To Survive

'Worthless... Die... hehehe...'

The sneers of the man echoed from somewhere.

[No!]

She opened her eyes.

[I must live! I will survive!]

Pushing herself, she rose above. It was not that hard for her to get to the surface. And as she went up, the wisp got down.

[Sorry Wispy, I want to live... I'll make sure I'll fulfill your wishes, but I want to live. By how ready you're to give up your place, I can infer you don't want to live as much as I do.

So... Forgive me...

Forgive me.]

"You, wastrel... after I cleaned you up you dared to-"

Lucy's lovely scowling face, with her rod-wielding hand, raised up to hit her, was what she has to wake up to.

She looked around. She was on her knees in what seemed to be a carrot patch with dirtied hands. She was still in her chemise and even it had gotten all dirty along with her long hair that was just washed.

[Well, Wispy... I can't even blame Lucy now, can I? No matter what, a grown woman shouldn't be running around in her underwear and play in the dirt. Why did you even...]

It was then she felt a small stone in her hand. She looked closer to see some markings that seemed to be some sort of spell, on the stone.

The image of a dark-haired boy popped into her mind. This time she didn't have any sinking feeling and she figured it was the memory of Wispy.

'Keep this safe, Lexa,' the boy smiled and dimples formed on his cheek. 'I will come back for you.'

Under the rays of the setting sun, his red eyes shimmered like melted gold.

She felt something in her heart that moved her.

[Who is he? He's... familiar...]

[But how can that be?]

[Is this boy the one in your heart, Wispy? Don't you want to get sent to the Brute or whoever your family has chosen for you?]

She got no answer.

[Wispy... are you mute?]

Still, there was no answer. She felt so guilty for encroaching on someone else's life and make it hers. Part of her wanted to leave everything and...

[But where would I go? I don't even know who I am... And what do I even want?]

She couldn't find any emotion attached to her except her abundant will to live; to survive.

[Whatever it may be... I do want to live. It may be selfish of me but I want to survive. In exchange for using your body until I figure everything out, I'll help you find your love, alright? It's a promise, Wispy.]

She looked up and glared at Lucy who was about to hit her.

"I need to wash up," she said, making Lucy roll her eyes.

Lucy was not satisfied with her attitude and raised her hand once more to hit her.

"He's here! He's here!... Lucy!" a chubby man came running. "him..." he panted, " The Brute is here and he is asking for his Bride."

After speaking the words holding his breath, he fell on his knees and continued his labored breathing.

Before she could think, she was dragged back inside. She held on to the stone Wispy found. For her to run back here to find it, knowing that she'd get hit... It must be something important to her.

"Lucy, who is my groom? She asked as Lucy hurriedly cleaned her up.

She felt like she was getting watched but she couldn't figure out who it was. The room was filled with maids who were preparing her and it was hard to pinpoint that weird feeling.

Lucy explained about the great warrior Emperor from Lethusia Empire, conquering every country in the way here. Lucy and others were terrified of him and no one even mentioned his name but only as of the Brute Emperor.

[But why do I feel attracted to him already? A warrior King, leading his army in the frontlines, conquering his enemies, and who has gained a name worthy to be feared by all... Isn't he commendable? He must be so strong, brave and so valiant and...

Ehem!

I can't be doing this. I should be finding that black-haired boy for Wispy.]

"Lucy, what would happen if I refuse to meet the Brute?" she asked.

"You'll be killed," Lucy answered. "I heard the Brute can summon high-level beasts. Your magic would be nothing for him."

[hmm... so he can practice magic but no one else can't?]

"And so be my family, right?" she asked back and she could see Lucy's face visibly going pale.

[Well, she has a reason to be this scared!]

As far as she went through Wispy's memories, she had not many good memories, except for a handful. One was her meeting with that black-haired boy and the other few were the ones with her mother.

Other than that, it was a typical life of a motherless child. After her mother died, her father remarried and she was forgotten. She was abused by her stepmother, her half-siblings, and even by the servants of the household with no one to help her.

"Don't worry. I don't have a death wish..." She said and Lucy relaxed a bit. "Mainly for me though," she added making Lucy freeze once more.

[Wispy, I'll surely find the one you fancy, but now I have to meet with this guy to save my life, alright?]

"Is magic not allowed?" she asked.

She wanted to be mindful of this unfamiliar place. She didn't want to be bringing trouble for herself.

"Only certain magic items are allowed. And the kind you have...People like you were eliminated so long ago. You shouldn't be having this power. Only because our Lordship is generous towards you-"

"Or it was because he'd have been burnt on the stake with me for siring me?" She interjected Lucy and Lucy shut her mouth.

[Of course, I got that right! As if anyone here cared for Wispy. You all wanted to save your own skin and tortured her for who she is and for something she had no control over. And she accepted it all for some reason. If it were me, you'd all be dead by now.]

[So the thing I did... It is not my power but it is Wispy's? Heh... In the end, nothing I have seems to be mine... Who even am I? And who is Wispy if she has forbidden powers? And what kind of magic is it? Why is it forbidden?]

"That one... It suits my eyes, don't you think?" she didn't forget to choose the biggest sapphire earrings for her.

She also chose the best of the frocks they had for her. She chose one with frills and that covers her neck to avoid looking like a child. Her long hair was braided and was decorated with gold vine fixed with diamonds.

[Didn't he ask for his bride? If I am going to stand in front of my groom, shouldn't I look my best? I don't want to get killed. And... I found that I enjoy wearing dresses and jewelery a little too much.]

She looked at herself in the mirror.

[I am kind of pretty... Umm... If only I look mature... Those b*stards... they didn't even feed Wispy properly making her malnourished and with stunted growth...]

As she walked through the hallways, she was advised of the proper etiquette she has to follow when she meets the Brute. Lucy also didn't fail to remind her how showing them to be a harmonious family is important politically and also for her own sake.

She didn't know what was awaiting her in the Drawing room. All she heard throughout the way was the hushed whispers of maids and servants wondering out loud how pitiful she is.

[The Lord was cruel to send his daughter to him in exchange for keeping his title...]

"I heard he drinks the blood of his brides...."

"I heard that he looks like a monster..."

"I was told that no woman who was sent to him was seen alive after..."

There were many voices saying many scary words.

[So, Wispy... It seems like your father was the one who sold you out.]

But words can do nothing.

He might be the one as they say or he won't.

[Either way the only choice I have is to stand in front of him.]

With her skirt fluttering, she walked with her back straight.

[I have only one mission.

To survive!]