Haunted Return

"Rodion Alvarez." He was a man of skill and sheer will. 'He was the one that led the rebellion in the past.' Latia knew that regardless of the minor changes, they would probably a useful ally.

"I should probably advance towards making a force as well." Since she 'gave up' her right to succession, she couldn't rely on the nobles that have no interest in the powerless princess.

***

Charlotte had a dream. In her dream she saw the woman who abandoned them all alone. Her mother. In the meadow, the sweet fragrance of flowers permeated the air as she heard a familiar lullaby:

Dear beloved child,

If one day I don't hold you close

Blue flowers shall carry out my wild

So let the sands of time flow

The woman's voice was carried by the wind as a sense of anxiety cloaked the child's mind. 'Mother' she uttered with dread.

***

"Lottie?" Theo said with a worried look. Her sister woke up in cold sweat grasping his hand tightly.

"I'm alright, I think I squeezed your hand too much."

"I'm fine." He smiled. "as long as Lottie is ok!"

Charlotte grinned at her little brother. She hasn't had dreams about her mother; rather she hadn't had dreams at all. Perhaps it was because she was too busy trying to make ends meet to even have time to dream.

.

.

.

Just then she felt heavy in her heart. "Um, Theo- I-" She felt dizziness as she coughed. 'Blood?' She thought as the stifling taste of iron stained her tongue.

"Lo-Lottie??" Theo screamed in shock.

"T-heo, c-call Miss Mai-"

Theo cried as he rushed into the maid's quarters. 'Lottie isn't going to die is she?' The child quivered, he didn't quite understand death but he instinctively felt fear.

"Miss Mai! Lottie she's-" He panted struggling to get words out of his mouth.

"Theo? Is something wrong?"

"My- uh"

"Yes?"

"L-Lottie's gonna die!" Theo cried flailing his arms. He was scared. He vaguely remembered his mother but he did not want his sister to disappear like her.

"Please save her!"

Mairyn's eyes widened. She pulled Theo in her arms as she ran to the children's room. She passed through the corridors for what seemed like forever. "Charlotte!"

Charlotte's gown was bloody. Her light silver hair was tainted with blood. Still, Mairyn could feel her pulse. "Let's bring her to Maxime." Strangely, the incident made her recall a similar event when the princess was younger.

'What could've happened?'