cloak over her head and body. "You mustn't look back. We will be safe. We'll see each other again soon." She said as she kissed her forehead. Avery's eyes were filled with tears again. It was time. She nodded. "I love you Avery." Her mother hugged her tightly before letting her go. "Go now!" Her mother pushed her.

She followed Miriadel and Alborn outside, a carriage was waiting for them. Miriadel went inside and she followed, Alborn on the other hand went to the driver's area and signalled the horse to run.

After a few minutes they were on the way to the forest where they will make a fold to Earth, Miriadel turned to her while searching something from her pocket. She took something, a vial of some sort with pink liquid inside it.

"You need to drink this milady." She said before giving it to her, she took the vial and looked at it with curiosity.

"What's this?" She asked.

"It's a potion to help you with the passing of dimensions." The captain replied. She didn't ask any more questions and drank the vial. Miriadel's worried face was the last thing she saw before she passed out.

It was dark and cold.

She was there alone inside the dark room. She called for her parents but there was no answer. She sat up and started crying. She was scared. Scared of the dark and cold. The room then lit up and she found herself inside a large room in a castle. There was a big bed on the center of the room adorned with royal blue sheets. There different paintings of flowers and creatures. One in particular caught her eye; it was a painting of a girl. She was very beautiful. Her long hair was pastel blue and it reached her waist, her eyes were violet and it stared back at her, she was sitting on top of a rock. She touched it.

"Very beautiful." She muttered. She wondered who the girl on the painting was. She somehow looks very familiar to her. She looked around and saw a balcony, she went there and she saw a large lake surrounding the castle. The lake was clear and calm. She loved it. It seems cool to her eyes.

Then she saw two kids playing on the courtyard. One was a girl with silver blonde hair and the other was a boy with golden hair. They seem to be happy. She smiled as she looked at them. Everything was so nice up there, there were birds flying and chirping around. Butterflies transferring from flower to flower. And the sky, it was bright blue.

"So nice." She said. Then the scene changed. She was inside a carriage. She saw the girl on the painting in the castle but she looks so different, her hair was silver blonde instead of pastel blue. She was holding a vial with a pink liquid inside. She was talking to a woman in front of her who was holding a baby. She can't understand what they are saying.

Then the girl drank the liquid on the bottle and a bright light flashed. After a few seconds, the light went off and the girl wasn't there. There was a small child of three years old. Weird. What happened? She wanted to ask.

She closed her eyes, the child and the woman disappeared. No. She was the one who disappeared. She looked around, her fingers, her hands her feet they were different. She looked at the glass window of the carriage.

She gasped as she realized that she was the girl on the painting.

The sound of the alarm woke Avery up.

She groaned and slammed it down. She sat up on her bed and looked around. She was in her room. She touched her head as it felt heavy.

The dream. It almost felt so realistic.

And weird. It was set in the medieval times again like the other dreams she had. What was the meaning of those dreams? She wanted to know. She had been hunted by those since she was young. Does it have any connection with her past? She wanted to talk to someone about it but she does not know what she would tell them.

She sighed and went to the bathroom. A hot bath will help her ease her mind and maybe help her forget the dream. Her mind drifted as she the hot water touched her hair.

The boy with blonde hair, another with straw blonde hair and the girl with pastel blue hair. Somehow the three were connected for sure.

She needs to find out who they were. Maybe she should go to a psychologist or maybe she could just talk to someone close to her. The name of the person popped into her mind.

'Cedric!' Maybe she can talk to him. She hurriedly finished her bath and changed her clothes. She was now wearing a white pullover, black leggings and a brown knee high boots. A scarf was also rolled over her neck. Afterwards she went down and took bread from their pantry; she put on her sling bag and grabbed her umbrella before going out.

The weather was rather cold so her choice of outfit was perfect; she also brought an umbrella in case it rains again. She then started heading towards the direction of the bookstore. When she arrived the door was open and she immediately saw Cedric there. He was carrying some boxes with him.

"Hi." She said as soon as she entered. Cedric looked up and flashed a smile at her.

"Hello Avery. Can I help you?" He said as he smiled at her. She felt herself blush. His smile. Somehow it felt like it was only for her.

"Nothing. I just wanted to see you." She said shyly, it was the truth. She wanted to see him and maybe talk to him. She can't talk to Matt or Peter right now, it would probably be awkward. She then placed a loose strand of her hair at the back of her ear.

Cedric stood up and rub a towel on his hands. He then fixed his eyeglasses and looked at her.

"Hmm." He murmured, he stayed silent for a short while. "I don't really have anything important to do today so maybe I can spare time." She grinned at the statement. Then he started pulling down the blinds on the window display, she then started helping him. Afterwards he excused himself and went to his office to get something.

He came back with a coat on his arm. She went ahead of him outside and he followed locking the door of the bookstore behind him. He led her to a black car parked nearby. Before she can even grab the handle he already went to open the door, the action made her blush as his skin touched hers.

He closed the door afterwards and went to the driver's seat.

"Buckle up." He said as soon as he was inside. Oh. Where are they going?

"Where are we going?" She echoed her thoughts. Cedric started the car and started driving away.

"It's a surprise." He said. She looked out the window; they have passed several stores, buildings and houses but Cedric continued to drive until the outskirts of town.

"Uhhm. Are you sure that we are going on the right way?" She asked, worried that he might've forgotten the direction of the place they are headed.

"Don't worry. We are not lost. Just a few more minutes." He said. His eyes were focused on the road but his other hand reached for hers, he pressed it gently like he was trying to reassure her. She just gave him a soft smile even if he can't see it.

After a few more minutes they turned into a rocky road. There were a lot of trees surrounding the area like some sort of forest. Then the road became steep and she looked out to see that they were climbing a hill. She can see the Heatherfield Bridge from a far.

It took them ten minutes before they reached the top. Cedric's car stopped in front of an old rusty gate leading to big house. The place was surrounded by beautiful flowers and bushy trees. It was breath-taking.

Cedric then went near the gate, he took a key from his pocket and opened it, he signalled her to come inside.

"Whose place is this?" She asked him curiously as she followed him inside the compound.

"It's mine." Her mouth dropped. He was this rich!? Wow. "Welcome to Villa Ludmoore." He then said while spreading his arm. Villa Ludmoore? The haunted mansion?

"Wait? You mean the Villa Ludmoore? This place is haunted!" She exclaimed but Cedric just chuckled and shook his head.

"It's only a rumour." He replied and then started walking to the door. She trailed behind him, still unsure about the whole thing. According to history, this Villa was owned by an alchemist named Jonathan Ludmoore, a guy who was so obsessed with the five elements, he lived alone in this villa without any servants because of his complicated experiments. But he just disappeared one day.

After that word spread that the place was haunted. No one dared to come near it or even buy it. Until this day maybe. She wondered what have got into Cedric when he bought this place. She followed him inside and was astonished with the interior décor. It almost looks like some sort of castle.

The furniture was top of the line, paintings of sceneries hang on the walls, and the windows were adorned by heavy curtains in green.

"Wow." She mouthed. Cedric just gave her a humble smile. "You live here?" She then asked.

"Yes. Welcome to my humble abode." He said as he showed her around. They went to the living room cum receiving area and she sank on the fluffy sofa.

"This place is magnificent. Did you buy it?" She asked again curiously. This house must have cost a fortune even if it was inhabited for a long time.

"No. I inherited it." She cocked one eyebrow with his reply. Inherited it? He must have read what she thought that he added his response. "I'm a descendant of Jonathan Ludmoore." He said to clarify himself. Oh! Wow. Cedric was a descendant of Jonathan Ludmoore?

"Oh. That's nice." It was all she can manage to say. She doesn't want to say anything that can offend him about his great-great something grandfather. She does not want to say that –oh, so you're the grandson of the crazy alchemist who just disappeared one night.

She was also tempted to ask him why he brought her here but she was shy to do so.

"I'll try to whip something from what I have here. In the mean time you can look around if you want. I'll call you when food is ready." He said as he head straight to the kitchen. She nodded and was about to go upstairs when he called her. "By the way, don't go to the basement. I haven't checked it yet so it might be very dusty and dirty." He added before disappearing again.

She headed straight to the grand staircase. Wow! His great great-grandfather must have been very rich. This place is practically a palace. She said as her hand trailed the railings of the staircase. She landed on the second floor and started roaming around, opening and closing doors as she passed by some rooms.

She reached the last room in the second floor, she felt something weird, like she was being dragged by some force to go inside. She turned the handle and it revealed a bedroom. Not just any bedroom, it was the bedroom in her dreams. The same tapestry, the same bed, the same paintings.

Her eyes search for one painting in particular, the one with her in pastel blue hair but it wasn't there. She sighed. Maybe it was just a coincidence or maybe her dream was just a foretelling of the future.

Something in the bookshelf on her left then caught her attention. She went to check it out. There was this shiny thing on the top most part of the shelf. She tiptoed to reach it but when she touched the shiny thing she felt an eerie feeling.

It was everything she can remember before everything went black.

A/N: Locations were taken from the comics. So what do you think about the fic? Hit Favorite & Follow if you like it and don't forget to leave a review. It will be appreciated. :3